Guerrero Goes

Press release from the Rapids: The Colorado Rapids announced today that a mutual agreement with defender/midfielder Ivan Guerrero has been reached that will terminate his contract with the team.
Guerrero was acquired by Colorado on February 9, 2009 in a trade with D.C. United.
A four-year MLS veteran, Guerrero had yet to see the field for the Rapids this season. For his career, he has played in 101 games with 97 starts and recorded four goals and 20 assists as a member of the Chicago Fire, San Jose Earthquakes and D.C. United.

European Footballer of the Year to be a Rapid?

May seem a bit far-fetched and have no basis in truth but there is a rumor going around that former Real Madrid and Liverpool striker, Fernando Morientes, may be making his way to Colorado. A fomer European Footballer of the Year, no less. I don't know about that but I do know that there will be another striker on his way to DSG Park in the not too distant future and it does appear that he will be from outside the MLS. Paul Bravo, technical director, did tell the rapidsundercurrent blog this week after the signing of Noonan that there will be more "exciting news in the near future" and Gary Smith has also told MLSnet that they are looking outside of the MLS for such a striker. Clearly, the two signings will mean roster moves and it's probably clear who is looking the most vulnerable. Gregory Richardson, who made two assists yesterday in the reserve team's 5-1 win over the Colorado Foxes, does not look likely to break into this team and must be a likely contender. Ciaran O'Brien is out on loan for the rest of this season and appears to not have any chance of breaking into the Rapids' midfield and the defense seems somewhat top-heavy, especially in the center and on the left side. I don't see any of the center backs going - Gibbs, Palguta and Ihemelu are staying, Harden is well-liked by the coaching staff, Holody is a draft pick and cheap and Valentino has just been signed. Jordan Harvey appears to have locked up the left back position so that makes Ivan Guerrero vulnerable too. Expect an announcement on such roster moves from the Rapids in the very near future.

Rapids Acquire Crew's Noonan

Press release from the Colorado Rapids issued today:The Colorado Rapids have acquired forward Pat Noonan in a trade with the Columbus Crew, the club announced today.
In exchange, Colorado send their 2010 first round SuperDraft pick and allocation money to Columbus. Per club and league policies, terms of the allocation money were not disclosed.
A seven-year MLS veteran, Noonan joins the Rapids having scored 38 goals and registering 32 assists in 135 career games. He has appeared in five games this season with the Crew and has tallied one assist.
Noonan began his career with New England and in just his second season won a share of the league’s scoring title with 11 goals and 8 assists for 30 points. In 2007, he captured the MLS Cup after having led the Revolution to three consecutive MLS championship games. That same season, Noonan was also named Most Valuable Player in the team’s U.S. Open Cup championship victory.
Noonan made 11 appearances for Aalesunds FK of the Norwegian Premier League last year before joining the Crew on August 6, just in time to join them for their 2008 MLS Cup championship run.

Forwards Update; Experience Necessary

Gary Smith said this week that he hoped to have one new striker available for the next Colorado Rapids game Saturday week, June 20. With Conor Casey called up sooner than generally expected to the US squad for last weekend's World Cup qualifier against Honduras and now for the Confederations' Cup in South Africa, the need for such a forward is even more acute. Casey is not likely to be available for the Rapids again until July 4. With strike partner and MLS Goal of the Week winner, Omar Cummings, expected to be called into the Jamaican sqaud for next month's Gold Cup competition, the need is turning into a necessity.
Smith does not have the confidence to put present backup forwards Ross Schunk and Gregory Richardson into any significant action, Schunk getting a couple of minutes as a sub against Salt Lake and Richardson not even traveling with the group. So, who will the forward(s) be? What I can say is that it will be someone not in the prime of youth. Smith is clearly looking for someone who can fit the team's style and a proven goalscorer and, most of all, he is looking for someone who can fit into the team's chemistry both on and off the field and has plenty of experience. "They have to have experience coming into this phase of the season," he said.

Rapids Salvage RSL Tie

"Omar Cummings, out of nothing, ties it." Having just watched the highlights, that seems to sum up the weekend's game. Apologies for not offering anything immediately after the game but I was out in deepest Oregon and miles from a computer. I hadn't seen any of the action until just now and that was a sweet strike from someone who was just getting a little frustrated with his own lack of scoring despite the numerous assists and great all round play. As you will no doubt alreday know, it was sweet enough to earn MLS Goal of the Week. Looks like this was another characterful performance to preserve the unbeaten streak and pick up a point when we could so easily have folded. No Casey, no Pablo and shorn of further attacking options when Terry Cooke had to go off injured in the first half. Looked like a pretty able defensive effort to get the draw. The Rapids now enjoy a week off before embarking on a three-game stretch in eight days starting next Saturday, June 20, at DSG Park against Christian Gomez and DC United. Check back in soon.

Casey With US Earlier Than Expected

So much for the signing of a new forward or forwards to back up Cummings and Casey. Gary Smith won't be able to get any new signing in time for this weekend's game just as Conor Casey is called into the national squad a little earlier than expected. Casey has been called into the World Cup qualifying squad for Saturday's game against Honduras in Chicago as cover for an injured Brian Ching. That means he won't be available for the Rapids' game against Real Salt Lake. Wonder what Smith's reaction to that will be? Already missing Pablo Mastroeni, it looked likely that Terry Cooke or Jacob Peterson would take the captain's place in midfield. Now, who is going to play upfront with Omar Cummings? It is unlikely that Smith will risk Ross Schunk or Gregory Richardson to partner Cummings, at least at the start, so I wouldn't mind betting Peterson will play as a striker with Cooke wide on the right. From looking as if the Rapids could have an advantage over a faltering Salt Lake team who will be missing influential players Javier Morales and Kyle Beckerman, the Rapids will themselves be missing two key players. I think the team will do well to get back to Colorado for a rest week with a point.

Rapids Ease Closer to Signing New Forward(s)

I asked Gary Smith at training today what he would do if the nightmare scenario of the US and Jamaica picking Conor Casey and Omar Cummings for their respective national teams for the CONCACAF Gold Cup comes true. He responded by saying that the Colorado Rapids are very close to signing one new striker and possibly two. One of those forwards appears more likely than the other in the very near future ("in the next week or so," said Smith) while the other forward could be after July 15. Exciting news for DSG Park. The team has been very reliant on Cummings and Casey to score the goals and provide offensive creativity and the two have responded magnificently. Casey has clearly stolen the limelight with his phenomenal scoring but Cummings, though only netting twice early this season, is right up there in terms of assists. Now, pundits with far greater clout than me, are putting the pair right up in the top three of striking partners in the MLS with the likes of McBride and Rolfe at Chicago and Ching and Kamara at Houston.
Smith has known for some time that he needs extra forwards with only rookie Ross Schunk and new signing Gregory Richardson as back-up. Neither of those players has any MLS league experience. The need for one or even two other strikers is clear and now it seems the Rapids are closer than ever in securing that. Interestingly, the imminent arrival of at least one player has nothing to do with the finish of the European season, according to Smith. "Clearly, it would be foolish for me to think they can get through 30 games unscathed," Smith said of his current strike pair. "We are working very hard to address that."
The Gold Cup starts July 3 and runs through the month of July. The US is arguably more affected because it has two games on the two Saturdays of July 4 and July 11. The Rapids have two home games on those dates. Jamaica play at slightly different times but Cummings would clearly find it hard to be available for the Rapids if he is selected. Here is a link to the complete schedule.
http://www.concacaf.com/competitions/goldcup/2009/schedule.aspx