Tuesday, February 24, 2009
DU Star Makes U-20 National Team
Sam Garza is a name you should keep an eye on. The University of Denver forward has just been named to the US U-20 national squad for the upcoming CONCACAF U-20 championship taking place in Trinidad and Tobago March 6-15. The US should qualify from this for the U-20 World Cup which takes place in Egypt September 24-October 16. Well-placed sources rate Garza as probably the best young striker in the US today. The DU team will certainly miss him if he goes to Egypt in the Fall, the university's main season. You should also keep an eye on the fortunes of Kyle Christiansen who played upfront with Garza for DU last season before graduating. Christiansen was drafted by Chivas last month and is apparently still training with the LA-based team awaiting a decision on whether he will actually be signed. The Colorado Rapids open the MLS season away at Chivas March 21.
Friday, February 20, 2009
Gary Smith Will be in the House
It's just taking some time to secure a moment to speak to the man. Hopefully, I'll be talking to the head coach of the Colorado Rapids this weekend so do expect to see a post on that by Monday at the latest. Maybe I mentioned it before but I will be doing some work with the Rapids this year by writing some articles for the gameday programs. That's why I am talking to Mr. Smith but I'll also put some material on the blog as well. We'll be talking about preseason, who he may be planning to bring in, what's going on with those crazy-named triallists (Wawa, Nicodemus Orok etc.) and what his expectations are for this season, particularly those crucial opening six games which see four tough away fixtures. Wanted to let you know it looks as if I will also be doing some regular work with www.goal.com this season. I covered the US v Guatemala game last year for them and it has led to some more work. Thanks again for all your encouragement and support.
Saturday, February 14, 2009
Getting Into The 21st Century
I'm trying to make this blog a little more user-friendly and technologically advanced which, to someone as tech-unsavvy as me, is a tall order. I've noticed that a couple of regular readers have designated themselves as Followers. I know I have many more faithful readers than that. I'd be very happy, therefore, if you could all sign up as followers. That would help me a lot. I'm also looking into how to alert readers that the blog has been updated. I know a bit about RSS and such but I'm wondering how to update readers via an email or to a cellphone that I have just entered a post on the blog. I'm also looking into twitter which I know George over at FC Rocky is a big fan of.
This is all because I have received a lot of encouragement from readers out there who have urged me to keep going with the blog. I am very grateful for that. I want this to be a go-to site for Rapids' fans and others to watch throughout the season. I'll continue to post this year. I'm not going to try and compete with the Rapids' blog (www.rapidsundercurrent.blogspot.com) so I will assume you are all looking at that anyway. I'll just be doing my thing which is bringing you as much good reporting on the team as I can. Please do look out for an upcoming post next week with head coach, Gary Smith. I want to thank you all again for your support. It is hugely appreciated and I hope to get to meet you all this season.
This is all because I have received a lot of encouragement from readers out there who have urged me to keep going with the blog. I am very grateful for that. I want this to be a go-to site for Rapids' fans and others to watch throughout the season. I'll continue to post this year. I'm not going to try and compete with the Rapids' blog (www.rapidsundercurrent.blogspot.com) so I will assume you are all looking at that anyway. I'll just be doing my thing which is bringing you as much good reporting on the team as I can. Please do look out for an upcoming post next week with head coach, Gary Smith. I want to thank you all again for your support. It is hugely appreciated and I hope to get to meet you all this season.
Friday, February 13, 2009
Mastroeni on soccer, life and fish tanks
I sat down with a rejuvenated Pablo Mastroeni in the locker room at DSG Park the other day to talk about the upcoming season. You'll also find some of this material in one of the Rapids' game day programs this season. Pablo has a lot to say about life as well as soccer. Top player, top human being.
Pablo Mastroeni, club captain at the Colorado Rapids, is happy to be exhausted. Talking to him in between the twice daily preseason training sessions, he told me he is going home beat every night but that is the result of highly focused sessions that are improving fitness and making the guys ready for the season. "It's very tough but there seems to be a sense of purpose behind everything we do," he said. "As a player, you can have a million questions but these are limited right now to just a few and that is really positive." Much of that is down to new coach Gary Smith, an appointment that Mastroeni said had a lot to do with his decision not to go to Europe and instead commit himself to the franchise here in Colorado. “Once I knew that Gary was going to be the coach, I committed the rest of my career here,” he said. “I am challenged and tested every day by Gary and the staff and by my peers to become a better player at the young age of 32.”
Mastroeni welcomes the faith Smith has placed in him as a leader and mentor to some of the younger players, players that are keeping him on his toes with the intensity of practice ahead of the gruelling ten month season. “You cannot be complacent in this business otherwise you will get overtaken,” Pablo said. “My job is to lead by example, to work hard and help with the younger guys as well as do what you have to do to separate yourself from the rest and keep in tip-top shape.”
There is clearly huge hunger in Mastroeni. Always a combative player who gives one hundred percent in every session and every game (believe me, I have been to several training sessions), the US national team veteran is relishing the challenges ahead. I asked him if his perspective was also looking ahead to next year's World Cup in South Africa. After all, this would be his last chance to play in the ultimate soccer championship and it's not as if the US is overloaded with experienced defensive midfielders. Pablo is sanguine about it all. "I've had multiple discussions with Bob (Bradley) and he knows that, if he ever needs my services, I would be available," he said. The US team is in transition and Bradley is looking not only at this World Cup but the next one too, Pablo said. "It would be the icing on the cake but it's not the main course," Pablo said, if he is included in any squad that makes it to 2010. "For now, I am trying to make a statement for my club, that is my main priority." Would that statement include an MLS Championship? Mastroeni believes that the elements in the club are better placed for a good run in the playoffs than they have been for some time. It is a lot about self-belief and teamwork because there are so many MLS teams that could win the championship. He pointed to the example of last year’s winners, Columbus Crew, as proof that any team can win. “Look at them last year,” he said. “There was a really positive turnaround there, the city got behind them and they started to realize that there is something bigger than yourself. We also have people that believe that we can get the work done here. We keep building, we keep getting better and we just need to get a good start.”
For now, Pablo will continue to train like crazy to be in the best shape possible but listening closely to the demands on his body, go home exhausted to his family at night and enjoy stocking up his new saltwater aquarium, a 65 gallon monster. "It will be a while before I can put the fish in as it has to have the proper bacteria and everything but I've promised my son to put all the Nemo characters in there," he said. Let's hope for Colorado's sake that Pablo can remain fit and healthy because he is a much-needed leader both on and off the field.
Pablo Mastroeni, club captain at the Colorado Rapids, is happy to be exhausted. Talking to him in between the twice daily preseason training sessions, he told me he is going home beat every night but that is the result of highly focused sessions that are improving fitness and making the guys ready for the season. "It's very tough but there seems to be a sense of purpose behind everything we do," he said. "As a player, you can have a million questions but these are limited right now to just a few and that is really positive." Much of that is down to new coach Gary Smith, an appointment that Mastroeni said had a lot to do with his decision not to go to Europe and instead commit himself to the franchise here in Colorado. “Once I knew that Gary was going to be the coach, I committed the rest of my career here,” he said. “I am challenged and tested every day by Gary and the staff and by my peers to become a better player at the young age of 32.”
Mastroeni welcomes the faith Smith has placed in him as a leader and mentor to some of the younger players, players that are keeping him on his toes with the intensity of practice ahead of the gruelling ten month season. “You cannot be complacent in this business otherwise you will get overtaken,” Pablo said. “My job is to lead by example, to work hard and help with the younger guys as well as do what you have to do to separate yourself from the rest and keep in tip-top shape.”
There is clearly huge hunger in Mastroeni. Always a combative player who gives one hundred percent in every session and every game (believe me, I have been to several training sessions), the US national team veteran is relishing the challenges ahead. I asked him if his perspective was also looking ahead to next year's World Cup in South Africa. After all, this would be his last chance to play in the ultimate soccer championship and it's not as if the US is overloaded with experienced defensive midfielders. Pablo is sanguine about it all. "I've had multiple discussions with Bob (Bradley) and he knows that, if he ever needs my services, I would be available," he said. The US team is in transition and Bradley is looking not only at this World Cup but the next one too, Pablo said. "It would be the icing on the cake but it's not the main course," Pablo said, if he is included in any squad that makes it to 2010. "For now, I am trying to make a statement for my club, that is my main priority." Would that statement include an MLS Championship? Mastroeni believes that the elements in the club are better placed for a good run in the playoffs than they have been for some time. It is a lot about self-belief and teamwork because there are so many MLS teams that could win the championship. He pointed to the example of last year’s winners, Columbus Crew, as proof that any team can win. “Look at them last year,” he said. “There was a really positive turnaround there, the city got behind them and they started to realize that there is something bigger than yourself. We also have people that believe that we can get the work done here. We keep building, we keep getting better and we just need to get a good start.”
For now, Pablo will continue to train like crazy to be in the best shape possible but listening closely to the demands on his body, go home exhausted to his family at night and enjoy stocking up his new saltwater aquarium, a 65 gallon monster. "It will be a while before I can put the fish in as it has to have the proper bacteria and everything but I've promised my son to put all the Nemo characters in there," he said. Let's hope for Colorado's sake that Pablo can remain fit and healthy because he is a much-needed leader both on and off the field.
Monday, February 9, 2009
Gomez Goes as Rapids Acquire Guerrero
Big news in the soccer world today. First, Chelsea sack Scolari as manager and then the Colorado Rapids not so surpisingly trade an unhappy Christian Gomez back to DC United. For Gomez, the Rapids will get experienced international player Ivan Guerrero (will this be the competition for Colin Clark?), a designated player roster spot and a second round superdraft pick for next year. They also partly solve the goalkeeping conundrum because they are trading back-up goalie Mike Graczyk as part of the deal. There were just too many goalkeepers on the roster. Looks like a pretty good deal to me. Let me know what you think.
Gomez never really settled in the team and was clearly not a player that Gary Smith wanted. He looked off the pace and just couldn't fit into a disciplined style. It was interesting to note Smith's changes of tone regarding Gomez's future as the preseason approached. When Gomez pulled a groin muscle very early on in preseason training, it was probably the last straw. I have little time to fill out more details right now on the trade so please do visit the Rapids' website for more information.
A quick heads-up also. I talked at length with Pablo Mastroeni today so expect something on that later this week.
Gomez never really settled in the team and was clearly not a player that Gary Smith wanted. He looked off the pace and just couldn't fit into a disciplined style. It was interesting to note Smith's changes of tone regarding Gomez's future as the preseason approached. When Gomez pulled a groin muscle very early on in preseason training, it was probably the last straw. I have little time to fill out more details right now on the trade so please do visit the Rapids' website for more information.
A quick heads-up also. I talked at length with Pablo Mastroeni today so expect something on that later this week.
Friday, February 6, 2009
A Post on the Lack of Posts
I haven't been posting much recently as faithful readers will already know. The truth is that I have been giving a lot of thought recently to where I can go with this blog. It doesn't make me any money and it requires a lot of work to do the job that I want to do, namely report well on the team. I never meant this blog to be an opinion platform. There's too many opinions out there and I am humble enough to know that adding mine is not really worth all that much in the general scheme of things. I'm not saying the blog is over, it's just that I am working on some opportunities right now that will see me emerge in probably different form. Please do check back over the next weeks and I should have some more definitive information. In the meantime, do check out the Rapids' blog at www.rapidsundercurrent.blogspot.com because there are some good posts on what is going on in preseason as Gary Smith works on his final roster. There are going to be a lot of unhappy and unlucky players from the current squad who will be playing USL-1 soccer this year or who will be traded to other MLS clubs. The Rapids leave next week for a preseason trip to sunny Florida.
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Smith Lays Down Law as he Builds Squad
The Colorado Rapids team that lines up on opening day against Chivas in LA could be a very different team from what we saw last year. According to Gary Smith in the Denver Post, only club captain, Pablo Mastroeni, is guaranteed a spot. We should take that with a grain of salt because there are a number of other players who are very likely to be fixtures this season. After all, we are not likely to be getting rid of players like Matt Pickens and Ugo Ihemelu when they have been called up to the US squad for next month's vital game against Mexico. However, it does lay down a marker. Smith has shown that he is not scared of moulding this squad as he sees fit. Witness the ruthless way he has despatched last season regulars like Bouna Coundoul, Tom McManus and Facundo Erpen. Granted, those players may have wanted out for different reasons but Smith is for sure redesigning this team so that it has his stamp on it and nobody else's.
Be prepared for a number of changes too before that season opener. If the stories are right and there will be players coming in from Europe and South America, not to mention West Africa, according to new technical director, Paul Bravo, talking on the From The Pitch radio show today, there simply won't be room for all the current squad. It's almost like the Broncos. A massive shakedown of the preseason roster before the playing season starts proper. One interesting note from Bravo also. He said that the club has a lot of respect for Colin Clark but that a similar player would be needed if Clark gets suspended or gets called up for the national team. With all this competition for places emphasis, you can't help but think that this could be a challenge also for Clark to keep fighting for his place.
Be prepared for a number of changes too before that season opener. If the stories are right and there will be players coming in from Europe and South America, not to mention West Africa, according to new technical director, Paul Bravo, talking on the From The Pitch radio show today, there simply won't be room for all the current squad. It's almost like the Broncos. A massive shakedown of the preseason roster before the playing season starts proper. One interesting note from Bravo also. He said that the club has a lot of respect for Colin Clark but that a similar player would be needed if Clark gets suspended or gets called up for the national team. With all this competition for places emphasis, you can't help but think that this could be a challenge also for Clark to keep fighting for his place.
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