Kroenke Watch: Only Another 17 To Go

As I've said before, he's the man with the money and he's entitled to do with it what he wants. But GBP 212,500 works out at about $375,000, enough to buy an out of contract Guillermo Barros Schelotto, or not far off anyway. What Mr. Kroenke flutters nonchalantly almost as an afterthought stock trade on a Monday before Christmas could actually buy the influential playmaker the Rapids so desperately need. But we all know where the priorities are.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/8425017.stm

Rapids Back to the Arsenal?

A step in the right direction? After looking like the Rapids would not be making preseason trips back to England and sister club Arsenal anytime soon, I found this Arsenal blog detailing a March 1 game between Colorado and The Gunners. Hope Pablo doesn't slide tackle Robin Van Persie too hard on his comeback game.
http://eighteen86.blogspot.com/2009/12/colorado-rapids.html

Rapids Players Rest; Coaches Continue Search

The boots are hung up, the exit physicals are done and the Colorado Rapids players get some much needed time off to rest up over the holidays before coming back into the rigors of preseason at the end of January. Some people who may not be resting quite as much include Gary Smith and Steve Guppy.
Smith will be spending the holiday period in England evaluating a number of players while Guppy will spend some time in France to look at a couple of potential Rapids' players over there. Smith said at training before Thanksgiving that there was more flexibility involved with players from outside the MLS but, coupled with that, there are potential problems luring players to the US because of the different type of game, different playing schedules and climate and the increased demands placed on players because of the larger amounts of travel involved. Not to mention money, of course. But, outside the MLS seems to be the main target to strengthen the squad for next year. It is often said that the Championship in England is a similar level to the MLS - a comparison that I find too simplistic - but Smith said to me that they would be primarily looking at League One players and below, even as far down as the Conference, where Smith said there are a number of young players aged 19 or 20 who are very talented but who have just missed out on signing full pro contracts. We'll see what happens over the next few weeks and months.
Smith also did not dismiss the possibility of getting a Designated Player. "It's not outside the realms of possibility but it's in the owners' hands." Quite. Kroenke remains the prime mover financially and he's too busy buying up Arsenal shares and has shown no willingness to invest seriously in this club. So, don't hold your breath. But it will be interesting to see what may transpire if the Columbus Crew fail to re-sign Schelotto. The DP is not necessarily the pot of gold but, signing one, would show the club means business to put mediocrity behind it once and for all. That has to come from the people with the money.

Jordan Harvey Philadelphia Bound

A bit odd to see the only player who played in all 30 games for the Rapids last season to be leaving, no? Scott Palguta and Drew Moor are going to be busy at left back next season.

Press release from the Colorado Rapids:

COMMERCE CITY, Colo. (Wednesday, November 25, 2009) – The Colorado Rapids announced today that defender Jordan Harvey was selected by the Philadelphia Union with one of their 10 selections in the 2009 MLS Expansion Draft.
Each of the League’s 15 teams was allowed to protect 11 players, leaving all others unprotected and available for selection by the Union.
Harvey was originally selected with Colorado's first pick, ninth overall, in the 2006 MLS Supplemental Draft. In five seasons with the Rapids, he appeared in 45 games with 42 starts for 3,793 minutes and recorded four assists. Harvey is coming off a career season in 2009 where he was the only Rapids player to appear in all 30 games, while also registering a career-high three assists. His 2,613 minutes played last season were 8th most in MLS.

Rapids Announce Protected List Ahead of Draft

Press release today from the Colorado Rapids re the Philadelphia expansion draft. A few notable players not included in the protected list such as Jordan Harvey, Mehdi Ballouchy and Pat Noonan. Scott Palguta was another first team regular this season but his exclusion is more understandable given it was his rookie season. Only one player can be drafted by Philadelphia from each club.

COMMERCE CITY, Colo. (Monday, November 23, 2009) – The Colorado Rapids announced their list of 11 protected players for the 2009 MLS Expansion Draft, which takes place this Wednesday, November 25 at 11 a.m. MT.

With the Philadelphia Union, the league’s 16th club, entering the league for next season, each team in MLS must make a certain amount of their players available for the draft.

Philadelphia may not claim more than one player from any given team in MLS, and will select 10 players, meaning that five teams will not have a player taken in the Expansion Draft.

COLORADO RAPIDS PROTECTED PLAYERS

Goalkeeper: Matt Pickens
Defenders: Julien Baudet, Cory Gibbs, Kosuke Kimura, Drew Moor
Midfielders: Colin Clark, Nick LaBrocca, Pablo Mastroeni, Jamie Smith
Forwards: Conor Casey, Omar Cummings

In addition to this list, Rapids midfielder Ciaran O’Brien and defender Rob Valentino are automatically protected by the Rapids due to their Generation adidas status.

COLORADO RAPIDS PLAYERS AVAILABLE FOR SELECTION

Goalkeepers: Preston Burpo, Steward Ceus
Defenders: Ty Harden, Jordan Harvey, Scott Palguta, Michael Holody
Midfielders: Mehdi Ballouchy, Greg Dalby, Jacob Peterson
Forwards: Facundo Diz, Pat Noonan, Ross Schunk

RSL Owner At Least Shows Passion

On this busy day of international soccer, check out this interesting piece from Soccer America magazine on Real Salt Lake owner, Dave Checketts. I don't know anything about the man and maybe he is not Mr. Nice Guy but, according to goalkeeper Nick Rimando, at least he seems to care about his team. Can anyone imagine Mr. Kroenke coming into the Rapids' dressing room to encourage the players? Just pointing out some crucial differences in perceptions and possible coincidences with the fact that RSL are in Sunday's MLS Cup final and the Rapids are not.
http://www.socceramerica.com/blogs/mls_confidential/?p=242

Casey Named to MLS Season XI

Press release from the Rapids today. Good to see further recognition of Casey's talents. Does anybody else think that having only three defenders nominated is a bit weird?

MLS Commissioner Don Garber today announced that Colorado Rapids forward Conor Casey has been named to the 2009 MLS Best XI during his annual State of the League address.
The MLS Best XI recognizes the League’s top 11 players at each position on the field - one goalkeeper, three defenders, five midfielders and two forwards. The players selected to the Best XI received the most votes from the media, MLS players and MLS coaches and general managers.
Casey garners Best XI honors for the first time in his three-year career following a stellar 2009 season, which saw him finish second in the Budweiser MLS Golden Boot race with a new Rapids single season record 16 goals. In 24 games this season, he played in 2,087 minutes and added one assist while also capturing MLS Player of the Week three times on the year and MLS Player of the Month for May. In July, Casey was also named to his first career MLS All-Star First XI.
Casey becomes the sixth Rapids player in team history to be named to the league’s year-end Best XI squad and the first since Joe Cannon in 2004.

2009 MLS Best XI:

GOALKEEPER (1): Zach Thornton (Chivas USA)

DEFENDERS (3): Geoff Cameron (Houston Dynamo), Wilman Conde (Chicago Fire), Chad Marshall (Columbus Crew)

MIDFIELDERS (5): Dwayne De Rosario (Toronto FC), Landon Donovan (Los Angeles Galaxy), Stuart Holden (Houston Dynamo), Shalrie Joseph (New England Revolution), Freddie Ljungberg (Seattle Sounders FC)

FORWARDS (2): Conor Casey (Colorado Rapids), Jeff Cunningham (FC Dallas)