EARLY LOOK AT THE RAPIDS ROSTER
Camp is about to open for the Rapids and it is rumored that there will be around 35 players attending but I’m sure there will be more than that coming through. If my math is right, that means that there will be 24 returning players, the 4 guys we picked up at the draft, and 7 trialists. Here is how we look:
Players likely to be on the final roster:
Conor Casey F 1981-07-25 USA S
Colin Clark F 1984-04-11 USA S
Omar Cummings F 1982-07-13 Jam S
Jacob Peterson F 1986-01-27 USA S
Greg Dalby M 1985-11-03 USA S
Kosuke Kimura M 1984-05-14 Japan S
Mehdi Ballouchy M 1983-04-06 Mor S
Nick LaBrocca M 1984-12-04 USA S
Pablo Mastroeni M-D 1976-08-29 Arg S
Jamie Smith M 1980-11-20 Scot S
Drew Moor D 1984-01-15 USA S
Scott Palguta D 1982-08-23 USA S
Julien Baudet D 1979-01-13 France S
Matt Pickens GK 1982-04-05 USA S
These fourteen players are likely to stick around for this season. It has been rumored that Conor Casey might be looking for a chance to play abroad but my money is on him staying with Rapids after signing an improved contract. Omar Cummings and Casey created a deadly combination up top and were one of the highlights of a disappointing 2009. Smith will be happy to have a healthy Colin Clark for this season. Clark’s dynamic runs were sorely missing when he went down with a knee injury. I don’t see Pablo going anywhere, and if he can stay fit he’ll be an asset to the team. Experienced players like Drew Moor and Matt Pickens might be taking on more leadership responsibilities this season, possibly easing the captain role away from Pablo. LaBrocca, Kimura, Dalby, Palguta, and Peterson are reliable players and should stick around because they know the system. I’m would put money though, that Dalby won’t be around come the summer.
Jaime Smith and Mehdi Ballouchy need to watch their backs. Based on quality alone, I see both of these guys sticking around. Smith’s $170K and Ballouchy’s $100K salary might force Smith to waive them even if he doesn’t want to. They need to show that they are worth their pay checks when camp starts.
Players who might make way:
Ross Schunk F 1986-04-28 USA S
Facundo Diz F 1979-04-16 Arg S
Pat Noonan F 1980-08-02 USA S
Ciaran O’Brien M 1987-11-17 USA S/GA
Ty Harden D 1984-03-06 USA S
Michael Holody D 1987-03-30 USA S
Rob Valentino D 1985-12-21 USA S/GA
Cory Gibbs D 1980-01-14 USA S
Preston Burpo GK 1972-09-26 USA S
Steward Ceus GK 1987-03-26 USA S
These players might be making way for some new faces. I don’t think all or even most of these players will be gone, but I would be surprised if they were all still on the roster when the first game rolls around.
Cory Gibbs and Preston Burpo would be on the list above if not for the rumors of their impending trade. Among the forwards only Pat Noonan made any serious contribution last season. Ross Schunk and Facundo Diz were a bust. I think the fact that the Rapids drafted 2 forwards shows that they are looking for another option up top. If Smith, Clark, and Peterson are healthy I don’t see them keeping Noonan at his current salary to ride the bench. I think we could get something good if we traded him.
Valentino and Harden are dead weight. Ty Harden came out of retirement to play for the Rapids; unfortunately he only played 87 minutes in seven appearances. Rob Valentino didn’t play a single minute. I don’t know the terms of Valentino’s GA contract, but if he is going to count against the salary cap this season I think he’ll be let go.
Young guns Holody and Ceus could go either way. Holody showed promise last season and is probably dirt cheap. Ceus is a long term project and a solid goalkeeper so I think he might stick around. Why the might go? I could see them getting packaged up with Noonan for a player or allocation money.
Rookies:
Andre Akpan F
Chris Cutshaw F
Ross LaBauex M
Chad Borak D
The rookies have their work cut out for them, but I think they have a good chance of making the roster. Coach Smith is looking for upgrades at bargain prices so he is probably going give these kids the benefit of the doubt.
Akpan and LaBauex are the more recognizable players of the four drafted. Akpan has pace, vision, and finishing ability. The question is if he is ready to play in MLS right away. LaBauex looks like he can handle the physical rigors of the professional game but his touch and soccer brain will need to get up to speed.
Cutshaw and Borak required a ton of Google searching, but from what I’ve uncovered both are legit prospects. Cutshaw comes from a smaller DI program but is a highly decorated forward. He has great speed and finishing ability. He can also play in the midfield. Borak is lanky defender who impressed scouts at the combine. Borak earned a spot on the All Big West First Team his senior year. Both of these players will fill gaps for the Rapids but we’ll see if they have the pedigree to make it out of camp.
Possible newcomers:
Wells Thompson M
Jeff Larentowicz M
I think both of these players will be an upgrade on our squad. Larentowicz is a solid defensive midfielder that can lead the team when Pablo is hurt, because he will be hurt, and Thompson is the type of outside mid Smith likes. A Larentowicz and Mastroeni center mid pairing would be tough to break through. Thompson would likely sub in for Smith or Clark and probably be one spot above Peterson on the depth chart. We’ll have to see what happens with this deal.
I don’t know the identity of any trialists but I’m sure that information will start leaking out soon. I’m sure by the time the camp actually kicks off some of these players won’t even report. The season is still a couple months away but this is a good way to start thinking about the Rapids again and getting that burgundy and blue blood flowing.
January 20th, 2010 at 6:04 pm
Great read! What acquisitions do you think the rapids need to make?
January 20th, 2010 at 7:24 pm
GA players’ count against teh roster cap of 24 players but do not count against the salary cap. A GA’s contract in guaranteed so even if the Rapids were to cut one of their GA’s (O’Brien and Valentino) they would still be required to pay them.
The Rapids currently have 5 DEV players under contract, plus possibly Akpan depending on the details of his contract. Ceus, Holody, Schunk, O’Brien and Valentino are all returning DEV players and there are only room for 4 DEV contracts on the team, so one will have to be cut or go on a full-season loan somewhere.
January 20th, 2010 at 8:37 pm
Jason,
From what i understand about GA’s it all depends on their contract. some are only guaranteed 2 years with an option of another 2, some are offered 3 with an option of 2. I’m not familiar with either Valentino or O’brien’s contract but i know they have already played 2 years. If they only have 2 guaranteed years and get cut, MLS probably won’t pick up their option.
It will be interesting to see what happens to them. I just realized i didn’t write anything about O’brien.
January 21st, 2010 at 8:12 pm
…but when they go on loan, they still occupy an MLS roster spot…not to mention that six GAs are permitted on a roster, it’s just that two of those would have to occupy a senior slot…and so on and so on…