Monday, January 9, 2017

Major League Soccer 2017 Campaign- The Colorado Rapids looking to an encore



What a campaign the Colorado Rapids put on this 2016, still the aftermath is what worries their man at the helm Pablo Mastroeni, after cleaning house due to the league draft and the departure of their talisman man Jermaine Jones.

The prospects of repeating an encore of last campaign can be a challenging endeavor for the Rocky Mountain squad and it’s Boss, this looking forward to reinforce it and put on a show.

So far, the first step is to promote their homegrown talent and with the signing of Kortne Ford and Ricardo Perez, the Rapids are betting on that young talent to one day these can make an impact in league play.

After this being the year of expansion in MLS with the arrival of both newcomers Atlanta and Minnesota United’s, for Manager Mastroeni his first move was to assure his top players and the new ones to come to front a contested 2017.

With Michael Azira, Sam Cronin, Kevin Doyle, Shkelzen Gashi, Marlon Hairston, Tim Howard, Zac MacMath, Eric Miller, Dillon Powers, Axel Sjoberg and Dominique Badji.

Not counting the automatic protected in Caleb Calvert, Zachary Pfeffer and Dillon Serna, Colorado has the majority of tis base returning, despite some notable players being in the unprotected list, still for this club outlook is looking very positive.

A club that so far has kept his majority of defenders and looking forward to energize its attack, for Pablo Mastroeni its hands on in getting the best players possible to reinforce his initial eleven come March and front in what seems a much contested campaign.

After protecting three of their assets in tier attack in Albanian Shkelzen Gashi, Senegalese Dominique Badji, American Calvin Calvert and Republic of Ireland Kevin Doyle, this foursome can deliver and considered in MLS circles as a dangerous weapon.

The midfield is one area looking solid and despite the departure of one of their top play makers in Jermaine Jones, rumors situate a Ghana native from Manchester City to replace the hole left by Jones in Bismark Adjei- Boateng.

Alongside of keeping in mind a super designated player to bring to Aurora, Colorado as last campaign the arrival of Tim Howard to defend the Rocky Mountain squad posts and delivering with the style he is accustomed.

As the way the Rapids are looking for excellent talent and maybe lure Mexican sensation Carlos Vela, currently playing in Spanish side Real Sociedad in La Liga, this can be the missing piece to upgrade their midfield and add a notch to its attack. 

Still with Michael Azira, Sam Cronin, Marlon Hairston and Dillon Powers returning, the midfield defensive side will continue under Powers and Cronin and up front the Rapids Boss will need to replace with a couple of new players.

However many place the Citizens prospect in the Rapids, still nothing has finalize in negotiating his pass to the Colorado squad, as their front men are not commenting of when will this deal will became a reality.  

As the search continues for attackers to continue the dynamic and amazing game displayed by the renewed Rapids, for their Boss is necessary to bring a player of a top of the line talent to make a revolution in Colorado’s game scheme.

For Pablo Mastroeni its business as usual and looking forward to have a continuance in his 4-2-3-1 formation that has been delivering for his initial eleven and with many changes and players that he used in his frontal attack gone.

He will need to improvise in many ways with the current talent he has if he does not get the ideal players to reinforce his wings and middle, but one thing this man has in under his sleeve is an arsenal of ideas and strategies to put to work.

At the end, the Colorado squad is poised for another one of a kind campaign that can deliver them a pass into the grand fete of the league postseason, but I do not assure this squad a repeat of their second place finish.

Come March 4, Dicks Sporting Goods Park will see a renewed Colorado Squad taking over the New England Revolution, to open up the campaign.

One thing for sure they can sure put on a display in the field of fine football and a fine spot in the overall table to get them to the Promised Land this time of MLS grand finale, no room for error for the Colorado Rapids.


Post Contents and Property of Fern Mc Costigan © Copyright All Rights Reserved

Crest Credit and Property of Colorado Rapids 2017
                       
Photos Credit and Property of © 2017 Major League Soccer 

 

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