What is Colorado’s future at striker?
Q. How is the current outbreak of COVID going to impact the Rapids in the short term? Will they be able to train as a full group in the short term? How about the long term plan at striker now that Kei Kamara has been traded? Are the Rapids looking to bring in someone in a transfer window? Or are they looking to bring along someone from their developmental academy, like Darren Yapi? — Mark Weatherley, Boulder JS: The Rapids keep getting their earliest possible date to return to training pushed back as more positive tests come in. The hope has to be to get some sort of small group training going this weekend with a return of anyone healthy to training on Monday. The reality is that the Rapids are now out of dates to postpone a game to. Their postponements of the Kansas City and Portland matches will take place in the only two weeks left which had open Wednesdays. If they cannot field a team Wednesday against LAFC, MLS will either have to tack on an “if necessary” game onto the Rapids’ slate after Decision Day or the league will have to get creative with measuring playoff spots by points per match.
As for Kamara, it was part of the plan to let him walk at season’s end. As well as getting some assets back in the trade, it allowed the Rapids to give Diego Rubio and Andre Shinyashiki a test drive at striker. What they do this offseason with that position will likely depend on the play of those two the rest of this season. As of now, the Rapids are more likely to spend on an additional center back to pair with Lalas Abubakar/ Auston Trusty than they are to add to their offense. Assuming they don’t sell Cole Bassett this offseason, which I don’t believe that they will, the Rapids will still have a lot of power up front with Jonathan Lewis, Nicolas Benezet and Younes Namli.
Q : I know the season is still ongoing and there is still plenty to look forward to, but what are the Rapids offseason targets? And should we expect any big ( by Rapids standards or otherwise) acquisitions this winter?
— Jon D, Lone Tree JS: I mentioned it above but I expect the Rapids to target the center back position. Danny Wilson and Drew Moor are in contract years. Instead of getting depth pieces behind Abubakar and Trusty they will look at getting a starter. They may even go overseas and spend into allocation money for a top- tier center back. The talk is that the club would like to acquire one who would be considered one of the best in MLS. Pair him with Abubakar, who has been terrific in Colorado, and the Rapids have a solid backline. Sam Vines is a candidate to be sold in the near future. Jeremy Kelly can play either fullback spot and has had some nice moments, while Keegan Rosenberry has solidified his role and Trusty could be moved around the backline given his athleticism.
It’s clear fans want a DP striker to pair with Namli. That would be fun, but probably not necessary. Another thing to monitor is in goal with William Yarbrough’s one- year loan coming to and end. The Rapids do control his MLS rights.
Q : What or who has been the biggest surprise for the Rapids this year ( COVID not withstanding)? Also who or what has been the biggest disappointment for the Rapids this year?—
Derek, Arvada JS: The biggest surprise has to be Bassett. We all knew he had potential, but nobody had him as one of the league’s most productive offensive threats deep into the season. The jump Bassett has made since the Rapids returned to Colorado is crazy. He went from borderline starter without a position to one of the best players in the league by current form contributing in any role he is tasked with. Again, Bassett is only 19years- old. I’ll give an honorable mention to Wilson. He has been very solid and consistent at center back after some up- and- down play in his prior time on the pitch.
The biggest disappointment is easily MLS is Back Tournament. The Rapids had momentum and were a sexy pick by many to make a run deep into the competition. They walked away reeling with only one point. The aftermath bled into their return to Colorado with the Rapids taking several games to find their form.
Q : Who is the next young player like Cole Bassett, Sam Vines or Austin Trusty to come through the Rapids youth system?
— Doug Johnson, Grand Junction
JS: Trusty was acquired via trade but it speaks to what the Rapids have targeted the past few years both in and outside their organization: young players with talent which they can develop. Lewis also fits in with Trusty in that boat.
Bassett and Vines are phenomenal players. Any developmental story like theirs is a complete success. To expect that again is a lot but a player who may get that chance is goalkeeper Abraham Rodriguez. The 18- year- old Thornton native has been very good playing for USL side Colorado Springs. Rodriguez may even get a chance at the Rapids’ starting role next season with Yarbrough possibly on the way out.