How To "Fix" The Colorado Rapids Heading Into 2024
In a weakened Western Conference, the Colorado Rapids became the first club out of fourteen to officially become eliminated from playoff contention. What went wrong for the Rapids in 2023? Well, outside of just the classic underperforming on the field, the Colorado Rapids have dealt with a lot; a head coaching firing, season long injury to key players, new players added mid-season, and even alleged suspensions due to gambling. But let’s take a look at this roster as it is in 2023:
Designated Players: CB - Andreas Maxso, Winger - Kevin Cabral, and ST - Rafael Navarro
U22 Initiative Players: Midfielder - Max and Midfielder - Sidnei Tavares
This is a mixed group here for Colorado. Centerback Andreas Maxso was the star signing for the Rapids this past off-season after acquiring him from Brondby IF and signing him through the 2025 season. For the most part, for how well a top talent centerback can do on an overall not so great team, he did fine. One of the other Designated Player acquisitions this past off-season came in the form of a trade from the LA Galaxy in winger Kevin Cabral. Cabral is a DP on the cheap (the Galaxy paid half his salary this season, and will continue to pay half his salary for the next two seasons)... but still occupying that Designated Player title. The 24 year old Cabral has had nowhere near a season you want from a Designated Player. The same sentiment comes across for their third Designated Player, striker Rafael Navarro. Navarro has only arrived this summer, so I will cut him some slack but the performance just has not been there his initial few games within MLS. The Rapids have Navarro on their roster until the summer of 2024, giving the Brazilian some more time to adjust and create an impact for this club. But this team needs more from its DPs. If possible, I would try to buy down the option of Cabral… but with the salary payment deal of the Galaxy, I am not sure if that is possible. On the U22 Initiative side of things, the Rapids need to figure out what is going on with the alleged gambling issue of central midfielder Max. The 22 year old was removed from team activities back in March and was put on leave from the club. I would advance under the assumption that Max is not on the team in 2024. The other U22 Initiative player is 21 year old Sidnei Tavares who came to the Rapids on loan from Porto B. Tavares will remain with the Rapids through the summer of 2024 just like Navarro. He is another low risk player to put into one of the club’s roster spots.
Now, let’s take a look at the club’s upcoming free agents:
Players Out Of Contract Post 2023 Season: ST - Diego Rubio
Player With A 1 Year Club Option Post 2023 Season: RB - Steven Beitashour, LB - Andrew Gutman, DM - Jack Price, and CB - Danny Wilson
Players Leaving Club Due To Loan Deal Expiring: DM - Danny Leyva
Let me get through some easy ones first and foremost here. The Rapids need to do everything in their power to re-sign Diego Rubio. The Chilean international forward Im sure has offers from South America, but he has been the only consistent attacking option for Colorado in recent seasons. This team needs a player like Rubio (especially not on a DP deal) if they want to win games in the future. Along with that comes the picking up of player options of Andrew Gutman and Jack Price. Andrew Gutman has proven to be one of the best left-backs in MLS, especially during his recent time at Atlanta United. I loved the addition for Colorado, this summer and feel he can be a part of a strong backline for years to come along with Maxso, MLS veteran Keegan Rosenberry, and standout rookie centerback Moise Bombito. Jack Price is an interesting one, because there is no doubting his impact from the lower midfield position. The 30 year old Englishman has played 130 games for the Rapids in his career. In that time he has scored 2 goals and recorded 35 assists! He is the definition of a deep lying playmaker and IF he can stay healthy, changes this Rapids team completely. Unfortunately, I would move on from veteran Steven Beitashour, centerback Danny Wilson, and not try to fully acquire Danny Leyva from Seattle.
What does this 2024 team look like?
Well first and foremost the club needs to figure out their next manager. The Rapids have never proved to be willing to go out and sign the big name manager throughout the club’s nine manager history. If they go down the route of hiring a current assistant within MLS, I would expect the Rapids to be looking at; Freddy Juarez from Seattle, Ante Razov from LAFC, Yoann Damet from Columbus, Pa-Modou Kah from Charlotte, Kenny Arena from Cincinnati, or Marc Dos Santos from LAFC all as options. If for whatever reason the Rapids do decide to look outside of the inter-MLS waters, I could realistically see them checking out Hugo Perez (former El Salvador Manager), B.J. Callaghan (former USMNT Interim Manager), Ezra Hendrickson (former Chicago Fire Manager), Phil Neville (former Inter Miami Manager), or could I even throw out… Landon Donovan (Former San Diego Loyal Manager and Front Office Member)?
Outside of the manager, I want to see how this club could line-up. With no manager in place for the future it is tough to determine how this team will play, so let’s take a look in somewhat of the standard 4-3-3:
Left Wing: Need to make a signing
Striker: Raphael Navarro
Right Wing: Need to make a signing
Central Midfielder: Cole Bassett
Central Midfielder: Connor Ronan
Defensive Midfielder: Jack Price
Left-Back: Andrew Gutman
Centerback: Moise Bombito
Centerback: Andreas Maxso
Right-Back: Keegan Rosenberry
Goalkeeper: Need to make a signing
Bench: William Yarbrough, Sebastian Anderson, Lalas Abubakar, Oliver Larraz, Sidnei Tavares, Kevin Cabral, Diego Rubio
Obviously, this isn’t the same starting XI and bench that you can go into every single 2024 match with. Injuries happen, suspensions happen, shit happens… but, this is a rough idea of the “best” 18 in my eyes. Now, I can already hear it “Tom, how is this the best 18 when there are three sections where the club needs to make a signing?”. I agree with you. There are a lot of other players on the Rapids roster that are known around the league; Jonathan Lewis, Brian Galavan, Sam Nicholson, Aboubacar Keita that I feel shouldn’t crack into the best 18 but be some good trade value. Now I’m not saying to trade all of those players, depth is needed to win now in MLS more than ever. Personally (and realistically), I would try to move Jonathan Lewis and Sam Nicholson on to another club. Get out of their contract, get some extra cash for them, and free up some space on the roster to bring in another winger or two (ideally two). Then with an open U22 spot (if the club moves on from Max), I would try to sign a U22 Initiative winger and a high level TAM player. As far as the third spot that I listed as “Need to make a signing” the club could roll out a combination of William Yarbrough and Marco Ilic once again. Will they be leading MLS in goalkeeper statistical categories? No. But will they be serviceable IF they can lock down some quality attacking options on the wing? Yes.
The other major aspect to the Colorado Rapids in 2024 that I think needs to be addressed is their MLS Next Pro side, Colorado Rapids 2. The Rapids 2 were the best team over the course of the MLS Next Pro regular season, recording 66 points over their 28 games. The team had the league’s Coach of the Year, Golden Boot winner, as well as three spots of the league’s Best XI. Players such as Remi Cabral, Yosuke Hanya, Oliver Larraz, Marlon Vargas, & Adam Beaudry all could play a factor with the 1st team in 2024, my eyes more set on the likes of Cabral and Larraz. We saw the Columbus Crew introduce their MLS Next Pro stars to their 1st team roster in 2023 and it has worked out great for them. Some players earned starting jobs, some being key players off the bench, and some truly looking like players who could be sold for big fees to Europe. Maybe we can see that for Colorado in 2024?
2024 could be a fantastic year for Colorado if certain things fall into place. Make the proper head coach signing, get out of the Max contract, add a U22 Initiative and TAM level winger, hope Jack Price stays healthy, and hope some of these Rapids 2 players can translate their game into the MLS level. I have hopes… but not a ton.
