This morning (early this morning Colorado time) the Rapids played the Arsenal Reserves. According to Arsenal fans it was closer to a mix of reserves and youth team players. The Rapids won 1-0 on a Casey goal with a Cummings assist in the 52nd minute. Colorado started pretty close to a full lineup:
Pickens
Kimura - Moor - Baudet - Earls
Smith - Mastroeni - LaBrocca - Thompson
Casey - Cummings
Kimura - Moor - Baudet - Earls
Smith - Mastroeni - LaBrocca - Thompson
Casey - Cummings
The following players all got subbed in in the second half:
Ceus, Valentino, Murillo, Holody, Clark, Larentowicz, LaBauex, Lorie, Noonan, Akpan
Notable is that this was the first preseason action for Clark, Earls, and Larentowicz. I think this starting 11 is almost the expected starters of everyone was healthy. If Clark and Larentowicz were healthy I think they would start over Thompson and LaBrocca.
Later in the day Colorado made three roster announcements and slipped a fourth in without an announcement.
- Facundo Diz has been released
- Draftee Chad Borak will not be offered a contract
- Ian Joyce has been signed
- Finally Ross LaBauex now appears on the roster page of the Rapids website, along with the other new Rapids
This leaves us with 26 rostered players and two trialists (Lorei and de la Cruz). The rumor is that the roster limit will be the same as last year, 24. This leaves the Rapids with 4 extra players, assuming no other surprises like Joyce. The 4 players who are going to be cut are most likely not going to be players who were just offered contracts. So my guesses:
Ross Schunk - Andre Akpan appears to have taken his slot.
Greg Dalby - Jeff Larentowicz, Nick LaBrocca, and Pablo Mastroeni give us plenty of d-mid depth
Rolan de la Cruz - Won't be offered a contract
The 4th player is a little more tricky. There seems to be numerous options. I could see it being Lorei, Palguta, Noonan, Ceus, or O'Brien (depending on the GA status). Right now my odds would be on Noonan or O'Brien being cut.
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1 comment:
Great write up. I don't see the Rapids cutting Ceus, he's had a solid preseason.
Dalby already looks out of the mix at center mid. I think he's trying to hold on to a spot as a center back.
Coach Smith also said he wanted to add 3 more players not too long ago. i'm not sure if Joyce and LaBauex are two of those 3. I hope there are 3 more signings coming before the season starts.
My guesses are: Dalby, Schunk, O'Brien, and Ballouchy
I'd trade all four for another forward.
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