Colorado Rapids: 2019 season outlook

The Colorado Rapids had one of the toughest, longest, most grueling seasons in Major League Soccer last year. In 2019, they look poised to make a big jump up the standings or big moves in the boardroom.

So Atlanta United won the MLS CUP. For Colorado Rapids fans, that was sooo last season. The highs of the Rapids second place finish in 2016 are also long gone. In Anthony Hudson’s second season as head coach, he needs his version of the Rapids to have progressed substantially.

The Rapids offseason was busy, with plenty of smart signings to build up fan support again. It’s too bad the Denver Post headline writers haven’t been paying attention. Most people only read the headlines. The Rapids made the moves to start building positive press. Positive results are now needed to build any real momentum in the Denver sports scene.

Hudson’s first season in charge had its growing pains, in part thanks to a quirk in CONCACAF Champions League formatting. No more excuses about an extended preseason will fly. Hudson and the Rapids needed to show a real plan to gain players and fans’ trust. This offseason, the Rapids front office remade the squad in the hope of doing precisely that. The initial reactions have been very positive.

Here is a breakdown of the 2019 outlook, position group by position group.

Tim Howard and Clint Irwin are manning the gloves. A time share is unlikely, but Irwin will get his games just to keep Howard fresh and healthy. In Howard’s last season, this arrangement would be more than fair to his legacy. Howard’s game is becoming more limited and no one wants him subjected to a shooting gallery of a season.

Irwin has proved a serviceable MLS keeper and could be the best insurance policy in MLS. Howard is well past his prime, showing his on many occasions last season. If he cannot uphold an average MLS keeper standard, Hudson should not be shy to give Irwin the starting spot.

Everyone sounds positive that having Irwin in the fold will not dampen Howard’s spirits. Through two decades, Howard has been a pro’s pro. The offseason of rest has given him time to recharge for one last run at a trophy, and the Rapids may finally have the team in front of him to compete. It does sound as if everyone expects Howard to return to form and be an on-field leader and not just a clubhouse captain. Coach Anthony Hudson told MLSSoccer.com:

"“He’s a big part of next year. He’s a big part of building this team. He’s a big part of building the culture. If you’re not going to buy a superstar player every year, which not everyone has the luxury of doing that and relying on those types of players, then you have to build a team. You have to build a team that’s based on values, and works a certain way, and is together, and everyone works for each other. We’re building that, and Tim Howard is right at the heart of that. Tim has literally held the team together. He’s binding everyone together. He’s finding ways constantly to make sure this club moves forward. People see him on the pitch. I can assure you off the pitch, he’s an unbelievable captain and he wants this club to succeed. And he’s doing everything he possibly can.”"