Colorado Rapids: 2019 season outlook

Attack

Dominque Badji wound up being the teams’ highest goalscorer. He was traded away midseason. One goalscoring outburst in one game was seemingly enough to take the honors, which says a lot about the Colorado Rapids inept finishing last season.

The Rapids were lacking in scoring threats. Badji had one good game, maybe two, bfore being sold, while a lack of several qualities, and availability, has kept Shkelzen Gashi from earning his starting spot and demonstrating his Designated Player ability. Tired of waiting on Gashi to come good, the Rapids brought in two MLS All-Star level strikers for 2019.

Rapids fans have wanted a true goalscorer for years. Anyone with a half chance of holding down the position needed a running partner to attract attention. No one in years past had the individual talent to skin a defense for a game-winning goal. But Colorado now have a pair of strikers that can play either role and have complemented each other well so far this preseason.

Kei Kamara and Diego Rubio running as a tandem should occupy most of the attention and bag most of the goals. Keeping center-backs occupied is a dirty job, and is tough when isolated. But having two forwards capable of running the channels and stretching the pitch will make a difference. The fact that they are both capable of changing a game will also keep opposing outside backs at home instead of pressing into the Rapids’ defensive half.

Nicolás Mezquida was brought in to buzz around the final third and connect the attacking combinations. Mezquida will get forward plenty, but might spend most of the season disguised as a midfielder or winger. While Kamara and Rubio press backlines, Mezquida will drop deeper, between the midfield and defence to pick up the ball.

Niki Jackson had some bright moments last season, but rarely were any of them worthy of a goal celebration. If the Rapids need Jackson to provide heavy minutes, the season will be tough. Andre Shinyashiki should find minutes as the first sub off the bench. Considering the need for more quality in the back, Jackson may join Sam Raben in Colorado Springs.

Rapids fans can take solace in the fact that this season has no middle ground. Finishing mid-table will be seen as a success and will likely even mean a playoff appearance. A Rapids team sitting mid-table during the summer transfer window has room to improve. But a slow start and any extended period of time in the lower reaches of the East will mean Anthony Hudson’s grand plan is ended before summer.

The Rapids have no excuses for a slow start. Hudson and Smith had time to construct a roster with the MLS regular season being the only focus. Moreover, Colorado starts the season with a perfect litmus test of a schedule. If Hudson cannot find more than six points in the first six games, his seat should be warm even in snowy weather.

Opening with Portland at home gives the new squad a chance to show fans the season’s long investment of time will be worth it. A result against an MLS Cup finalist won’t forgive last season, but it would be the best way to begin this season’s narrative. This same approach applies to the away trip against Seattle.

When Sporting KC visits Commerce City, there needs to be a recognizable plan that the players and fans understand can be successful. Sporting KC has been the model mid-market team for MLS, winning trophies and conference titles through the last decade. There is no reason the Rapids cannot replicate that success in Denver. Wins go a long way to convincing the skeptical.

Colorado then goes to FC Dallas, another team with a totally restructured first team. Houston at home and Orlando City away follow. The Rapids need at least two points from games against the three true contenders and six points from the three games against other 2018 also-rans.

The front office may argue that six games would be too short of a leash. The fans would point to all of last season. The players would point to the definition of small sample size, or scatter away from Hudson, which would be telling enough. So let’s give the Rapids a full nine games to prove themselves.

Seattle and D.C. United visit Colorado before the Rapids take a trip to Chicago. Nine games is enough of a sample size. The fans should set the bar at 13 points after nine games, or Hudson’s nine lives are up. The talent to win is available.

The Rapids cannot waste a season or a summer transfer window, and without results would need to get a new man in to lead the second half charge. Lame ducks should never pilot projects. Even if the Rapids miss that 13-point projection, the season would not be lost. They would still have the talent to sneak into the playoffs, and from there anything is possible. Just look at the star above the Colorado Rapids crest.