Colorado Rapids
4-1-2-1-2
GK Tim Howard
RB Keegan Rosenberry
CB Axel Sjoberg
CB Tommy Smith
LB Dillon Serna
CDM Jack Price
CM Kellyn Acosta
CM Benny Feilhaber
CAM Shkelzen Gashi
ST Kei Kamara
ST Diego Rubio
This line-up probably isn’t to dissonant to the consensus best Rapids line-up. There will be some argument over who the two best center-backs are, but the remainder of the team is fairly solid. I would like Kortne Ford to be one of the starters sooner rather than later, but I’m not sure he’s there yet. Dillon Serna looks set to take over the left-back position and he is fairly uncontested.
Three of the four midfield slots are set in stone, although Benny Feilhaber could certainly move up the field into the attacking midfield role, with a different shuttler providing more energy and defensive work rate.
Mezquida is expected to be the attacking midfielder to begin the season, but I have given that position to Gashi. That probably elicits bile in the back of the throats of Rapids fans, but Gashi still has some talent and, in this system, that’s a good role for him. I believe Gashi is more likely to be productive than Mezquida. The front two are Rubio and Kamara, though I do expect Shinyashiki to get some play and I expect a solid season from the rookie.