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Colorado Rapids: 5 key players to watch in 2020

By Hilario Muniz

Younes Namli of FC Krasnodar during UEFA Europa League between Getafe CF and FC Krasnodar at Coliseum Alfonso Perez in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by A. Ware/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Younes Namli of FC Krasnodar during UEFA Europa League between Getafe CF and FC Krasnodar at Coliseum Alfonso Perez in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by A. Ware/NurPhoto via Getty Images) /
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COMMERCE CITY, CO – AUGUST 10: Lalas Abubakar #6 of the Colorado Rapids greets teammate Clint Irwin #31 following a save during the second half against the San Jose Earthquakes at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park on August 10, 2019 in Commerce City, Colorado. (Photo by Timothy Nwachukwu/Getty Images)
COMMERCE CITY, CO – AUGUST 10: Lalas Abubakar #6 of the Colorado Rapids greets teammate Clint Irwin #31 following a save during the second half against the San Jose Earthquakes at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park on August 10, 2019 in Commerce City, Colorado. (Photo by Timothy Nwachukwu/Getty Images) /

2. Clint Irwin

Replacing a legend, that is the task ahead for MLS veteran Clint Irwin. After being traded to Toronto FC back in 2016, Irwin returned to the club in December 2018. While away, his job at the Colorado Rapids had been taken over by USMNT and former Premier League goalkeeper Tim Howard.

Howard retained the starting job up until his retirement from professional soccer at the end of last season. In comes Irwin, who made 11 appearances alongside Howard last season with nine starts. In that time, he made 42 saves, allowed 17 goals and posted a 4-4-2 record. Although before being traded to Toronto he appeared in 89 games with 87 starts and was named to the 2015 All-Star roster, he has not been a regular starter for several years and replacing Howard is no easy task.

He has the experience to handle the pressure of the role, undoubtedly, but seeing as he is the only goalkeeper on the roster with any real MLS experience, the job is his. The Rapids struggled to stop their opponents scoring last season. This has apparently been rectified with some of those acquisitions, but if the backline has not been properly reinforced, it could be a busy campaign for Irwin between the sticks.

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