It appears that both of the recent trades involving fan favorites within the Rapids organization will be very helpful in the playoff push this month. Mullan will get to join a contender for the MLS playoffs where he already has 2 MLS Cup Champion titles to his name with the Houston Dynamo. Mac Kandji, our new Senegalese friend, was in a crowded forward situation with the NY Red Bulls and will finally get the consistent game time he needs to flash his explosiveness.

As for Clark, he was a big fan favorite and when he was healthy and on the pitch, gave massive problems with his pace on the left flank. His left foot could send rockets towards the opposing keeper, who could never handle the ball, only punch it out of danger. The loss of Clark isn’t nearly as bad currently as it would have been if he managed to stay healthy. God knows what one ACL tear is like, but I couldn’t imagine another tear on the same leg. Seeing Clark go down by himself hurt more than seeming him off to another club. Even if Clark were still with the Rapids, there would always be more “What If” questions regarding his durability. At this point, Clark was seen as a risk. Mullan will be able to help the playoff push instantly this year and give some consistency for an available midfield position. I look forward to seeing him play and wish Clark my best wishes for a fast recovery.

For one of the first times this season, I give my hand to the Rapids front office for making two very impactful moves this week before the playoffs start shortly.  Just last week, I thought the Rapids were a good MLS team capable of getting to the playoffs but now they finally have me thinking a deep playoff run is in the works.  After all, if the fans can see the “higher ups” making these last minute moves to bolster an already good MLS team, I believe we need to show our thanks by getting out to these last few season games and being that much needed 12th man.  Glory, Glory Colorado!

- Justin Hein

With the MLS roster freeze today, the Colorado Rapids made one final splash to the current lineup by adding veteran midfielder Brian Mullan from the Houston Dynamo in exchange for a midfielder of our own, Colin Clark. Details of the trade also included allocation money going to Houston in the deal with the Colorado Rapids receiving a 4th round pick in the 2013 SuperDraft. Mullan, a 32-year old native of Colorado, is set to take the training field Thursday along with the Rapids other latest addition, Mac Kandji. The new addition from Houston gives the Rapids some much needed depth in the midfield after trading Mehdi Ballouchy and having lost Collin Clark to his second ACL tear.

- Justin Hein

After the Rapids snoozed their way through the international transfer window, they made a shocking move to end the Ballouchy era. It was a debacle from the beginning, with Mehdi arriving in place of the fan-favorite, dreadlocked Fake Salt Lake player that will go unnamed.

Mehdi was much criticized on this and other Rapids Fan Sites. He occasionally showed signs of brilliance, but was never able to turn create any sort of consistency. His on-again, off-again impact was frustrating to watch. He was a good guy, and I hope that New York can be a better fit for him.

Turning now to Kandji, he’s a big boy who has the ability to create problems in the box for the defense. With the arrival of Henry, he’s also been made redundant.

My friend Justin raised a good question: what do we make of the fact that Kandji is a forward? Does this finally mean Smith will give a chance to El Piojo (it’s a nice thought, but I’ve had that hope crushed a few too many times). Will Kandji pair with Casey, and Omar rotate back to the wing? Where does Colin Clark fit into his long term plans?

It is always dangerous to switch things up this late in the going, but we were simply outclassed by the Red Bulls, and with the squad we were fielding over the last couple months I couldn’t see us getting any farther than the first round of the playoffs. Here’s hoping this shakes things up…in a good way.

For the second season in a row, the Rapids have lost Colin Clark to a torn ACL. A more cynical perspective might be that we never got him back, as he struggled to regain his dangerous form from 2009.

When an athlete gets back to back injuries of this type in the same knee, it begins to build concern about his long term prospects. He’s young, though, and I certainly hope he will make a full recovery.

More troubling for me is the absolute dearth of attacking options this leaves us in the midfield. I was a proponent, despite Clark’s hesitant appearances, to continue to use him and get him back to making those dangerous runs down the left.

With just a couple days left to grab another, there is a collective cry coming out of Colorado for Kroenke to do right by the fans and get us another attacking option; either an offensive midfielder or a striker to pair with Casey while Omar drops back.

Here’s the full press release from the club

Colorado Rapids midfielder Colin Clark has been diagnosed with a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his left knee, the club announced today.

Clark suffered the injury on August 7 in the second half of the Rapids’ 1-0 win against San Jose and will miss the remainder of the 2010 season.

Surgery to repair the injury is scheduled to take place next week.

This marks the second straight season in which Clark has suffered a torn ACL in his left knee. In 2009, he missed the team’s final 10 regular season games after the injury occurred in a training session on August 11.

Clark appeared in 16 games this season, with nine starts, playing 866 minutes.

Rapids Nation has spoken. Those who bleed burgundy hereby decree:

• Smith (despite his pooch) is the #1 choice, with over 80% of the vote
• Ballouchy is no longer in the top 5 midfielders
• Only 20% of respondents thing midfield is the right position for Cummings
• Wells Thompson is about as popular as Congress right now

Talkback

Leave your comments below…

• Are you surprised Smith was the strong #1?
• Lopez is working his way into the hearts of fans, will he finally get a start?
• Despite the unpopularity of the position, will Smith still start Cummings at winger?

In a moment that encapsulates the annual Rapids summer slide, Conor Casey found himself mano a mano (89′) with bleach blonde Jimmy Nielsen of the Wizards (see photos above). Rather than exchanging hairstyle tips, Casey did what any good striker should and (as deftly as the big man can) went around the left of the goalkeeper to face a yawning net. Time stood still. The stands rose to their feet. Helpless Wizards defenders looked on from 10 yards away. A chance to secure a comeback win versus an inferior opponent…(cue the music) “wah, wah, wah.” When a left-footed touch pass would’ve dribbled in, Casey chose power and drilled it off the post.

“If you’re not appalled, you’re not paying attention” goes the bumpersticker. As a Rapids fan, if you weren’t appalled by the first 60 minutes, you weren’t paying attention. Against an inferior regional rival, we were tepid and stagnant. The recently creative Ballouchy was back to his old self, alternating between looking lost and sending passes 10-20 degrees off target. Mastroeni was pedestrian. He was neither the sheriff of the midfield (a la the Dutch Van Bommel), nor a creative force up the middle causing the defense to release off Casey/Cummings and close him down.

Clark was 20% fire, 80% ice. The slashing Clark of ’09 made occasional and encouraging appearances, but the chilly and tentative Clark of 2010. It’s heartbreaking to see such a talent over thinking every touch of the ball, rather than letting his skill and talent lead him. It’s painfully obvious he’s afraid to take defenders on one on one. Nonetheless, he showed signs of his old brilliance as the game went on, especially as Lopez began to become the creative force and Clark could just react.

A strange thing happened in the 62′. An old hand named Claudio Lopez came in, the Rapids went back to a 4-4-2, and became as dangerous as a De Jong kung fu kick. Nearly every Lopez touch was perfect, and nearly every touch was FORWARD. With Jamie Smith the solid holding midfielder he is, Lopez was free to roam the pitch and paint beautifully. His was the pass that put Casey on goal. To be fair to Casey, had Lopez been in the game longer than 30′, Casey would’ve had another chance and would’ve made it count.

Bummer:

• A Mehdi Ballouchy led midfield that strands Casey up top and wastes Cummings speed
• Smith can’t seem to decide who he wants at left back

Bonus:

• A Claudio Lopez led midfield (4-4-2) that allows Larentowicz and Smith to hold midfield and pushes “Thunder & Lighting” (Casey/Cummings) towards goal
• Smith looks like he pairs well with Lopez in midfield
• Pickens and Wynne are absolutely at the top of their game

Bottom Line:

• We need to start our next game with the personnel and formation we ended this one. Period. The Larentowicz/Mastroeni combo with Cummings and Clark as wingers doesn’t work.
• Did I mention we need to score more goals?

If you were still awake after the first half, you were treated to a taste of the 2009 Rapids slashing attack. But for a (DC United friendly goalpost), Ballouchy would’ve had his brace for the game and Clark his first of the season. Combined with a defense that bends often but rarely breaks, we earned a much needed 3 points on the road.

The first half highlights are few and far between. I found the songs and drunken antics of the Bulldog Supporters Group far more compelling than lazy passing around the back, a lack of creativity in the midfield, and poor movement up front. Ya…not good.

Thankfully it didn’t end there as you will see below

Now That We Are 8 Games In…

• Ballouchy is a baller…sometimes: And frankly his sometimes is the best we have coming out of the middle of the field, so it will have to be enough. To be fair, he continues to develop, and with time his passing will hopefully continue to be more consistent. Either way, I’d love to see him take on a defender at least once every half, throw a step-over or two in there, and put a shot on goal.
• Smith is kinda throwing darts: All love for El Capitan duly noted, he hasn’t found a cohesive, dependable starting XI. Injuries have made that near impossible, yet I think we are all still wondering questions like Where does Wynne belong (I think RB is best though it didn’t look great at times tonight)? Will it be Wells or Clark (I’m calling Clark though Wells can be an impact sub at 60′ on a regular basis).
• Casey deserved to be left at home: It hurts me to say it, as he is one of our finest footballers and a true Denver athlete. However, he was an “on the bubble” player whose form put him in (last season) and now out (this season) of the picture.
• The MLS Season hurts USMNT Possibles: While being at the beginning of our MLS season means less chance for injury and players being a bit more rested the negatives far outweigh the positives. Casey will undoubtedly turn this early season slump around, but it is too late for the World Cup squad. Unlike his European counterparts who are at their peak form after a long season, Casey is still shaking off the cobwebs.

The Rapids have blanketed the heart of downtown Denver with burgundy and sky blue. It was a beautiful sight to see banners on Denver’s famous 16th Street Mall of Colin Clark, Conor Casey, Pablo Mastroeni, and Omar Cummings.

The banners said April 3rd, and we are all hoping that doesn’t turn out to be false prophecy.

Colorado Rapids got one point, but it’s the two points we didn’t get in our final home game that have Rapids fans concerned. New England have struggled to score recently, and this looked to be our best chance to secure a playoff spot. I’m not saying the alarm is sounding, but I can hear some kind of high pitch beeping.

Basics

The Rapids came out in a 3-5-2 before the 16,535 that were in attendance. This formation was likely designed to generate the service to Thunder & Lighting that have eluded us (our last non-PK goal was September 12th). It gave our offense a spark in the first half that we have lacked over the last month, and our boys worked their tails off as they do every week.

We were able to contain New England all day, but gave up an open header to Dube and he didn’t waste the chance. The Revolution had few chances off open play, and one can’t help but wonder what “would’ve been” if we had covered that free kick better or made more use of our own free kicks.

Bummer

The Rapids continue to struggle finding that final ball. The 3-5-2 created more chances, but Casey and Cummings now only expect 1 legitimate chance per game on goal. Early in the season, it was more like 3 or 4. As Gary Smith mentioned, we will have to be near flawless on executing those chances, which simply isn’t realistic. Even the best strikers in the world like Fernando Torres or Lionel Messi do not execute anywhere near 100% on golden chances.

I’m starting to feel like a broken record…but where is our service going to come from for the rest of this season? Players like Ballouchy and LaBrocca are playing very well, but simply do not have the killer instinct like Colin Clark had.

Bonus

• The calls have gone our way when we needed them to. Plain and simple, the PK’s have been our life ring, and Casey has not wasted them.
• Preston Burpo is playing excellent in goal for Pickens. He hasn’t registered the clean sheet I’m sure he wants, but is playing a steady veteran game every Saturday.

Backtalk

For the backtalk, I’ll be putting up the same survey about whether we are going to make the playoffs. Has your opinion changed? I don’t want to be a Debbie Downer, but the Rapids have gone from one of the most prolific attacks in the MLS to a team who just can’t put it in the back of the net.