One of the first areas this shows up is the lack of a default starting 11. If you look at the Rapids losses on 3/21 to Chivas USA, 4/19 to Houston, 6/28 to Seattle, 7/4 to Chicago, and 7/18 to DC United, these are the players who started.

1. Matt Pickens
2. Preston Burpo
3. Jordan Harvey
4. Ugo Ihemelu
5. Scott Palguta
6. Cory Gibbs
7. Julien Baudet
8. Kosuke Kimura
9. Nick LaBrocca
10. Mehdi Ballouchy
11. Jacob Peterson
12. Pablo Mastroeni
13. Greg Dalby
14. Colin Clark
15. Conor Casey
16. Pan Noonan
17. Omar Cummings

For the 6/24 and 7/4 losses there was some turnover due to international duties (Casey, Cummings, Clark), however if you look at this list I can’t say who El Capitan is going to pick for our upcoming match against New York. Not only that, but how players are used is also in question. Is Kimura effective enough as an attacking defender to make up for deficiencies in shutting down attackers? How does Noonan fit into our attack, can he mesh soon enough to make an impact this season? Is Baudet a helpful addition to the squad, or are we disrupting our defense by inserting him mid season?

And what is our style? Are we hard nosed and aggressive like Mastroeni? Are we quick on the counter like Clark and Cummings? Are we fluid like Ballouchy? I realize all of these can coexist at some level, but it seems like individual players have their own style, but the Rapids have not developed a style all their own.

If we can identify the starting 11 that perform well together and have the best chance of creating a cohesive style, we might achieve some consistency and get back into the playoff picture.

What are your thoughts?

First off, tell us about when and how your passion for the Rapids began.

I’ve been around since the beginning.  In high school, my teammates and I were skipping classes to watch the 1990 World Cup, so our principal finally gave in and put a TV in the cafeteria for us to watch matches.  Then was the very exciting 1994 World Cup of course, which lead to the US to getting a top professional league.  I had never really watched league soccer of any kind.  I was a giddy twenty one year at old Mile High for the opening game and have been a Rapids fan since.

What role do you think supporters clubs play in the growth of a franchise?

Supporters are very important to the growth of the Rapids.  The Rapids have marketed as family entertainment from day one.  They have found a lot of success with it and understandably have stuck with it.
However, Colorado is full of soccer fanatics and a major complaint about the Rapids is how dull the game atmosphere is.

In section 100,  you have the Centennial Firm bringing the atmosphere you’d expect to see at a soccer match, which is to the benefit of everyone.  They raise the excitement level inside the stadium and are the twelfth man making DSG Park hard for other teams to play in.  In section 108, you have Class VI, which is a section carved out of the stadium for people that want to sit and watch the game, but to do it among other supporters that are passionate about the Rapids.

But it’s more than just that.  Because supporters do more then just the inside stadium.  We have a website NoFanAlone.com where we’re interviewing players and bringing club news to fans, which is valuable since the number of places to get Rapids coverage is slim.  We host road trips, which if you’re a fan of the Rapids, will be the highlight of your season.  And before each game, we have one of MLS’ best tailgates, making going to a Rapids game more then just a game, we make it an event.

One thing I’ve heard repeatedly over the last couple years when the Rapids have struggled on the field is, “I thought about skipping this game, but I wanted to see all my Rapids friends.”

You are involved with both Class VI and C-Firm. Class VI has been getting quite the buzz of late, with Rapids reps like Marcus Myrick promoting you in season ticket holder email updates. How have you been able to build such a great base and relationship with the Rapids organization?

It’s been a long road, built on trust, communication, and compromise.

With Class VI, it’s much easier to have the backing of the Rapids front office, because the section is like any section you’d see at an NHL or NFL game.  So as we got more and more season ticket holders (over 100) into the section, they can see that we’re providing something that the Rapids haven’t been able to create.

With the Centennial Firm, the issues have always been two-fold.  Dealing with complaints from other fans and also the concerns from security.  There was a major break through last season when the Managing Director Jeff Plush had a series of face to face meetings with the heads of all the supporters groups along with DSG Park Officials, and Security Officals.

Jeff expressed the concerns of the teams and the supporters did likewise.  But the biggest breakthough came from Patrick Quinn,  (or Quinn to everyone), who drafted a Supporters Code of Conduct and committed to policing the section.

We’ve all gotten to know each other, and they have seen the success we’ve had in many events like the pre-season party where Coach Smith addressed supporters, our tailgates, and our road trips.  They have been extremely receptive this year, especially Director of Marketing Kieran Cain.

How would you define “success” Rapids this year?

Well, it’s been a difficult time for the Rapids on the field since 2002 in my opinion.  So success for the Rapids in 2009 for me doesn’t mean hoisting MLS Cup.  What it means to me is that they make the playoffs, win at home, and provide entertaining soccer.  I think all three are achievable.

As a club, I think success means increasing season ticket sales and getting the team’s finances in the black, which I know they are coming pretty close to.  These two goals however are tied directly to the on field product.

Finally, who is one player who has caught your eye this year, and why?

Last year was a great year for players making break through – Nick LaBrocca, Kosuke Kimara, and Omar Cummings for example.  But this year, I think Jordan Harvey is vastly underated and a major reason this team is winning.

Star left backs in this league are rare.  It doesn’t take a genius to know that if you follow the US Men’s National team.  So while Jordan Harvey doesn’t get the love of say Colin Clark or Conor Casey, he’s proving to be one of the more skilled left back in MLS.  Sing his praises Rapids fans!

Mark, thanks for taking the time. Check out more from Class VI at NoFanAlone.com

For me, Clark and LaBrocca were the key signings of the bunch. I have to agree with Mark on the Undercurrent blog comments, Kimura has been underwhelming. Hopefully this year he can step up his play.

Here is Gary Smith’s take on the signings:

“I am overwhelmed that these players have committed their futures to the club,” said Rapids’ head coach Gary Smith.

“They are all talented players that we felt we needed to make a commitment to from our side as well. I am pleased that they all see that their futures are bright here and I don’t see any reason why the potential that each one of them still has within themselves can not be fulfilled here.”

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