To the puzzlement of this Rapids fans, and apparently to some Toronto FC fans, the Rapids have traded Jacob Peterson. From the Rapids PR, Colorado received “allocation money in exchange for midfielder Jacob Peterson. Per club and league policies, financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.”

From a great writer to the north, The 24th Minute:

This is a bit of a head scratcher. Peterson is a wing player, which we all know Toronto needs, but he’s a wing player that blew his knee out in the final month of the 2009 season. In Colorado it was expected that he might not be ready to play until August.

For me this is a head scratcher as well. As I discuss in relation to my interview with Gary Smith, the loss of Peterson as our final healthy winger had profound implications on our tactics. After losing Clark and Peterson, we were de-clawed. If I’m not mistaken, we didn’t score a non-PK goal after September 12th, or at least we scored very few. How can trading away one of our wingers do anything but hurt an already susceptible role.

HOWEVER. El Capitan Gary Smith is undoubtedly aware of this, and in his interview discussed the affect of losing wingers. I can only assume this money will go towards acquiring another winger, of an ever greater quality. My hope is we will also pick up a solid backup, a true winger perhaps later in their career. Training Kimura on the job, late in the season, to be a winger was not effective.

Major League Soccer (MLS), Rapids News and Analysis Gary Smith, Jacob Peterson, Kosuke Kimura, Toronto FC

In evaluating the Rapids form at this point in the season, I think of the US Men’s National Team. There was a carousel of players in and out, different formations, different styles of play, and inconsistent results. Once Bob Bradley arrived at a final 11 and somewhat of an identity, the results at the Confederations Cup were staggering. I believe the Rapids have yet to find that identity.

One of the first areas this shows up is the lack of a default starting 11. Read more…

Major League Soccer (MLS), Rapids News and Analysis, US National Team Bob Bradley, Chivas USA, Colin Clark, Conor Casey, Cory Gibbs, DC United, Jacob Peterson, Jordan Harvey, Julien Baudet, Kosuke Kimura, Matt Pickens, Mehdi Ballouchy, Nick LaBrocca, Omar Cummings, Pablo Mastroeni, Preston Burpo, Scott Palguta, Ugo Ihemelu, US Men's National Team

Kosuke’s second goal of the season was enough to secure a victory at home for the Rapids over a struggling FC Dallas team. While Kimura lacks the size of a Palguta or the ability to impose like Ihemelu, he has shown now on two occasions that he can utilize his speed from the back to find holes in the defense. Kudos also to Ballouchy, whose pass showed tremendous vision. Though at times he struggles with imprecise passing, he is developing his ability to see the field and find the attacking player. Read more…

Major League Soccer (MLS), Rapids News and Analysis DC United, FC Dallas, Jacob Peterson, Kosuke Kimura, Mehdi Ballouchy, MLSnet.com, Nick LaBrocca, Nick Thomas, Ugo Ihemelu, wewantrapidman

At that half I noted the dramatically improved play by Kimura, but the best was yet to come. His attacking runs from the back were rewarded with his first MLS goal, an insurance goal in the 60th minute. Read more…

Major League Soccer (MLS), Rapids News and Analysis Kosuke Kimura, New England Revolution, Real Salt Lake

The Rapids have finally come out looking like the home team in the first half at DSGP, and lead at the half 1-0 vs rivals Fake Salt Lake. The back four are pushing much farther up the pitch, a welcome adjustment by Gary Smith Read more…

Major League Soccer (MLS), Rapids News and Analysis Conor Casey, Gary Smith, Kosuke Kimura, Matt Pickens, pitch

The golden scoring touch of Conor Casey and a bit of luck earned the Rapids a valuable point away. Casey showed why he is the  the leading scorer in the MLS, calmly delivering a deadly finish and keeping the defending MLS champs winless this season. Read more…

Major League Soccer (MLS), Rapids News and Analysis Columbus Crew, Conor Casey, Gary Smith, Guillermo Barros Schelotto, Houston Dynamo, Kosuke Kimura, Preston Burpo, Scott Palguta, Ty Harden

Terry Cooke stepped onto the pitch in the 65th minute and bent a free kick in the net, a curling ball reminiscent of a more famous Englishman. After a massive mistake by Cory Gibbs led to a Wizards equalizer, Cooke sent a gorgeous outlet pass to Colin Clarke who hit a streaking Omar Cummings for the winning goal. Read more…

Major League Soccer (MLS), Rapids News and Analysis Colin Clark, colorado rapids, Conor Casey, Cory Gibbs, Dick's Sporting Goods Park, Gary Smith, Kansas City Wizards, Kosuke Kimura, Matt Pickens, Nick LaBrocca, Omar Cummings, Terry Cooke, Ugo Ihemelu

Earlier today the Rapids Undercurrent blog reported deals reached with key young stars. The press release just came out in the last few minutes, and the Rapids have inked 4 year deals with midfielders Colin Clark and Nick LaBrocca and defenders Jordan Harvey and Kosuke Kimura. Read more…

Rapids News and Analysis Colin Clark, defender, Gary Smith, Jordan Harvey, Kosuke Kimura, midfielder, Nick LaBrocca