2/3rd Season Grades

This Rapids season feels just like the past few Rapids seasons. Off to a great start and then crawl to the finish. If you break it down into 3 ten game segments, the Rapids started off great with a 6-3-1 (W-L-T) record and 19 points. If you look at the second 10 game segment, it hasn't been very good. The Rapids were 1-3-6 (W-L-T) with 9 points in the last ten games they've played, including the 3-1 loss in Columbus over the weekend. Let's take a look at who's been on the field and how I grade them.


(In order of minutes played)

G - Matt Pickens (1800 mins) B+
He's been pretty good in goal, he's started every game thus far. He and the defense have had good communication. I would say has been one of the top keepers in MLS this year.

D - Drew Moor (1800 mins) B+
I don't think that Rapids fans, myself included, knew just how good this guy was when the Rapids traded for him. He's been a rock in the back line, whether it be in central defense or on the wing, he's been a great addition to this club. Only thing keeping him from getting an A is the recent wave of goals being let in by the backline.

D - Marvell Wynne (1800 mins) B+
If anyone deserves an A, it's Marvell Wynne. I just couldn't give it to him becuase of the recent lack of success from the back line as a whole. That being said, Marvell Wynne has been great. I didn't think that anyone could be faster than Omar Cummings, but I think Wynne has him beat. Wynne never is fully beat on a play, if his man gets past you can always count on him to chase the guy down. He has been a joy to watch all season.

F - Omar Cummings (1769 mins) C+
The grade may seem a bit harsh, but the expectations of Omar this year were set higher and he hasn't reached them. He was moved to the wing which has shown to not work. He still has punishing speed and what seems to be more moves on the ball this year to get free, but his finishing is still as bad as it's ever been. He's had 2 stellar goals this year and should have had at least 4 or 5 more "easy" ones if his touch wouldn't have let him down. His assist totals are down this year too.

M - Jeff Larentowicz (1,717 mins) B
Larentowitz' game is similar to Pablo Mastroeni's with a tad more dangerous right foot. He's a bruiser, a destroyer and passes better than I thought he would. My first thought when he was brought in was that it signed the end of the Pablo era, but they have played on the field together most of the year. While I don't agree with the strategy, Larentowitz can't be knocked for doing the job he was put on the field to do.

M - Pablo Mastroeni (1,673 mins) C+
He still has a temper (see the Columbus home game) but he's been better about taking cards this year. With Larentowitz in the holding midfield role along side him, Pablo's offensive game has had much more room to be spotlighted, which I don't know if you would consider a good thing. He had 4 career goals before this year, but has scored 2 real nice goals this season. However, I'm not sure if he's doing enough as the leader and captain of this club to warrant a higher grade.

F - Conor Casey (1,533 mins) B-
He's got 7 goals and 3 assists so far this season, but hasn't scored since July 17th vs. KC, partly becuase of injury. He's played in the lone striker role most of the season with basically nothing, as far as service goes, from the midfield. He's missed quite a few chances with his head this year. At times he looks aloof and disinterested on the field, but without him the offense is completely lost. If he were to get injured again and have to miss any of the last 10 games, I think it would be hard to see how this club makes the playoffs.

M - Mehdi Ballouchy (1,328 mins) D+
You probably clicked on this article just to read my comments about Mehdi Ballouchy didn't you? Well here goes. Mehdi is an enigma. He must be the best practice player ever. I don't know how else to explain it. My frustration with Mehdi's game is that the role he's being put in is one that he obviously cannot do. In the 4-5-1 role as the central creative type midfielder he should be expected to create the offense, to be the facilitator of the forward motion. I can't tell you how many times he gets the ball deep into the midfield, drops it back to either Pablo, Jeff or a defender, turns his head and runs up field. It happens most ever time he touches the ball. Please Mehdi, take control, show some aggressiveness, look to create and pass into space! The worst part is that there is someone on the bench who he could be learning from that does all those things when he is on the field...but we'll get to that later. Mehdi's low grade is a reflection of his great potential not turning into great ability.

D - Danny Earls (1,208 mins) C
He started out so well. We all sang his praises after the first few weeks, saying "Jordan Harvey who?", but he's young, and has made some mistakes. He's lost the confidence of his manager and the club even made a trade to try to shore up that spot. I didn't think his errors were to that extent, or that he was the sole problem for their struggles. It feels like he's been made out to be a scapegoat somewhat. I just think he's a young player who went through some growing pains adjusting to the competitiveness of this league. I think he'll be a good player in the future.

D - Kosuke Kimura (1,031 mins) C
Everyone loves his willingness to do whatever it takes in whatever position he's put in. He's a true pro, a nice guy and a tireless worker. All that being said, he's not really a starter type player. He's a good glue guy and a good guy to have on the team. With Wynne coming to the club, Kimura moved more into the fill in role but has been called upon more frequently with the struggles of the left back position. When he is on the field, you can expect him to get beaten a time or two, but you can also expect him to show up in the offensive zone trying to make plays.

D - Julien Baudet (920 mins) B
The Beast as he's affectionately known is as he's called on the field. He's an intimidating force but not without his faults. He's had a few bone headed plays that have cost the club. He's always being targeted on free kicks and corners but hasn't scored any of them. However, it seems he and Drew Moor have a good feel for each other and he's been a cornerstone for the defense that has been pretty sold this year. I also like the accent, the allure, the beastliness...

M - Wells Thompson (885 mins) C
At the beginning of the season I thought Wells was a huge upgrade over Jacob Peterson. As the season has progressed, he's shown to be pretty much the exact same player as Peterson, with a bit more more of a temper. He has an affinity for finding physical challenges. One thing he does that I think Gary Smith really likes and what keeps him on the field is that he runs all day. He runs forward, he runs back to defend, he runs all day long. For a wing player, he doesn't have much in the way of crossing the ball. He needs to improve that part of his game quickly with Colin Clark being down for the season.

M - Colin Clark (866 mins) C-
Speaking of Colin Clark, I feel bad for the guy, two years in a row tearing your knee up has to suck. If we're just looking at his performance on the field, he struggled this year. Actually in the last game he played, it was his best game of the year up to that point. He had been timid, looked scared to go into challenges, and rusty. It's too bad that we won't get to see this year if he was able to come back from his injury and be productive again. Our wing play last year suffered without him and probably will continue to struggle again this year too.

M - Jamie Smith (620 mins) C
Has never really been fit enough to contribute. He gets injured very easily and has yet to see consistent time on the playing field. When he is on the field he has shown some skill on the ball and an ability to make things happen from set pieces. However, all that doesn't matter if he can't stay on the field.

D - Scott Palguta (415 mins) C-
After a very nice season last year he was bumped out of the starting role by a healthy Julien Baudet and the acquisition of Drew Moor. When he has played it's been shakey at best. He was pulled in the first half of the KC game for not being able to keep up with Kamara and Burnbury. He's filled in here and there at LB and CB, and has played better as of late, but not nearly as good as he was last year.

F - Quincy Amarikwa (201 mins) C
The Rapids traded for him earlier this season and he's played more than I thought he would. He's very athletic and a bull dog on the field but lacks a finishing touch. I wouldn't want to have to count on him if Casey or Omar get hurt.

F - Claudio Lopez (143 mins) B
El Piojo, the legend. I have been your biggest ally, you biggest supporter, your biggest fan. I'm not sure why you can't get on the field to start a game. You told me personally that you can play more than you are, and when you are on the field, the entire team looks dangerous. I know you're getting up there in age, and I know that with you inserted into the lineup that the problems of this team won't all magically disappear. But I know what my eyes tell me, and that's that you are the most skilled player on the ball this team has had in a long time. I want you on that field, I need you on that field, the Rapids need you on that field if they're going to make the playoffs this year.

M - Ross LaBauex (59 mins) INC
Hasn't had enough time on the field to be able to grade him accurately. I do like saying his name though.

Coach Gary Smith C
While I don't agree with some of the tactical decisions that Gary Smith has made, I look at some of the player personnel decisions as more egregious. His insistence on using Mehdi Ballouchy in the creative central midfielder role in the 4-5-1 formation is questionable at best. His use of Omar Cummings on the wing has proven to be unsuccessful. There were some decisions that worked, for the most part the back line have been solid..ignoring the LB slot, Larentowitz has worked, even thought I would start him in place of Pablo and not along side him. What started out to be the best start in Rapid history is turning into another mediocre year, straight on the path of another 10-10-10 year.

Conclusion and Predicion
The Rapids have 10 games left, 6 at home 4 on the road. They have Chicago and Toronto breathing down their necks for the last playoff spot. Can they hold on and make the playoffs? At this point, I say no. I see them going 3-5-2 with the schedule they have left. That would give them 11 more points for a total of 39 points. I think that Chicago will end up with more points and make the playoffs instead. What do you think, please feel free to leave a comment here, or let me know via twitter.