The Colorado Rapids continued their off season rebuilding by acquiring keeper Zac MacMath from the Philadelphia Union in exchange for the Rapid’s second-round pick in the 2017 MLS SuperDraft. MacMath spent the last season on loan with the Rapids and started three regular season matches as well as both of Colorado’s U.S. Open Cup matches. MacMath will most likely continue to back up Rapid’s number one Clint Irwin, and his acquisition brings the Rapid’s keeper count to three.
In a statement released by the Rapid’s on Friday, Paul Bravo, Vice President of Soccer Operations and Technical Director stated that although he didn’t get too many minutes last season “Zac impressed us with his ability and his professionalism,” going on t0 say “The deal makes economic sense for us and he’ll add good depth to our goalkeeping position.”
On December 9th the Rapid’s announced that defender Sean St. Ledger signed a new contract with the club although the terms of the deal were not disclosed. St. Ledger, an Irish international, was picked up off waivers by the Rapids this past August after being released by Orlando City SC. 2016 will be the 30 year old center back’s second season in Major League Soccer after he spent 12 years plying his trade for English clubs Preston North End, Peterborough and Leicester City. St. Ledger started in 12 games for the Rapid’s in 2015 and his experience and leadership will be one of the cornerstones the Rapid’s will try to build their defense on for 2016.
The Rapid’s needs this offseason are numerous, as you’d expect from the club that finished dead last in the Western Conference in 2015. Every facet of the team will need to be improved if Colorado wants to move up the league table, with the midfield requiring the most attention.
Even with Designated Player Kevin Doyle leading the Rapids up front, Colorado only scored 33 goals in 34 games last season. A disjointed and creatively defunct Rapid’s midfield failed to provide Doyle, a speedy forward whose talent lies in getting in behind defenses, the service he needed to provide a consistent threat to the opponent’s goal. Poor hold up play by attacking midfielders made it difficult to build attacks from the back, forcing the Rapid’s to play too many long diagonal balls over the top.
With the thin mile high air in Colorado, a great home field advantage for the acclimatized Rapid’s, long balls will always be a part of the Rapid’s game, but in 2015 the long-ball became the dominant method of attack. The team will need to find variety when moving toward the final third and needs to acquire an attacking player capable of picking out a final pass to the forwards, as well as using the space created by Doyle’s runs to bring the whole team up out of their own half. The Rapid’s also need some speed on the wings that can provide Doyle and fellow striker Dominique Badji with some crosses they can get on the end of.
Depth is an issue for this squad, and Colorado will need to get deeper across the entire roster. The main spot that added depth would make an impact at is forward. Doyle and Badji are both similar players, good at pestering defenses with dangerous runs in behind, but the Rapid’s need a change up to that style. A large, physical target man would be a great change up late in games for Colorado and could help create more chances from set-pieces.
After declining options on 10 players earlier this month, Colorado has a lot of space on their roster to bring in new talent and will look to get younger moving into 2016. Expect a busy offseason and a lot of new faces when soccer returns to Dick’s Sporting Good’s Park this Spring.
Who knows, with the new Targeted Allocation Money the MLS is injecting into the league, the Rapid’s may decide to exercise the option to bring in Mexican international Carlo’s Vela this January as a designated player, if he’s given his requested release from Real Sociedad. Stay tuned to Prost Amerika for more as the offseason unfolds.
