RSS
Home
Rapids face the return of Gomito
Print
Email
RSS
Subscribe
The D.C. Micro-bus stops by Colorado.
(AP Photo/Winslow Townson)
Designated Players have been all the rage in Major League Soccer. A designated player is a high profile player that a team can sign for a millions, but still keep on the roster for the league maximum.
The Los Angeles Galaxy has two such players in David Beckham and Landon Donovan. Chicago has Cuautemoc Blanco. Seattle has Freddie Ljundberg. The Crew have Schelotto who wasn't a designated player, but then earned the pay raise by leading Columbus to their first MLS Cup win.
The Rapids have only dangled a big toe in the Designated Player waters. Last year, for one year, the team traded away their rights to have a designated player to D. C. United in return for Christian Gomez. Making Gomez an almost Designated Player.
Gomez' performance with the Rapids was promising at times. Brilliant on the occasion of playing his old team. But, in general he didn't reach the level that he played at in DC.
When Gary Smith took over the team Gomez's days seemed numbered. Smith seldom played Christian, and once the off season came rumors circulated that the Rapids wanted to be unburdened of Gomez's contract.
For their part D.C. United didn't find that the Designated Player they hired to replace Gomez was working out. Gomez always did fight hard for DC, and many people thought it was a mistake to let him go.
In a trade that seemed to satisfy nearly everybody the Rapids sent Gomez back to DC in return for the Designated Player slot back, and also acquired the services of Ivan Guerrero. Guerrero never played for the Rapids, and was released, by mutual agreement, earlier this week so he could play for a club in his home country.
The rectifying trade has seemed to suit everyone. Gomez has had some nice moments with DC. He played particularly well on Wednesday against the Seattle Sounders. DC has made the adjustments to allow Gomez to play regularly play half of a game. The Rapids have pursued Gary's approach to the game, and have had a pretty good season so far. Everyone's happy.
We'll see on Saturday night when the two teams take the field. Gomez's best game as a Rapid was last year against D.C. United when he played like a guy who wanted to prove that they had made a mistake. It was fun to watch. This year the tables have turned, and it will be the Rapids who face the player looking to prove how wrong they were.
Stopping players like Christian Gomez is what Pablo Mastroeni has built his career and reputation on. That should be a battle worth watching.
Short staffed
The Rapids are still without Conor Casey who is with the National Team in South Africa. Conor played in Thursday's 3-0 loss to Brazil, hitting the woodwork with a shot and achieving nothing else. He may see time tomorrow against Egypt.
D.C. United are missing several more players than the Rapids. The leagues all time best player Jaime Moreno won't be able to play. Also unavailable is their Brazilian Fred. D.C.'s team is a mix of very old players who can play limited minutes and have missed games to injuries, and young players. Missing the veterans hurts, but D.C. seen other players step up their game.
In particular D.C. has enjoyed the rise of Santino Quaranta who's career looked finished a few years ago. Quaranta joined D.C. as teenager. He quickly made an impression, setting U.S. fans imaginations free with the trajectory his career looked to be on. Injuries, substance abuse, and poor training habits stopped all that. Quaranta's turn around is a great story of redemption. Should he continue on his current path he may get back into the national team picture once again.
Just in time staffing
With Casey in South Africa, the arrival of Patrick Noonan occurred just in time. Noonan hasn't had much time with the team, but could see the field tonight against D.C. The conservative play would be stick with the players who have been with the team for a while. If the Rapids struggle, Gary Smith may be inclined to give Noonan his shot.
Numbers
D.C. currently leads the Rapids on points with 23, but D.C. has also played four more games than the Rapids have. On a points per game basis Colorado holds a slight edge on D.C. having achieved 1.54 points per game to D.C.'s 1.53.
United have the better attack of the two teams. Colorado has the better defense. In particular Colorado has the better goal keeping. D.C.'s missing players are attacking players. With Colorado's defensive edge, home field, and D.C.'s missing players the Rapids should win this one. That is if someone can pick up the scoring duties in Casey's absence.
Related Articles:
Add a Comment
