Monday MLS Breakdown: Rapid Ascent in Colorado?

By Kyle McCarthy

Noted English caricaturist and humorist Sir Max Beerbohm once wrote that “only mediocrity can be trusted to be always at its best.”

If Beerbohm's truism is indeed accurate, then the Colorado Rapids have excelled since their inception.

The Rapids have never finished higher than third in the Western Conference and never ended a season worse than fifth. Aside from one unexpected run to MLS Cup in 1997, the Rapids have bowed out in three conference finals and four conference semifinals. The Rapids missed the playoffs in 2007 and 2008, marking the first time the team missed the playoffs in consecutive seasons.

Rapids head coach Gary Smith wants to change that culture of mediocrity. His goal? Shed the strictures of commonality and build a MLS Cup contender.

“We have enough to be competitive,” Smith said. “The question is whether we can compete for an MLS title this season. I think we can.”

The winds of change started last August when Fernando Clavijo resigned. Clavijo's departure had loomed for much of the season as rumors of player discontent swirled and results didn't match expectations. Long-time Clavijo assistant John Murphy's shift to a player development role indicated a team spiraling out of control.

Smith took over the reins on an interim basis after Clavijo's departure and the Rapids pushed for the playoffs as if a large weight had been excised from their shoulders. Under Smith, Colorado accumulated 17 points in 11 games. The belated playoff charge ultimately fell short as a 90th-minute equalizer from Yura Movsisyan in the last game of the season sent RSL to playoffs and the Rapids to the golf course.

Whatever Smith did during his stint in charge won over the players. Several current and former players went to the media to ask for Smith's appointment. Rapids managing director Jeff Plush concurred and the former Arsenal scout and Watford reserve team coach earned the full time gig in November.

Once Smith inked his deal, several first-team players followed his lead. Surprisingly to some observers, Pablo Mastroeni led the charge right around the time Smith was appointed. Mastroeni said before Smith took over that he planned to leave once his contract expired, a gesture apparently borne out of frustration with the Clavijo era. With Smith on board, Mastroeni decided to shelve the European dream once and for all and spend the denouement of his career with the Rapids.

“The major signing was Pablo, the captain, resigning and committing to Denver,” Smith said. “With a player with his experience and his quality willing to re-sign, he's convinced we're moving in the right direction.”

Six other players – Colin Clark, Omar Cummings, Jordan Harvey, Ugo Ihemelu, Kosuke Kimura and Nick LaBrocca – followed suit over the course of the next few months. Smith said he thought it was important for the Rapids to reward players for their performances and not force them to play under contracts that didn't match their level of play.

“The six players involved have a huge amount of potential,” Smith said. “They are on the upward spiral and they have performed well for us. They are the core of our future success.”

Those six players, plus Mastroeni, give Smith a base to work with as he tries to construct a new side. Smith wants pace and athleticism in his team to help force the initiative in matches rather than sitting back and letting opposing sides push the tempo.

“It's all about balance,” Smith said. “There are many ways to set up a team. We feel that pace is an important part of it in the wide areas and one of our forwards. We want lots of energy from our fullbacks. That will be key for us.”

That core group will be augmented by one or two players Smith said his side is “close to signing.” There are a couple of European-based players out of contract in the summer – reports in the British press have linked Southampton and Jamaica striker Jason Euell with a possible move – who Smith wants to sign as well.

The goal is to build a squad with enough depth to sustain a challenge in both the regular season and the playoffs. Smith thinks the squad is deeper than it was when he took over, but still needs one or two players to push forward, particularly create some depth and competition for strikers Cummings and Conor Casey.

Smith pointed to Houston, New England and Columbus as models for the future, teams that have done things the right way to achieve success over the long haul by building strong squads and preaching patience. That patience is why Smith hopes the fans and organization won't feel the Rapids have failed if the team doesn't lift MLS Cup this season.

For most of them, the sheer act of aspiring to something greater than mediocrity is a fine start even if it doesn't yield immediate MLS Cup glory.

Salary cap purging by design in San Jose

San Jose grabbed the headlines during the close season after attempting to negotiate lower contract numbers for Joe Cannon and Ronnie O'Brien. In the first season of the reincarnated Quakes, Cannon and O'Brien were two of the team's most consistent performers and the negotiations placed their return to the Bay Area in jeopardy.

Doyle said he approached negotiations with the two out-of-contract players differently according to the team's needs.

“With Joe, we wanted to keep Joe and have him finish his career in San Jose,” Doyle said. “We wanted to give him a longer-term deal at a reduced salary.”

Cannon eventually bit on the deal after balking at first. A reduced salary (Cannon made $213,000 in 2008, according to the MLS Players Union) came with more guaranteed years (three, according to Center Line Soccer) and incentives.

While Cannon decided to remain in San Jose, O'Brien's future lies elsewhere. O'Brien made $240,000 last season and Doyle felt those resources could be better used elsewhere if the former Juventus and Middlesbrough player wasn't willing to reduce his salary number significantly. The Earthquakes already had Arturo Alvarez in house, making the veteran Irish midfielder somewhat expendable.

“With Ronnie, it was hard to do,” Doyle said. “ Frank [Yallop, Quakes head coach] and I looked at Ronnie's cap number and his age and made the decision. He trained all the time and he was a good player on the field for us. We had brought in Arturo last season and we wanted to open up a place for him to play.”

Instead of Darren Huckerby and O'Brien patrolling the wings in 2009, Alvarez will have to be more consistent in order to balance out the side. Doyle said the Quakes may not have even had O'Brien in the fold had they acquired Alvarez earlier and thinks the former FCD midfielder will prove an able replacement.

“If we didn't think we could replace that production, we wouldn't have let [O'Brien] go,” Doyle said.

Around the League

- Former Spanish international defensive midfielder Alberto Celades is now in camp with New York as the Red Bulls train in Argentina. Celades, 33, spent the past three seasons with Real Zaragoza and made two substitute appearances in the 1998 World Cup. Left fullbacks Akile Edwards and Jaime Duran are also in camp as Juan Carlos Osorio seeks to boost his defensive options. Salvadoran fullback Alfredo Pacheco is also on the Red Bulls' wish list, according to reports out of Central America.

- Eddie Lewis will miss “a few weeks” after straining his hamstring in the final of the Pan-Pacific Championship on Saturday night, according to Los Angeles head coach Bruce Arena. If Lewis misses significant time or develops a chronic hamstring issue, it would prove a bitter blow for a Galaxy team in desperate need of his leadership.

- Better defensive news for the Galaxy: 24-year-old Honduran defender Osman Chavez is considering an offer to bolster the team's wafer-thin central defense.

- San Jose rookie midfielder Brad Ring is expected to miss the entire season after he undergoes surgery to clear up a lingering hip injury. Ring hadn't signed with MLS, so he won't take up any roster space or salary considerations in 2009.

- New England held Taylor Twellman out of training this week after Twellman complained of nausea. The move is purely a precautionary measure after Twellman missed the playoffs with concussion-related symptoms stemming from a collision with Galaxy goalkeeper Steve Cronin on Aug. 30. The Revs leave for Austin, Texas today and Twellman is expected to travel with the team.

Kyle McCarthy writes the Monday MLS Breakdown and frequently writes opinion pieces during the week for Goal.com. He also covers the New England Revolution for the Boston Herald and MLSnet.com. Contact him with your questions or comments at kylemccarthy@gmail.com.