Last season, the Colorado Rapids shocked the world of the MLS by exploding into the playoffs, where they lost in a shootout in the Western Conference semifinals to the eventual MLS Champions, the Seattle Sounders.
The reason no one expected the Rapids to do well last season is since they won the MLS Cup in 2010, the Rapids have a combined record of 54-72-44. However, a few additions for the Rapids helped them in rising back to the top of the league: Dillon Powers, Tim Howard, Shkelzen Gashi, Marlon Hairston, Marco Pappa and Dominique Badji.
However, the Rapids will be missing some players who made them a dangerous team last season: Marco Pappa, Conor Doyle, Jermaine Jones and Sebastien Le Toux.
Here are some reasons why the Rapids faithful should be optimistic for the upcoming season:
Offseason Signings
Due to losing a few of the players who made up a dangerous Rapids squad last season, the Rapids went out and signed some players who can make them even better. The first signing, Alan Gordon, came from the LA Galaxy.
The two-time MLS Cup winner will look to provide some toughness in front of the goal for the Rapids, where they were lacking last season. One of the main aspects of his game is his ability to come up clutch in late-game situations.
Another addition to the team that Rapids fans should be extremely excited about is 22-year-old Bismark Adjei-Boateng. Boateng came to the Rapids from Manchester City, where he spent all his time on loan at Stromsgodset in Norway, where he had 16 goals in 85 appearances with the club. Boateng is known as an explosive midfielder who will drive to the net, and he loves to set up box-to-box passes for aerial attacks. Look for Boateng and Gordon to develop some dangerous chemistry.
Tim Howard
Last season, Tim Howard made his return to the MLS after 13 years in England playing for Manchester United and Everton.
In his first season with the Rapids, Howard had six wins, three losses and eight ties, and the Rapids finished in second place in the Western Conference. Unfortunatelyhe would sustain a season-ending groin injury.
Howard will look to bounce back immediately, and this is why he is one of the main reasons why the Rapids will have a successful season in 2017.
Home Crowd
Last season the Rapids were the only team in the MLS to finish with an undefeated regular season home record, where they would finish with a record of 11-0-6. Look for the Rapids to continue that groove this coming season, while also improving on their away record. Last season they finished with a record of 4-6-7 on the road.
Shkelzen Gashi
Last season, Gashi played an enormous role for the Colorado Rapids, and was able to contribute nine goals and four assists in 26 games.
This upcoming season, the Rapids will be looking for even more production from the midfielder, as now he also has a couple of new weapons like Alan Gordan and Bismark Adjei-Boateng.
Dominique Badji
Another midfielder who the Rapids had good productivity from in the 2016 season, Badji had six goals and twp assists 27 games. Look for Badji to also take advantage of the new additions to the team in Gordan and Boateng, as Badji is another player who loves to drive play forward.
The Rapids fanbase should expect another successful season from the Colorado Rapids. Obviously they made quite a few changes, but as things are looking for the team when it comes to structural support, head coach Pablo Mastroeni is making waves with this Rapids squad.
