The Denver Post’s Daniel Boniface answers questions in the Rapids Mailbag.
Pose a .
A lot of people are already jumping on the Jermaine Jones and Tim Howard move as home runs before either have seen the field. Aren’t both of these moves gambles?
— The Bulldog, Saint Paul, MN
Bulldog: There is certainly risk involved with both of these moves as there would be with any acquisition, but the upside seems to outweigh that risk. and will be playing for his next contract — whether that’s here or elsewhere. His options were limited this offseason with the six-match suspension hanging over him and you could argue he may not have landed in Colorado without it. Jones earned $2.8 million in base pay and more than $3 million in guaranteed compensation last year. To have signed him without using a designated player slot makes this move a home run, in my opinion.
The Howard move is considerably more risky from an on-the-field perspective. Reports have him at $2.5 million to $2.8 million per season — roughly the same amount as all other starting MLS goalkeepers combined. and Rapids technical director and vice president of soccer operations Paul Bravo said the same. Plus, Howard is a leader. Even still, that’s a lot to pay for a goalkeeper.
Like it or not, the Howard signing is about much more than wins and losses. The Rapids were last in MLS attendance last year and have trouble rising above the fray in the Denver market. (I’ve already had a number of people tell me they will be attending Rapids games for the first time this season to see Howard.)
And I don’t think it was a coincidence that Transamerica extended their jersey sponsorship agreement for the exact length of Howard’s deal two days before his signing was announced. . Howard is a global name and his signing gives the Rapids credibility. I think his presence will help the Rapids recruit other players who may not have considered a move to Colorado previously.
Do you see Dillon Powers dropping back to his natural No. 8 spot this year, or do you see the team continuing to play him as a No. 10? So far it looks like it hasn’t worked. For the last two years.
— Brian, Broomfield
Brian: For all the talk of using Dillon Powers in the No. 8, we haven’t seen much of it this season, although injuries and suspension have factored into coach Pablo Mastroeni’s decisions. Powers says he prefers the deeper-lying position and in my opinion it suits him. He has great vision and has shown in the past an ability to hit the long pass and find players running the channels up front.
Bravo said playing Powers in the No. 8 . Mastroeni started Powers as the Rapids’ No. 10 in the first two games due to Marco Pappa’s lack of fitness. Ultimately, I see Pappa playing the No. 10 this season, but when Shkelzen Gashi was suspended for the match against D.C., Pappa got his first Rapids’ start on the left wing.
I would have liked to see what Dillon Serna or Zach Pfeffer could have brought to the attack in these first three game. But Mastroeni clearly feels the team is stronger with Micheal Azira in the holding midfield role and Powers in the No. 10, rather than giving minutes to Pfeffer or Serna. What I am curious to see is who will be the odd men out when Jermaine Jones returns from suspension and everyone is healthy. In Mastroeni’s 4-2-3-1 formation, Jones slots into a holding midfield role, but who’s his partner — Sam Cronin, Azira or Powers?
In the attacking midfield roles, Gashi and Pappa have to play, but who is the third? Powers, Dominique Badji, Serna, Pfeffer, Luis Solignac? My two cents: I’d like to see Powers and Jones in the deeper-lying midfield spots, with Gashi, Pappa and Serna/Pfeffer in the attacking spots. Badji would provide speed off the bench. These are decisions Mastroeni must make that will define this season and perhaps his tenure as Rapids manager.
Why are the Rapids doing so poorly in youth development? Their U-17/18 Development Academy team is winless this season and struggling behind other local clubs, Colorado Rush and Real Colorado. No homegrown players have been signed in the last two years, indicating something is broken.
— Nic Wilson, Denver
Nic: I agree, this is a concern. Heading into the offseason, Bravo pointed to academy products , starting goalkeeper for NCAA champion Stanford; , starting center back for No. 1 seeded Wake Forest; and , starting center back for the No. 19 ranked University of Denver Pioneers. But, when I asked Mastroeni this preseason if there were any homegrown signings on the horizon, the answer was no.
In December, MLS announced $125,000 was being made available to each MLS team for homegrown signings. That money can’t be traded or rolled over. It can only be used on homegrown players on the “supplemental roster,” meaning roster spots 21-28. If homegrown midfielder Dillon Serna is on the Rapids supplemental roster, his salary is paid for with this money — he made $60,000 in base pay and $73,000 in guaranteed money last year. We’ll have to see where Serna’s salary is when the players union releases 2016 figures, but it would appear there is some “free money” available to the Rapids for a homegrown signing.
Bravo and Hinchey both pointed to the sale of Shane O’Neill as evidence of the academy’s success. That’s hard to judge without knowing the exact amount the Rapids received for his transfer, but we know it was less than $500,000. Colorado only has one homegrown player on its first team and he’s struggling to find minutes. I think it’s fair to be concerned.
What is the plan if the Rapids remain at the bottom of the table towards the summer when Tim Howard is supposed to make a splash?
— The Bulldog, Saint Paul, Minn.
Bulldog: The obvious answer is that Rapids don’t plan to be near the bottom of the table when Howard arrives. If they are, I think there will still be a lot of fanfare surrounding Howard’s arrival. My guess is we’ll still see a sold-out stadium for the Fourth of July game, but Mastroeni could find himself on the hot seat if the Rapids struggle to get out of the gate fast this season.
Any more information on the Colorado Cup?
— Michael McCloud, Parker
Michael: Thanks for the question. The latest I’ve seen on is that there’s a match planned for July 9 on the Air Force Academy campus and July 15 at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. Other than that, I have no new information.
Daniel Boniface: 303-954-1104, dboniface@denverpost.com or @danielboniface
