December 4, 2006
On Friday, the Colorado Rapids traded starting goalkeeper Joe Cannon to the LA Galaxy for forward Herculez Gomez and defender Ugo Ihemelu. The teams also swapped second round draft picks in the 2007 MLS SuperDraft with the Rapids receiving the natural 18th and sending the natural 23rd to Los Angeles.
Upon reading the news, my first question was "WHAT WERE THE RAPIDS THINKING?!?!"
Joe Cannon is a two time MLS Goalkeeper of the Year and gives him team a chance to win each and every time he is in the starting lineup.
And all the Rapids got were a forward that wasn't a regular starter for LA in 2006 (Gomez) and a defender that many felt that LA was going to let go this offseason (Ihemelu)???
With the Rapids moving out of Mile High and into their own stadium in 2007, the Rapids have to have a plan to add a new marquee player to replace Cannon as both a game day difference maker and as a face of the franchise.
Perhaps the Rapids have a plan to use their Designated Player slot to acquire a goalkeeper, such as US Men's National Team goalkeeper Kasey Keller, to fill the hole created by Cannon's move to LA. Or, perhaps they were clearing budget space for another big time move this offseason.
But, the bottom line is that the Rapids had better have some more moves in mind if they are to improve in 2007 as I don't see how this move makes them a better team.
Real Madrid wants Onyewu?
While Freddy Adu has talked about being interested in a move to Real Madrid, it appears that the Spanish giants may have an interest in US Men's National Team defender Oguchi Onyewu.
Onyewu is currently playing his club soccer in Belgium for Standard Liege.
Could Toronto FC lose Nate Jaqua and Edson Buddle?
Toronto FC could see the two top forwards currently on their roster leave for Europe during this offseason.
Jaqua is said to be deciding between in Austria, Germany, and Switzerland and Buddle's agent has said that Norwegian club Fredrikstad FK has sown an interest in the former NY Red Bulls forward.
The views and opinions expressed in this column are those of the author, and not necessarily those of the Rochester Rhinos or SoccerSam.com. Feel free to send any comments or complaints to news@soccersam.com. James promises to read (but not to respond) to all of them.
