This season, The Striker Texas staff is dropping MLS team previews every day leading up to the start of the 2022 MLS season on Feb. 26. Enjoy these articles for free and subscribe to The Striker Texas to read even more of the most in-depth and informative soccer journalism in the country.
What the Colorado Rapids did last year
After helping the Rapids back to the MLS Cup Playoffs in 2020, head coach Robin Fraser led Colorado to a first-place finish in the Western Conference. The club hosted the first-ever MLS Thanksgiving Day match in the playoffs but lost to the eventual finalists in Portland.
Colorado was a difficult team to beat in 2021. The Burgundy club only lost seven times throughout the 34-game regular season and their only home loss came early in the year — Austin FC's historic first win in club history.
The team also won its second highest number of matches in a season, 17, as former FC Dallas forward Michael Barrios led the team with eight goals. Jack Price led in assists with 12 and the team received a plus in midfield with the addition of Mark-Anthony Kaye from LAFC in exchange of $1 million in GAM.
The best of the best. #Rapids96 pic.twitter.com/TCzKapPPWB
— Colorado Rapids (@ColoradoRapids) November 8, 2021
Key additions
Max Alves (midfielder, transferred from Flamengo), Bryan Acosta (midfielder, acquired in Re-Entry Draft), Aboubacar Keita (defender, $300,000 GAM from Columbus).
Key departures
Kellyn Acosta (midfielder, traded to LAFC for $1.1 million GAM), Cole Bassett (midfielder, 18-month loan to Feyenoord with option to buy), Dominique Badji (forward, signed by FC Cincinnati).
Making the case for the Colorado Rapids
They're solid defensively, they can sneak under the radar and they added a few offensive pieces to boost the attack. Since taking over in the latter part of the 2019 season, Robin Fraser has improved the first team with every season. The next step is to translate their regular-season consistency into success in the playoffs. With a win or two in the postseason, it's anyones game and the Rapids - with their obscurity and lack of relevance in Denver sports - make for the perfect underdog.
Player to watch
Max Alves, midfielder — It's time for the Rapids to kick the attack into another gear and that's exactly what 20-year-old Brazilian midfielder Max is brought in to do. Time will tell how long it takes him to adjust but the U22 signing should provide more flair to a more "defensive" Rapids side. Could he be the revelation of the 2022 season? He looks to have plenty of potential and Fraser has proven to get the most out of his players.
A nerdy tidbit
13 - Goalkeeper William Yarbrough finished the 2021 season in a three-way tie for the most clean sheets during the season. He was the lone leader in the Western Conference as the other two are New York Red Bulls' Carlos Miguel Coronel and Nashville's Joe Willis, the latter shifting to the West in 2022.
A fun tidbit
Prior to his MLS career as a player, Robin Fraser was a member of the Colorado Foxes of the American Professional Soccer League from 1990 to 1995. He was named an APSL All-Star in his final four years with the team.
Fraser helped the LA Galaxy to two MLS Cup finals and a Concacaf Champions Cup title before playing for the Rapids from 2001 to 2003. He ended his career with the Columbus Crew.
Projected finish: 6th in the West
The Rapids should have no problem getting back to the MLS Cup Playoffs. They've shown the discipline to finish among the seven best teams in the Western Conference. Competing in the Concacaf Champions League will add to a tough start but the team should adjust fine as the schedule levels out throughout the year. The departure of Kellyn Acosta could also make for a difficult repeat to the top, which is why we predict they'll end as sixth. The important thing is having a ticket to the dance at the end of the season.