COMMERCE CITY, Colo. – On the day that the Red Bulls announced arguably the biggest coup yet in MLS with the signing of Thierry Henry, the Colorado Rapids and manager Gary Smith are also focusing on reinforcements.
“I want a player who can add six goals, I would take a player like that,” Smith told MLSsoccer.com. “Someone who is clinical in front of goal or can do more in terms of creation.”
While the Rapids have defended well this season and remain a tough nut to crack at the back, they have struggled to finish consistently at the other end. The team has notched only 16 goals in 14 league games so far this season.
Last year, the team was overly reliant on front two Conor Casey and Omar Cummings, who scored 24 goals between them. Colin Clark was providing well as far as support from the flanks but then went down with a season-ending injury. This year, Clark has not scored one goal and is struggling to regain the form he showed last year before the injury.
With Casey and Cummings on track for fewer goals this season, it means other players may have to step up and pick up the slack. So far, Mehdi Ballouchy is the one player who has stood out with two goals and a team leading three assists. Jamie Smith has also provided great assist work in his sporadic appearances for the team this year.
“I see Conor scoring 10 to 12 goals and Omar six or seven,” Smith said. “That means we need to improve somewhere else. Mehdi is chipping in more.”
What Smith is sure about is that he likes the greater depth of his squad this year. Adding players like the former New England duo of Jeff Larentowicz and Wells Thompson has added much-needed bite in the midfield and pace out wide.
“I have no interest in moving the players we already have here,” Smith said. “I just want to add creative players that can fit into a particular system.”
The MLS transfer window opens tomorrow and runs for a month. The Rapids next play Kansas City at home in Colorado on Saturday at 7 p.m. MT.
