After topping the Western Conference in 2021, the Colorado Rapids may be looking to defy the percentages once more this time round.
Without the star names, huge stadiums, or massive spending of different MLS clubs, Robin Fraser used teamwork and togetherness to encourage his side to impossible heights. But with Concacaf Champions League commitments to juggle this season others persevering with to spend huge, it'll be hard for them to copy the feat.
So, right here's the whole thing you want to recognise approximately the Colorado Rapids ahead of the brand new MLS season.
As cited, the Rapids crowned the Western Conference remaining season. And they did so regardless of being the bottom-spending crew in MLS, with just one Designated Player, Younes Namli, who wasn't even at Dick's Sporting Goods Park on a permanent basis.
Even in the event that they did crash out of the MLS Cup Playoffs at the first hurdle - at domestic to the Portland Timbers within the first Thanksgiving recreation in MLS history - Colorado deserve large credit for defying the chances and showing money isn't the whole lot.
Fraser's aspect were outscored by their 3 closest opponents in the West, Portland Timbers, Sporting KC and Seattle Sounders, but most effective the latter conceded fewer goals. It became this shielding resilience that carried the Rapids via and might accomplish that once more in 2022.
Robin Fraser by and large caught with a three-5-2 gadget final season. Solid, no-nonsense center-backs permit the wing-backs to drive ahead and offer width. There's industry and high-quality via the center, and fluidity and mobility up top. Without any huge off-season additions but, it's tough to look that converting this season.
No Colorado player scored extra than 8 MLS desires throughout the normal season. Instead of constructing around a talismanic striker, the Rapids have a tendency to soak up strain and reduce you open in transition, make the maximum of set portions, or use teamwork and cohesion to create gaps for each other. They received't positioned a sledgehammer via your backline like the New England Revolution. Rather, they'll be inside and out via the back door earlier than you even recognize there's a trouble.
"I feel like we are a team which can hurt groups in transition. We have excellent tempo and we've men who make top selections at the run," Fraser told 90min of the Rapids' style of play in September.
He added: "I assume we can hurt groups at set attack as nicely and I assume our positional play is interesting. When our positional play is ideal, and we make correct choices, then I assume we are able to definitely hurt groups in possession as nicely. That's a part of the best component about us - at set attack we can hurt teams and we may be deadly on counter-assault. But we will nevertheless get better at each."
