The Rapids were not the fluke team that they were made out to be after 2010. The first few games of 2011 showed that when the team was together they were still able to make out as one of the most feared starting XI's in the league. Unfortunately, injuries and a total lack of depth bit Colorado hard, and eventually a front office feud began because of the directions that certain people wanted the team to take.
Coach Gary Smith was the man who got the bulk of the damage from that feud, and the Rapids are now right back where they were in 2008. A team with no coach, no vision, no depth. A front office that is putting on their best impression of 'the 1%' we hear about in the occupy protests. Concerned with nothing but money, saying 'fans and talent be damned'. It's a situation that looked so good before only a year ago, yet looks so very dreary now.
Damn if it wasn't fun while it lasted, though.
There's a lot about the last 365 days that we're going to look back on and smile about. We'll settle for the star above our crests but we'll know we could have had more… but we'll be happy with what was and always have hope for what could be.
Welcome to the 2012 offseason, Rapids fans. We're no longer the reigning MLS Cup champions, but after a whirlwind of a year I can say something that I've probably never before said in regards to my favorite football club – hope springs eternal.
This offseason we have a lot to talk about; a new coach, a glut of player moves and drafts, and perhaps even the future of some of the older players like Pablo Mastroeni and Tyrone Marshall. This will likely be our final post directly about the 2010 MLS Cup season for a long time. Please feel free to leave your favorite memories and thoughts on our fading beauty of a cup season in the comments. Here's to a 2012 that will see silverware in our cabinet once more.
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Matt Pollard 