Tyrone Marshall’s Form Suggests It Might Be Eddie Ababio Time

Watching the 3-1 win against the Tampa Bay Rowdies sealed the deal on Marshall's form — he looked tired and had to hack down NASL players in order to keep up the pace of the game. Not good signs when players in the notably slower NASL are figuring out how to get by you as an MLS veteran.

Drafted as a right back/right midfielder originally by Gary Smith, Ababio has been training as a center back under Oscar Pareja since training opened and has reportedly impressed in the position. Ababio has everything that Marshall doesn't — his attack minded play contributes to great play creation up the pitch, he's fast and he doesn't have the chippy streak that Marshall has shown.

Ababio has now gotten over a full year of MLS training and reserves play under his belt. He has only had one first team appearance, in a CCL match last season against Metapan where he scored a lovely goal, and the best way to get him ready for full prime time is to start getting him match time in the big league. Marshall is old and is running out of juice, it's best to start training his replacement as the bench spark and back up CB as soon as possible. It won't be ruining anything in what has been an up and down season for the Rapids to get the kid in the games, especially with Drew Moor as his partner to clean up mistakes.

Of course, by the time the big international layoff is over, Marvell Wynne should be back and Marshall can get back to his spot on the bench, only to be used as a late defensive sub. Then again, if Ababio can impress in the game against SKC in the Open Cup it might be his chance to break in as the new versatile bench defender for the rest of the year.