Am I back?

I’ll let you decide. I like the new layout, though, WordPress.

Until then, follow my microblogging adventures: @kvillegas.

Gary Smith still after Martin John, transfers

The season has begun in earnest for the front office of the Colorado Rapids, on and off the field.

Gary Smiff … err, Smith, isn’t content to have just added Caleb Folan on a transfer from the English Championship.

Tribal Football is reporting today that the Colorado Rapids are still after Martin John on a transfer from Cardiff City. John’s been on transfer to Conference National outfit Newport County for most of the season. With Cardiff looking more and more like they have a real chance to go up as the days go by, John probably won’t be in Cardiff’s plans for the foreseeable future. Still, the allure of playing top-flight English football might prove to be too much for him. Only time will tell.

What this does say, undoubtedly, is that Gary Smith wants to add depth ahead of CONCACAF Champions League fixtures and for the run of the season. The Rapids started to get a little tired near the end of 2010 and increased depth, especially at the back and in the target striker spot, is going to be vital to the success of this squad.

Colorado Rapids shirt sponsor speculation

Nary a peep from the Colorado Rapids front office on a shirt sponsor yet, as @Craig_de_Aragon and @teddy_montoya have pointed out.

True, us Rapids faithful have been waiting with baited breath for … oh, 15 years for a shirt sponsor. So what’s another 2 weeks? or days?

Well, when you win your first trophy, your cup fills up pretty fast. Count me among those calling for the announcement already. It’s not worth saving a few nickels over, Front Office. Let’s get it already.

To me and most of the other Rapids blogosphere, it’s a choice between only two: Coors, or Chipotle. I’m cool with either. As long as they don’t start calling us the Colorado Burritos.

Colorado Rapids new away jerseys

Here are the new Rapids away jerseys:

They’ve pretty much been universally panned by the Twitter community, although they are pretty much your standard road whites.

In my opinion, they’re ugly. Only thing that could save them is a Coors jersey sponsorship. Coors Original, please. Not Coors Light.

Kris Commons to Celtic

Nothing official on the Derby County website, but Kris Commons is reportedly in Scotland for a physical … the announcement will probably be made before Derby face Ipswich Town this week end.

Good luck to Kris out there … but why anyone would want to move from the Championship to Scotland is beyond me. I guess he has played for the Scottish National Team before, although he is English.

 

Derby County 0-1 Nottingham Forest 26 Jan 2011

What can you say?

Lee Camp was really good this afternoon. The Red Dogs had the better run of play, and again, our attack was anemic.

For those of you keeping track at home, the Rams have lost 8 of the last 10. Awful.

Looking more and more like Kris Commons is going to be leaving at the end of the season, as is Robbie Savage. Could this be the beginning of the end for Nigel Clough, too? (Let’s hope not – I remain a Cloughie fan.)

One thing’s for sure: this squad needs a shake up, badly. Ben Davies alone isn’t the answer.

Derby County – Nottingham Forest preview

You know what tomorrow is.

The East Midlands Derby comes to pride park tomorrow, 6 a.m. Denver time. I’ll be awake, coffee in hand, listening to the game on Radio Derby or trying to find a nice little stream coming through to my part of Colorado. (Side note: If I had DirecTV, I would have Fox Soccer Plus. And then I could actually watch the game.)

Expect new signing Ben Davies to fit into the 11 from the get go. Expect Nigel Clough to go go go after goals and expect the 4,000 or so Red Dog fans to chant and yell and scream. Expect Robbie Findley to not make an appearance (word is, he’s stateside tying up some loose ends this weekend).

Most of all, expect Derby County to win 3-1 over The Tricky Trees.

Come on you Rams.

Ben Davies joins Derby County

For the reported transfer fee of £350,000, Ben Davies, Notts County midfielder and #10, has joined Derby County pending a physical.

I like this move, although it has to make you wonder what is the status of Kris Commons with respect to any sort of contract negotiations.

Also, remember just 3 days ago, the #dcfcfans complaining (myself included) that Glick and the board weren’t going to be spending any money to make the Rams better? That seems to be out the window. And although we’re not talking about a big splash here, £350K is not a paltry sum. It can be a difference maker in the Championship.

But it is a good investment in a 29-year-old midfielder who will be 30 by season’s end?

Robbie Savage to Vancouver saga continues

Picture Robbie Savage in his bathroom, staring at the mirror over his sink. His long, flowing blonde locks are gently tossed aside as he stares intently into his own eyes. He splashes some cold water on his face.

He’s wringing his hands, thinking about his wife, his kids, his friends in the East Midlands. He’s thinking about his adopted hometown, a firmly working class part of England, something that speaks to him more than any beautiful city, stadium or mountains can. He’s thinking about that statue of Taylor and Clough, thinking about what it takes to become more than just a hero, but a local legend.

He’s thinking about why he should be entitled to a swan song in America.

Why not Robbie Savage?

Whatever Robbie’s decision happens to be, you have to at least give him credit for all the brow furrowing. The purported transfer from Derby County to Vancouver Whitecaps is obviously a tough decision for him to make. Should he remain at Derby, his playing time will be reduced for the rest of this season. You can imagine what that does to a playmaker. He’s used to being in the thick of the action, and if it takes a move to MLS to continue that, so be it.

For me, his decision hits home. I have no stake in Vancouver, aside from my obvious ties to America. I do have a stake in Derby and a stake in Robbie Savage. So you can understand why, when a few Derby supporters call the quality of MLS “garbage” and “a retirement home,” I’m irked. We don’t play proper football over here, they say. But cracks develop in their logic. Case in point, Billy Davies (who I wouldn’t quote unless it suited my needs) knows there’s quality here.

I love the Colorado Rapids, and I want to see MLS succeed. I love Derby, and want to see them succeed. Part of me is flattered. English football supporters wouldn’t use such strong language to describe MLS if they weren’t somewhat threatened by its increasing success.

I hope Robbie stays with DCFC. I really do.

But if he comes to America, I can’t wait to see him at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park.

Colorado Rapids select Eddie Ababio

With the 18th selection in the 2011 MLS Superdraft – Eddie Ababio, University of North Carolina.

A defender who can get involved in the attack, he’s a good pick up for the Rapids who are looking to add depth in front of the fixture congestion they’ll no doubt be facing next year. He’s Ghanian, loves Chelsea FC and seems to be a work-in-progress.

Here’s a round of information on him:

His UNC Player Page

Ababio: The Next Freddy Adu

His USMNT U17 page

A highlight reel from Ababio on You Tube

Mention Freddy Adu and I cringe. Yuck.