Colorado Rapids Season Preview: The Forwards

What can you say about the Rapids forwards? 

Everything I can think of begins with two words, "I hope..."

I hope Herculez Gomez recovers from knee surgery and really delivers on the potential he has given MLS fans glimpses of over his career.  It is no longer good enough for Herc to be streaky.  He needs to be consistent.

I hope the Rapids have a plan for the cap space they alleviated by trading Nicholas Hernandez.  Nico proved that hard work is not always enough.  You have to finish what you start, and Nico's finishing just wasn't very good.  Even the odd goal that went in had the mark of someone who doesn't quite have it.  Too often the ball was blasted at the net when a cooler finisher would pass it safely into the net.  Headers were high rather than aimed at the goal line.  I believe the Rapids made the right choice with this trade for Ward.  But I hope the next move produces a scorer. 

I hope Kirovski can stop pacing himself, toughen up, and discover a blood and guts side to his game.  We don't need him on the field we need him to leave his sweat, blood, and lungs on the field.  If he gives us that and comes off after 20 minutes, it will be the best 20 minutes he ever gave this team.  This is probably his last year of being a player, he has nothing to lose and should play like it.

I hope Casey can recover from injury and can be more than just a big target.  Goals matter more than size.

I hope Omar gets more minutes and ends up forcing his way into the starting line up.

I hope that Peterson can as well. 

I hope the Rapids can choose the guys who score over some misguided adherence to tactical rules that say you have to have a big man/small man tandem.  The game isn't played on paper or on a video screen. 

I hope we can add speed to the attack, just because it's fun for the fans.

I hope we can acquire a striker that brings pace, skill, creativity, and a pure will-to-score to the offense.  With the exception of pace, we really haven't had that player since Spenny.

I hope our forwards proves my assessment of the group wrong.  The outcome of the season, whether we make the playoffs or miss it, is up to these guys.  The defense looks likely to hold up their end of the bargain.  The Rapids have acquired the creativity in midfield that has been a poor excuse for the poor production. 

It is up to the forwards to put their shots on goal (Please! At very least.), and make the most of every little opportunity they get.    Turn my hopes into beliefs.