It's late and that's a pretentious headline but I do need to point out that wewantrapidman will no longer be taking the form it has. I have a new gig with mlsnet who are beefing up their digital content and have asked me to be the beat writer for them. It's a good opportunity for me and I will be devoting all my soccer writing efforts on Rapids stuff to that.

Press release from the Rapids today: Looks like Steward Ceus may not quite be ready to back up Pickens. It's also time to say goodbye to Facundo Diz. One of the nicest guys at the Rapids, he didn't really get a lot of chances. Wish him and his family all the best. Maybe the Rapids are lining up another striker to back up Casey and Cummings because the talk is that triallist, Devon Hodges, will not be getting a contract.

Press release from the Rapids today:
COMMERCE CITY, Colo. (Thursday, March 4, 2010) – The Colorado Rapids announced today that forward CONOR CASEY has signed a new three-year contract, keeping the Denver-raised All-Star and United States national team forward in Colorado. Per club and league policies, financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Intriguing. The Colorado Rapids are set to unveil a "major player transaction" at Denver South High School tomorrow afternoon. The main thing that goes through my mind is that they are trading Conor Casey, a South High School graduate, to a major European club. But why would it be a picture opportunity if they are trading him?

NEW YORK -- Major League Soccer issued the following statement Monday:
"MLS is delaying the roster compliance date, originally scheduled for March 1, while discussions continue over related topics with the MLS Players Union. The roster compliance date will be set in the next few weeks."
The next few weeks?

The Rapids return to Colorado today after not such a successful run out in the Arizona sun. Of the three games played against MLS teams, two were drawn and there was a 2-0 defeat at the hands of LA Galaxy. Hopefully, the trip helped Gary Smith solidify his thoughts on what to do come March 1 and the need to trim his roster down to its fighting weight of 24 players.

Press release from the Colorado Rapids today: The Colorado Rapids announced today the signings of defender/midfielder Danny Earls and defender Oscar Murillo. Per club and league policies, financial terms of the transactions were not disclosed.
Earls and Murillo will be added to the club's senior roster pending receipt of their International Transfer Certificates (ITC).

No huge surprise with this one. The coaching staff said all the right things about Harden when he was signed last year but his fate was somewhat sealed when he got injured in the early season game against Columbus and was replaced by Scott Palguta. Palguta cemented his place in the team thereafter and there was no room for Harden.

Very good move by the Rapids and kudos to Jeff Plush and all the supporters' groups.
Here are the details from the Rapids:
In a move that will transform the way the world's game is supported in the Rocky Mountain region, the Colorado Rapids announced today their plans for the creation of the new "Supporters Terrace" behind the north goal at Dick's Sporting Goods Park for 2010 and beyond.

Although there had previously been doubt expressed about whether such a trip would take place, the Rapids announced today the squad will be going to the UK as part of their preseason preparations. This is what the Rapids revealed today:
For the third time in the last four years, the Rapids' preseason plans will include a trip over 4,600 miles away to London, England.

The Colorado Rapids are about to announce the signing of two new players as the flurry of off season trades continues. In an apparent Steve Guppy connection, left-sided defender/midfielder, Danny Earls, will be moving from the Rochester Rhinos very soon.

The Rapids released their 2010 season details today. No Golden Balls at DSG Park again as he will still be in Milan shopping and playing soocer. At least it looks like a proper football season with 15 games at home and away. And September 11th in New York, interesting.
DATE OPPONENT
Fri, March 26 at Chivas USA
Sat, April 3 CHICAGO
Sat, April 10 at Kansas City
Sun, April 18 TORONTO FC
Sat, April 24 at New England
Sat, May 1 at San Jose
Wed, May 5 LOS ANGELES
Sat, May 15 at D.

Oh God. Just when you thought governing bodies in football couldn't get more stupid, the Togo national team has been banned for the next two Africa Cup of Nations by the Confederation of African Football (CAF). Their crime? To walk away from the current tournament because three of their party had been brutally murdered and others remain in intensive care after the attack on the team bus just as the tournament opened.

Omar Cummings will not be at DSG Park much of this week as the Colorado Rapids players report back for preseason duty. Like fellow Rapids' striker, Conor Casey at the weekend, the frontman is on international duty this Sunday as the Reggae Boyz turn out in Kingston to play Canada in a friendly.

The Colorado Rapids acquired the rights to midfielder Jeff Larentowicz and midfielder Wells Thompson in a trade with the New England Revolution, the club announced today.
In exchange, Colorado sent goalkeeper Preston Burpo, defender Cory Gibbs, allocation money and their natural third round 2011 MLS SuperDraft pick to New England.