Clavijo Resigns

Well, it happened. Fernando Clavijo and the Colorado Rapids have parted ways with 11 games left in the 2008 MLS season.

I didn't think it would with the Rapids front office seemingly content to wait for Clavijo's contract to run out at the end of the year. Likewise Fernando Clavijo didn't seem interested in leaving before his contract was up. But it finally happened with Clavijo officially resigning.

Earlier last week there was some legitimate speculation about Clavijo's departure. The last of it seemed to be over with Fernando Clavijo taking leave from the team due to a family emergency back in Uruguay.

Here at Black Panther, the hope is that Clavijo's resignation is not due to that situation worsening. Unlike the folks at MLS Rumors, I don't see the need to gloat about difficult family matters in Fernando's life. It's one thing to call him out for not being a successful coach in the MLS. It's quite another to take digs at him when a loved one of his is in poor health.

For the time being it appears that Gary Smith, the assistant coach Jeff Plush brought in during last off-season, will be coaching the team. The question is, will they stick with him next year or use the off-season to bring in a new head coach such as Paul Mariner or ex-Rapid John Spencer.

That Pesky Plush Quote

I was feeling optimistic about the Colorado Rapids in 2008. Then in cleaning up some drafts for blog posts I ran across this quote from Rapids VP Jeff Plush. It was made going into the 2007 season. McDonald was dropped before mother's day if I remember correctly. Vanney was in, looked like he might have been giving the back line some leadership and then promptly shipped off to DC United. Roberto Brown didn't have a butt-ton of skills but he did seem to have a knack for being in the right place at the right time. So the Rapids traded away a major allocation to bring in Conor Casey, who's salary is higher. Roberto Brown was waived and Conor Casey took the rest of the season to produce was Roberto Brown did in his short time with the club.

Now why am I feeling optimistic again?

"Look at the holes we had in our team last year, even though we made it to the conference finals for the second (consecutive) year," Plush said, pointing out the club's offseason moves. "Left back, we now have Greg Vanney, a former national team player. Left side at midfield we've got a kid out of Holland, Yherland McDonald. And at striker, we just signed Roberto Brown, a Panamanian player. So we think we've addressed every issue we have, all within the cap. We didn't have to do anything crazy to get any of those done." -Jeff Plush

Surely Clavijo's Gone

FC Rocky picked up on Class VI, one of the Rapids supporters groups, posting some answers to questions it's members had asked Colorado Rapids VP Jeff Plush. He highlights Plush's comments about the Rapids poor form, damaging roster turnover, and the goals the team and coach Fernando Clavijo had going into the season that they fell far short of meeting. More interesting is the lack of support Plush shows Clavijo. Fernando Clavijo's in his 3rd year in charge of the Rapids. Even if they win their last 3 games, the Rapids record this year will be worse than the previous 2. 2006's record was worse than Clavijo's first year in charge, 2005. Is this Plush's way of letting the coach and the fans that Fernando will not be coaching the team once the season is over?

Class Vi Website : NoFanAlone.com

Rapids Make History

In losing 1-0 to FC Dallas Saturday, the Colorado Rapids moved into the top ten" (really worst ten, in this case) for all-time in the MLS for win-less streaks. In case 10 games without a win isn't bad enough, the Rapids have now only won 11 of their last 41 games. What more does a coach like Fernando Clavijo need to do to be fired? Were Jeff Plush's expectations for the team really as low as "anything but absolute worst"? Can Kroenke Sports Entertainment, owned by Enos Stan Kroenke who is worth something in the neighborhood of $36 BILLION, not come up with an extra $200k to fire Clavijo and bring in a real coach?