Rapids Hope To Bounce Back After 2 Worst Seasons In Club's History

COMMERCE CITY, Colo. (CBS4)- Fans have every right to be a little pessimistic about the Colorado Rapids chances coming into the season after the last two seasons.

The team missed the playoffs both years and last season, Colorado finished dead last in the Western Conference.

So after two of the club's worst seasons in their 20-year history, something had to be done.

"We spent a lot of time, a lot of hours upstairs and really going through the way we wanted to approach things from the playing perspective and the way we wanted to play, players that would fit that style of play and it was a lot of work and I think in the end it turned out great," said Rapids Head Coach Pablo Mastroeni.

Thirteen players, nearly half the roster, were let go. That included goalie Clint Irwin who had 89 starts for Colorado and Drew Moor who spent the last seven seasons in the Rapids burgundy and sky blue.

"That's the nature of the business, if you don't get results, you know, things have to change and that's just part of it," said Rapids Midfielder Dillon Powers.

Anytime you have subtractions, you have to have additions.

None bigger than the guy who made his debut on April 16: Rapids Midfielder Jermaine Jones. Jones has scored goals in three of his first four games with the Rapids with an intensity and competitiveness the former World Cup star brings-- which is just what the Rapids need.

"It's not only me, maybe I'm a part of it. But I think the team played good before I came and now sometimes you need a piece of the puzzle. Maybe I was that piece," said Jones.

"He brings a lot of intensity and I think it's contagious around the group and I think the first few games he's played have definitely showed that," said Rapids Defender Bobby Burling.

Acquiring Jones as a coup for the Rapids but it's not their only high-profile signing. In early July, 2014 World Cup hero Tim Howard will leave the English Premier League to join the club. It's right when the Rapids hope to be peaking in the MLS.

"I think we're always the underdog in this league, since I came to this club as a player, I think we'll always be and that's not a bad place to be," said Mastroeni.