A Trade: Does Ward(D) = Nico (M/F)?

By: Jeff | February 27th, 2008

This one looks pretty fresh: the Colorado Rapids sent Nicolas “Nico” Hernandez to the Columbus Crew in exchange for defender Tim Ward and a rummage through the junk-pile (or, as my people call it, the 2009 supplemental draft). Incredibly, The Official Organ (the Rapids official site) seems to have beat everyone to the punch on this; there’s nothing showing on the Crew’s site…as of 9:15 a.m. PST.

Well, golly, what a way to start the day. And this seems an interesting move from the Rapids’ point of view. The “article” on this features Rapids Coach Fernando Clavijo talking defensive depth…an area in which Colorado looked a little all right. Maybe he’s saying something here about wanting a more “pure” defender than he’s getting from, say, Jose Burciaga Jr. It will be interesting to see what happens at the back, or even how the Rapids line-up - or, to be fair, if anything changes at all. For as much as I know about Ward, he may not be big enough to impact the current roster.

Getting rid of Nico, on the other hand, does. Rapids fans may view him as just another infuriatingly inconsistent M/F (that’s midfielder/forward, as opposed to mother…you get the idea), but that’s only for those with short memories. Hernandez had a hell of a 2006; one could affix the word “timely” to a fair number of his seven goals that year. That said, there’s no denying his ‘07 ate a big one….something he seems to acknowledge in his profile photo.

Put it all together and, I have to say, I’m not getting this one. (UPDATE: Given that, I’ll let someone who does get it chime in: Bonji, of College to Pros fame, explains the practical side of this deal; and, if you want to look at this from the Crew perspective, just scroll up from the comment. Oh, and the rest of this crap is off the top of my head.) Maybe, like so many Rapids’ players before him, Nico wanted to leave; I have heard repeated talk of players butting heads with Clavijo, so maybe he’s one of them. Or, more likely, maybe he’s someone whose spot on the roster became redundant upon Christian Gomez’ arrival. Still, there’s something odd, and not a little depressing, about seeing the Rapids fortify the back while some questions remain up front.

Ah, well. Whatever happens, there will always be the memories…

UPDATE: I love my updates. So, picking through Bloglines, I found Soccer Insider’s post on this trade, which contains some really interesting speculation. And, for Rapids fans/observers, it’s possible this isn’t the rumor (or “hunch”) you’re wanting. How do you feel about FC Dallas’ Roberto Mina? As for “Reinaldo,” the player mentioned in Bonji’s comment on to the Crew post on this for Center Holds It, there’s something in the Insider’s post on that as well…unless, that is, the “Reinaldo” referred to there is different from the Reinaldo Navia that Dallas is trying to sign. From what I gather, yep, it’s a different dude. Seems there may be an embarrassment of Reinaldos in MLS this year.