Colorado Rapids: Three hopes, one fear

Hope #1: That Marlon Hairston can up his attacking chances. 

It would be difficult to say that one player has been the difference for the Rapids this season. Every player on the side has had their moments and it seems as if this is a team that generally likes playing with one another.

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However there have been some exceptional performances put in and of all the Rapids player Marlon Hairston stands out the most. The 23-year-old midfielder has served as the glue of the Rapids midfield and steadily become one of the top young players in the league. His decision-making and willingness to put in a defensive shift have made him standout among his peers and likely earned him call-up to the United States Men’s National Team in January.

The hope is now that he can move up a bit and create more attacking chances. He is one of the best passers on the team but most of his work is done in the defensive third. While he does lead the team in assists (six) most of the chances that he has created have come from long balls into the box.

Perhaps it is just a matter of maturation and making that next step as a professional. But it is evident that he has all of the tools to become more of a two-way player.