Redeeming the 4th
“I’m not sure what you’re going to write about that,” quipped my wife after extra time had expired. For the past 4 days I haven’t known what to write. After coaxing 10 or so of my friends into joining the other 19k people at DSGP Saturday night, and sitting through one of the worst displays of soccer, and by far the worst July 4th fireworks display ever put on by the Rapids, I was sorely disappointed.
I have insisted to my soccer loving friends that there is quality in the MLS. And to friends who have not yet experienced the beautiful game, DSGP is a gorgeous pitch and a great place to start. Unfortunately, those 19k fans left with a bad taste in their mouth. As Chris Dempsey wrote for the Denver Post
Colorado‘s leading goal scorer, Conor Casey, returned from his stint with the U.S. national team at the Confederations Cup in South Africa. The Chicago Fire had not won in Colorado since 1999, a span of 10 games. The Rapids were 13-1 all-time in Independence Day home games.
But the Rapids were simply outmaneuvered, out-hustled, and out performed in every phase of the game. Conor Casey did not look like Conor Casey, and perhaps was not ready for the night after his work for the USMNT in South Africa. However, with out the speedy tandem of Cummings and Clark in the Gold Cup (USA and Jamaica respectively), we needed his firepower. And though he was there, his firepower was not.
The fireworks show was just bizarre, with 20 second lags inbetween explosions. Then there was Lee Greenwood playing at the same time as the Rolling Stones, and 1812 overture over the Beach Boys. From the Rapids
A computer malfunction led to system-wide electrical problems, causing complications in the execution of our display, distortion of the show’s music tracks and finally the crashing of the show’s fireworks firing system. Without knowing when, or if, the fireworks shells would fire, it was necessary to take a safety-first approach and cancel the rest of the show.
The Rapids are doing the right thing and offering free tickets to the July 25th game vs the Red Bulls, after which there will be a fireworks show. That is redeeming the 4th from a firewords standpoint. How do they redeem it from a soccer standpoint?
For me, the Rapids continue to struggle with possession in the midfield. We lack that offensive midfielder with the creative mind to setup attacks. At a certain point in the second half, we had a stroke and the left side went numb. All we had going was attacks down the right with Terry Cooke swinging low percentage (albeit beautiful) crosses into an “off” Casey. Cooke the player of the night for me; he was visibly distraught about the Rapids play and worked his tail off to change that.
Gary Smith has got to figure out who can be that person forming the bridge from the back to the front. It’s been a problem surfacing from time to time all year. We get away with it because of the speed of Cummings and Clark, who can outrun the defender to poor passes. But this area must be addressed.
It was a chance squandered, and the Rapids have little room to squander more golden chances if they want to make the playoffs.
One other final note: like Nick at wewantrapidman, I thought I saw Conor get a second yellow for dissent after the game had expired. Has anyone seen this anywhere else?
