This is a tough one to swallow. Just 6 weeks ago we looked like winning the West was still an option. But injuries to our wingers left us unable to generate any kind of offense. We went from one of the most powerful to one of the dullest offenses in a matter of weeks, almost completely unable to score if you take out penalty kicks.

I’m sure others will write effective breakdowns of what went wrong, but I’m just a fan with a blog and I’m major bummed. It wasn’t supposed to end like this, and now the task is to make sure that next year it doesn’t happen for the fourth straight year.

Major League Soccer (MLS), Rapids News and Analysis

Dear fellow Soccer/Football/Footy lover,

Isn’t it an amazing time to be a fan of the USMNT? A thrilling win Saturday booked our tickets to South Africa for the World Cup. May I gently point out that all 3 goals were scored by perhaps the 2 best players in the MLS.

Now before the nasty MLS hating comments pore in, let me address some of the types of MLS Haters

THE EUROSNOB

“The MLS is inferior to EPL and La Liga.” No kidding. We aren’t up to the level of a Russian or Belgian league either. For that reason, I’m glad we have TV so I can cheer on the Toffees or catch Barcelona’s beautiful interpretation of the beautiful game.

But may I gently point out that we do in fact live in the US of A. There is competitive soccer happening on the pitch every Saturday right here.

THE PRO-USMNT BUT ANTI-MLS FAN

“I still support our American players, but when they are in real leagues over in Europe” (this fan is closely related to the Eurosnob).

I too support Tim Howard (my favorite player in the world), Onyewu, and Davies on their European sides. However, it is an undeniable fact that the success of the USMNT is directly tied to the success of the MLS. Two reasons:

1. First, if there is no league for American youngsters to aspire to, a league which is a viable possibility for great athletes to make a living at, we will be reliant on immigration to provide our soccer talent. While I am very thankful for that influx of talent, we need to develop our own system as well. We have tremendous athletes in this country, and as the MLS grows it will become an even better option for those elite athletes who would otherwise focus on other sports.
2. We cannot rely on European clubs to snatch up and develop all of our talent in their teens, that is not a viable option for all families. We need to be able to develop talent here, even if the very best talent continues to end up on the other side of the pond.
3. Additionally, while some of my favorite players are struggling to get playing time on a weekly basis (Onyewu, Altidore), players like Conor Casey and Landon Donovan are playing competitive footy every Saturday in a fight for the playoffs. They are at the height of their game and it showed on Saturday.

THE DON GARBER & MLS CRITIC

“_Insert your own rant against the leadership of MLS here._”

Does the MLS have issues? Yes. Of course. Are some of them frustrating? Again, of course. But two things

1. We are not the only league with problems. The EPL has teams in serious financial trouble, including Portsmouth who weren’t paying their players last week and became another team sold to owners with oil money. The English Premier league is becoming less and less…English. You think fans aren’t upset about that? We all have problems
2. The MLS is a young league. Frankly I’m thankful they’ve even survived, and not only are they surviving but are solvent and expanding.

THE PERPETUAL COMPLAINER

If you are angry at the world for soccer not being as big or as good here, I get that. However, there are two ways to make a change. Top/Down or Bottom/Up. Whether the change is social, religious, athletic, or otherwise, changes that are bottom up ALWAYS have greater effect and a longer life.

MY REQUEST TO YOU

On that note (with apologies to Ghandi), be the change you want to see in the MLS. I’m asking all MLS hating soccer fans in the US to go to 3 MLS games a year. That will cost you less than a quality soccer ball, you will see competitive soccer, you will be part of bringing educated soccer fans to the pitch, and you will invest in the future of Soccer in America.

STOP THE HATING AND GET TO THE PITCH

(One Caveat: I am not as familiar with the USL or other leagues in the US, if someone would like to address this topic from their perspective contact me).

Major League Soccer (MLS), Rapids News and Analysis, US National Team Conor Casey, Jozy Altidore, Landon Donovan, South Africa, World Cup

Disclaimer #1: I realize that this is a Colorado Rapids and MLS blog, not USMNT.

Disclaimer #2: I realize I have a man crush (based on all 3 criteria) on Timmy and am hopelessly biased.

That being said, going into a huge USMNT weekend, it is time to establish once and for all that goalkeeper Tim Howard is the best US Soccer player. Period. I give you the top 5 reasons this is the case

1. He is the unquestioned #1 for club (Everton) and country
2. He is among the 2 players on the USMNT whose loss would have the greatest effect on our performance (I’d say Donovan is the other clear choice on this list)
3. He has performed in the best league in the world (EPL) and distinguished himself as one of the top keepers in Europe (reference: David Moyes)
4. He has excelled in the Europa league in UEFA, the finest regional association in the world
5. He is an absolute rock, a consistent leader whether we are playing T&T at home or Mexico at the Azteca

US National Team Everton, Tim Howard, US Men's National Team

Apologies, the first take at this survey did not calculate results…grrr…technology

Major League Soccer (MLS), Rapids News and Analysis

Major League Soccer (MLS), Rapids News and Analysis

Colorado Rapids got one point, but it’s the two points we didn’t get in our final home game that have Rapids fans concerned. New England have struggled to score recently, and this looked to be our best chance to secure a playoff spot. I’m not saying the alarm is sounding, but I can hear some kind of high pitch beeping.

Basics

The Rapids came out in a 3-5-2 before the 16,535 that were in attendance. This formation was likely designed to generate the service to Thunder & Lighting that have eluded us (our last non-PK goal was September 12th). It gave our offense a spark in the first half that we have lacked over the last month, and our boys worked their tails off as they do every week.

We were able to contain New England all day, but gave up an open header to Dube and he didn’t waste the chance. The Revolution had few chances off open play, and one can’t help but wonder what “would’ve been” if we had covered that free kick better or made more use of our own free kicks.

Bummer

The Rapids continue to struggle finding that final ball. The 3-5-2 created more chances, but Casey and Cummings now only expect 1 legitimate chance per game on goal. Early in the season, it was more like 3 or 4. As Gary Smith mentioned, we will have to be near flawless on executing those chances, which simply isn’t realistic. Even the best strikers in the world like Fernando Torres or Lionel Messi do not execute anywhere near 100% on golden chances.

I’m starting to feel like a broken record…but where is our service going to come from for the rest of this season? Players like Ballouchy and LaBrocca are playing very well, but simply do not have the killer instinct like Colin Clark had.

Bonus

• The calls have gone our way when we needed them to. Plain and simple, the PK’s have been our life ring, and Casey has not wasted them.
• Preston Burpo is playing excellent in goal for Pickens. He hasn’t registered the clean sheet I’m sure he wants, but is playing a steady veteran game every Saturday.

Backtalk

For the backtalk, I’ll be putting up the same survey about whether we are going to make the playoffs. Has your opinion changed? I don’t want to be a Debbie Downer, but the Rapids have gone from one of the most prolific attacks in the MLS to a team who just can’t put it in the back of the net.

Major League Soccer (MLS), Rapids News and Analysis Colin Clark, Conor Casey, Gary Smith, New England Revolution, Omar Cummings