“Winning.” The Rapids have done all but Charlie-Sheen their opponents, playing solid but without the (insert catchphase, e.g. cutting edge / killer instinct). We’ve avoided defeat, but also winning, and the honeymoon period with this particular streak is over. Currently at 5th place in the west with 19 points out of 14 games, the Rapids need to make a move.

Back on March 19th, the Rapids showed their champion form with a convincing 3-1 win. The Timber should again be a team against which the Rapids can control the flow of play. The question, as will all the previous 8 matches, is whether or not the Rapids can end those periods of possession with a goal.

The Timbers are coming off a streak of their own, dropping the last two games against Chivas USA and DC United. The Timbers are just two spots behind the Rapids, however, with three games in hand (19 points from 11 games). So going into this game, we are fairly even on points, highlighting how costly all these draws have been.

Omar Cummings is out, so the Rapids will again be looking to depth at striker. Will we begin to see the goal production we need out of our makeshift striker team? Casey is back in the fold, can he regain scoring form? The Rapids will almost undoubtedly dominate possession, but can they put points on the board, and gain points in the table?

Main, Major League Soccer (MLS), Rapids News and Analysis Conor Casey, Omar Cummings, Portland Timbers

Pundits wondered if the defending champs only looked good because of their relatively weak two first opponents. When the Rapids downed mid table DC United tonight, they were stone cold killers, converting the majority of their legitimate chances. It was a slick, cold field, with drizzle turning to snow, and a tepid first half turning to second half domination.

DC United controlled much of the flow of play in the first half, but generated relatively few chances as Moor, Wynne, and Pickens suffocated any attacks. Folan scored his first MLS goal in the 38th minute, warming the hearts of the freezing faithful as he took on the defender one on one. The big man danced back and forth and then laced a shot with his left boot past the diving Pat Onstad.

It remained 1-0 until DC’s Chris Korb sent a gorgeous 30 yard cross to Santino Quaranta who volleyed it in. It was a lovely first time shot, but it was the last time DC was in the game. The Rapids took over from there, scoring on the restart. Anthony Wallace, who previously had a quiet game, sent a lovely cross in to the box. Smith’s header was sublime, arching up and over the goalkeeper. 2-1 Colorado in the 71′.

The Rapids weren’t done yet, nor was the big Irishman, as Folan matched Smith’s touch with a lovely header of his own. Nyassi, who put in another excellent showing as a super sub, sent a cross into the middle for Folan. There was no luck of the Irish involved, just technical skill in heading it down and across the face of goal.

There is no coincidence that the last three goals happened after Cummings came in in the 52nd minute…and indeed the last goal was Omar’s. It was the third goal of the night off the noggin. Setup by Amerikwa’s header and a deflected pass from Pablo, the Jamaican International sent it home as he beat Onstad to the ball. 4-1 Rapids.

I never thought I’d say this: but the Rapids really do have options in attack, with Folan, Nyassi, and even Amerikwa demonstrating an ability to make trouble for opposing back lines. We do lack some speed in the attack without Cummings, but Folan and Nyassi have shown they can move the ball upfield in a hurry. With the Rapids in multiple competitions, this depth in attack is much needed.

However, despite the fireworks, it is the boys in the back that deserve a shoutout. Though it wasn’t a shutout, they suffocated the DC attack and gave them few chances to get back in the game.

Main, Major League Soccer (MLS), Rapids News and Analysis Caleb Folan, Chris Korb, DC United, Jamie Smith, Omar Cummings, Pat Onstad, Sanna Nyassi, Santino Quaranta

I have become convinced beyond a reasonable doubt that CRF writer Justin Hein is Everton’s Phil Jagielka (Go Toffees!). Don’t take my word for it though, here is the picture evidence.

At this point I can’t even tell them apart. Next time I see Justin in the press box I’m going to see if Everton played that day in the Premier League.

Main Justin Hein, Phil Jagielka

The Rapids use their 2 picks in the MLS Superdraft to add depth at the back. Details of the press release are below

Backtalk: what do you think of this strategy? Our defense was perhaps our greatest strength last year, so it seems a bit strange. But when you consider that we got rid of Earls and Baudet (the international limit thingy), perhaps the FO thinks we need to bolster our defensive depth?

Like another respondent to our survey, I think we need to look at getting an offensive midfielder who can create through the middle. However, we can always trade for that.

Ok, let’s here it: thumbs up or thumbs down? Leave your comments below.

BALTIMORE (Thursday, January 13, 2011) – The Colorado Rapids selected defenders Eddie Ababio and Colin Givens in the 2011 MLS SuperDraft held today at the Baltimore Convention Center.

As MLS Cup Champions, the Rapids held the last pick in each of the first two rounds. Colorado had previously traded their third round selection of today’s three round draft.

The Rapids took Ababio with their first round selection (18th overall) from the University of North Carolina. Born in Ghana, he concluded his collegiate career appearing in 89 games for the Tar Heels scoring 13 goals and adding 12 assists. Ababio was also a member of UNC’s three consecutive College Cup Final Four squads.

Colorado used their final selection of the day to take Givens with the 36th overall pick. The Michigan State product played in 65 games recording one goal and one assist for the Spartans and earned First Team All-Big Ten and Second Team All-Region honors last season.

Ababio and Givens, along with the rest of the Rapids, will report to Colorado later this month for the start of preseason training.

Main Colin Givens, Danny Earls, Eddie Ababio, Julien Baudet, MLS SuperDraft

Main Brian Mullan, MLS SuperDraft, Omar Cummings, Pablo Mastroeni

Will the names of Omar Cummings, Pablo Mastroeni, and Conor Casey go down in Rapids and MLS history along the likes of Marcelo Balboa?

Much of that depends on what the Rapids do tonight.

There is no doubt that Casey and Pablo have left their mark on the record books of the Rapids, and that Cummings is starting to receive the attention he deserves.

But like it or not, in American sports your greatness is directly tied to your performance in the playoffs. Today at 2pm the Rapids, and these three gents in particular, have an opportunity to make a deeper impression on Rapids history by moving to the Easter Conference Finals.

Main Conor Casey, Marcelo Balboa, Omar Cummings, Pablo Mastroeni

Main Conor Casey, Fake Salt Lake, Matt Pickens, Omar Cummings, Real Salt Lake, Rocky Mountain Cup

For the second season in a row, the Rapids have lost Colin Clark to a torn ACL. A more cynical perspective might be that we never got him back, as he struggled to regain his dangerous form from 2009.

When an athlete gets back to back injuries of this type in the same knee, it begins to build concern about his long term prospects. He’s young, though, and I certainly hope he will make a full recovery.

More troubling for me is the absolute dearth of attacking options this leaves us in the midfield. I was a proponent, despite Clark’s hesitant appearances, to continue to use him and get him back to making those dangerous runs down the left.

With just a couple days left to grab another, there is a collective cry coming out of Colorado for Kroenke to do right by the fans and get us another attacking option; either an offensive midfielder or a striker to pair with Casey while Omar drops back.

Here’s the full press release from the club

Colorado Rapids midfielder Colin Clark has been diagnosed with a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his left knee, the club announced today.

Clark suffered the injury on August 7 in the second half of the Rapids’ 1-0 win against San Jose and will miss the remainder of the 2010 season.

Surgery to repair the injury is scheduled to take place next week.

This marks the second straight season in which Clark has suffered a torn ACL in his left knee. In 2009, he missed the team’s final 10 regular season games after the injury occurred in a training session on August 11.

Clark appeared in 16 games this season, with nine starts, playing 866 minutes.

Main Colin Clark, Conor Casey, Omar Cummings, Stan Kroenke

In a moment that encapsulates the annual Rapids summer slide, Conor Casey found himself mano a mano (89′) with bleach blonde Jimmy Nielsen of the Wizards (see photos above). Rather than exchanging hairstyle tips, Casey did what any good striker should and (as deftly as the big man can) went around the left of the goalkeeper to face a yawning net. Time stood still. The stands rose to their feet. Helpless Wizards defenders looked on from 10 yards away. A chance to secure a comeback win versus an inferior opponent…(cue the music) “wah, wah, wah.” When a left-footed touch pass would’ve dribbled in, Casey chose power and drilled it off the post.

“If you’re not appalled, you’re not paying attention” goes the bumpersticker. As a Rapids fan, if you weren’t appalled by the first 60 minutes, you weren’t paying attention. Against an inferior regional rival, we were tepid and stagnant. The recently creative Ballouchy was back to his old self, alternating between looking lost and sending passes 10-20 degrees off target. Mastroeni was pedestrian. He was neither the sheriff of the midfield (a la the Dutch Van Bommel), nor a creative force up the middle causing the defense to release off Casey/Cummings and close him down.

Clark was 20% fire, 80% ice. The slashing Clark of ’09 made occasional and encouraging appearances, but the chilly and tentative Clark of 2010. It’s heartbreaking to see such a talent over thinking every touch of the ball, rather than letting his skill and talent lead him. It’s painfully obvious he’s afraid to take defenders on one on one. Nonetheless, he showed signs of his old brilliance as the game went on, especially as Lopez began to become the creative force and Clark could just react.

A strange thing happened in the 62′. An old hand named Claudio Lopez came in, the Rapids went back to a 4-4-2, and became as dangerous as a De Jong kung fu kick. Nearly every Lopez touch was perfect, and nearly every touch was FORWARD. With Jamie Smith the solid holding midfielder he is, Lopez was free to roam the pitch and paint beautifully. His was the pass that put Casey on goal. To be fair to Casey, had Lopez been in the game longer than 30′, Casey would’ve had another chance and would’ve made it count.

Bummer:

• A Mehdi Ballouchy led midfield that strands Casey up top and wastes Cummings speed
• Smith can’t seem to decide who he wants at left back

Bonus:

• A Claudio Lopez led midfield (4-4-2) that allows Larentowicz and Smith to hold midfield and pushes “Thunder & Lighting” (Casey/Cummings) towards goal
• Smith looks like he pairs well with Lopez in midfield
• Pickens and Wynne are absolutely at the top of their game

Bottom Line:

• We need to start our next game with the personnel and formation we ended this one. Period. The Larentowicz/Mastroeni combo with Cummings and Clark as wingers doesn’t work.
• Did I mention we need to score more goals?

Main Claudio Lopez, Colin Clark, Conor Casey, Jeff Larentowicz, Kansas City Wizards, Marvell Wynne, Omar Cummings

In time for the World Cup the Onion has put out their introduction to the World Cup. Be sure you are in a place where your raucous laughter won’t disturb others.

Also check out article about the nation’s soccer fan becoming insufferable.

The Onion Sports Introduction To World Cup Soccer | The Onion – America’s Finest News Source.

International Soccer, Main