The Rapids have blanketed the heart of downtown Denver with burgundy and sky blue. It was a beautiful sight to see banners on Denver’s famous 16th Street Mall of Colin Clark, Conor Casey, Pablo Mastroeni, and Omar Cummings.
The banners said April 3rd, and we are all hoping that doesn’t turn out to be false prophecy.
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
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.
93 minutes of frustration. One aggressive challenge by Ryan Johnson of San Jose on Drew Moor, who made the most of it and earned a PK that Casey did not waste.
Basics
This was a game full of annoyances. John Harkes saying “Bow-det.” The ball bouncing around on a field full of mini-moguls. Most importantly, a complete lack of service from the midfield to Thunder (Casey) & Lighting (Cummings) up top. Read more…
The votes are in and the fans say yes! Cummings and Peterson can compensate, will we still make the playoffs.
In evaluating the Rapids form at this point in the season, I think of the US Men’s National Team. There was a carousel of players in and out, different formations, different styles of play, and inconsistent results. Once Bob Bradley arrived at a final 11 and somewhat of an identity, the results at the Confederations Cup were staggering. I believe the Rapids have yet to find that identity.
One of the first areas this shows up is the lack of a default starting 11. Read more…
Major League Soccer (MLS), Rapids News and Analysis, US National Team
“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. Read more…
Leaving the stadium I felt we were lucky to have a point. Looking back over the game, it really should’ve been three. It was a game of missed chances we could’ve easily won 3 or 4-1. Nonetheless, figuring out a way to get a point with time nearly out demonstrates the grit and determination this team is developing. Read more…
From a neutral point of view, it was a glorious night of football. Fast-paced, multiple changes of momentum, some lovely goals, and several amazing saves. From a home team standpoint, I’m quite disappointed we didn’t pick up the 3 points. Read more…
Mark, thanks for taking a moment to chat with CRF!
First off, tell us about when and how your passion for the Rapids began.
I’ve been around since the beginning. In high school, my teammates and I were skipping classes to watch the 1990 World Cup, so our principal finally gave in and put a TV in the cafeteria Read more…
Major League Soccer (MLS), Rapids News and Analysis, US National Team
As I watched the Rapids struggle in the first half against the winless Galaxy, it was deja vu all over again. In the home opener I attended versus the Wizards, the Rapids looked similarly lethargic in the first half. The Rapids were able to sting the Galaxy in the second half of last weekend’s game, but a lack of a second home goal allowed the Galaxy a late equalizer.
There are several issues the Rapids must address to get out of “middle-of-the-pack” mode and into a conference title challenger Read more…
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