It sounded good. With 3 matches in 10 days, concluding with the massive first leg of the Rocky Mountain Cup, why not test our vaunted new depth? Gary Smith gave super sub Sanna Nyassi and Open Cup starter Joseph Nane a chance to start in midfield, and the result looked more like the Rapids reserve team than the defending MLS Champs.

[Brian: Think of something positive to say for  final draft], but the night was otherwise one Rapids fans will hope to soon forget. David Ferreira spent about the same amount of time behind our back line as Matt Pickens. Our normally stalwart back 4 was porous as swiss cheese, and the tip of of the Rapids spear was sharp as a marble.

This match shows four devastatingly simple truths

1. The Rapids strength starts in our midfield.
   While Mullan may have lost a step or two, his work rate in midfield is currently irreplaceable. While Nyassi is a creative force, Mullan tracks back and kicks shins. He is a dogged defender in getting the ball back and preventing attacks down the wings. Nane was similarly ineffective (@Craig_de_Aragon called him the potential successor to Mehdi).
2. The strength of our defense is in the bottom of the spine.
   The spine of our defense is our steely, defensive midfield pairing of Larentowicz and Mastroeni, combined with Moor and Wynne at the back. Those four control the flow of the game, not necessarily dominating possession but breaking up enemy attacks. Without that spine, and with the wings exposed, it is remarkable we only gave up 3 goals
3. “We are one injury away from being average”
   @BMer916 tweeted this last night, referring to an injury to a CM or defender. After last night I’m more concerned about our central midfield, but his point is absolutely valid. If we lose any of the four members of the bottom part of the spine for any length of time, we are in trouble.
4. We don’t have “Champions” depth yet
   Here’s what I mean: when you look at the Barcelona’s and Man U’s of the world, they have a cache of 3 or 4 players that can fill multiple roles, and keep the team from losing a step when injuries happen. It also allows them to compete successfully in multiple competitions. Now, I know the payroll and scales are different, but the principles remains. Moor, Wynne, and Cummings can play multiple positions effectively, but they are already desperately needed where they are. Wells Thompson has shown himself a capable and flexible sub, but is not a 90 minute solution at any position. Nyassi and Nane did not inspire confidence they are answers either

However, having laid out the serious concerns, in the words of Third Eye Blind, “why don’t you step back from that ledge my friend.” Here are three encouraging signs

1. The Rapids have 11 or 12 are championship Caliber starters
   Folan has shown himself to be a legitimate alternative to Casey, as he will need to be for the next 2-4 weeks after Casey tweaked his hammie. The rest of the starting XI has looked like a team that can repeat.
2. Smith has a long term view
   Remember this time last year, when every week seemed to be a different squad? Smith is not afraid to try combinations and find what works. El Capitan knows that this is a long season, even longer with multiple competitions. He is committed to developing a deeper squad, and either through player development or acquisition, and Vegas odds are that he will pull it off. He’s shown what he’s capable of.
3. Rapids have 9 points out of 4 games
   Concerns about depth notwithstanding, last night also can be partially chalked up to an emotional letdown against an opponent that had a lot to prove. They were “up” for the game, and we weren’t. Plain and simple. That same letdown performance against Chivas USA may have netted us a draw at best, but we simply didn’t play well.

The players need to have a short memory, and get ready for war against Fake Salt Lake. The staff and management need to have a longer memory, and have some hard discussions about potentially trading depth at striker for depth in midfield.

Major League Soccer (MLS), Rapids News and Analysis, Rocky Mountain Cup, US Open Cup David Ferreira, FC Dallas, Gary Smith, Jeff Larentowicz, Joseph Nane, Matt Pickens, Pablo Mastroeni, Rocky Mountain Cup, Sanna Nyassi, US Open Cup

The Rapids gave a characteristically gutsy performance, Casey got his goal, and we got a bit of luck off the knee of George John to win the 2010 MLS Cup. A minority in the media gave the Rapids a chance, but that didn’t seem to bother us at all as we scrapped and clawed our way to our first MLS Cup in club history.

Photo by www.EdClementePhotography.com (from last week)

In the near-winless dog days of summer I can’t say I expected to see the boys in Burgundy on a cold night on our northern neighbor’s finest pitch. But that’s exactly what happened. Two ugly goals, some blood, some sweat, and a few tears earned us the finest prize in American Soccer.

Critics said FC Dallas had the better goal keeper, but it was Matt Pickens who played out of his mind in the final minutes of over time, with fingertip saves leading our 10 man desperate defense. Jamie Trecker went so far as to say we had nothing but nice jerseys…those jerseys sure do reflect well off the MLS Cup.

It was a nervy first few minutes as both teams grappled with a wet, cold surface. FC Dallas scored first in the 35′ from the brilliant Ferreira. The Rapids answered with pressure, but couldn’t score before the break. In the second half it was back and forth, and Conor Casey (MLS Cup MVP) got the goal he deserved in the 56′.

Immediate response ensued from FC Dallas, and a fantastic save by Pickens kept it out of the net. Pickens would be called on again in the 71′ and repeatedly in the last few minutes as the Rapids were down to 10 men.

“Unfortunately I don’t know what is wrong with my leg but it was worth it.” Mac Kandji took the defender on one-on-one, and a diving toe poke sent it off George John and into the back of the net. He took a nasty step on his extended leg, and it looked pretty nasty. Kandji had come on for the gimpy Omar Cummings, and we were out of subs.

You could say we got lucky, you could also say we were terribly unlucky on what looked to be a stone-cold penalty on Casey in the 28′. Casey appeared to be swiped in the box right in front of goal as he went around the defender.

At the Trophy ceremony, the Rapids kissed the gorgeous cup, passing it around from player to player. It was sheer ecstasy for the toughest, gutsiest, hardest-working, best team in Major League Soccer.

To everyone in the Rapids organization, to Gary Smith, and especially to all who bleed burgundy…good night. And Go Rapids.

Major League Soccer (MLS), Rapids News and Analysis Conor Casey, David Ferreira, Gary Smith, George John, Macoumba Kanji, Omar Cummings

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…

Major League Soccer (MLS), Rapids News and Analysis Colin Clark, David Ferreira, FC Dallas, Matt Pickens, Nick LaBrocca, Omar Cummings, Terry Cooke, Ugo Ihemelu