What do Gary Smith and I have in common? Apart from being English and coming from the same neck of the woods in the old country that is. That’s right, MLS did not renew either of our contracts for the 2012 season. Well, technically, I suppose it was the Rapids who didn’t renew Gary’s contract. But with the way the league gets involved in just about every contract, it amounts to pretty much the same.
Having served for two years as the beat writer for the Rapids at www.mlssoccer.com, I was told out of the blue that my contract would not be renewed for 2012. I’m still mystified and not a little hurt but the world is as it is.
I thought about it for a bit and whether I would even do any Rapids-related work this year. After all, wouldn’t it be nice just to go to games with my sons and enjoy being a fan? I also felt let down by the league’s decision and didn’t really have the desire to go all out in 2012.
So, I won’t be doing that, going all out. Instead, I’ll be working with my good friends Brian and Justin to bring you the best coverage of the Rapids that we can bring. We’ll be splitting the work between the three of us which will make it easier on everyone and allow us to be fans on occasion. But we will bring you great coverage each and every week, don’t worry about that. From previews, regular blog posts you can set your clock to, match reports, cliche-free interviews and anything else that takes our and your fancy. Whatever it is, you can be assured it will be informative, interesting and free of banality.
So, watch this space and tell your friends. We’ll be looking ahead next week to First Kick and you can be sure of some pretty decent postmatch coverage too. Stay soccer thirsty my friends!

If I had to pick the Rapids starting eleven mid-season it would look like this:

Goalkeeper: Matt Pickens
Defense: RB Kosuke Kimura, CB Tyrone Marshall, CB Drew Moor, LB Marvell Wynne
Midfield: RM Brian Mullan, CM Jeff Larentowicz, CM Pablo Mastroeni, LM Jamie Smith
Forwards: F Conor Casey, F Omar Cummings

I think it would be very much aligned with what Gary Smith envisioned at the start of the 2011 season. We added Caleb Folan in the offseason to add competition to our group of forwards as well as add much needed depth since Mac Kandji tore his ACL on the game winner in the 2010 MLS Cup.

I’m personally a fan of Folan, his work ethic, his hustle and his will to score. You can see his desire for a goal in his play lately and I believe if he could will the ball into the back of the net he could at this point. Our group of forwards is very deep and our strongest position on our roster.

Taking a look at our defense. The obvious hole is left back. Both Wynne and Kimura are natural right backs. When Wynne joined at the beginning of the 2010 season, I assumed he would give Kimura competition at his position and eventually take it over. However, Kimura has out worked his way to one of our most consistent players year over year. He wins Most Improved Player this year and I trust him fully at right back. Tyrone Marshall is the best offseason move we made, coming from the 2010 MLS Re-Entry Process and shores up our central defense, giving Wynne flexibility to play outside or inside depending on the match.

The issue this season is left back. We do have four solid starters for our defense, but not a true left back. Coach Gary Smith rotates our back four as often day turns to night, and while I’m OK with the four starters we have, this doesn’t give our players a consistency of where they will be playing each match. While I do think Anthony Wallace is our left back of the future (hence why we asked for him back after the Portland Timbers acquired him during last year’s MLS Expansion Draft), he’s still not quite a consistent, starting left back. He has shown flashes of excellence, which earned him a call up to our US Men’s National team earlier this year, and with some more time, will be a great player for years to come.

Moving to our midfield. We are a solid defensive team, in part, to our defensive minded central midfielders. Outside of Larentowicz, our starting midfield is aging. Mastroeni is 35, Brian Mullan is 33 and Jamie Smith is 31. It has been obvious this year that our captain has lost a step or two. In my opinion, our biggest flaw this year has been not challenging our central midfield with another capable player. The more I watch Pablo play this year, the more I clearly see where our lack of offense is coming from. As much as I think Larentowicz is about as boring a player to watch as possible, he’s solid as a central defensive midfielder and is very good at his role. However, Pablo is playing that exact same role, not by design, but by his aging years. Gary Smith has a tough decision. Pablo is our captain. He’s retiring soon. But the longer the 2011 season progresses, it’s becoming more clear we need a central attacking midfielder, something Pablo can not fulfill. Larentowicz is the clear choice for CDM which leaves Pablo…? On the bench? Our forwards, a group I’d argue is the best overall group of forwards in the league, need distribution. Our outside midfielders can get the ball in the box, but we struggle up the middle.

In summary, our needs at this point in the season are a starting (true) left back and most importantly, a new, more youthful creative central attacking midfielder. Sure I’d take another outside midfielder but the major need is in the middle of the pitch. This might make Gary Smith change the formation he’s used to running, however it’s a change that needs to take place. With Pablo suspended on yellow cards for our next match at home versus the Vancouver Whitecaps, we’ll get the chance to see a new Rapids lineup and possible formation. Saturday, I’ll get to see a midfield without Pablo and still succeed, or I’ll be wrong and see the importance of our captain in the midfield. I don’t like to be wrong.

I’ll leave you with this:

In 17 games played this year, our Captain has 0 goals and 2 assists. 6 shots and 0 on frame.

JMH

In a nightmare that keeps repeating itself, a late goal from a questionable call downed the Rapids on a blustery night at Rio Tinto. A soft free kick in the waning seconds led to this:

The free kick itself was an unwelcome, though probably justified intervention on a night where the referees overall let the boys play. The refs rightly flagged the aggressive goal scorer Fabian Espindola two times, one ruling out a goal in the first half. However, it looked like they missed this one.

Nonetheless, Rapids fans would be amiss to focus on this one moment. The Rapids went toe to toe with their rival, at their house, and the two teams effectively neutralized each other for most of the game. The effort from the boys in Burgundy was everything we expected, if it lagged at the very end.

However, the performance again reiterated a problem that emerged last week versus FC Dallas: a creative void. The midfield pairing of Larentowicz and Mastroeni would never be compared to Xavi and Iniesta in their creativity on the ball. However, the arrival of the Ginga Ninja freed Mastroeni to be distinctly more aggressive in the attack than he has been in recent years. Jamie Smith floated on the wing, sending in crosses or cutting inside and supplying balls to Casey / Cummings, or even Kimura pushing up the wing. Without Mastroeni, we simply have not found a creative force in the midfield, and that is our greatest void right now.

The injury bug has hit hard early season, and it’s true the loss of Casey has hurt. However, Folan has shown a capable replacement. He has pace, a remarkable work rate, and gets off great shots both from his boot and in the air. The greatest loss with Folan is the understanding Cummings and Casey have built over the last few years, but I suspect that will come. Also, Jamie Smith and Quincy Amarikwa both had to be subbed, with apparent hamstring and ankle injuries, respectively. On a defensive note, Tyrone Marshall put in a solid 90 minutes. and the back line was able to maintain a high line affectively versus a pit bull RSL attack. Bottom line, the makeshift front line and back line appear to be more than adequate.

It is the midfield that concerns me. I’ve said that I believe the midfield was the linchpin of our success:  Larentowicz / Mastroeni paired with Moor / Wynne did indeed form the steel of our defense, but Larentowicz / Mastroeni also did a solid job providing supply to the wings, to fullbacks pushing forward, and to the spear of our attack up top. We simply did not look dangerous often enough, and RSL looked the more likely team to score. We had chances, but far less than Rapids fans are used to, and far less than we need against a squad as solid as Fake Salt Lake.

If we are to compete to defend our crown, not to mention the other competitions we are in, we will need to address this shortage at midfield. Smith is adequate in midfield, but is missed on the wing. Wells worked his ass of, but also does not have the touch and supply in attack that Jamie brings. Like Wells, Nyassi brings pace as a sub, but neither is a 90 minute solution.

Gary Smith: if Stan is paying attention, we need another creative Central Midfielder. Pronto. Without it we are still a playoff team, but that’s not good enough anymore. We want to be in the conversation for the title until the very end, and that won’t happen without better supply to our attack.

Pablo, get better soon.

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.

I did not get the chance to watch the match yesterday. Chicago Fire 2 – Rapids Reserves 1. Once I saw the starting XI that Gary Smith decided to go with in our first U.S. Open Cup play-in match this year, there was no reason for me to watch the game and put my best foot forward. After all, the Colorado Rapids didn’t. They were only leading by example. I mean, we are the current Champions of the MLS. However, I’m not as disappointed as you’d think and here’s why:

The U.S. Open Cup competition is as good as dead.

So we aren’t dealing in absolutes (because remember, only Sith deal in absolutes), the Open Cup is dead to the teams that could really raise the quality of the tournament. This is a great tournament for teams that compete in the bottom half of the MLS standings and for every other team that plays soccer in America. After all, this year’s tournament is the only chance the Chicago Fire have at winning hardware. That’s the reality of it. Expansion teams like the back-to-back Open Cup Champions, the Seattle Sounders, are also perfect for this tournament. It puts them in the spotlight! I believe the only reason we have not changed the Open Cup is because Seattle and their mighty fan base have made it relevant again. (cough, cough, $$$, cough) What if they didn’t win and say, Sporting Kansas or Chivas USA won these last two year? Changes would have already been made.

So what can we do? Create new roster spots? Raise the salary cap for deeper teams? Each year the MLS does so, but ever so slightly. This continues to stabilize the league, which is a great plan for strengthening our top division in America, bad for multiple tournaments for our top teams. I’d love to see the US Open Cup evolve into something like the Europa League. If you aren’t familiar with it, it’s basically the next best tournament for teams that don’t qualify for the Champion’s League. Maybe we think more on a domestic scale at first but having second-rate teams from Mexico are always good experience. Look at the now dead SuperLiga. A similar concept, but let’s include the top teams from NASL and USL. Why not have a play-in round for the rest of the amateur teams? I know I didn’t think of all the details, but the overall concept sounds more exciting than a tournament with little incentive that is slowly dying.

My last point is that the Open Cup can only make MLS teams look bad. There really is no upside. For every amateur team in the tournament it’s a chance to take down the top teams. If they lose, they were meant to.

JMH

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.

The Columbus Crew came to…well, try very hard not to lose. Cummings predictably punished their hesitant approach and sent a low cross into the middle, Casey dummied, and Mastroeni sent it into the roof of the net. It was a well-deserved goal in the 25′, and every indication pointed to the Rapids getting a second.

In the second half, the Rapids lowered their tempo and intensity to the Crew’s. They began walking slowly to throw-ins and corners. We no longer dictated the midfield and pace of play, and slowly shrunk into the equivalent of an NFL prevent defense.

A great save by Pickens and a Crew header that hit the outside of the post kept a 1-0 victory.

I would feel much more comfortable with the Rapids at a 2 goal aggregate lead, and if the Rapids continued the first half intensity it looked almost inevitable. Nonethless we have the goal lead, and are more than capable of going into Columbus and getting a result.

Kandji came on as a late sub, and as John Harkes told me after the game (yes I’m name-dropping), it “was suspect.” Cummings is greatly diminished in lethality out on the wing. If Kandji comes in, it has to be for Casey, if he is tired perhaps. Casey and Kandji up top should not be a first or second choice option.

Stars of the game

• Cummings (especially first half)
• Mastroeni (solid in attack and defense)
• Anthony Wallace (he just keeps making believers)
• Pickens (thanks for not messing around with the ball this week)

Need more from

• Jeff Larentowicz: The Ginga Ninja had bright moments, but seemed to loose control of “his” midfield in the second half
• Gary Smith: keep the intensity up, keep the killer instinct in the playoffs in the second half

The Rapids took this week’s chapter of “Yeah Omar is that good” to the home of MLS-leading LA Galaxy. The results shouldn’t be more than mildly surprising. The Galaxy have been less than their dominant selves recently, while Colorado is peaking.

Edson Buddle scored 2 times, and both included a great deal of luck. The first opened the scoring 9 minutes in as his shot deflected off Drew Moor and wrong footed Matt Pickens. The second was a own goal deflection off his chest soon after that evened the score.

A classic run by Cummings, and the expected glorious ball across the 6 yard box was finished off by Casey to put the Rapids up 2-1 before half. Mullan nearly made it 3-1 with a fantastic strike off the post. This trend continued after half, and the Rapids and Cummings got a deserved goal.

The only surprise in the second half is that we didn’t get a fourth goal. To be fair, LA put together an excellent push in the last 10 minutes, but the Rapids were up to the task.

Gary Smith deserves major credit for creating and coalescing a squad that is well organized at the back, strong through its defensive midfield, and lethal up top. If he ever considers starting anyone other than Casey and Cummings up top however…throw a rubber chicken at him.

Oh and by the way…I know this guy who had a really long week at work, and was looking forward to the Rapids vs Galaxy at DSGP tonight. Humming Rapids songs as he drove up, he discovered that unfortunately tonight’s game was an away game. Showing up at an empty pitch…who does that, right?! (Cough, cough). Ahem.

D.C. United pulled off a shocker at DSG Park tonight. So did Gary Smith. Before tonight’s home game, D.C. United had not won in Colorado since May 6, 2000. Danny Allsop scored the lone goal in the match in the 46th minute and it proved to be enough for United to come away with 3 points.

The Rapids played their third game in eight days, one of the more strenuous periods in their league schedule all year. Gary Smith’s starting lineup was without Omar Cummings, Jamie Smith, Marvell Wynne and Anthony Wallace. I was shocked to see Omar not in the starting XI. Let’s just put it this way, I love NBA Jam and Omar, well, he’s been “On Fire!” Giving your key players a rest is important for the club down the line. The line though, now includes road matches against FC Dallas and the LA Galaxy and one last home game versus Real Salt Lake. If there was a sure game the Rapids could gain 3 points in the standings it was this one. Why save Omar in a game that should have been the easiest out of the remainder to move up in the standings? Gary’s starting lineup decision ended up getting the team in trouble defensively while the offense seemed to miss a spark.

The Colorado Rapids needed the win. I understand everyone on the team needs to step up and help the team when asked but the coach needs to set a lineup of starters, not subs. Matt Pickens bailed the team out on several occasions. He made a ridiculous, fingertip save to push Pablo Hernandez chip over the crossbar in the first half as well as stone Danny Allsop on a one-on-on breakaway. Brian Mullan played poorly tonight and it was his lazy drop to Drew Moor that started Allsop’s breakaway. Besides Mullan, Danny Earls looked like the Danny Earls of old; a shaky left back.

It was a disappointing match for the fan and a disappointing decision from Gary to not start Omar. The crowd woke up when they saw Omar warming up off the bench and when he finally subbed in for Mac Kandji in the 59th minute; he had one of the biggest cheers at DSG Park this year. Obviously, the fans wanted to see Omar play. The starting lineup can be discussed until the next match (at Dallas, Saturday October 9th). I just hope we’ll still be able to discuss getting to the playoffs for the first time since 2006. Here’s to cheering for the Rapids and any team playing against Kansas City and Toronto FC.

Click the link below to watch the match highlights:

Rapids vs D.C. United 10/2/10

JMH

Last Saturday night, our boys in burgundy came to play. The match marked the third straight home game with the same score line of 3-0. This is the kind of soccer Rapids fans have been wanting all season. It doesn’t feel like long ago, we were struggling to put goals in the back of the net. As bad as I wanted a never-ending summer, this year I was ready for the leaves to start turning. That miserable slump of 7 straight games of ties and losses was painful. Luckily during June and July we had the World Cup to help keep us from flipping cars out of our annoyance with the club. But I do have to admit I had a car 3 feet off two wheels after Lando’s stoppage time goal against Algeria back on June 23. (Shhh, don’t tell ma mom!)

All of this near rioting brings me to the point that these last home stands have been extremely wonderful to watch. Winning is always good, but when the Rapids can put 3 in the net, it makes for exciting soccer to watch. With the addition of Brian Mullan and Mac Kandji, there is always doubt that a major lineup change three fourths through the season will hurt the team, but it appears it has worked like an extra shot of espresso before the morning workday. Mullan showed us in the first 30 minutes why Houston Dynamo fans love him. He works hard on the ball and off the ball. He is a true right-footed midfielder and his experience in the playoffs will be needed. Mullan made smart decisions and we could see a burning inside of him that he wasn’t going to get beat. Adjusting to the altitude was the last thing one his mind. Winning the ball was before oxygen.

Mac Kandji hates playing anything but an attacking forward. After hearing him sum up this statement during the pregame interview, I grew increasingly more interested in this 6’4” Senegalese forward. His long legs led to lengthy, lunging strides late in the game (Say that sentence 3 times fast). When I first saw Kandji on the ball, he reminded me why he was surplus with the New York Red Bulls. His build reminded me of the man who replaced him this summer, Mr. Thierry Henry. Gary Smith can be quoted saying this man is a diamond in the rough and a couple English Premier teams have already turned their heads stateside by his play in the Barclays New York Challenge just a few months ago. When he had the ball, Kandji attacked players straight on. He was awarded an assist during the first match he played with the Rapids. If you were counting that’s now 3 quality and dangerous forwards on the team heading towards the playoffs.

Last part of this lengthy blog entry. Today feels like the week before Christmas, the week before your big raise or the last few days before your vacation starts. The scent of non-alcoholic beer is in the air at my house and I’ve even stopped playing online poker this week. It’s just an early pregame ritual I have before we play our rivals, Real Salt Lake on Saturday. We accidently left something there last year, but that’s for another blog entry…