Omar Cummings scored a sure nominee for goal of the week, but it wasn’t enough. For the last Rapids win you have to look back seven weeks to a 1-0 win over the Columbus Crew. Since then the Rapids have lost their way, and tonight was no exception.

The game stormed out of the gates with easily the most exciting first 20 minutes I’ve seen this season. The typically stout Rapids defense had no answer for the combination of Nyassi, Montero, and especially Zakuani. The Congolese-Englishman made enterprising use of a loose ball (7′); his shot hit the post but ricocheted off a terribly unlucky Matt Pickens and in.

Less than a minute later Omar made the most spectacular individual effort of the game, lacing a left-footer into Kasey Keller’s upper right 90. It was a great stretch of play from a neutral standpoint for the next ten minutes, culminating in Zakuani’s second goal (17′) off a great run by Nyassi. Conor nearly tied the game with a header two minutes later, then the game settled down for the rest of the first half.

View Omar’s Spectacular Goal

The second half was not to be anywhere as mesmorizing as the first. Smith stuck with his starting 11, who unlike the first half looked more organized on defense, but lackluster on offense. Looking for a spark, in the 65′ Lopez and Kimura came on for Smith and Earls. Other than a sitter that Cummings sent over the bar, the Rapids second half offense primarily consisted of sending headers 10 feet over the crossbar.

I’m really at a loss for words right now. Smith seems to be throwing darts a bit with his starting XI. Ballouchy…was typical Ballouchy. Lacks the grit of a holding MF, the bite of a defensive MF, or the class of an offensive MF. All in all, he’s had his chances the past two seasons and hasn’t taken them. He’s first vote off the island, and I’ve got other voices in the chorus.

Defensively Earls is bright and brings the coveted left foot, but Kosuke has much more pace and physical strength. Baudet is a commanding presence in the middle, but the Rapids defense was gashed more times than just the two goals.

El Capitan’s substitutions brought pace to the game, and in the case of Lopez some much needed distribution. Amarikwa hustles his ass off, but has he ever actually put a shot on Goal?

The sad reality is that the Rapids are lost at sea. Our work rate is good, our individual talent more than adequate, but as a team we lack cohesion. We are good for a few good body blows but seem to no longer have the knockout punch. There are many theories, but I proffer two conclusions that are becoming more iron clad with each game.

1. Ballouchy is in their to create, and he isn’t up to the task. We have to find another option.
2. Cummings and Casey up top is the best tandem, sans Henry and Juan Pablo Angel. Cummings wants to cut inside, rips defenses up when he goes inside, and is limited when he is a winger.

Another disappointing night for those who Bleed Burgundy.

Major League Soccer (MLS), Rapids News and Analysis Claudio Lopez, Fredy Montero, Kasey Keller, Kosuke Kimura, Omar Cummings, Quincy Amarikwa, Seattle Sounders

There is a proven formula for mediocrity, as evidenced by last years 10-10-10 record. It is to play as two different teams. One is dangerous on the attack, the other lacks service to the forwards. One pushes play forward on the wings and crosses into the middle, the other hits speculative long balls from the back.

Both teams have played this year. Both wear burgundy and sky blue. And we find the Rapids again at 1-1-1.

For all the turnover in the offseason, the Rapids looked very much the tentative team that bombed out of the playoffs. We went into Kansas City full of hope after a win and a tough draw (that should’ve been win #2 but for a shameless dive). On their cute little Fisher Price field our attack simply did not cause them any concern. Sure we had a half dozen chances, but only one or two could be attributed to build up.

When I see Larentowicz or Mastroeni hitting speculative balls from midfield towards the 18 yard box, I think “patience, lads.” When I see Moor and Kimura hitting speculative balls FROM THE BACKLINE I think “Lord have mercy.”

Now the Fisher Price pitch doesn’t help a team like us that relies on speedy wingers. But with all due respect to El Capitan Gary Smith, we had an entire week to strategize for that. No excuses. We were outplayed.

Changes I would like to see in our US Open Cup rematch against the Wizards

• Backline from left to right: Earls, Moor, Baudet, Wynne. Kimura just isn’t effective pushing up the wing on the right, I’d really like to see the pacey Wynne get a look.
• Larentowicz and Mastroeni need to come back and get the ball from the backs, no more of this long ball from the back crap
• We just simply aren’t getting service to our forwards. I’d like to see a bit more of a 4-4-1-1, with Casey up top and Cummings in behind

There’s a REASON Cummings led the league in assists last year. There’s a REASON Casey nearly got the Golden Boot. Casey sucks as a midfielder, he’s too slow on the ball. He is ridonculously good at being the big man up front. Let Cummings roam around, come back to get the ball, and make his amazing runs up the field. I’m not sure if Cummings has the ball control to play this role, but it sure as hell wouldn’t hurt to try.

Major League Soccer (MLS), Rapids News and Analysis Drew Moor, Golden Boot, Jeff Larentowicz, Kansas City Wizards, Kosuke Kimura, Pablo Mastroeni, US Open Cup

To the puzzlement of this Rapids fans, and apparently to some Toronto FC fans, the Rapids have traded Jacob Peterson. From the Rapids PR, Colorado received “allocation money in exchange for midfielder Jacob Peterson. Per club and league policies, financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.”

From a great writer to the north, The 24th Minute:

This is a bit of a head scratcher. Peterson is a wing player, which we all know Toronto needs, but he’s a wing player that blew his knee out in the final month of the 2009 season. In Colorado it was expected that he might not be ready to play until August.

For me this is a head scratcher as well. As I discuss in relation to my interview with Gary Smith, the loss of Peterson as our final healthy winger had profound implications on our tactics. After losing Clark and Peterson, we were de-clawed. If I’m not mistaken, we didn’t score a non-PK goal after September 12th, or at least we scored very few. How can trading away one of our wingers do anything but hurt an already susceptible role.

HOWEVER. El Capitan Gary Smith is undoubtedly aware of this, and in his interview discussed the affect of losing wingers. I can only assume this money will go towards acquiring another winger, of an ever greater quality. My hope is we will also pick up a solid backup, a true winger perhaps later in their career. Training Kimura on the job, late in the season, to be a winger was not effective.

Major League Soccer (MLS), Rapids News and Analysis Gary Smith, Jacob Peterson, Kosuke Kimura, Toronto FC

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 Bob Bradley, Chivas USA, Colin Clark, Conor Casey, Cory Gibbs, DC United, Jacob Peterson, Jordan Harvey, Julien Baudet, Kosuke Kimura, Matt Pickens, Mehdi Ballouchy, Nick LaBrocca, Omar Cummings, Pablo Mastroeni, Preston Burpo, Scott Palguta, Ugo Ihemelu, US Men's National Team

Kosuke’s second goal of the season was enough to secure a victory at home for the Rapids over a struggling FC Dallas team. While Kimura lacks the size of a Palguta or the ability to impose like Ihemelu, he has shown now on two occasions that he can utilize his speed from the back to find holes in the defense. Kudos also to Ballouchy, whose pass showed tremendous vision. Though at times he struggles with imprecise passing, he is developing his ability to see the field and find the attacking player. Read more…

Major League Soccer (MLS), Rapids News and Analysis DC United, FC Dallas, Jacob Peterson, Kosuke Kimura, Mehdi Ballouchy, MLSnet.com, Nick LaBrocca, Nick Thomas, Ugo Ihemelu, wewantrapidman

At that half I noted the dramatically improved play by Kimura, but the best was yet to come. His attacking runs from the back were rewarded with his first MLS goal, an insurance goal in the 60th minute. Read more…

Major League Soccer (MLS), Rapids News and Analysis Kosuke Kimura, New England Revolution, Real Salt Lake

The Rapids have finally come out looking like the home team in the first half at DSGP, and lead at the half 1-0 vs rivals Fake Salt Lake. The back four are pushing much farther up the pitch, a welcome adjustment by Gary Smith Read more…

Major League Soccer (MLS), Rapids News and Analysis Conor Casey, Gary Smith, Kosuke Kimura, Matt Pickens, pitch

The golden scoring touch of Conor Casey and a bit of luck earned the Rapids a valuable point away. Casey showed why he is the  the leading scorer in the MLS, calmly delivering a deadly finish and keeping the defending MLS champs winless this season. Read more…

Major League Soccer (MLS), Rapids News and Analysis Columbus Crew, Conor Casey, Gary Smith, Guillermo Barros Schelotto, Houston Dynamo, Kosuke Kimura, Preston Burpo, Scott Palguta, Ty Harden

Terry Cooke stepped onto the pitch in the 65th minute and bent a free kick in the net, a curling ball reminiscent of a more famous Englishman. After a massive mistake by Cory Gibbs led to a Wizards equalizer, Cooke sent a gorgeous outlet pass to Colin Clarke who hit a streaking Omar Cummings for the winning goal. Read more…

Major League Soccer (MLS), Rapids News and Analysis Colin Clark, Colorado Rapids, Conor Casey, Cory Gibbs, Dick's Sporting Goods Park, Gary Smith, Kansas City Wizards, Kosuke Kimura, Matt Pickens, Nick LaBrocca, Omar Cummings, Terry Cooke, Ugo Ihemelu

Earlier today the Rapids Undercurrent blog reported deals reached with key young stars. The press release just came out in the last few minutes, and the Rapids have inked 4 year deals with midfielders Colin Clark and Nick LaBrocca and defenders Jordan Harvey and Kosuke Kimura. Read more…

Rapids News and Analysis Colin Clark, defender, Gary Smith, Jordan Harvey, Kosuke Kimura, midfielder, Nick LaBrocca