The last two winless months have confirmed: we need to create more chances through a different formation and different midfield personnel.

I’m working with a few obvious assumptions

• We aren’t giving up too many goals. The Rapids defense led by Matt Pickens and Marvell Wynne have a 1 goal allowed average, putting us fifth in MLS, down from 2009’s average of 1.24
• We aren’t scoring enough goals. We have a 1.125 goals scored average through 16 games, 11th in the MLS, and way down from last year’s 1.4

The insanity for me is that we continue to field a defensive minded midfield with the likes of Larentowicz, Mastroeni, and Ballouchy. Well…Jeff and Pablo intend to be defensive; Mehdi is forced to be defensive when his errant passes turn the ball over.

Coach Smith has begun to see what we all see, that Jamie Smith needs to be starting every game. What he doesn’t seem to see is that Ballouchy simply isn’t effective, while Lopez makes an immediate impact every time he comes in the game.

It seems simple: reverse the typical substitutions. Start Lopez, let his pinpoint passes and creative distribution START the game, then bring in Ballouchy for a different flavor in the 60th minute.

One thing is clear: if the Rapids want to make the playoffs, we need to end this insanity.

On first glance this seems to be an excellent trade. Larentowicz shared the midfield with Shalrie Joseph, though he appears to be more of a defensive midfielder (I’m still hoping for a Xavi clone). Thompson is called a “two-footed, wide midfielder” on the Revs website, and might address the need for wingers as I posted earlier.

Gibbs has struggled with injury and keeping his place in the starting XI with the addition of Baudet and Moor. Burpo is a great backup, but with a healthy Matt Pickens and young Steward Ceus in the wings, this is a trade that needs to happen.

One of the first areas this shows up is the lack of a default starting 11. If you look at the Rapids losses on 3/21 to Chivas USA, 4/19 to Houston, 6/28 to Seattle, 7/4 to Chicago, and 7/18 to DC United, these are the players who started.

1. Matt Pickens
2. Preston Burpo
3. Jordan Harvey
4. Ugo Ihemelu
5. Scott Palguta
6. Cory Gibbs
7. Julien Baudet
8. Kosuke Kimura
9. Nick LaBrocca
10. Mehdi Ballouchy
11. Jacob Peterson
12. Pablo Mastroeni
13. Greg Dalby
14. Colin Clark
15. Conor Casey
16. Pan Noonan
17. Omar Cummings

For the 6/24 and 7/4 losses there was some turnover due to international duties (Casey, Cummings, Clark), however if you look at this list I can’t say who El Capitan is going to pick for our upcoming match against New York. Not only that, but how players are used is also in question. Is Kimura effective enough as an attacking defender to make up for deficiencies in shutting down attackers? How does Noonan fit into our attack, can he mesh soon enough to make an impact this season? Is Baudet a helpful addition to the squad, or are we disrupting our defense by inserting him mid season?

And what is our style? Are we hard nosed and aggressive like Mastroeni? Are we quick on the counter like Clark and Cummings? Are we fluid like Ballouchy? I realize all of these can coexist at some level, but it seems like individual players have their own style, but the Rapids have not developed a style all their own.

If we can identify the starting 11 that perform well together and have the best chance of creating a cohesive style, we might achieve some consistency and get back into the playoff picture.

What are your thoughts?

Gary Smith from the Denver Post

“As it was, I thought players showed tremendous character to get something out of the game when nothing looked as though it was going to happen,” coach Gary Smith said.

Colorado got the first chance in the first few minutes on a LaBrocca header that sailed high. This was a hint of things to come, as LaBrocca got another great chance in the 15′, a near post strike, and again near post strike at 20′. While the rest of the Rapids were simply missing the target, LaBrocca lacked creativity on the finish but at least was putting it on target.

Noonan is proving to be a great addition, and played well. He is steady eddy, and his pass to Clark in the 25th was a beauty, Clark just pushing the shot wide. You had the feeling the Rapids were about to score (and really should have), with Clark’s golden chance at 25′, a Cummings header at 29′. The Rapids were generating all the offense, but couldn’t capitalize. Dallas then took over the momentum for a brief spell, and David Ferreira took one of their few chances all game, chipped it over a late charging Pickens and netted the first goal of the game.

Noonan’s header at 39 and LaBrocca’s at 45′ nearly tied it, but the Rapids were painfully struggling to get their shots on target. Before half we had at least 6 very good chances to 1 or 2 for Dallas, but went into half down 1-0.

The second half brought more of the same. Cummings missed another golden chance in the 55′ and at 65′. The finishing touch of Casey was becoming sorely missed. LaBrocca was being forced to do far too much in the attack. He is a solid midfielder, but you don’t want him taking half your shots. Gary Smith made a wise move inserting Harvey in his place. Cooke entered at 71′ for Noonan and delivered several trademark corners.

Ihemelu missed an absolutely wide open header in the 81′ off a Cooke cross, and I had the sinking feeling this one was going to slip away. It was Cummings in the end that saved our a$$es. He slashed in and a pinpoint finish could earn him another goal of the week. He just missed two more headers in the next couple minutes.

A gritty point, the lads should be commended for not giving up until the final whistle. Now a week and a half break, then we welcome the fire. Should be a great turnout (July 4th), let’s be extra loud for the boys in burgundy!

More on the game

• The Denver Post
• Video Highlights

In the first few minutes of the game, it was a brisk battle for possession, neither team especially crisp. Cummings opened the scoring in the 11′ off a fantastic ball by LaBrocca, hurdling the defender and putting it in the back of the net.

Around the 30th minute, Cummings nearly made it 2-0 off a nice pass from Noonan. The ensuing corner saw a Ihemelu shot off the bar, and Masteoeni put the rebound on target, but a fingertip save directed it again off the frame.

A fantastic save in the 44th kept a Chris Pontius header out of the goal. Then in extra time, Cummings made it a brace with another spectacular finish. He intercepted a poor United back pass, but seemed to waste it with his first touch. He manger to evade the oncoming goalie by pushing it far to the right. I seemed he was far too wide, but he cut it across his body and put it over a lunging defender and into the back of the net.

Distracted by the 2 for 1 t-shirt deals, I nearly missed Cummings make another spectacular play to setup goal #3. He outran the defender to the endline, then placed a gorgeous ball across goal to Clark who stuck it in the net.

On the defensive side, Palguta at least 4 huge stops. He was a stalwart in the middle, and gets my vote for the starting role. Pickens also got a well deserved shutout. He made the saves he should, and also made a couple spectacular ones as well.

For more on the match

• Video Highlights

The trio of Clark, Cummings, and Casey are producing incredible firepower up front. Were it not for a bizzare and uncharacteristic (not to mention inexcusable) drop by Matt Pickens, it would have been a comfortable 3-1 win. It does concern me that each week there is a silly goal (penalty kick, muffed save), but our goal production is keeping our unbeaten streak alive.

It was good to see Mehdi Ballouchy open up his scoring bank for the year with a penalty kick. He is another young player who continues to make great strides in his game. Harvey is another consistent contributor.

Up next is Fake Salt Lake, how sweet it would be to grab 3 more on the road before returning home to face DC United at DSGP.

More match coverage

• Video Highlights
• wewantrapidman
• Denver Post

Other notes
- the GK carousel continues as Pickens returns in goal
- a two footed challenge by a FSL player against Casey resulted in a red card, so the Rapid have a man advantage the rest of the game

On a chilly (and under-attended night) at DSGP, it was a tale of two halves. In the first, the Rapids looked solid on defense, but were unable to muster  a single shot until minutes before half when Nick LaBrocca made a run from the back and hit a long, hard ball on goal. There was a glaring lack of quality balls from the midfielders to the forwards. However, the Rapids’ rusty attack began to roll in the last moments of the first half and kept that steam throughout the rest of the game.

The defense in the second half was not quite so stellar on the defensive side. Gibbs apparently lost the ball in the lights, turning a simple chip pass into a Michael Kraus’ goal over a helpless Pickens. Ihemelu also made a couple questionable choices, and to my eye Kimura continues to be the weak link at the back. Nonetheless, Pickens made some excellent first half saves to keep the game even, and I think the Gibbs/Ihemelu combination has great potential.

Gary Smith was typically blunt Englishman in evaluating his team’s performance. From the Denver Post

Smith minced few words when describing his team — a squad he said is not stout in defense, not flashy and not clinical up front. For the time being, at least, is the hope.

“I’m just disappointed,” said Smith, who earned his first victory as interim coach last season against the Wizards. “Even though we won the game, there were too many times we looked like we could give the game away. We have to be better than that.”

Moving into next weekend’s game vs the Galaxy, a couple thoughts:

• If Cooke is unable to play the full 90, I would rather see him play the first 60 rather than the last 30. Jacob Peterson made some excellent attacking moves, but the Cooke’s outlet passes are the best on the team
• I wasn’t a big Kimura fan going into the season, and through two games my opinion is unchanged. He has pace, but is good for a couple dangerously poor clearances a game. I wonder if Smith will consider a change.
• The thunder and lighting combination of Casey and Cummings up front is a delight to watch, and will hopefully produce a harvest of goals this year. Cummings ice-cold finish was delightful

What are your thoughts on the Rapids performance? Leave a comment below on what did and didn’t like about our performance on the pitch Saturday.

On the Rapids official blog, the Undercurrent, it was apparent from the somewhat defensive tone that the Rapids are aware of Bouna’s popularity among fans

Bouna was offered a very attractive offer from the Rapids and MLS that would have placed him among the top 5 paid goalkeepers in the league.

Bouna and his agent have rejected what the Rapids and MLS felt was a VERY generous offer, leaving him out of contract, and free to sign with any club outside of MLS.

The Rapids thanked Bouna for his contribution to the club, and CRF would also like to do the same.

I also applaud the Rapids for making what sounds like a very competitive offer to Bouna, perhaps his response indicates he is ready to try his hands at European Football. We certainly wish him the best.

In the wake of Bouna’s departure the Rapids have added goalkeeper  Matt Pickens. Pickens was formerly with the Chicago Fire, but most recently was attempting to make waves with the Queens Park Rangers. Fellow Brit and Rapids coach Gary Smith told Goal.com after the Superdraft

I would go almost as far to say that we’ve got the deal of the day today

Let’s hope Pickens will be hungry from being on the sidelines, and can come in and make an immediate impact.

The uncertainty at the GK position also sheds light on the Rapids Superdraft selection of Steward Ceus with their 2nd pick. Pickens was born in 1982, so at around 26ish he is certainly well within his prime. However, having an understudy at the GK position that can grow into a leader is ideal.

Well this certainly has been quite the week! And the start of the season is just 2 months away!