Hometown boy Jeff Larentowicz scored an absolute top class volley, a wide smile breaking his usually subdued demeanor.
Rookie sensation Danny Mwanga put another ball into the back of the net to equalize, as Baudet once again found himself culpable on a goal. In fairness, it was an excellent piece of play by Sebastien Le Toux.
Coach Gary Smith continues to experiment with formation and personnel, seeking a unit that can actually outscore our opponents. He started today with the 4-4-2, with Amarikwa getting another nod up top alongside Omar Cummings.
Backtalk
Do you think Amarikwa is the answer for another attacking threat?
How do you think Conor looked in his first game back?
For the second season in a row, the Rapids have lost Colin Clark to a torn ACL. A more cynical perspective might be that we never got him back, as he struggled to regain his dangerous form from 2009.
When an athlete gets back to back injuries of this type in the same knee, it begins to build concern about his long term prospects. He’s young, though, and I certainly hope he will make a full recovery.
More troubling for me is the absolute dearth of attacking options this leaves us in the midfield. I was a proponent, despite Clark’s hesitant appearances, to continue to use him and get him back to making those dangerous runs down the left.
With just a couple days left to grab another, there is a collective cry coming out of Colorado for Kroenke to do right by the fans and get us another attacking option; either an offensive midfielder or a striker to pair with Casey while Omar drops back.
Here’s the full press release from the club
Colorado Rapids midfielder Colin Clark has been diagnosed with a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his left knee, the club announced today.
Clark suffered the injury on August 7 in the second half of the Rapids’ 1-0 win against San Jose and will miss the remainder of the 2010 season.
Surgery to repair the injury is scheduled to take place next week.
This marks the second straight season in which Clark has suffered a torn ACL in his left knee. In 2009, he missed the team’s final 10 regular season games after the injury occurred in a training session on August 11.
Clark appeared in 16 games this season, with nine starts, playing 866 minutes.
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.
Ballouchy is in their to create, and he isn’t up to the task. We have to find another option.
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.
In a moment that encapsulates the annual Rapids summer slide, Conor Casey found himself mano a mano (89′) with bleach blonde Jimmy Nielsen of the Wizards (see photos above). Rather than exchanging hairstyle tips, Casey did what any good striker should and (as deftly as the big man can) went around the left of the goalkeeper to face a yawning net. Time stood still. The stands rose to their feet. Helpless Wizards defenders looked on from 10 yards away. A chance to secure a comeback win versus an inferior opponent…(cue the music) “wah, wah, wah.” When a left-footed touch pass would’ve dribbled in, Casey chose power and drilled it off the post.
“If you’re not appalled, you’re not paying attention” goes the bumpersticker. As a Rapids fan, if you weren’t appalled by the first 60 minutes, you weren’t paying attention. Against an inferior regional rival, we were tepid and stagnant. The recently creative Ballouchy was back to his old self, alternating between looking lost and sending passes 10-20 degrees off target. Mastroeni was pedestrian. He was neither the sheriff of the midfield (a la the Dutch Van Bommel), nor a creative force up the middle causing the defense to release off Casey/Cummings and close him down.
Clark was 20% fire, 80% ice. The slashing Clark of ‘09 made occasional and encouraging appearances, but the chilly and tentative Clark of 2010. It’s heartbreaking to see such a talent over thinking every touch of the ball, rather than letting his skill and talent lead him. It’s painfully obvious he’s afraid to take defenders on one on one. Nonetheless, he showed signs of his old brilliance as the game went on, especially as Lopez began to become the creative force and Clark could just react.
A strange thing happened in the 62′. An old hand named Claudio Lopez came in, the Rapids went back to a 4-4-2, and became as dangerous as a De Jong kung fu kick. Nearly every Lopez touch was perfect, and nearly every touch was FORWARD. With Jamie Smith the solid holding midfielder he is, Lopez was free to roam the pitch and paint beautifully. His was the pass that put Casey on goal. To be fair to Casey, had Lopez been in the game longer than 30′, Casey would’ve had another chance and would’ve made it count.
Bummer:
A Mehdi Ballouchy led midfield that strands Casey up top and wastes Cummings speed
Smith can’t seem to decide who he wants at left back
Bonus:
A Claudio Lopez led midfield (4-4-2) that allows Larentowicz and Smith to hold midfield and pushes “Thunder & Lighting” (Casey/Cummings) towards goal
Smith looks like he pairs well with Lopez in midfield
Pickens and Wynne are absolutely at the top of their game
Bottom Line:
We need to start our next game with the personnel and formation we ended this one. Period. The Larentowicz/Mastroeni combo with Cummings and Clark as wingers doesn’t work.
As the British announcers on ESPN might say if this was a World Cup game, “this game is waiting for someone who will grab it by the scruff of the neck.” Toronto got a scrappy but effective goal in the 61′ and the Rapids could not equalize. Tepid. Lukewarm. The Rapids simply looked…uninspired.
These are the sorts of games that compel me to predict another season where we fall just out of playoff contention. We came off six games unbeaten, but the final three of those were ties. We are dropping points when we could be nipping at Fake Salt Lake’s heels.
Dare I say we were punchless without Ballouchy? The game was screaming for someone to take charge of our attack in the midfield. Smith looked adequate in the midfield, took a couple good set pieces, but lacked the creative touch. Thompson was pacey but never really troubled the defense. On a bright note, Casey and Cummings teamed up well on a few chances and put our only shots on goal. However in the end we fell short.
Smith appears to be throwing darts again with the lineup. To be fair, I’m not sure either what the combination is. Some fans want Lopez in there, a man who has shown to be quite dangerous throughout his career. Can he last 90 minutes however? Clark seems tentative, little of the slashing winger of 2009. What we need is a leader, someone who will grab our attack by the scruff of the neck and will his way into making us dangerous in games like this where a point was ours for the taking.
Like the July thunderstorm that was on and off all night, the Rapids threatened but ultimately could not find the winning touch. The Rapids rained 13 shots down on the Red Bulls and looked sure to score two goals in the first half alone. But a lack of quality on the final shot let us down and we have to settle for another…you called it…draw.
The interplay between Cummings and Casey in the first half was lovely, resulting in a master class Cummings goal in the 15′. The Rapids fell asleep in the 34′ and paid dearly off the foot of Juan Pablo Angel, who otherwise had a solid but quiet game. Soon after the Rapids had a golden chance to equalize but Casey scuffed it. Casey continues to struggle to find anything resembling last season’s form.
The second half was also owned by the Rapids, who saw Ballouchy clank a beauty off the post, and a Larentowicz free kick skim the bar. It is one of those games you can feel slipping away…and it did. We earned a win, and would have if we had someone with the finishing touch of…well…Casey the 2009 version. He’s one of the best in the MLS, and will get his touch back…but when?
If you were still awake after the first half, you were treated to a taste of the 2009 Rapids slashing attack. But for a (DC United friendly goalpost), Ballouchy would’ve had his brace for the game and Clark his first of the season. Combined with a defense that bends often but rarely breaks, we earned a much needed 3 points on the road.
The first half highlights are few and far between. I found the songs and drunken antics of the Bulldog Supporters Group far more compelling than lazy passing around the back, a lack of creativity in the midfield, and poor movement up front. Ya…not good.
Thankfully it didn’t end there as you will see below
Now That We Are 8 Games In…
Ballouchy is a baller…sometimes: And frankly his sometimes is the best we have coming out of the middle of the field, so it will have to be enough. To be fair, he continues to develop, and with time his passing will hopefully continue to be more consistent. Either way, I’d love to see him take on a defender at least once every half, throw a step-over or two in there, and put a shot on goal.
Smith is kinda throwing darts: All love for El Capitan duly noted, he hasn’t found a cohesive, dependable starting XI. Injuries have made that near impossible, yet I think we are all still wondering questions like Where does Wynne belong (I think RB is best though it didn’t look great at times tonight)? Will it be Wells or Clark (I’m calling Clark though Wells can be an impact sub at 60′ on a regular basis).
Casey deserved to be left at home: It hurts me to say it, as he is one of our finest footballers and a true Denver athlete. However, he was an “on the bubble” player whose form put him in (last season) and now out (this season) of the picture.
The MLS Season hurts USMNT Possibles: While being at the beginning of our MLS season means less chance for injury and players being a bit more rested the negatives far outweigh the positives. Casey will undoubtedly turn this early season slump around, but it is too late for the World Cup squad. Unlike his European counterparts who are at their peak form after a long season, Casey is still shaking off the cobwebs.
A tie at home on opening day isn’t the worst possible result, nonetheless it left me a bit unsatisfied.
First Half
The Rapids looked enterprising in the first half, and managed to go ahead 2-1 on two goals by Thunder (Casey on a PK) & Lighting (Cummings on a delicious strike). Mr. Vaughn gave the visiting Fire an equalizer in the 2nd half after Patrick Nyarko went down on a Marvell Wynne challenge. It looked soft live, and still looks soft on replay. Take a look below and tell me what you think.
Cummings opens the scoring
John Collins equalizes
Casey makes it 2-1
Second Half
Crappy-ass call gives McBride and the Fire the equalizer
Maybe…maaaaybe their feet got tangle, but totally incidental. I think he may have just dove.
Takeaways
Smith is still experimenting with the backline. Our attack is solid and looked enterprising for all but 20′ in the middle of the 2nd half (when Ballouchy went out I’m surprised to say). But along the back there was a good bit of space for Collins and others to make mischief.
I’m voting for Baudet and Moor in the middle, with Wynne and Earls on the outside of the defense. Then again, this isn’t a democracy and my vote doesn’t count.
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