On Mehdi's goal, I kept waiting for him to pass off to . . . nobody. But he controlled the ball and positioned himself for a nice shot. Either G.S. or one of the assistants deserves credit for coaching, and Mehdi deserves credit for listening and learning. Regardless of any other play in the match, that single play showed something we haven't seen from Mehdi since the trade. Credit where credit is due, etc.
i think mehdi s problem is in game mentality and confidence. his got great qualitys to be great player. but he lacks the mental i think. they always talk great of him that his always guna have his break out year. every year the tasty looking soda fizzles before we get taste of it.
There are two things I would like to see from this team. 1. A step up in play from either Smith/Clark/Medhi. I believe that this team is a lock for the playoffs IF Medhi can finally live up to his promise. 2. Score more goals. I know sounds simple right. But the Rapids goal differential is too low (9GF 7GA). ”We” need to take better advantage of the good GA. The reoccurring stat from losing games is that it’s been a very long time since or it’s a very rare occasion that the Rapids won a game after giving up the first goal. The Rapids need to pull out a match in which they give up the first goal. A feat I don't think they can do unless they start finishing more often. Pulling a few of those games out, considering the weakness may be a more season saving feat than winning on the road. Which, don’t get me wrong, is an awesome thing on its own.
Its been just over 4 years since we've won after giving up the first goal in a regular-season league match and won. Just over 3 years if you include playoff games. (We gave up the first goal in the USOC qualifier in KC this year and came back to win, so it has happened in competitive play recently)
That is an incredible statistic. Says it all about where we've been over the last years! If that doesn't change, Rapids aren't going to be anything but mediocre for ever.
Thank you Jason, I tried to look up the stat. I REALLY like the Rapids D this season. But without finishing off some of these close chances I'm afraid this improved club will on the wrong side of the playoff line once again. It appears to me that one of Jeff L. or Pablo needs to jump into the attack and press forward. Maybe whichever of the two has just made the stellar defensive move they are known for, the opposite one needs to step up. Much like the way Pablo’s goal was scored. I see it as, a 5-4-1 turning into the 4-3-3 on the front foot when it works. Or since jeff and Pablo are both such great defenders a 6-2-2 with Omar struggling to find and opening making runs deep into the corner as Conor is marked off with Thompson and Medhi also making well marked runs leaving a huge hole from the 18 yard box to the midfield line. It doesn’t seem to work well when it plays out like that. I guess that is why Casey is always playing back to the middle, which I like -when he’s marked and not deep enough- but this team needs to trust their great defense more and attack. IMO
In any given year, a team with the 1-3 best defense will make the playoffs. In two out of the last 3 years the teams with the best offense has missed the playoffs. It's not heartwarming to watch, but the reality is that a goal and stingy play is more important in MLS than being a great offensive team. This seems to have been magnified with expansion
Mmmmmmmm juicy. I was not aware of this stat, thanks. It makes me feel better. I would still like to see the Rapids turn around three points in a game when the first goal is given up.
Without a league-wide stat to compare it to, it doesn't say anything. There aren't many goals in soccer.
Having not come from behind to win, doesn't seem all that telling to me. First, you don't want to have to come from behind, you just want to score first and often, and get the win. Second, while they don't come from behind to win, that is typically how most teams get draws. Since most MLS teams are intent on protecting leads, getting a draw is usually nothing to sneeze at. Finally, it's a stat that needs a differential. How often do the Rapids lose when they've got a lead? Last year it would have been a -3 differential - I think (CUSA, DC, Chicago). That pretty much explains their missing the playoffs right there. Take a look at the EPL. A quick look at the first two months of the season shows that most games are shutouts. And, come from behind victories all include either a top team (Chelsea leads the way), or a bottom team. For the great bulk of teams between the Champions League spots and the drop, scoring first equates to victory. If you're lucky scoring second gets you a draw.
Along those lines, only 9 times in the last 4 years have the Rapids allowed a goal and won. Essentially in the last 4 years, if we pitch a shutout we win, if we give up a goal we don't.
That is a very interesting stat. On the surface it's almost unbelievable. I wonder, however, how that compares with other teams. Edit - it reminded me of this
I'll look at it, but wait... that means going to mlssoccer.com and going to mlssoccer.com makes me angry. Grrr. Ok, a glance at the 64 games in the league to date shows 17 games in which both teams scored. Looking at those 17 boxscores, 4 teams (all of them at home) came back after conceding the first goal. So if there's roughly two comebacks per 30 games, and you are a .500 team, you should expect one comeback per year. That is, if you believe my amateur analysis of a tiny dataset compiled by mlssoccer.com. And, finally, as deron noted, ~3/4 of all games are shutouts.