Well, the Bash Brothers are back in Denver with newest neck-snapper Atiba Harris. They will no doubt be looking, much like Olivia Newton John in 1981, to get physical. Hopefully we get a little ref protection from the cheap hacking and we will need to initiate a good spread out possesion game here at altitude to wear these goombahs out before they get started. I think it'll be another hard fought game, ala last years brawl at Buckshaw. Maybe a card or three for spice. Rapids come from behind 2-1.
I think you may be right about needing to come from behind. SJ will be hungry for their first win and they will come out swinging for sure. I always fear Wondo so until the final whistle blows, SJ always has a chance. I too give it a 2-1 Rapids win with goals by Brown and Torres. I wanna feel comfortable about a win, but I don't with SJ.
This game will be an absolute dogfight that will be won in trenches. Intensifying the match will be SJ's search of a 1st win. No doubt, SJ will come out looking for an early knockout punch. Honestly, this match probably has Pablo salivating. In his playing days this match was right up his alley. Defensively, the Bash Bros and Wondo will be a handful. I want to see how O'Neill (assuming his starts at CB) fares and how Moor can work to stop these guys. It's not about beating them at their own game (physicality) it's about cutting off pathways to goal and forcing them to retreat towards their own goal. You can't let them push you down low -- stealing a basketball term if you will. Jose Mari is going to be hugely import filling in those defensive gaps. I want to see him stick on Wondo like white on rice and deny his ability to slyly sneak past you. Offensively, a big body, preferably Buddle, will be need for holdup play against Barnardez and Goodson. I would love to see Buddle draw Barnardez and Goodson out a little, creating space behind them only for Powers hit those penetrating through balls for Brown, Sanchez, and Serna. You have to exploit SJ's lack of pace. Make them play your game and not one reliant of physicality.
The only time I've seen them play this season was in CCL play and I thought they did very well and I'm kinda surprised to see their low standing this early in the season.
Interested to see the team in a game they're supposed to win against a non-Canadian team. Expect a mosh pit game but a 2-1 Rapids win, goals by Torres and Sanchez
Sorry very amused with all his game weather postings Chris Bianchi @Rapids_News ·15 hrs Latest model runs pumping more moisture for Saturday’s #Rapids96-#Quakes game. Going to call it 50-50 for a storm during the game. #cowx Chris Bianchi @Rapids_News ·16 hrs @RiggAtAltitude @FlemingSport hmm surprising. Don't think we get a storm but there's a chance, especially towards end of the match
If you shut down Salinas you can kill the Quakes offensively as he is our engine. Only one bash brother ( I hate that term ) as Lenhart is out for a month.
Salinas definitely has a knack for having great service and I also think we need to keep an eye on the new guy Djalo. Kid is crafty. One of my favorite Bianchi weather related tweets had something to do with "Friends don't let Friends use weather.com." Sadly, I'm 100% positive I could use weather.com to predict the forecast with as much accuracy as the weather folk that get paid to do it.
Who to start? What formation to play? Sanchez is back, and Serna made the team look better immediately. Should he start or be a super sub? We've successfully played a 4 diamond 2 the last two games, which, personnel-wise was made easier by absences. Do we get Brown, Buddle, and Torres on the field at the same time? Powers is too good centrally to be shifted wide. ------------Buddle-------Torres----------- --Brown---------Powers----------Sanchez -------------------Jose Mari--------------- Burch------Moor-------O'Neill----Piermayr --------------------Irwin---------------------- --------Brown---Buddle-------Torres------- --------------Powers----Sanchez-------------- -------------------Jose Mari--------------- Burch------Moor-------O'Neill----Piermayr --------------------Irwin----------------------
Check this guide to the game out. Way better than anything I've seen the Rapids produce. And they do this weekly? http://www.sjearthquakes.com/news/2014/04/fan-guide-quakes-travel-mile-high-city 45 page .pdf with history, statistics, news, and in depth player bios. Wow.
i've seen these in the past from the Rapids, but I haven't made it a point to search them out in a while, if they are still being produced that is. Last one I saw was about 2 years? ago.
San Jose really isn't very good, but this game does have "trap" written all over it. We have Mari, so that should help keep the physicality spread fairly even in the midfield. It wouldn't hurt to start Buddle has well. He's large enough that having 'Quakes defenders trying to bully him is like watching a Strong Man trying to pull seven semi-trucks using only his teeth. Tactically speaking, we need to keep possession and hold it as long as we can. Might want to make sure we're leading by more than a single goal in the 90th minute to boot...
Hi all, Got a ridiculous lay-over in Denver that coincides with the game, so I'm going to try to see my Quakes take on your Boys (sorry I'm the enemy). Never been to Dick's ---> is there any bars or restaurants around the stadium for a guy who's cabbing it? Thanks in advance for any help.
There's pretty much nothing within walking distance of the stadium. There is some stuff in Northfield/Stapleton which is south of the stadium, but downtown Denver is the place to go if you're looking for bars.
Hopefully it's not a trap game. http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/artic...om-editors-and-cobi-jones-pick-week-7-matches
I wonder if he's going through some meteorologist program or something. I've known a few people who have gone through atmospheric science stuff and they love to talk about their models too.
It's just the media guide renamed to "Fan guide". The Rapids have one too. Go to this page and click on "Go to Full Game Guide" http://www.coloradorapids.com/news/2014/04/match-preview-colorado-rapids-vs-san-jose-earthquakes
Bad news, all 6 pundits picked the Rapids for win. http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/artic...om-editors-and-cobi-jones-pick-week-7-matches
Guy in the comments section said he did a quick run through of the unanimous picks so far this year. All but one have resulted in a tie or loss for the picked team. Just once were the editors correct (SKC beat Houston I think was the game). I don't tend to think these things affect game outcomes, but I don't like those stats. Hope we can buck the trend.
Nah, we're gonna club them like a baby seal. 3-0, comb lost on missed pk by Sanchez who had a new baby celebration all planned out and everything.
Looks like rain... But who gives a shit... #9 will get his 100th and 101st goals vs. the smurfs..and it's the 420 holiday Sunday..can't wait to drive down to Denver tomorrow..GO RAPIDS!!!!!!
This game has trouble written all over it. At home against a team struggling to score. And on a pitch in very good condition . Plus, the Rapids haven't had a lot of success against the Quakes recently. Reading between the lines of what I have been listening on podcasts the last few days it seems PM likes what he's seen from the 4-4-2, so perhaps we'll see it again. And he has also stated he wants to give everyone a rest a some point to avoid injury. So what does this mean in terms of lineup? I have no idea. But I would bet the back line will be Burch, Moor, O'Neill and Piermayr with Mari in front of them. And Powers will be on the pitch . After that it gets interesting in terms of selection. Oh, Irwin will be in goal . The Rapids seem to have made a habit of figuring out how to get a result regardless of the circumstances - let's hope it continues.