Colorado Rapids @FC Dallas, Aug. 11, 7:00 p.m. - P/I/P

I'm just going to start the FCD thread now, so we can discuss formations, etc.

I'd probably stay with the same formation, with 2 D-mids, using Nane, but substituting Casey up top if available.

--------------------Casey-----------------
Castrillon----------Rivero----------Mullan
----------Larentowicz------Nane---------
Zapata-----Moor-----Wynne------Freeman
-------------------Pickens---------------------

I'd prefer Moor - Wynne in the center if Freeman is not in the doghouse for some reason, or injured. Marshall did play pretty well v. FSL -- if he can keep it up, Moor out wide is also good.

I can't help but wonder if OP won't put Mullan in the RB slot, especially if Marshall is out. Perhaps it's

--------------Casey----Omar---------------
Castrillon-----------------------------Rivero
----------Larentowicz------Nane---------
Zapata-----Moor-----Wynne------Mullan
-------------------Pickens---------------------

That would actually be a good way to get more of our best players on the field.

I don't know how serious Marshall's injury is, and his aging speed is a factor against him, but he has size. One thing that's hurt the Rapids this year is our relative lack of size defending set pieces. Has anyone noticed how we seem to be smaller than most teams? Wynne's 5'10", Moor is pretty slender for a CB. It seems like every other team can put 4 or 5 guys over six feet in the box against us.

This, of course, can be mitigated some by mentally tough midfield defense, and preventing the opposition from getting corner kicks, and we did that fairly well v. RSL. Dallas, is a big team, though--Shea, Ihemelu, Hernandez, etc.

I'm going to predict a 2-1 defeat.... It worked last time.

2-0 Rapids win even though it is in the Deep Dish. I watched the Portland v Dallas game this weekend and didn't see much from FCD. They'll be without defender Zach Loyd (Red Card).

I am going to go with 1-1. I need to see more from the offense. We should have had 4 or 5 on FSL last week. Gotta finish better. Huge improvement on the D last week but since this is a road match I'll give Dallas 1.

Draws don't fit with Rapids-style©.

are we gonna see jorge juan for dallas?

You got a point there.

I really didn't see much change from the Rapids against Salt Lake compared to previous games (tactically), so my expectations remain rock-bottom.

I just got back from spending most of the week in Des Moines.

I need to hunt this down, but the last two matches are the first time in a very long while that the Rapids have played back-to-back games with no bookings for either team.

Here are the stats, updated to reflect the win over RSL:

Thug Stats:

Last match: Fouls, RSL 17, Colorado 13. Bookings, RSL none, Colorado none.

Season totals: Fouls, Opponents 289, Colorado 269. Bookings, opponents 34 YCs, 1 RC, 2 mustard-and-ketchups; Colorado 25 YCs, 0 RCs, 2 mustard-and-ketchups.

Rapids Front Office scorecard:

Last match:
+ Protected starters = 1 goal (Nane), 0 assists, 0 bookings.
+ RFO throwaways = 0 goals, 0 assists, 0 bookings.
+ Newbies = 0 goals, 0 assists, 0 bookings.

Season totals:
+ Protected starters = 15 goals, 9 assists, 13 YCs, 1 mustard-and-ketchup, 1 own goal.
+ RFO throwaways = 3 goals, 2 assists, 6 YCs, 1 mustard-and-ketchup.
+ Newbies = 11 goals, 14 assists, 9 YCs, 1 own goal.

You consider Nane to be a protected starter? I'd have put him in RFO throwaways, but that's probably a judgement call. Thanks for keeping these stats, it's really interesting.

Nane was one of the internationals the Rapids protected to hit their quota of 3.

How about
--------------------Omar--------------------
Castrillon----------Smith--------------Rivero
----------Larentowicz------Nane---------
Zapata--------Moor------Wynne------Mullan
-------------------Pickens--------------------

You might see somebody like Wells on the right and Rivero in the middle, but other wise I think you nailed it.

OP hasn't shown any interest in starting Smith and Wells did play wells last week so I can see that happening.

My thought was Smith got 2 in the reserves game so maybe he earned a start. I think we'll see tomorrow night how OP reacts when he needs a win on the road. Does he go offensive or defensive? Ask me that question for as long as I've watched the Rapids and the answer is a no-brainer. We'll see if August 2012 is any different.

Thanks for the feedback! I'm glad to track the stats.

The "Protected Starters" are the 11 players that the Rapids protected in the last expansion draft. The "RFO throwaways" are the players who were on the roster at the time of the expansion draft, but were not protected from being drafted. The "Newbies" are all of the players who were not on the roster at the time of the expansion draft. There are a few oddities. For example, Hunter Freeman is both a former Rapid and a new returnee, but is counted in the "Newbies" list because he was not on the roster at the time of the draft.

Based on the stats and the relative minutes played, all three groups have performed relatively equally. At least in terms of offensive performance and bookings, the newer players have performed fairly well as a group.

The "Thug Stats" are designed to silence some of the notorious trolls who incessantly yap about how the Rapids are soccer's Evil Empire. Colorado's 269 total fouls is roughly even with the MLS average of 273. While total fouls are fairly even with match opponents, the difference in bookings is starting to become significant. Only one YC per game and no straight red cards is a fairly squeaky clean performance.

We drew Armando Villarreal as center ref. I think he's been a RA or 4th official in Rapids matches before, but I don't remember him as a center ref in any Rapids match.

2-1 win. Goals by Cummings and Moor. Drew will get one against his old team which will balance out a boneheaded mistake by the defense. Omar will get a boost from today's news that he's being called up for the Jamaican Nats next Wednesday and find a game-winner.

http://view-from-the-couch.blogspot.com/2012/08/time-for-new-streak.html

I predict a Rapids win at 2-1 or 3-1. Goals by Cummings and not sure who else. Not that it says much, but MLS.com editors picked Dallas accross the board except for one of them picked a draw. If the Rapids continue to play like they did against Real, they should take this one.

I thought there were a lot more positives against Real than previous games, including simple fight and tenacity. Go ahead, lift your expectations a smidge.

We haven't seen him this year - not sure about previous. This will be his 5th MLS match this season, averaging a couple of cautions per game, just one red card so far.

-------------------Casey-----------------
rivero----------Castrillon----------cummings
----------Larentowicz------Nane---------
Zapata-----Moor-----Wynne------Freeman
-------------------Pickens---------------------

Injured, won't be playing.

Castrillon - Cummings - Mullan

Larentowicz - Rivero - Nane

Zapata - Wynne - Moor - Freeman

Pickens

Subs: Ceus, Wahl, Palguta, Thompson, Smith, Cascio, Akpan