3/21/06 Spain update on Rapids site. Win 2-1

[InExile]

There is a new thread on the Rapids site listing details of today's game. We won. Gargan and Glenn scored. They got a penalty kick in the final minute of the match. Mostly rookies and new-bloods.

[Bonji]

Here is a link to the game report (http://www.coloradorapids.com/news/newsdetails.asp?ID=1683).

Rapids Lineup:
Jordan, Freeman, Wojciech, Gargan, Harvey, Crawford (King 80’), Wasson, Gonzalez, Clark, Glen, Pearson (Noel 70’)

I'm glad the web guys at the Rapids can spell players names so well. Last time it was Woytech. Wojciech seems to be a popular Polish name so I'm having trouble finding information on the potential signing. There is a Wojciech Kowalewski on the Polish national team which faced the US recently, but he's listed as a keeper. There is also a Wojciech Kurys who played at Quininpiac in 2000-2001 as a freshman. It looks like this Wojciech will be a mystery until he is signed, if he is signed. That is of course his name is spelled Wojciech.

[DavidJames]

Here is a link to the game report (http://www.coloradorapids.com/news/newsdetails.asp?ID=1683).

Rapids Lineup:
Jordan, Freeman, Wojciech, Gargan, Harvey, Crawford (King 80’), Wasson, Gonzalez, Clark, Glen, Pearson (Noel 70’)

I'm glad the web guys at the Rapids can spell players names so well. Last time it was Woytech. Wojciech seems to be a popular Polish name so I'm having trouble finding information on the potential signing. There is a Wojciech Kowalewski on the Polish national team which faced the US recently, but he's listed as a keeper. There is also a Wojciech Kurys who played at Quininpiac in 2000-2001 as a freshman. It looks like this Wojciech will be a mystery until he is signed, if he is signed. That is of course his name is spelled Wojciech.and who is "Pearson? Could they mean Peterson?

[Bonji]

and who is "Pearson? Could they mean Peterson?
Yeah, I didn't even see that one. That has to be Peterson.

[Rei de Boston]

I like that the Rapids are trying to address the lack of depth in the centerback position but unless this Wojciech/Wolytech person has a green card or is an American citizen it is going to be difficult to sign him.

[Bilbo]

What about Nkong? Anyone know if he is in Spain with the team.

[sdavidr]

I'm glad the web guys at the Rapids can spell players names so well. Last time it was Woytech. Wojciech seems to be a popular Polish name so I'm having trouble finding information on the potential signing. There is a Wojciech Kowalewski on the Polish national team which faced the US recently, but he's listed as a keeper. There is also a Wojciech Kurys who played at Quininpiac in 2000-2001 as a freshman. It looks like this Wojciech will be a mystery until he is signed, if he is signed. That is of course his name is spelled Wojciech.


You are talking about Wojciech Szymanek, a defender of Polonia Warszawa.

http://www.poloniawarszawa.com/photo/2004-11-05_legia/006.gif

http://www.poloniawarszawa.com/photo/swit-pol_08-05-04/001.jpg

http://www.polonia.vis.pl/photo/lech-pol_19-11-04/016.gif

No more information, sorry...

[Rei de Boston]

I'm confused. Is the guy you posted pics of the guy in camp with the Rapids? Or are you clarifying Bonji on the Wojciechs he is talking about?

[sdavidr]

I'm confused. Is the guy you posted pics of the guy in camp with the Rapids? Or are you clarifying Bonji on the Wojciechs he is talking about?

Yes, Szymanek (with the black shirt in the pics, when he was playing with Polonia W. in polish first division) is now training with Colorado Rapids in Bilbao with a trial contract. I have heard that he was fired from Polonia W. this season, and that he is a very agressive player. Personally, I think, he is not made for MLS league.

[sdavidr]

Bad news for Colorado :

Eibar 8 - Colorado 2!!

It seems that Colorado Rapids needs to improve his defense seriously...

[DavidJames]

Game report.
http://www.coloradorapids.com/news/newsdetails.asp?ID=1685

Clint gets his first goal in a Rapids uniform.

[InExile]

Boy, that must have been a hard-fought game with many frustrating moments. I would love to see a line-up for that game. I'd bet money that Joe was not in for the second half. If Matt was in for the second half, I love Bouna more than ever. Dedi should have a great year and I was glad to see Clint scored. It must have been a new line-up that we haven't seen and the guys were not used to. They might have gotten frustrated and let down their guard for the beginning of the second half and then it just got away from them. They are not a team that will lose games by that many goals. I actually always expect them to stifle opponent's offense and thereby lose by only 1 or 2 goals if and when they lose. They usually dig in and hang tough. They are coming home at the perfect time. A humbling loss like that can help them to really turn it up a notch for the last two weeks of pre-season training.

[fhnkeeper03]

it probably didnt help that there was only 1 Ref...

[chilistrider]

Well, didn't help our side anyway.

I think this has to be one of the oddest lines I've seen in a write-up: "The second half started with the news that the home team had provided two makeshift linesmen to assist the center referee."

Quango, may I request a mad-lib?

[fhnkeeper03]

i understand that since they are the home team they should "supply" the makeshift linesmen, but couldnt they have let us use one of our guys...

[RapidStorm]

Maybe it's just me, but I find it awfully convenient that the Rapids staff can remember to write down the lineups in a game played against a 3rd division Spanish league team (that we beat with our backups) yet does not remember to write down the lineup against a higher level (2nd division team) in which we get spanked, using our starters for at least a significant portion of the game (as evident by the goal scorers).

[Malaga CF fan]

My 2 cents on Eibar. They may be 2nd division, but they are at the bottom and will most likely be relegated. Certainly not a strong 2nd division side in Spain, more like a 3rd division squad. The 8-2 result is concerning since the defense just caved, but not surprising considering the intensity of the match was subdued due to the no-show refs. Still, you have players trying to make the roster, much like the US-Germany game, the result doesn't matter, but performances in these type of situations can be telling. Certainly, Fernando can determine a couple of things regarding his defense in that respect. For one, the Rapids miss Pablo. He will be an anchor this year, and we will be without him for a month+. Two, whoever played in the second half got a reality check. Whoever was out there better step up. A 8 goal result in a professional match is awful, regardless of match conditions.

I think if you are looking hard at results for the Rapids Basque Adventure, the best gauge of the ceiling for this team is probably the result against Bilbao. That team included a lot of regulars. I would put the least stock in the Eibar match, only because of the unusual circumstances surrounding the match. Sounds like the Rapids mentally checked out.