I know it is early for this thread but I've got a dilemma: - A Rapids win keeps FCD and Pariah below the playoff line. However, it keeps FSL above the line. - A loss moves FCD above the line and bumps FSL below it Other pertinent early data: Last meeting: 27 Sep 17, FCD 2, Colorado 0 Last five meetings: 1 win, 1 loss, three ties Current form: Colorado: L-W-D-L-L-W FCD: D-L-D-L-W-D
Well, two teams I always want to see the Rapids beat... FCD and RSL. But really, I hate RSL so...: Rapids lose to Dallas 3-4 with some stats padding for some of our players. Following week Rapids beat RSL 4-0 with further indication some of our new relationships are forming (e.g., Boatang-Aigner-Badji). RSL miss the play-offs and are shamed by fans for the Winter, leading Beckerman to over-stress and get hives. Realistic prediction for Saturday? 2-2 draw with FCD. Goals by Badji and Boatang.
Jeez, given our 'knock them out of the playoffs' record vs The Burn ("it's not gonorrhea it's the Burn" still my favorite chant) I expect us to beat the Burn and continue being their nemesis. Like FCD, the RSL team is very capable of missing the playoffs on their own. R
How about we beat FCD this week, RSL next week, then let the Sounders win on the last week so they can try to get to the final and get that elusive shot on goal?
My order of dislike goes 1. FSL, 2. Seattle, 3. Dallas and Portland. Although this season Atlanta are up there too because no one should win in their first season. So go Dallas I guess, although I don't care much and doubt I'll watch because of the World Cup qualifiers. I really like the idea of a KSE sweep on wooden spoons too, Avalanche, Rapids, Rams, Nuggets. Quite an achievement.
I'm a fan of stories where the expected powerhouse crashes and burns and the no-hopers succeed, so given the situation, I'm rooting for the continued collapse of FCD and resurgence of RSL.
And I used to hate the Avalanche for that reason. Subsequent seasons of pain and I mellow on it though.
To be fair, the Avalanche weren't an expansion team and would be more comparable to Houston winning the cup in 2006.
I thought someone would point this out; but, to me, its all about the fan base. I don't care about the players, most players on an expansion team aren't in their first year.
You exhibit a refined taste in a team's loathability standards. Your list matches mine exactly. As for tomorrow's game, I can't get myself to predict a win, but I can see another 1-1 tie (Gordon). Weather is supposed to be nice, so I see the Rapids putting up a fight. I'll be in Boulder for the AZ game, so you guys can let me know what happens.
1-1 draw, goal by Badji. I want to predict a win because I want to see us kill Dallas' playoff hopes but after they easily handled us last week so I think that's a step too far. We get 1 point, Badji gets his 10th goal, and Dallas' playoff hopes are on life support but not dead. http://view-from-the-couch.blogspot.com/2017/10/mls-cup-rematch.html
PRO's assignments: REF: SILVIU PETRESCU AR1: Gianni Facchini AR2: Craig Lowry 4TH: Nima Saghafi VAR: Edvin Jurisevic . . . and the all-anagram version: REF: PICTURES US EVIL AR1: If Aching, Niacin AR2: Cowgirl Ray 4TH: Famish Again VAR: Incurs Dive Jive Teasing aside, this is a rock solid officiating crew. Petrescu is my all-time favorite center ref. I know he frustrates some people with his "stern lectures" but he manages games well and has great mechanics to see developing plays.
FCD will be missing Acosta and Figueroa due to call-ups. The Rapids will be missing Howard and minus Williams (not really missing him) due to call-ups, and will be enjoying Watts' Big Red Vacation. Azira is listed as questionable. I know the history here, with three straight 1-1 draws against FCD in Commerce City, but this match is probably the last realistic shot the Rapids have at points this year. RSL is a playoff team and doing much better under Petke, and road wins in Seattle are rarer than unicorns. That said, LA has the inside track for the Spoon, but a Rapids loss here would give Colorado the edge once again. It's definitely possible, since Gonzalez has 9 clean sheets, tied for the MLS lead in that category, and the only offensive weapon for the Rapids is Badji's random scud attacks on goal. I see a nil-1 loss.
Alan Gordon at 1st-depth for forward. Might be a long night. I'm stuck as a driver for my kid's homecoming dance. Twitter and BS is all I got for this one.