OK, time for the first thread of the new season. I wonder what the referees from the Caribbean are thinking right now when they look out of the window? From MLSsoccer.com: Colorado Suspended: None Suspended after next caution: None Injury Report: OUT: D Kip Colvey (quad), M/F Shkelzen Gashi (calf) Projected Starting XI (3-5-2, right to left) GK: Tim Howard — Deklan Wynne, Tommy Smith, Kortne Ford — Marlon Hairston, Johan Blomberg, Jack Price, Bismark Adjel-Boateng, Edgar Castillo — Dominique Badji, Jack McBean TFC Suspended: None Suspended after next caution: NONE Injury Report: OUT: D Chris Mavinga (abdominal injury) Projected Starting XI (3-5-2, right to left) GK: Alex Bono — Eriq Zavaleta, Drew Moor, Nick Hagglund — Nicolas Hasler, Victor Vazquez, Michael Bradley, Marky Delgado, Justin Morrow — Sebastian Giovinco, Jozy Altidore All-Time Series Overall: Colorado 6 wins, 16 goals … Toronto 8 wins, 19 goals … 2 Ties At Colorado: (7 meetings) Rapids 5 wins, 7 goals … Toronto 1 win, 2 goals … 1 Tie Last meeting at Colorado: Colorado 1, Toronto 0 (April 2, 2016) CONCACAF Champions League: Colorado - 1 appearance (2011/12) 2 wins, 3 losses, 1 tie (9 goals) … Toronto - 4 appearances (2009/10, 2010/11, 2011/12, 2012/13) 11 wins, 8 losses, 7 ties (35 goals) Referees Referee: Kimbell Ward (St. Kitts & Nevis) Assistant Referees: Graeme Browne (St. Kitts & Nevis), Jean Marc Moreau (Haiti) Fourth Official: Daneon Parchment (Jamaica)
Colorado Rapids could play the coldest match ever between MLS teams, giving Commerce City a potential second game for the record books (via @thknwco) https://t.co/6XHPRFdIh3— The Denver Post (@denverpost) February 20, 2018
IDK, assuming Hudson wants to put a top starting 11 out there I assume we'll see Aigner and maybe Wilson. I'm not convinced MLS really knows their a$$ from a hole in the ground when it comes to the Rapids. And I don't think they care.
Anyone know if Danny Wilson is in town yet? I was thinking he was waiting on a Visa. But maybe I was wrong./
No way will either team risk any "top choice" players in these conditions. It will be a battle of the bottom of the rosters.
A Toronto FC player compared Colorado to "F---ing Siberia" at training yesterday ahead of their #CCL fixture against the #Rapids96: https://t.co/v2Pzknd28l by @KurtLarSUN #Rapidsweather— Daniel Boniface (@danielboniface) February 20, 2018
"The Toronto Sun has learned just 3,000 tickets were printed for Tuesday night’s opening leg." Wonder if they'll even get half that out there tonight....
I'm planning to go with a buddy. We're passing up our regular league game that we play in to attend, so I hope it doesn't get postponed!
Reminder that this number is RFO single-game tickets only. It does not include the 6,700 season ticket holders that received tickets for free, or any single-game sales made by C38. All in all I predict attendance will be around 3k.
There is pretty much no chance of the game being moved now, unless the ref makes a decision right before kickoff based on field conditions (which my sources say is unlikely at this point).
I hope this doesn't sound too much like sour grapes, but it seems more than a coincidence that the vast majority of CONCACAF teams live and play in tropical climates so they either have no idea what it means to schedule a game in Denver or Toronto in February or they could care less that the players freeze and put themselves in a dangerous position given the conditions. And to add insult to injury, they schedule the blanking thing at 8 p.m.!!???
Does anyone know if there is a bus (C38 maybe) from Boulder to the game? Edit: C38 appears to leave only from Denver... I take it there's nothing from Boulder?
I think its more that they have no idea and don't care. I don't think they're intentionally trying to handicap Colorado and TFC, they just didn't realize that this was a possibility and what it really meant.
There is a lot of funny stuff written in this blog, but I'm not sure anything will beat that quote for humor this year. That is a keeper. Also, here's what they say about watching it: WATCH: univisiondeportes.com, UDN (tape delayed) | TSN2 (Canada).
A couple of quick notes unique to tonight’s #Rapids96 match:1) The Rapids will be using the north side bench. 2) There is a mixed zone for media after the match, no locker room access.3) Both teams will be wearing their 2017 kits. New kits debut at 2018 MLS openers.— Ryan Madden (@Ry_Madden) February 20, 2018
Can't wait to experience the match day atmosphere @DSGpark tonight for the first time!⚽️🇺🇸 @ColoradoRapids #Rapids96 pic.twitter.com/WDgUcGmB0i— Tommy Smith (@tommysmith1990) February 20, 2018
Thanks! I'll at least be able to catch it on the delayed UDN broadcast. I haven't seen any of them and am curious about the new players and new formation.
#ColoradoWeather summed up in two pictures 🤷♂️ pic.twitter.com/gNQ0jT8BZl— Colorado Rapids (@ColoradoRapids) February 20, 2018 It's not just those in tropical climates that don't get the climate here. I've found most Americans don't either. Many seem to think the winter is like Alaska or northern Minnesota. Don't get that there are many sunny days in the winter, Unfortunately, you can't predict months in advance when those days will occur.
I too wish there was a way to get from Boulder to Dick's without having to drive. Most likely won't make it tonight in part for that reason.
All true but even when it is nice out, 8pm and (obviously well after sunset) in Feb is asking for it.