P/I/P Home opener Rapids verse Sporting Kansas 7PM Sat. 3/24 at the Dick. I can't make it (usually miss March games). TV is Altitude I believe. I predict a Rapids win, 3-2. Have fun if you are there.
1-0 win, goal by Badji. I think the home opener boost carries us past SKC. This is a hopeful prediction though, not one really based on the analysis of the two teams. http://view-from-the-couch.blogspot.com/2018/03/hey-its-soccer-time-in-commerce-city.html
There's no place like home, see you Saturday!📝 #COLvSKC Guide: https://t.co/jxfGjl6hw0 pic.twitter.com/WAPHS7uVZv— Colorado Rapids (@ColoradoRapids) March 22, 2018 Check out what’s new for 2018 at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park before the home opener this weekend! #Rapids96 #COLvSKC https://t.co/DyjgB7qkZr pic.twitter.com/sgPvnjBbKO— Abbie Mood (@AbbieMood) March 22, 2018
Our brand new pregame show is coming your way and we want you there, so be here EARLY. There may be a surprise guest joining us towards the end 👀📝 All you need to know: https://t.co/RaTN8cdHgQ pic.twitter.com/1bfWh1uDZd— Colorado Rapids (@ColoradoRapids) March 24, 2018 Join us this Saturday as all proceeds from our gameday poster will go towards benefitting @KortFord's mother. #SupportTheFords📝: https://t.co/kxGDFDrFHi pic.twitter.com/l6biwAicsm— Colorado Rapids (@ColoradoRapids) March 22, 2018
6 things to know about the #Rapids96 home opener against Sporting Kansas City on Saturday: https://t.co/wK56ybsUvv by @danielboniface— Denver Post Sports (@DPostSports) March 23, 2018
So, the Rapids are going to be without Gashi and at best Mason and Aigner will be reserves for this match. This combined with Niki Jackson's goal makes me wonder if he will be starting along with Badji Saturday night. In the midfield I am guessing that Price, Blomberg and Martinez will again start although I suspect that Boateng has a shot at getting some time as well. The last question in terms of starters is who starts with Wilson and Smith in the back three? My guess is that it will be Wynne again. No reason that Hairston and Castillo won't be starting at wingback baring injury.
REF: SORIN STOICA AR1: ANDREW BIGELOW AR2: OSCAR MITCHELL-CARVALHO 4TH: ALEJANDRO MARISCAL VAR: RICARDO SALAZAR Or the all anagram version . . . REF: SOON SATIRIC AR1: Bewailed Wrong AR2: Choleric Larval Stomach 4TH: Jailor Named "Rascal" VAR: Alias "Razor Card"
Wait - why is Aigner still not playing? I know Mason has a toe thing, but I thought Aigner was ready jeez.
1-2 loss. Badji, Jackson, McBean as choices for our starting forwards is why I predict this. Goal by Castillo. I was gonna go but got pulled away to another gig. I did already buy tix to the LAG game in August though. Pinning my hopes on Zlatan making it to that one.
I think you are being a bit optimistic given that SKC has been scoring a TON of goals and Ford is not in the back line. They are going to score at least one, maybe 2 against us. The question is if we can score. The amount of time Aigner (and possibly Mason) spend on the field directly relates to this question. If Aigner is on the field to provide some quality service, I think we can score. Badji may have a few misses, but he also puts a lot of pressure on the opposing defense to collapse on a run. That should open up (insert name here) to put some shots on frame. If Aigner is not there to provide the quality service, then I think we still get some shots (first game had plenty). Those shots may not be as high of quality and therefore become saves instead of goals. So, I think it ends in a tie. Maybe something like 1-1 or 2-2. If Aigner plays more, then it becomes a 2-1 or 3-2 (gasp, 3 goals!) type win. I just don't see us clean-slating SKC. Particularly if they take low shots so Howard has to bend down to pick up the ball (I know at my age the thought of picking up a quarter is just not worth it. Must be paper money to be worth the effort.) rod.
This one's a tossup. This is SKCs fourth match, and they stand 2-1-0, 7 GF, 7 GA. Defensively, it isn't terribly far off Colorado's production, if projected to three matches. Shots and shots on frame per match are level. The all-time series is 23-24-13, too. Where the teams differ on stats is that Colorado commits and suffers a few more fouls per match this season and SKC has a ton more corners. There is a curious statement in the MLS preview, though: While Sporting Kansas City will be without forward DFaniel Salloi, who will be with the Hungarian U-21 national team, the Rapids are fortunate not to lose any players during the international break. Their New Zealand trio of Kip Colvey, Tommy Smith and Deklan Wynne are not part of the All Whites squad that will take on Canada in Spain on Saturday. Instead, following a conversation between the former Kiwi coach in Rapids head man Anthony Hudson and the current New Zealand coach Fritz Schmid, it was decided they wouldn’t get called up. Smith and Wynne were part of Hudson’s three-man backline against the Revs on March 10. Interesting.
That seems like such an un-Vermes scoreline. Way more goals in both directions. Have they changed their approach? Maybe Vermes will want to clamp down for a good old 0-0 or 1-1 slog.
Thanks Fritz! Both most likely will be starting tonight. And since I just bought tickets for the match appreciate this even more. On a different note, I wonder when/if we'll see Sjóberg and or Serna? The Rapids have really been pumping up this match. Lot's of new players and coaches. Close to a sell out. New pregame rituals. Fish and Chips. Hope the Rapids produce on the pitch. That's really what matters.
You mention SKC being down two players due to injury, were you referring to Busio and Evans? They are back to full training but unknown if they traveled with the club. This article opines that both sides are at "full strength": https://www.sportingkc.com/post/201...d-colorado-rapids-full-strength-ahead-colvskc Now, SKC would argue that we are not at full strength due to Salloi being absent with the Hungary U21s. His absence will be felt as he has been absolutely dynamic the last two games and has linked up very well with the two newcomers, Gutierrez and Russell. The guess is that Gerso will likely start in his place (he has been coming off the bench as a late game sub so far.) It remains to be seen what effect it will have. I personally do not rate Gerso as highly as many other SKC fans, he is fast and appears dangerous but usually makes poor decisions and loses the ball before doing anything good with it. Croizet may actually be the starter - new DP this year - but he has been pretty ineffective so far and hasn't impressed either. It is a bit baffling why the defense has allowed so many goals so far - the faces are the same (Melia, Zusi-Opara-Besler-Sinovic) but the results have been strangely worse. Vermes hasn't acted concerned so we'll see if they can right the ship or if they are all heading down the downhill slope at the same time (all of them are 31 years old except Opara who is 29.)
Won't be at the game, won't be at a tv... anyone watching from home and willing to post an occasional update (even better when accompanied by excessive opining), much appreciated.
Nice...child soldiers presenting the colors pre-game! On the day that hundreds of thousands of kids marched against gun violence....