We return to the friendly confines of Bobby Dodd Stadium for a match against bottom-of-the-table Colorado Rapids. This team has struggled to score [second-last in the league (to DC with 12)] and hasn't done incredibly well at keeping the ball out of the back of their own net. They have not picked up a point on the road at all this season and have netted 2 goals in 6 matches. United have had mighty struggles on the road, but have only dropped points at home twice (2 losses). The Five Stripes have scored 16 times at home while only conceded 8 goals and have 12 points in only 6 home MLS fixtures. Martinez has yet to start an MLS game, so I'm curious to see if Tata will start him or keep him on the bench, as we've done alright without him at home. This will be our sixth match this month and we still have a compressed schedule to come. How much can Tata rotate his roster? Who should sit? Who should start?
If they lose this match as well you are henceforth banned from ever starting a matchday thread again.
Peterson, Walkes and Jones are all listed us unavailable for the game due to injury. Not that either of them were due for major PT. For Colorado the list is longer but mostly listed as "Questionable," including last year's highly touted Gashi. Rain appears done save maybe a little wash before kickoff. Hopefully humidity won't be bad, or at least work against the Rapids. On my way to the stadium. A-T-L!!
Peterson, Walkes and Jones are all listed us unavailable for the game due to injury. Not that either of them were due for major PT. For Colorado the list is longer but mostly listed as "Questionable," including last year's highly touted Gashi. Rain appears done save maybe a little wash before kickoff. Hopefully humidity won't be bad, or at least work against the Rapids. On my way to the stadium. A-T-L!!
Incredibly good result, IMO. Colorado played a style that had given us fits in previous matches. In fact, I think they are better defensively than D.C. and Vancouver. It came down to patience and determination, but we grinder out a result, and a clean sheet nonetheless.
Okay, my thoughts in no particular order: - It was hot and muggy, just like I hate it. Blech. As much fun as the games at BDS@HGF have been the weather made me excited about the move to MBS. - Colorado played very well early on, able to match a high press with a stout defensive back, aided by some excellent man-marking on Almiron. The dude had nary any room to collect, turn and make a play. As the game wore on the rapids' players were getting tired and covered less and less ground, which allowed Almiron and Asad to make more plays. Gressel and Vasquez did well as they came on, too, adding more flourish in possession that kept the pressure on the Colorado goal. - Tip o' the cap to Tim Howard, who not only made several great saves but also showed sportsmanship to ATL players on a few occasions. Love seeing that stuff, and the crowd responded in kind. - Parkhurst and Kann continued their recent declines, though the altered lineup and inconsistent ref didn't help. The former is lost when they play more of a 3-in-the-back set, because he's not the best at man-marking speedy attackers. He's best in the conventional sweeper role. Kann? Well, I just don't know. Some nice saves but still struggling to communicate and lead the defense, and his distribution with his feet remains comparably poor. Alas. - Walkes? Did NOT see that one coming, especially since the dude was listed for IR! Did fair but not sure he'd be my first choice for Mears' replacement, and he didn't link up with Villalba all that well, either. - Martinez and Almiron. Please don't ever get hurt, guys!
Glad to see some United fans here. Wife and I had to sit this one out since he is pregnant and since we are in section 115, sometimes the heat doesn't do well with her and the baby to be. Few things to take away from this match. The Good Almirion and Martinez are the keys to our success. Again and again they control our offensive presence and it amazes me to see them when their games are on. On the same note, Asad, is a machine. He constantly works tirelessly and gets hacked and clawed but keeps going. Asad and Almirion both have impressed me with their defense as well. Walkes - Not a liability, and doesn't consistently pass to Kann, which led to giving up our first goal last week against D.C. Also, the defense looked good for the most part, so Hip Hip Hooray for some more of the 20 year old. "Tata" - Great tactics, and that second half was men against Boys. If they didn't have Howard in between the posts, we might have won by 4. Garza - Damn the man about broke some ankles on his way to that cross. It amazes me how much ground this guy covers. He needs some rest. Atlanta - Another sell out. Well Done city The Bad Kann - Everyone loved him early on, but he just doesn't command the box. He doesn't come out enough, is often lost in position, and just seems sooo shaky in the back. The soon we get Guzan secured in the back, they better. Parkhurst - Again another poor performance, although nothing like the past two weeks. He is capable of so much more so you have to worry about what's going on with him. Refs - Didn't hand out yellows when there should have been, and didn't call a handball that was an obvious as day. Almirion has down, gets treatment, and the ref doesn't make him get off (unless this is an MLS rule I don't know about, but everywhere else you have to come off the pitch).
Walkes was a nice surprise. But this was also against a Colorado team that really had no inclination to attack. Nice to give him some PT at this position, though. He's still young and being versatile is a good thing. It's a bonus he can give the "starting" RB a match off and not cause anything catastrophic. This has been my criticism of Kann the whole time. Shot stopping is an overrated part of being a great keeper, and even in that regard, he's average at best. How Boateng wasn't cautioned for his hand to the throat of Almiron is beyond me. The referee was in clear view of the foul. Colorado also got away with two very clear handballs, one of which was on Gatt's scoring chance and the other would have been a PK. I think I've been disappointed with the refereeing 90% of the time this season. Not good for PRO and MLS. I think Walkes' appearance was just to give Mears a rest, though. Maybe Bloom was rested because he was injured or something? He wasn't even available as a sub.
On the topic of Walkes, I just give him credit for going up the field, instead on constantly passing it backwards. He also attempted to move the ball through the box instead of just lobbing in poor crosses. Our tactics require active WB's, and so you can't just defend if you are going to work in this system, and Walkes actually showed some life in the regard.