The timing sucks, but sometimes you have to accept that the opposition did something well. That was a really good goal, if anyone should have stopped it, it was Badji putting more than a wave at Diaz. I think Colman beat the trap and Sjoberg had him onside as well. In real time Howard looks flat footed but the placement of the header couldn't have been better or more fortunate. Going towards goal like that Colvey had to put more body on Colman even at the risk of a foul.
I agree, I'm not a fan of his public statements. It comes across as complacent. Of course, what he says in locker room and training may be different but this is a team that needs to revive its fan base...so showing a little urgency and disappointment in lost points (again) would show me/us these last minute lapses are not acceptable. IMO
Wynne. It was Wynne tracking Coleman into the box. I've seen multiple people blaming Colvey now but Colvey was out wide and (correctly, IMO) released Coleman to be covered by Wynne as Coleman made the diagonal run into the box. If Colvey follows him we end up with a huge gap on the right side.
After sleeping on it, here are my random thoughts: - Blomberg, Castillo, Price and Smith were quality pick ups. I like the grit that Price brings but he attracts yellow cards like heavy metal bands attract groupies. - It was good to blood Colvey but he's a downgrade, depth guy at best. - Boatang seemed lost and a step behind. - Mason's goal and Badji's assist were great. - Hudson's subs seemed late and I would've replaced Badji sooner ... he seemed gassed.
We were on the back foot for the majority of the game. A disturbing trend that is becoming more evident with each game is that we are rarely successful in controlling the midfield. All they can do is either commit numbers to directly attack, or everybody just sits back and invites the other team to come forward. This team can't hold possession or control tempo. Small wonder why they can't close out games. Hudson reminds me a lot of Pep Guardiola in the Champions League; overly cautious to the point where his team is incapable of playing to its strengths, and simply allows the opponent the opportunity to control the game. Big impact players can help alleviate these issues. In Guardiola's case, he had guys like Messi and Xavi that could make the difference and bail his ass out. The closest equivalent we have are guys like Aigner, Gashi, and Boli. Why are these guys not playing? I mean, I know why, but it's getting really old waiting for important players to get healthy/fit, when other clubs don't seem to have as many issues integrating new players into their squads. If Zlatan can come off a major injury, fly across the Atlantic, practice with the team ONCE, and then score two goals in 19 minutes...the least our guys can do is actually be ready to play a month into the season. These guys need to be playing and performing, NOW, or they need to be shipped off and replaced by guys that are actually capable of performing when we need them.
The Rapids caught a FCD team that couldn't complete uncontested passes in the midfield. The entire first half saw FCD have poor first touch, cough up the ball, remain stationary waiting on passes, and surrender the ball to the slightest challenge. Except for one brilliant moment, the Rapids did nothing with those opportunities, because the Rapids were also coughing up the ball uncontested. The last 15' was 2017, redux: pull off the attack, yield until the final third, release runners without backup, fail to clear balls in the box, fail to mark trailing players, fail to communicate on defense, watch the ball, and make post-match dinner plans in the head rather than finishing the match. It was dismal soccer, and the equalizer was inevitable. Frankly, I'm a bit surprised the Rapids didn't surrender a GWG, too. Individual players: Howard had some solid moments, as usual, but he stood mesmerized on the goal. It was a well-placed shot, but . . . nothing? There was no reaction to the shot. Price disrupts attacks fairly well, but he sure is a card magnet.. At his current rate, he could be penned 3-4 times this season for YC accumulation. I'm not sure Pablo even managed to be penned that many times in a year. Colvey is slow-footed. Nana had a terrible game. He was in preseason mode, and just didn't seem to find his touch or timing all match. Blomberg, Castillo, and Badji definitely have their good moments during matches. Each of them can make plays that make me sit up and say "wow." But the play isn't consistent, and they also make plays that make me say "huh?" The Rapids need to have a healthy, fit starting XI. It isn't enough to have names on the roster or to build an all-MLS bench. Aigner needs to get fit and show up. I'm not convinced Gashi will ever contribute this season. The Beard is better than the bench alternatives. I'm not sold on this team, yet. i know, I know, Boli's coming. But that's getting too much like Waiting for Godot. Playing giveaway in the closing minutes needs to end. Playoff teams don't do that and teams that do that aren't playoff contenders for long. Just sayin'.
I was surprised by this. Considering it’s our DP and two TAM attackers, and we are now at game 5, I think the FO needs to do a much better job at keeping fans abreast of (honest) status and outlook of these three. It’s already getting very old being in the dark wondering about status... Basing all assumptions on cryptic tweets from FO or other fans watching practice attendance. I realize Boli just arrived 10 days ago, but Mason was with team in New England the day after he arrived. Hell, Zlatan played the day after arrival and scored twice. Why didn’t they even bring Boli? I thought Aigner is returning? etc. but we’re all still in the dark guessing. It took a week to figure out the status of Marly and Wilson. I could go on. The secrecy is starting to remind me of the past regime. Frustrating.
I will also continue with a gripe from past weeks. I still wonder why two defensive starters that went the full 90 are young, reserve USL players from last year (Wynne, Colvey). Both are “project” players that somehow start on this club. And we’ve paid the price multiple times now... and lost points as a result. Having the NZ ties and coach/system familiarity doesn’t cut it. They’re still USL caliber. I know Martinez is also coming from USL, but at least he has a motor and skillset that makes his starts understandable. This emotion reminds me of all the times I gasped wondering why Watts got so many minutes under Pablo despite repeated goal-conceding errors. Ugh.
Agreed. I get playing to the audience (oh boy, this was so Pabloesque). But after he said that, I personally needed to hear, "But at the same time, we can't continue throwing points away at the end of games. We have to start taking it personally to mark people when the other team gets desperate." Three out of four games? I'm still shaking my head. Three out of the season is probably about right, so I guess as long as they don't blow any more points the rest of the season, I'll be good. Really, it would have entirely ruined my night, but the Avs saved the day.
You ain’t kidding. Aside from fan frustrations with dropped points, lack of critical post-game comments from Hudson, lack of FO transparency on DP and TAM attacker whereabouts, perhaps the most damaging repercussion of these 3 of 4 late game collapses is the massive loss of confidence in the fanbase... where the collapses become expected, normal. Just like old times. Where the “new” Rapids way starts looking too much like the old Rapids way. The “here we go (yet) again” feeling. To avoid that... Hoping Hudson cranks up the urgency in his commentary. Hoping they start holding onto leads and closing out games. Hoping they actually break 50% possession for once. Speaking of which... While not being shut out yet and putting up 7 goals in 4 matches are certainly positives, our possession stats are horrendous both at home and away. This needs to change.
Agreed. I can't put this on Howard. He didn't move because it would have been fruitless given his positioning and the path of the ball. Coming out to get the ball in the air...? I dunno, woulda, coulda, shoulda. I've seen worse from him. I've never been terribly impressed with Hudson's commentary, seems to have a lot of not-much-to-say. But I'm not really concerned with that as results matter to me. And results are what'll bring the fans back, not coach comments.
I too was very disappointed by Hudson't comments on the result of the match. He seems to be very political, defending the results while not answering questions directly. He was fixated on the lack of respect the Rapids have been getting in the press* and continues to say that the team is going in the right direction rather than talking about the breakdown on the FCD goal. Having stated this, I won't really care in the long run if the results start happening. If it doesn't, hope that those in the press corps who can ask Pádraig and Hudson questions will ask the hard ones. The FO - or Hudson - do need to address why Aigner and Boli weren't in Dallas. And given that Gashi is one of only two DP's on the team, there needs to be clear communication about his status health/fitness wise.
Does Boli even have his visa and transfer certificate? As a Rapids fan, I've been trained to wait patiently for those.