Pre/In/Post game thread. Post world cup opener, 2nd of 3 in Rocky Mountain Cup series, Rapids vs Real Salt Lake, @ the Tinto in Sandy UT, 8PM, Saturday. In the Rocky Mountain Cup; we, the Rapids, lost the first game vs FSL 3-0 back in April. We'll play them at home in the fall. They've won the Rocky Mtn Cup 9 times, we've won it 4. If we count the years before they existed, then we've won it 13 times. In MLS, we are last, or 2nd to last; they are around 5th, or somewhere in the play-off spots. Hopefully we can beat them, or just kick them a lot. We are not very good, I don't know how they are. Please post information, thoughts, predictions, reactions, frustrations, antidotes, anecdotes, and primordial screams here.
FSL win, they wint he RMC Draw, we have to win the home game by 4 to win the RMC Win by 3 or less, we have to win the home game to win the RMC Win by 4 or more, we have to win or draw the home game to win the RMC Only if you count ties as wins. Personally I feel like we should have made a rule that the "current holder retains Cup" tiebreaker was just used to decide where the Cup lives but the official result of the year was a draw (kind of like how knockout games that go to PKs are officially recorded as draws).
Badji won't be available for Saturday as he's in Senegal getting his green card. Apparently he and the Rapids had no choice about when this had to happen. With Badji out my guess is Hudson will start McBean up top as the lone striker in the match as part of a more defensive 3-6-1 formation with two holding mids playing behind two attacking mids. Let's hope Barnes is healthy as he seems to be able to provide a spark. Look for the back line to revolve once again around Axel - who will surrounded by Ford and Smith - This trio is the Rapids best back line. Screening them will be Wilson and Price with Barnes and Nicholson in the attacking roles. Castillo and Blomberg on the the wings. Don't like the options at striker (Boli and McBean). Look for Gashi to once again start on the bench and be an option to come off the bench after the 70th minute when the Rapids need goal(s). It's gonna be hot in SLC, so glad the match starts at 8 pm.
Saw one of the practice reports saying Jackson was at practice. I suspect he is there on occasion given the springs being close. With Badji out, I wonder if they will bring him along as a sub. Probably better than the red card Boli will get and the silliness that McBean would provide.
Saw Barnes on TV. Said he was still sore, but they “have a few more hours to decide whether he can play.” Makes no sense to have him play on a sore foot, so I doubt he’ll play. SLC 1-0.
Hard to get excited about a road game, especially with some many out and limited attacking options. If Jackson wasn't even getting playing time in the Springs, doubt he's an upgrade from McBean. 0-0 tie to keep our RMC hopes alive.
McBean on loan somewhere else so he can't play might get me to minor inspiration? With him as the point of the spear in our 9 - 0 - 1 we might as well go to a 10 - 0 - 0.
This tweet just came up in my feed, seems an appropriate response: If Stephen Dobbie played fives on his own against any other five players in the SPFL who would win?— Scottish Football Tips (@FitbaTips) July 21, 2018
I guess I have to watch this one since it's an RMC match. My prediction, for once, is not pain. It's embarrassment...perhaps an own goal along the lines of Batshuayi's celebration.
Weird. Price/Wilson and Boli /McBean. I assume the backline is again Ford-Sjoberg-Smith so Wilson is in the midfield. So is this the 5-4-1 with Boli shoehorned into a wide mid spot? He did it with Mason. Or the 3-5-2 with Wilson one of the "wide" mids? Rare Serna sighting. No Gashi.
Gashi is apparently dealing with a family emergency but is expected back on Monday and may play against Boca Juniors on Tuesday.