just posted the details on all the viewing parties. We've got them all over the place. Denver, Littleton, Boulder, Ft Collins, Pueblo and people are gathering in Co Springs too. Nobody who wants to watch this game should have much of a reason not to. info in this thread https://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showthread.php?p=23193813#post23193813
This already happened in 2nd half of opener. I would like to see it too but not against RSL and seeing Nyassi temperment last game.
Now is definitely not the time to play with formation, I think. Against a quality opponent in a grudge match is not the time for experimentation. Need to stick with that 4-4-2. Not having Pablo brings into sharp relief how dependent our system is on a strong central midfield. Nane was a disaster in the last game, IMO and was a huge reason why we got schooled so badly. We had zero going on through midfield. I think we gotta go with Smith and JL in the middle; Smith is not a replacement for Pablo, but from what (little) we saw of him play in center earlier (against Portlant I think?) he was a far sight better than Nane.
I still haven't watched the game, but from what I've read the Rapids ceded tons of possession in their end which is exactly what happened in the two previous games. The differences is FCD has players who can punish you.
It was a different kind of possession though than the previous two games - in that the Rapids could find no release valve whatsoever. Not only were Dallas's attackers better at cutting up the defense, but also, whenever we finally managed to get them to make a mistake and cede possession, there was no attempt by the Rapids to keep possession - it was longballs to no one in particular the second after we got the ball. Part of this can be put at the feet of the forwards, because for whatever reasons they didn't make themselves readily available as outlets the way Conor has in the past. Part of it can be put on just a bad day at the office as Gary called it, and players just panicking. But a big part of it came from Nane and Larentowicz just seemingly not being on the same page with how to space themselves and give the team potential outlets. I don't personally put the blame on Nane as much as I do on general unfamiliarity, though.
This probably should be in the FCD thread, but I just watched up until the 2nd FCD goal. The defense was horrible. The wings totally dominated the Rapids outside backs (Kimura's side was the worst) and the interior defense was a sieve, poor marking and poor clearances. Nane was the least of the defensive problems. Maybe that changes in the 2nd half. But work beckons. The defense better step up or tomorrow will be ugly.
Dress warm my friends... rain/wind changing to snow... Not the best forecast from a spectator's standpoint! BTW, the tailgate section moved from the southwest to the north section... Hope to see a large contingent of you there (WTF is this game doing on a Wednesday?!?)! Peace
Similar to RSL last year, the Rapids are coming off of a mediocre season where they got hot during the playoffs and won the MLS Cup and have started the next year with renewed confidence and energy. And after a few last minute heartbreaks the last few years, I know that Rapid players and fans are thirsty for revenge. It could be quite the battle tomorrow night.
Looks like Wallace will be available, but there's talk of the Thompson - Smith - Larentowicz - Mullan midfield in front of our normal back line. Sounds like Nane is not going to start again.
nane just didn;t seem to be on same page out there and gave ball up way too much given how little he had it.
2-0 Rapids loss. I think this is a first for me, predicting a Rocky Mountain Cup loss. I'm looking at our possession the last couple of games and the fact that FSL is playing at a high level right now and I'm not liking our chances. with Pablo and Casey I think we could pull an upset and have an expectation of a draw but without them I think a draw would be a very good result. If we get a goal early I think we can surprise them and get at least a point but the longer the game goes 0-0 or if we give up the first goal the worse our chances get. http://view-from-the-couch.blogspot.com/2011/04/rocky-mountain-cup.html
The Dallas game was on English radio, too, with Balboa as the analyst. Couldn't tell you who the PBP guy was.
http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/sports/51615683-77/rapids-rsl-season-game.html.csp This would be nice motivational poster in the rapid locker room for the rest of the season.
Just a quick heads up, Altitude 2 again for this match, with an early a.m. replay on their regular channel. Apparently a 30 minute pre-match show and for Dish Network it is supposed to be channel 447 but/and their web site says "varies". More info for your provider (hopefully) here: http://altitude.tv/announcements/default.aspx?ID=q02LqaZEhTE=
BTW, those who blamed MLS for scheduling this game on a weekday should blame RSL instead. They asked this game to move from Saturday to Wednesday because of the CCL.
Oh I'll blame them too, but MLS could have easily agreed to move a game to Wednesday this week and made it FSL hosting Toronto or something and saved the FSL-Rapids game to some point later in the year.
Well, I will hope for the best and see what Rapids can do. Guess this is second test of our depth and first one didn't go so well.