My prediction Galaxy: 3 Colorado: 0 Hankinson doesn't have enough brains to play Ritchie this game so here's his lineup (the only one he hasn't tried): GK: Hop-Along-Casualty Zizi D: Spencer D: CC D: Beckerman D: Kingsley M: Garlick M: Vallow M: Foss F: Borchers F: Crawford F: Sleeth Go Colorado Cattle!
Break out game against a team on a long road trip... We take two in a row from the Galaxy, and everyone (every last fickle, fairweathered one) starts whistling a different tune... Good players can only be held down so long... I support the players PERIOD...
Believing that these guys can play, I also voted for a win. I know they are better than their record; the problem is that they have to overcome two oponents, the Galaxy and Hankinson. They will do it sometime, so why not next week? (Yeah, yeah, keep the reasoned arguments to yourselves. I have to have some faith.) I don't think it will be a season changing event, but if they can only score first (or score at all, at this point) and hang on, it could lead to some serious confidence. Maybe they band together and start winning in spite of Yoda. Something has to give here. They players can't just let that idiot destroy a year of their lives. I have to believe that this talent will let lose for at least a few games and get it done.
This week's line up Since we change the line up every week, why not try this one. With Herdsman gone, I really like the idea of re-signing Rick Titus to play as a marking back. Kotch - left back Frasier - central def Stewart - central def Sleeth - right back Rizo - left mid Pablo - defensive mid Hart - attaching mid Kingsley - right mid CC and Spenny - forwards
for some reason I smell 3-4-1-2 this week G Garlick D Kotch D Fraser D Stewart M Pablo M Beckerman or Rizo M Chung M Henderson A Spencer F Schmidt (to go about 65) F Carrieri
Actually, this is the most competitive lineup we could put out there.. If Spencer can advance the ball fom this position and look either to play through balls thru to CC or up top to Schmidt, and have the option to go 1v1 to goal this could be quite interesting game !!!!..We need solid MIDFIELD defense and win most of the 50-50 balls to be successfull this weekend----
Rapids will win! Although it's clear that Hanky is a moron, I think the humiliation of the Rapids players by the Fire will give them enough ganas (desire) to win. I don't think it will be a pretty game though, 1-0 maybe? The key is for the Rapids to not give up a goal in the first 10 minutes of the match.
it might work if chung would stay on the right and henderson on left and then let carrieri stay up top.He is better outside... he doesn't distribute when inside and isn't a forward what is he doing inside? I like Vallow Stewart, frazer, kotchau(riso) pablo hart chung beckerman henderson spencer carrieri,(schmidt) it seems like other teams are playing 3-back
Re: Rapids will win! True. I hope so. How to motivate the Rapids' defense. Offer the defenders and keeper $3,000 per person if the Galaxy is clean sheeted this game.
Re: Rapids will win! I have sorta had that sentiment since the SJ loss to open the season, and it hasn't worked. You know, posting about parity, looking good in the first half, just need to settle down, we'll get some breaks, etc. I am certain my optimism is jinxing an otherwise 6-0-1 start to the season. I am sorry for this, it's my fault, not the team and coach's.....therefore to change our luck and actually win a game, I will make the following statements, reversing my opinions on all issues.. 1) Hankinson is a genius 2) Powell is the second coming of Pele 3) Most of the front 5 are too tall, we need more 5'4" strikers to run around (and between) the gangly 6'0"+ Galaxy's skinny long-legs. 4) All our recent acquisitions were brilliant, but de-railed by unforseeable bad luck. 5) Rapids will lose again 3-0. RLH P.S. Think it'll work?
Probable Rapids Starters I would rather see Kotch at left back with Rizo at left outside mid and Kingsley at right outside mid. At least Rizo and Kingsley will stay wide. It's seems it only confuses the Rapids attack for Henderson and Chung to "roam" all over the field. Probable Rapids Starters: GK#1 Scott Garlick D #4 Robin Fraser D#13 Alberto Rizo D#16 Jeff Stewart D#12 Wes Hart M#20 Mark Chung M#5 Kyle Beckerman M#25 Pablo Mastroeni M#19 Chris Henderson F#7 John Spencer-C F#15 Chris Carrieri
Deja Vu for me, been through this before with the Fusion and Ivo Wortmann. The fans were begging for Ivo to bugger off but the management stuck by him as each game, the gate went down by 500 and the players went through the motions to receive their paychecks. This is exactly the same play we've seen from the Rapids. Capable, talented players giving subpar performances. Why? Because they're the same as us fans - at this stage you almost want a string of losses as it looks like the only way to get rid of the cancer. When the Fusion management (joke) finally woke up to the fact that there was noone left in the stands, they canned Wortmann and brought in Ray Hudson. The exact same players suddenly played out of their skins and the Fusion went on an unbelievable winning streak. Hopefully the same (well the last part) will happen here. Prediction - Rapids 0 LA 2
Today's Post gives some insight into this weekends lineup, and a statement by Hankinson that I'm astounded and a little pleased by. Hankinson predicts starting a back line of: Hart Stewart Fraser Kotschau The statement from Hankinson, "it wasn't Wes' game (Chicago), but Wes has played good games for us there, and there's no sense in changing our confidence in him. He can do it." I wonder how much losing Herdsmen influenced this statement, but it's nice to read that for once Hankinson is throwing the baby out with the bath water. Now if he could develop the same attitude towards midfield the team might just settle in a bit. The biggest question for any game the Rapids play always seems to be, "who will be the center mids?" It always amazes me that the positions that are hardest to settle in at, and that influence the style of play most are the ones that Hankinson insists on being the least patient with.
Your painful memories reflect how how a lot of us believe the scenario will play out. The most thrilling part of being a fan now is the Hankinson death watch; will he get fired this week? the next?... please, god, before the end of the season? Crazy Dan was turning the corner in getting people to the games so I hope that he does not destroy this hard work by clinging to Hankinson's demented blame the players strategy and driving off the soccer moms who don't want to hear in the mini van all the way to Invesco "mom, will the Rapids win for once? will they even score? can we sit next to section 127 so we can hear those guys scream at the coach, that's funny..." That tirade aside, I hope Carierri lights up the Galaxy and gives a classic post game interview calling Lalas his b!tch and saying that not even Hankinson can keep him down a whole season.
The statement from Hankinson, "it wasn't Wes' game (Chicago), but Wes has played good games for us there, and there's no sense in changing our confidence in him. He can do it." __________________________________________ __________________________________________ i find its funny that he will only make allowances for hart(his boy).. he can make all the mistake he wants and he will still be in there. other players do not get that luxury..
If it plays out like the Fusion then we've got about another 5 games (3 losses, 2 ties?) or so left until Counce smells the Starbucks. By that time though goodwill will be virtually used up and attendance will be barebones. Stubborness and denial will screw this team in the short term. Thank god we've got a decent national team to get behind. One last thing to add. In Miami the crowd was whittled down to the hardcore which was actually quite entertaining as a large percentage brought 'Ivo sucks' or similar banners. The fans' passion was high and the verbal abuse that was directed at the Management and coach was widespread and well intense. In his last few games poor Ivo had to be escorted off the field by the cops. A sad exit.
"it wasn't Wes' game (Chicago) I like Wes Hart, he has solid skills and plays smart however I don't think right back is his position. When will Billy Sleeth be fit enough to play ? Given our current roster, I would like to see a Flat Four formation with Kotch, Frasier, Stewart, and Sleeth.
At this point, until we have a few wins, I don't want to see anyone else in the game besides the lineup we had against the Metros. With the exception of Pablo and Zizi obviously. If Mr. Short-timer... oops, I mean Hanikinson decides to sub in Sleeth I wouldn't pitch a huge fit, as long as we didn't lose because of the sub. At this point I just want to see something that resembles professional soccer because I've had enough of this rec soccer we've been seeing. I voted that we will lose but I've changed my mind in favor of blind optimism. I'm predicting that our guys will finally get fired up and win it 2-1 with LA's goal coming in the '79th minute and our goals coming from CC and Schmidt in the first half.
Those of you that think that attendance is directly related to the success of this team are hallucinating. Remember 2 years ago when we were the 2nd worst team in the league and still 2nd in attendance? We have one of the least soccer savvy crowds in the league, and 90% of the crowd could not tell you the teams record tonight. The success in attendance is a stellar sales crew headed by sales nazi Michael Hitchcock. If there was a Hitch at every team average attendance would be up 7 - 10 thousand league wide. Lets not also forget that "Crazy Dan" gives him the leeway to do what he wants to get those numbers. In short we could go 0-27-1 and the final attendance numbers would vary very little
And that's why we'll never have a successful team in Colorado, AEG and Jabba feel no need to put a quality team on the field when they can put butts in the seats.
Exactly. More evidence of the Hithcock Effect on Rapids attendance is seen by looking at the (disappointing) numbers that the team pulled in before he arrived at the Rapids -- specifically in 1999, when the Rapids were the #1 team in the league for the first half of the season, yet still struggled to get 10,000 folks out to a Saturday night game. Given limited resources, I consider what Hitch and his staff do in terms of sales a small miracle.
"That'll be $5.75" Maybe we should 'move' Counce up to the league office, and let Hitch try his hand at finding a new coach and acquiring players....Hankinson could be one of those guys who supervise the individual concessions stands at Mile High. They need old guys to poor the beers. RLH