Given that Becks, Spencer and Powell are out and Zizi and Chung are hurt, here is my lineup for the invisible game against the Crew. Pedro Rey Hendo DLT Digi Crawford Ritchie Sully Nat Pablo Cannon It seems no matter who plays the back line they are solid, that's why I'm putting Pablo on the outside. If Chung returns, Crawford goes to the right back and Pedro replaces Sully.
Especially since this game is being played on the road, I like the idea of Pablo playing in the back. Glad to see DiGi back in a Rapids uniform, although he's strictly a left outside mid - he brings energy and has the ability to provide quality crosses. Also, it's situtations like the Columbus game where it's good to have DLT on the roster with his capability to play multiple positions. Pedro Rey DiGi Trembly DLT Henderseon Kotch Bourchers Pablo Crawford
red card = auto suspension for the next game. MLS could increase the suspension if they so desire, I think.
My mistake. I wasn't there and I thought I read that he got a red. It looks like Powell had the red in the 87th minute but Spencer just got a yellow in the 82nd. This is acording to the game recap on MLSnet.com. However, on coloradorapids.com it says Spencer is suspended because of a red card on the 19th. The Rapids' game recap says "and John Spencer who was shown a red card in the tunnel as he exited the pitch following the match." If you want a recap of the red I think the pre/post game discussion on here has it.
It seems like there have been too many games recently where the line up was anyone's guess. Injuries are always part of the game but the suspensions need to stop. We struggle enough to score as it is but it gets harder with no team cohesion in the line up. Anyway Cannon Ritchie Pablo Nat Crawford Digi Trembly DLT Hendo Pedro Rey
IMO - this is the best right starting line up for Saturday's match with the Crew. My primary concern is Trembly in the central midfield, he's very inconsistent on the ball. Hopefully Digi & Hendo will really step up and provide Pedro & Rey with quality crosses.
I agree and that's why I didn't include him in the lineup. I watched him very closely last night as I was concerned I was being to harsh. He was pathetic last night. In the 75 minutes I watched I saw two quality passes offset by a dozen or more really awful ones. I'm talking passes to no one, or directly to the Reserves. He has no ability to cross, he dribbles into trouble and inevitably loses the ball and his shot is one that can only be described as one not even worthy of a bad defender. The less touches he has the less chance of him doing what he does best, pass to no one or to the other team or simply lose the ball or if close enough to goal send his shot wildly off target. If Hanks insists on playing him I say exchange him and Rey. Let Rey have the additional touches a midfield player gets. Put Seth up with Pedro. Seth works hard, he deserves credit for that and maybe he'll rush a defender or keeper into a mistake. I just hope if that happens, someone else takes the resulting shot.
As we've now learned in another thread, Rey-Rey is gone for 4 weeks with a broken toe... The good news is: we get to speculate on a new lineup! The bad news is: nobody will give a crap, the Rapids are about to assume the name the Burn is casting off... The good news is: We don't have to watch the ugliness that's about to ensue The bad news is: I wanna watch the 2nd team play Out: 1. Chung 2. Spenny 3. Powell 4. Beckerman 5. Zizi (possibly, currently he's AWOL or something) 6. Rey 7. Castellanos & Kingsley New BilFish's Preferred Lineup (tm): * Pending team signings, firings and injuries to happen between tonight and game time Cannon Crawford - Borchers - Pablo - Kotschau Henderson - DLT - Trembly - Digi Pedro - Sullivan What the heck? Cheers, BilFish
No TV for the match, so why not play the Boulder Rapids instead? I doubt AM950 The Fan (radio broadcast) would know the difference (how much booze do they need to drink to call this match anyway)... *sigh*
The way things are going, maybe we should let the Rapids Reserves play Columbus this weekend. I don't think they could do any worse!!!
I heard that Hankinson asked Arena if he would release Mooch to play forward for the Rapids this weekend!!
Look for Jordan Cila to team up with Perdo at forward. Based on what I've seen in practice/exibition games, Cila has solid skills and is a good athlete.
yea Cila does have good skills and should be given mins..instead of sullivan a defender turn forward in hanki's mind!!!!
I felt his whole game against the Rapids Reserve consisted of receiving the ball and passing it promptly to the nearest Rapids player, whether the player was open or not, many times when Cila himself had miles to roam. Even on his assist in the reserve game he passed on a wide open shot to give Digi a difficult shot on which Digi was able to convert.