Official DC United vs Colorado Rapids PRE Match Thread

Colorado hasn't played since the 12th and appear to be in disarray. The Grimandi issue is still hanging over the team, and Hankinson changed his entire lineup from preseason to that first game. If there was a time Colorado was ripe for the picking, it's now. We may be disorganized ourselves, but I think the key to this game for both teams is to be aggressive and attack from the outset. If we let the game settle, I'm thinking a draw is pretty likely. If we can unsettle them early, we could get that rarest of things, the road win.

According to the Rapids board, the forward combination is still up in the air. However, a inter-squad scrimmage has this group as the starting midfield and defense:

----------------- Garlick
--- Crawford Stewart Fraser Hart
Henderson Beckerman Mastroeni Chung

The word is that John Spencer is fit to start, and I doubt Hankinson would leave him out. After that, it's up in the air between Roberts, Carrieri, and Schmidt. Of course, Hankinson has a tendency to do gameday juggling, so who knows what we'll see.

I'm guessing we turn out in this:

--------- Rimando
----- Petke Nelsen Prideaux
Olsen Kovalenko Stewart Convey
--------- Etcheverry
----- Quaranta Quintanilla

Yeah, same lineup as last week. I think we'd be better off with Stewart at forward and Namoff alongside Kovalenko (probably for Quintanilla, despite the fact that he was the only player with any ideas last week) in midfield. However, I strongly doubt that Hudson will do that. I don't imagine a lineup with those 5 midfielders can be that short of ideas 2 weeks in a row, though.

If we play aggressively and take a few risks in attack, and keep the ball moving in midfield, we should be able to put in a good showing and get a result.

 

I would go for switching Stewart and Q2, otherwise, let last week's starters go again.

I hope they score early, as the altitude will certainly come into play in the last 15 minutes.
Substitutions late in the game will be a necessity,
as the lads get gassed.
Mark

 

For the past couple of seasons, United has been dreadful in Denver.. Don't know if it's because of altitude or just plain suckiness..

I expect to see the same X1 as last Saturday but I don't see a win in the cards.. A draw might be a good possibility but we need to keep Colorado off the scoreboard early to give ourselves a bit of confidence.. Nothing worse than going down early on the road..

That being said, I will say 2-1 to the bad guys...

I will also predict mass panic from BS United posters as well though it is hardly going to be warrented..

 

I hope your wrong, Chris, on the score line.
It would help the team to go out to Denver a day early, acclimation takes a few days.
I am thinking a 1:1 tie, or 2:1 United.
Mark

 

I strongly agree.

Let us also not forget that this week Stoi is available, which could prove decisive in dead-ball situations.

 

It will be fun watching Bobby and Henderson race each other up and down the field. Other than that, I have no idea what will happen.

2-1 DC because I like them better.

 

I was kind of hoping for a trip down memory lane to get the team out of the doldrums... such as the 5-2 drubbing that United administered to Colorado in Denver in a snowstorms, back in April of 1997. Diaz-Arce scored four of the goals. Wouldn't that be fun to revisit?!

 

i think you might want to continue to keep earnie in the back again, with henderson and chung, we could really have our hands full on the road. i wouldn't want to give those two any room to operate, they are the type of guys who if they get on a roll can run away with a match. he can always push up later in the match, especially if stoichkov comes in, i'd like to see earnie make some runs off of him.

to me, their backline doesn't seem as formidible as chicago's, though mastrenoni can be effective playing in a dmid role. i'd especially like to see us get in a situation where we could expose fraser to some pace. he has clearly slowed down a bit and if we could catch him with space and one of our speedier guys, we could definitely beat him.

i don't think colorado is going to pack it in the way chicago did, so we ought to have a few more opportunities. i do think, regardless of where they start on the pitch, convey and stewart have to get more offensive touches.

 

My take on things....

1. Colorado is absolutely in disarray. If Chicago has an absence of an A-mid and coordinated attack, Colorado makes the Fire's situation look like the latest coming of Cruyff's Barca sides. Talent on the frontline yes, but their only A-mid (Beckerman) is raw and a bit limited and Hankinson seems to be unwilling to utilize him anyway.

2. I don't think United is in disarray. Learning each other and seeing if Hudson's improvisational approach to attack starts to meld--yes. But apparently very organized in terms of most roles and defense. Also, I thought Garlick was hurting.

3. Yes, altitude is an issue. Arena, when asked about this said that research has shown the two best approaches are: (1) arrive the day before or day of the game and gut it out; or (2) arrive about 10 days before and get acclimitized. Arriving 2-3 days before is the worst option b/c the body really gets whammied by the altitude difference and struggles but still hasn't adjusted yet.

Tactically, I look for the team to hold back for 15-20 minutes and look for counters but otherwise, defend in depth (no, not bunker, just don't push the backline up, make sure we retain shape and organization and look for quick hits). After that, we got forward with gusto and take it to the Rapids and let them chase the ball. Going forward pushing Chung and Henderson back to defend, prevents Mastroeni from being any kind of playmaker and either forces the frontline back to receive the ball or leaves them isolated.

BTW, I think free kicks will matter a lot this match. I think Hankinson will try to get his team to play a very aggressive game to make up for the lack of cohesion and attack coordination. Especially since DCU showed so poorly in the first match in Colorado last year.

Last of all--Eskandarian is out. While that's bad for him, it actually simplifies the sub issue (since we can't take everyone to Denver anyway).

 

If we contain Henderson we should win. Colorado’s defense is not near as big or as formable as Chicago’s. I think the Rapids mid field is going to have their hands full with ours. Their offense is on par with ours and I think our defense is much better.

After last weeks game I think our defense is fairly good. Chris C doesn’t scare me and while Spencer has destroyed us in the past we should be able to shut him down.

I would love to see Stoichkov come in for Etch at the 60th minute and win the game with a long dead ball goal.

DC 1 Col 0

The Far Side

 

DC 2
Colorado 0

Can't say why, can't say how. But I think we will win. I won't be able to watch the game, and that usually seems to help..

 

I really don't think we are going to see Beckerman (DC area kid- Crofton, MD). He battled for the spot all preseason, took over the spot when Grimandi walked out, then Hankinson randomly decided to sit him and throw out a brand new midfield that struggled against San Jose. Henderson, Chung and Mastroeni are all very solid. But with no player to link this group together, I feel we will we will be able to control the midfield.

Their back line is very beatable. I really don't see any one of them getting playing time if they were in Chicago's back line.

Their front line has not had much time together because of injuries. The always dangerous Spencer is still working his way back to fitness. Carrieri has never really impressed me. Schmidt is a rookie who scored a lot of goals in preseason, playing against defenders that are now with A-league sides or sitting on MLS benches. Roberts has been battling some injuries as well

The only thing that concerns me is the thing that concerns me everytime United goes to Colorado. The altitude really gives them a home field advantage. But I feel that the Rapids are going to have to many question marks and I think United takes this one on the road.

2-0 for the good guys!

 

Alberto Rizo will be available this weekend for the Rapids. "In my mind there's almost no question he'll get a chance (to play)," Hankinson said. "But whether he's ready to start will come down to how I feel about his match fitness."

http://www.denverpost.com/Stories/0,1413,36~94~1343741,00.html

FYI, although the article above says about Grimandi, "We're protecting ourselves for him to stay and we're protecting ourselves in case he doesn't," it is interesting to note that he did practice with the team in a full scrimmage yesterday.

http://www.rapidsfan.com/

 

Atouk, my take on Grimandi practicing is that its something the Rapids have to do and something Gilles has to do. He wants to leave and MLS won't give him a free pass. So he's got to impress someone and stay in shape. Just as an aside--I wonder about the cap implications here. In any case, while Grimandi may seek to impress and play hard, this is a guy who doesn't want to be with this team and a coach and team that doesn't want him and a fan base that has been conveying "good riddance" to him.

I think Colorado's defense can be fine IF: they can defend in depth, they're allowed to play physically and Garlick is healthy. I think (at home) they'll need to push forward and we'll have a chance to exploit them. This would have been a fine match for Eskandarian (with his great first step/close control). I think it could also be a fine match for Quaranta--if he gets the right service. Stewart may get some opportunities to take advantage of mistake--if he is forward enough.

 

That's about what I thought, but since we're playing 'em this week, I thought I'd pass along the link.

The more interesting news is that Rizo seems set to play, with a shot to possibly start. That adds an unknown to the mix. He wasn't in the Mexican First Division last year, but has some experience there. Does anyone follow the Mexican league enough to remember him from Atlas (1999-2001)?

 

Subs due to Altitude

I think that Hristo S. would be a great sub at around the 65-75 minute mark. We could use his direct/indirect shots around the box. Boy, can you imagine if he can get hold of a shot at altitude....

Anyway, the 3 subs of the bench will be Hristo, Alegria in at midfield, and Curtis. We will need a score late to tie. I see a 2-2 or a 1-2 loss.

Subbed out will be Quaranta, Olsen, and Quantinia. With us going into a 4-3-3 at the end. I see Hristo making a late run down the wing and placing a perfect cross to............Alegria, who proceeds to shank the shot against the crossbar and Stewart follows up with a clinical finish from the six yard box. 2-2.

 

http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/rapids/article/0,1299,DRMN_51_1908270,00.html
Rapids Labor to Stay Sharp

"Rizo could provide the advancement out of the back that head coach Tim Hankinson is looking for on offense."
Also...
"I noticed this last week that the team was getting sharper every day," [Chris] Henderson said. "Maybe it was just getting into the rhythm of the season. But it just looks to me from the touches and the way the guys were playing that we were getting sharper."

 

Re: Subs due to Altitude

We have Hristo...use him. Early in the second half, I'd say. I know fatigue becomes a factor around the 70 minute, but we should use Stoitchkov whenever possible.

1-0 United

-------------------Rimando
------Petke---Prideaux---Nelson
--Olsen--Kovelenko--Etcheverry--Stewart--Convey
----------Quaranta----Quintanilla

Subs: Stoitchkov (Etcheverry)
--------Curtis (Quintanilla)
--------Alegria (anyone playing mid)

 

If you can actually spend the entire game in the bathroom at RFK, that would be of tremendous assistance!

Was that the issue last game? Perhaps you need a bladder control problem?

 

DC: 4
Colorado: 1

Dema breaks Kyle Beckerman's ankle. Stiochkov gets a yellow card. Two goals for Quaranta and a goal for Stewart and Etcheverry.

Hankinson puts out a 3-6-1 lineup and claims that he is the intellectual heir to Steve Sampson and Wolfgang Sunholtz.

 

Hey I tried, believe me. In fact, the disallowed 'goal' on Saturday did in fact occur WHILE I WAS IN THE CONCOURSE returning from the can.

I also left my seat at a couple other key moments, to no avail.

I will do my best to get into the stadium and sit in the Men's room from 9-11 PM this coming Saturday.

 

Mark Chung, you can't stop him you can only contain him. I don't know why, but this guy has a habit of torching us. Whether it's goals or assists he always performs well against us. Stop him and you stop Colorado.

 

Man, if you'd have had just one more beer and been required to stay in the restroom a bit longer, he'd have been onside! Remind me to get you another beer next time!

 

Maybe if he would have washed his hands it would have counted!