First match of the '24 season with lots of story lines: • Both sides have new coaches/systems • Both have acquisitions that will be counted on to make a difference immediately • There will be substitute officials Phil Neville is the coach and Maxime Crépeau and Kamal Miller (both Canadians) are the new arrivals for the Timbers. The Rapids will be hoping that Vines, Löffelsend, Mihailovic, Fernández and Steffen will make an instant impact. In fact they will need them to, even if they come off the bench. Of course we will be exposed to the Armas way for the first time knowing that his system may take a while to hit full form. Both sides are predicted to finish low in the standings.
Bassett and Vines hinted at this on the DNVR podcast as well. They said that you won't see them at full tactical strength for a couple of months (I'm assuming they are including preseason), but at this point everything is very simplified. Simplified, and that the default if you don't know 100% what do to in a situation is "Be aggressive, and let the guys behind you figure it out." If this is truly the case, even if we don't win, we should definitely still be entertaining to watch if everyone is getting after it on Saturday!
I could see us surprising taking points from the Timbers to open the season (maybe even a late win), which will lead to many hot takes on how the Rapids are "back" only for the team to backslide in the subsequent weeks... I do not have high hopes for the games agianst Nash, FSL, and the Sounders. Glad the season is finally back though. Hoping Armas proves us wrong.
Biggest variable for me in this match is how much confidence the players have in the Armas system at this point. If they do they could score 2 or more goals. I think we'll see some shining moments and some cringe worthy moments.
Meant to state earlier that Vines mentioned he had the flu while the team was in Orlando and thus he missed all three matches. Don't know how this impacts his ability to start/get significant minutes. Calvin Harris has been a goal scoring machine in the preseason. Seems he will get some serious minutes in this match.
*sigh* One of these years this organization will come to understand that the first game of the season is worth the exact same amount of points as the last one, right? That using the first 6-8 games as an extended preseason isn't actually a tactical advantage? With our first 4 road games being Portland, FSL, LAFC, and Seattle I'm expecting a max of 2 points out of them. Better beat Nashville and Houston at home.
Not sure what to expect since we haven't actually seen them play this year. Portland is also a team in a rebuild and they're not predicted to finish high in the table either, so this game could be a possible smash and grab. Too many unknowns to make any kind of prediction that isn't just a random-ass-guess.
Colorado Rapids with nearly a clean bill of health for their opening game. Chacon rehabbing his ACL as expected. Vines questionable with an illness. Fernandez and Priso available despite being held out for precautionary reasons throughout the preseason.https://t.co/AVq0kiBNZ3 pic.twitter.com/AhvGa5OYxc— Burgundy Wave (@Burgundywave) February 23, 2024
1-1 draw, goal by Bassett. Its really impossible to make any sort of accurate prediction going into the first game of the season where both teams have changed so much. So this is really a gut feel that a draw seems likely but I don't see it being scoreless. Lets get Goal Basset on the scoreboard early this season. https://view-from-the-couch.blogspot.com/2024/02/we-go-again.html
Clean slate, fun fun...let's go. I don't hate anyone at the moment, even K Cabral. Well... maybe I hate Cabral just a little, but I'm trying.
Refs tonight: CR: Was doing USL League One and MLS Next Pro last season (his last match was the Hailstorm's final game last season) AR1: Arizona youth ref, handled regionals and nationals for U18 AR2: MLS Next Pro ref 4th: 4ths in USL Championship and USL League One VARs have not been announced yet
Interesting point at the end. Is there anybody who has ever been a VAR that's available to MLS now? The CR has been in the middle before, the ARs have run lines before (albeit in much lower levels) - they've done those jobs. But the VARs?
I have to say, 2.5 games into the season so far and the “replacement refs” have been indistinguishable from last seasons. No real controversy as of yet. It’s early, I know - but everything’s been called pretty cleanly and evenly as I’ve been watching.
Rapids availability update:-Sam Vines is listed as questionable as he recovers from illness.-Lamine Diack traveled with the team, but likely won't be on the team sheet.-Omir Fernandez should be good to go (minor head injury during preseason).— Braidon Nourse (@BraidonNourse) February 24, 2024
The VARs so far have been PRO management (former refs like Geiger) There was a pretty big mess in the Crew game this afternoon. Not something that would have happened with the regular refs.
First lineup of the 2024 season!! Tonight's season-opening gameday roster will feature SEVEN Homegrowns 👏🆚: Portland Timbers🏟: Providence Park⏰: 8:30 PM MT📺: #MLSSeasonPass on @AppleTV📻: @AltitudeSR📝: https://t.co/RtQIh1N3Es🤝: @MyKingSoopers pic.twitter.com/IKqvJ5hrVB— Colorado Rapids (@ColoradoRapids) February 25, 2024 Tonight's season-opening gameday roster will feature SEVEN Homegrowns 👏🆚: Portland Timbers🏟: Providence Park⏰: 8:30 PM MT📺: #MLSSeasonPass on @AppleTV📻: @AltitudeSR📝: https://t.co/RtQIh1N3Es🤝: @MyKingSoopers pic.twitter.com/IKqvJ5hrVB— Colorado Rapids (@ColoradoRapids) February 25, 2024 Seven homegrown, and a Larraz start! Let’s go!
Shocked to see Larraz get the start. But I like it. I know he did well will with R2 last season on his rebound from that nightmare leg injury.
that looked intentional. did he intentionally try to not get hit by the ball??? that was surreal. pathetic!