PBP: Rapids @ Loons • Playoff Round 1 • Sun., Nov. 21 • 5:30 pm ESPN

MLS has not officially said what their Quarantine Rules are for this, Story I linked to was for Oct Window. Maybe they change it up for this international window based on testing results.

Just seems like a poor way to treat teams for playoffs.

 

I like this lineup. Rubio instead of Shin would be better, but I like Benezet starting and Lewis being that killer super-sub when the other defense is tired. He could run all over them!

Wilson has had some crap thrown his way (rightfully so in some cases), but he seems to be playing well lately. Just don't need him to melt down.....

Can't wait to see Namli doing his thing. Since I haven't been able to watch a game in some time.

And PLAYOFFS! we made the PLAYOFFS! Let's do some damage and repeat 2010!

rod.

 

I agree. Wilson has had solid CB play this year, and several times has also had to step up and cover for Abubakar if Lalas gets pulled upfield doing his thing. I also like what Trusty has been doing. He’s got the speed and the height to make up for mistakes, but he’s also shown to be smart in his anticipation. I’m good with either of them starting on Sunday honestly, which is a breath of fresh air given our CB history as of late!

My favorite description / nickname for Namli actually came from an away game. Oddly enough, it was when we played Minnesota on Oct 28.

The home announcers kept calling him Namli Twinkle Toes, or saying “here comes twinkle toes Namli, watch out!”


The dude just looks like he skates right through defenders

 

Projected lineup for the loons:

 

Seems kind of Goofy ... but that would be L.A.

 

Hearing the same, though all of Minnesota's players are likely back as well, so I think it hurts us more than helps us.

 

Colorado striker Diego Rubio will be available for the Rapids at Minnesota. He actually returned to Colorado prior to Chile’s first match because of concerns that he had been in contact with a COVID-19 positive. He’ll complete quarantine and be ready for Sunday, per a club spox.

— Sam Stejskal (@samstejskal) November 18, 2020

 

I'm actually very happy about this turn of events - honestly.

A lot of people (before our 3 game win streak to close out the season) questioned whether we should even be allowed in the playoffs....Well, we went out there and proved them wrong.

Now, say we got Rubio back, but Minnesota was out their big players - people would say that we had an unfair advantage that MNUFC didn't have to deal with.

Now, it's our best vs their best. That's what you want to see as a fan, in my opinion. You want to see your team do what it can against another team doing what it can. Remember when we beat LAFC at home last year? Sam Vines absolutely ruining Carlos Vela's day? That was EPIC. And it felt epic because we went toe to toe with the best, and won.

I'm actually very excited for Sunday. This should be a really good game. Last time we played MNUFC, we were still showing rust off of the COVID forced break - but we really hung in there. If Abubakar heads the ball over the goal instead of into the goal, that game would have been very different AND we would have a completely different matchup this weekend.

I think we should show well on Sunday, and we will give MNUFC a run for their money. I am confident Fraser is working on a very solid gameplan with the guys right now - and I'm excited to see it in action

 

Nah, I'm perfectly happy if Minnesota had to roll out their U-15s against us and we coast to an easy win. People can talk all they want, what counts is the scoreboard.

 

Agreed. I would have liked our best against their worst.

 

Perhaps even a move over to the Eastern conference?

Hey, it worked before!

 

Against COVID depleted teams the whole way to the cup! I'd enjoy 10 more years of rage from other teams' fans.

 

It is not ideal, but neither is 2020.

Speaking of not ideal; has anybody seen a chart that has how many times different teams have played each other this season? I'd be interested to see that. I guess Sporting has played Eastern Conference teams a lot. And how many times have LA and Seattle played? I'm really looking forward to these playoffs.

 

Rapids better be careful:

Breaking News: Inter Miami players Gonzalo Higuain, Federico Higuain, Leandro Gonzalez Pirez to miss tonight’s playoff game at Nashville due to COVID. Story coming...@HeraldSports @MiamiHerald @InterMiamiCF #InterMiamiCF #MLS

— Michelle Kaufman (@kaufsports) November 20, 2020

Sounds like (after some digging around) the first COVID positive test was on Monday. The Miami game will still go on tonight.

The Rapids know all too well what its like to deal with COVID in the locker room and missing key players. Unfortunately, there are no more second chances. If there are players positive....the game will go on.

If the game can't go on, I believe it counts as a forfeit as there is literally no time left for makeup games.

Here's hoping that everyone in the Rapids locker room who caught it is now immune, and every one else is staying safe enough to avoid it.

 

Since I can actually watch this game I’m going to predict a 4-2 Rapids win.

 

I think when the New England Revolution's coach was with some Banana Republic's National Team he somewhat famously told them to get the "First tackle today, first foul, first shot, first goal." We need to play aggressively like that, this is not a home and away where a draw is okay or going down a goal or two can be made up in the second leg.

https://www.reddit.com/r/ussoccer/comments/28srtx/first_tackle_today_first_foul_first_shot_first/

 

Hey, look whose team won 3-0 over the covid-protocol-depleted Inter Miami.