Time to start the discussion for the next game. San Jose has been struggling lately (Loss to Van, Draw with Chicago, win over Seattle, embarrassed by Montreal) so they could be ripe for the picking, but the Rapids have also proven this season to be a perfect tonic for teams that are struggling. The Rapids meanwhile haven't forgotten about their loss at home earlier this year where an own goal and a penalty from a dive meant they went from winning with less than 10' to go to losing 2-1. In case you don't remember here are the highlights. Will Hendry Thomas play? I doubt it since he hasn't played a game in ages, but you never know. If he does start what will the lineup look like?
2-1 San Jose Just be sure to not voice displeasure about any of the calls on the field. [Orwellian voice]Even in San Jose, the minusoneclub is out there[/voice].
--------------------Casey-------------------- Castrillon----------Rivero----------Mullan ----------Larentowicz----------Nane---------- Zapata-------Moor----Wynne------Freeman --------------------Pickens-------------------- I think this is what OP will go with. Cascio, Smith, Omar off the bench. Thompson for Nane if leading late. It's not yet time to start looking to next year in terms of inserting O'Neill, etc. in the lineup. Not til the last six games or so, probably. If we win 3 straight, that changes things.
See above. I think Castrillon starts, and Cascio has made the case for him to get sub minutes. I think Casey should start as a lone forward, and Omar should get some mental rest on the bench and sub.
yeah your lineup was posted after i came into the thread to post my questions. I think what you have is likely. I was trying to look at lineups/stats from past games to see if having Cascio in the lineup means more shots compared to Castrillon. They both are pretty equal. I think it is the type of shots that make them seem so different. Cascio is more likely to get the ball in space out wide, but he ends up taking shots from distance. Castrillon gets more headers in close. I like that Cascio adds width and continually creates chances for himself and others, but Castrillon, true to his "fantasma" nickname, seems to pop up with the odd goal here and there.
Yep, exactly. I'm pretty sure Omar wouldn't have started against Chivas if Casey had been healthy and/or Castrillon hadn't been suspended.
Well Lenhart got a red last week so that is one of them gone at least. For some reason I feel sneaky confident about this game. San Jose has guys suspended and they haven't been doing well, but I always feel like they are a cocky team so maybe they will still come in overconfident. I think we sneak a point out of this if not get a win and get our first points on the road since the second game of the year.
I don't know if it's true but I once heard that most common way to lose money betting on sports is to bet on a streak to end.
I'm happy for you. I'm at a point where I believe we need wind to help us beat expansion teams at home.
2-1 loss, goal by Casey. We're a team that's going into a death spiral, on the road, against the current league leaders. Their injury/discipline issues will allow us to hang close for a while, but eventually our defense will falter again. http://view-from-the-couch.blogspot.com/2012/08/clampdown.html
3-1 loss. Wondo X 2 in the first half essentially ends the game before it starts. Rapids pick up a goal early in the 2nd by Casey to breathe life back into it, then it gets crushed by a goal 5 minutes later by Chavez. What's the point in making a prediction without being specific?
hope we come in motivated angry and ready. we need to beat san jose or at least dominate the game and take away atleast a moral victory. we shouldn't be so down on our selves these games we lose we just dominate them like no other team has.
I think most here know the Rapids have it in them to win, especially if they get a break or two. It's too hard to hope for a win when the emotional let down is more likely given the recent past. I actually think there is a darn good chance for a tie, but a win seems like a more remote possibility. I will predict that if we get a goal up by half time or so, we will see Hendry in there to shore up defense.
Wow, game day and fewer than 2 dozen posts on the match thread. We drew Silviu Petrescu as center ref. He last worked the second RSL match. At least the Rapids won't face an inexperienced or incompetent ref this match. San Jose is down three players due to suspension and has a bunch more injured. They are coming off a bitter loss, but still lead the race for the Supporters Shield. And it's a road match. Yep, toast. One thing to think about. It wasn't that long ago that San Jose had a record about like the 2012 Rapids. Teams can rebuild. The question is whether this one can.
What do you expect? Optimism already has 6 feet of dirt on it, 'round here. Hard to talk about much when spirits are this low. Sarcasm?