Haven't seen a thread yet, and I'm still getting my early season impatient stage. I've read to articles today on the Rapids. Cybersoccer's reporting on the merry-go-round starting lineups, and in the Post Hankinson's ruminations on who to start. Apparently both Spencer and Mastroeni took knocks this week, which may effect the starting lineup. In the Post Hankinson also discussed the need to get (IIRC) more dynamic, and is contemplating tweaking the lineup. That last part is the most worrying to me. What I'd really like to see is, assuming everyone's healthy: Vallow Hart - Stewart- Fraser- Rizo Mastro- Beckers Hendo Chung Spencer - Roberts If Mastro's hurt then I guess Rizo is a possibility with, I'd assume, Crawford at left back. If Spencer's hurt then it's gotta be Carrieri's night. Possible Sub's: - Kingsley in for either Chung or Hendo if they both come out flat again. - Carrieri for Spencer. More random thoughts: -The Metrostars will be hard to crack with Jolley and Pope playing so well. -One has to wonder what Williams will do without a true #10 to dog all game. Will he follow Chung all night? -We really need Mastro to be healthy to keep Guevara from hurting us. -Guevara's still a dangerous unknown, Mathis has been really flat, and Jaime's hurt. The Metrostars should be just as punchless as the Rapids. -With Williams, Pope & Jolley in the middle the Rapids better look to play wide.
Kingsley is still hurt. Doubtful he'll appear as a sub. I also don't think we have a "true #10" as you describe with regards to Williams marking him. Chung is a free winger; neither playmaker nor pure crosser nor sniper. Arguably he and Hendo have a bit too much freedom this year, hence the excessive running around without producing much. As for the Metros being just as flat as the Rapids right now, I might tend to agree except for the fact that we couldn't get more than 1 stinking point out of our home tilt against DC. BTW, it's "subs" and not "sub's." No direct offense to you, Spot, I'm just getting a little frustrated at all of the unnecessary apostrophes getting thrown about.
I aspire to little more than a stream of unconciousness on these boards. Editing and good writing takes more time than I have available between boyish stabs at earning an income. Too bad about Kingsley. I know he's know saviour, but considering how flat Henderson and Chung have been.... Right now we're really relying on those two. I hope they can pick it up.
Good lineup. If Mastro is hurt, slide in Hart in his spot and put Herdsman over at right full. Hart can get the defensive work done.
I bet Hanki changes the starters again. Becks out, Chung in the middle and CC on the flank. As sick and tired of the changes as fans, think of the players. Chung is not as nearly as effective as an A-mid, Carrieri is deffinatly not a flanker and Beckerman deserves a chance to prove he can or can not do the job. One game is not enough. While his performance wasn't great against DC, it wasn't horrible. If my info. is correct (about the lineup), I will also be calling for Hanki's head on Sunday. P.S. - I received the information from one of the players on Thursday. Maybe Hanki changes his mind before the kickoff. If he does, I guess it just shows that his inconsistancy is his consistancy. Maybe I won't wait for Sunday to call for his head on a stick.
For those with experience as a GK, help me here. Would it had made a difference if Vallow had stayed on his line and not moved forward on Zaidie's cross? Or was it such a well played ball and header that it wouldn't matter?
You Too Can Be A Center Mid Is Tim trying to set a Guiness Book Of World Records record by using a different midfielder in every match. I am almost sure it will be Zi Zi next week. Whatever the case, we were lucky today that the score wasn't a total embarassment. We sure are having trouble generating offense, and next time I am going to count the number of passes that weren't anywhere close to the mark. Time and time again we started a break, only to see the ball go directly to the other team, or 2 steps behind one of ours. It is still early, but it is hard to believe that this team is going to contend for anything. I want to be a hopeful person, but too many more mediocre performances, and I think I will start wearing only black to the matches. Next week is probably going to be more difficult than this. Come on, Raps, let's get something going.
Re: Re: Rapids vs. Metrostar Pregame/Postgame Thread [R] Why don't you go laugh at something else, twit. I know, your an Arsenal fan and they are SOOO dynamic. And next year you'll be a Man U fan, and then a Real fan. Isn't there a "Successful team of the month" board? Also, re the grammar/spelling lesson with Greenie, I believe this deserves it'''s (heehee) own thread.
Hankinson is done. He needs to go, and quickly. He sits Beckerman for Rizo to start the game, then we go down a goal and he brings Kotschau in for Crawford. Then he waits until the 82nd minute to bring Beckerman in. Moron.
Completely agreed. If someone more knowledgeable than me cares to explain the logic in Hankinson's moves today, I'm all ears. In the meantime, passes aren't connecting anywhere and there's no rhythm among the players. I nearly coughed a tortilla chip when I saw Rizo in at mid today, Crawford starting at back, and Beckerman nowhere to be found. Given the record and scores thus far, I can't help but think that this is a decent team... and Hankinson's being out-coached. Of the three goals this season, only one (the first) was "earned" by the offense. The next was a PK and today's was a fluke. On the other hand, Zizi was involved with all three (to the extent that he earned the PK last week) and that bodes well. Today was the second time that we've seen the ball blaze past Vallow while he's back on his heels. Could he have stopped that first goal? Maybe/probably not, but waving at it as it goes by sure looks bad. Several other non-goals by the Metros were pure luck today, as the crossbar really earned its money. I still like Stewart on defense and think he's really earning his spot. Spencer, on the other hand, is beginning to be a question mark in my mind. Probably still a solid leader in the locker-room, but not terribly effective while the clock's running. It was good to see a couple of blasts come off of Chung's left foot again this season. Henderson continues to be a work-horse, but nearly had an OG today. That was close.
That was pretty frigging awful. Could have / probably should have been 4 or 5-1. I'm going to tell it like it is: Spenny showed nothing tonight. Neither did a lot of the team. Little imagination, attack, you name it. At least Pablo didn't get a card. Or did he? I lost track. Next opponent: from what I saw of the match, KC was able to generate some attack with what Columbus gave them in the second half. The Crew seem to be able to be attacked from the flanks, but that's not what the Rapids seem to do too often.
Barf. Significant changes to the lineup and tactical movement off the ball notwithstanding, is there any excuse for the amount of turnovers that the Rapdis committed tonight? More long balls and crosses to absolutely nobody. Short balls played nowhere near a teammate, others inexplicably delayed and telegraphed. Hell, even a free kick in the second half was played straight to the feet of a Metro player standing 12 yards away. Which reminds me: how is it we still don't have anyone capable of a taking a good free kick? It's a shame to see the Rapids earn a kick 20 yards while knowing that there will be no better time for a bathroom break. Sad thing is that our defense, which is supposed to be our weakness, was not nearly as ineffectual as our anemic, impotent attack. As for the Metro goals, the opporutnity to finish may have come as a result of weak defense but both Mathis and Ziadie finished very, very well. I don't think Vallow could have done much on either.
Interesting quote from Trembley on the MLS write-up here "I'm not the coach, he's going to play the players that he thinks are going to get the job done and we have a lot of good players on the team. My role is to shut-up, be quiet, sit on the bench and come in when needed." Quite a change from his previous comments... although I agree what he said the first time around. All of this shifting around and not sticking with a lineup makes it extremely difficult to find your form.
I am sorry to say, that after attending last night's game, I think your team may be the worse team in the MLS! I feel bad for Chung. While I am here, has Mastioni always been that much of a hack? I like to see the US Nation team players do well, but he was making it hard not to cheer against him!
Thanks obie. Figures he'd get a card. To answer Kareem's question, Pablo's recklessness really came to light after the WC. Couldn't tell you what it is, though he acknowledged in http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/rapids/article/0,1299,DRMN_51_1928223,00.html]this article that he got a bit of a big head. One theory going around a bit is the "National team players get away with more in MLS" idea pushes him to think he can get away with anything. If so, his card in what seems every match should tell him to cool it. Speaking of cards, while a foul, Rizo's card was excessive if you ask me. No solo rush or even in the clear, though he was correctly called for a hold.
Reality Sucks... At 0-2-1, without any sense of midfield play, and with another botchable allocation/addition in the wings (Powell), I would not be suprised to see some coach/GM changes before the summer. I've taken some flak for criticizing Yoda & Obi-Wan (Tim & Dan) for our recent short-term additions (CV, Amokachi, Grimandi), but in professional sports, you are what your record is..(Parcell's 2001). Our management failed to add a replacement #10 for CV (oh, maybe they thought he'd play until he was 50!?) in the last two years, despite having cash & pick's. OK, finding #10's isn't easy, but we didn't even grow one of our own! They haven't moved up Beckerman into the rotation, so he's not ready. And for a real stretch, we dumped 'former all-star' Paule, who had we stuck with, might be better than his current mediocre play with the Crew. Point is we did nothing. Isn't that someone's job? ("Mr. Shanahan, who's your QB?" "Oh we forget to sign a quarterback, but figured everyone could take turns, you know, throwing a few passes. Since we've re-invented ourselves Black 'n Orange, we don't need one"). Worst Case (I fear most likely, too): The Rapids sign Powell, stunt Beckerman (who'll leave with Carrieri, Garlick and all-star elsewhere), and fall through another season 10-16-6, then we'll re-play this whole freakin scenario for yet another year in 2004! Better cases: Powell is the healthy "Key Ingredient" and we emerge this June as a really good team, going 16-10-6. Or...we start Beckerman, let the current guys settle in, and ditto, have a team with similar 16-10-6 kinda success. Or New England our way into MLS Cup 2003 (used to be called Rapid'ing your way in...). Yes this could happen. Prediction? Darth (Phil) will give these guys another shot each.....Tim goes if we are stumbling by July 4th, maybe earlier...and Unless Powell clicks, Dan may be gone, too. He could remain based on his buisness management, if so then it's Tim, not Dan, who has been responsible for making the final call on the recent additions. Richard
Irony 101 http://www.mlsnet.com/games/03/tracker.php?gamename=05032003_COLMET&version=quotes Own a mirror, Tim? He fails to mention that the moves he's made since April 12 have little in common with the training that occurred in the pre-season.