From MLS web site ....... The teams might be separated into different conferences, but the Columbus Crew and Colorado Rapids face a massively important game for playoff positioning when they face off Sunday afternoon in the Ohio capital. The teams are tied for eighth place in the MLS overall table; under the new playoff format, only the top two teams in each conference are guaranteed postseason berths, with the next four in the overall standings qualifying. The Rapids come into the team riding a three-game winning streak, all by shutout, while the Crew haven't won in their last four.
Add to that the first tie breaker is head to head results and it's clear the winner of this game is much better positioned in the playoff race.
There is another area of concern that bothers me about this upcoming match in Columbus. It relates to the level of playing intensity that we could see from many of our defenders. If you haven't noticed, all those yellow cards we have been picking up have continued to mount up over these past few games. We now we are looking at Pablo, Petke and Prideaux all facing a one game suspension after their next yellow. And to make matters worse, Bouna, Medhi and Erpen are only 2 cards away from having to sit our the next game. Here's my advice....When your team is trying to come on strong in that last, final, stretch run of the season, it becomes absolutely imperative for our players to play smart, to use their brains and not give in to their emotions. Remember to never make that slide tackle from behind, or butt with your head, or handle a ball in the penalty area, and most importantly....... remember to keep your mouths shut. Try to remember this rule when talking/screaming/swearing at the refs (even if you are wearing the Captains armband). Sure...it's OK to complain, but remember that 99% of the time, the referee won't change his mind, and all that yelling may just piss him off enough that you'll pick up another yellow/red card that will keep you on the bench in the next game. Remember.... that's a great opportunity for some hungry, young, rookie speedster to do a better job playing at your position in the next match, and it could definately result in finding your sorry butt on the bench until you can eventually win back your position again... Nuff said.... Time to play smart against the Crew and to keep the winning streak alive.... Good Luck Rapids!!!
Sorry for my attempt at humor there.... In Teddy's initial start to the thread, he mentioned humor, and this joke just came to mind. Here is another (sorry...) attempt at humor. DId you hear what the Crew coach is doing for the up-comming game against the Rapids? He is only dressing 12 players. He says the rest can dress themselves...
YES, EXACTLY. We can win this one. IMO stern opinion this should be a easy three points, but we will see what happens. Hopefully Casey and Jovan can find the net----AGAIN----AGAIN----and AGAIN....
Keep in mind that this is a Columbus that was a hair away from getting out of Houston with all 3 points despite playing 50+ minutes short a player. Had Okulaja called a foul on Moreno after he got decked from behind & had not called a foul on Gaven (?) for a lesser offense the game could've been a lot different. Hell, had he actually expected the players to restart play within 5 yards of where the foul occurred (funny how the rules can be ignored), it could've been all 3 points for the Crew. We're traveling to Columbus, they're playing well, and we haven't played well on the road. This is going to be a test for the team, especially in terms of showing how much Clavijo has (if?) turned the team around.
Yup^ Columbus and Chicago seem to be killing teams right now, but not getting any credit for any of it. They're very under the radar, but that may change if their recent results continue.
Im going to say----Rapids win a thight, good, exciting game 2-0. ANd they stick with the same lineup. The Crew will give us a run for three points, but the Rapids should prevail. We just have to stop Schelotto and the 'somewhat' high octane offense...
For those into such things, here are a couple more items to mull over... CLB last 5 at home - W W W W L -- 7 gf, 3 ga COL last 5 on road - L L D D L -- 3 gf, 9 ga CLB last 5 games overall - W D L L D -- 5 gf, 6 ga COL last 5 games overall - D L W W W -- 9 gf, 3 ga Their home form (12 points from 15) is much better than out road form (2 points from 15), but, we are riding a 3-game winning streak, the last 2 of which find us firing on all cylinders and playing the best ball we've trotted out all season. CLB's form seems to be cooling a bit. My longest-running point of criticism with our play is that we just do not possess the killer instinct necessary to put an opponent away after landing them on the ropes. (sorry for the boxing analogy) We simply must put a knife in CLB if we don't want to have to look over our shoulder at them the rest of the season. Admittedly, a win is a win, but we need to exploit CLB's current form and step on their throats. FC would be a fool to tinker with the current starting 11, save for a late injury. If it ain't broke, don't fix it. Here's hoping for a good game ("good" being a flowing end-to-end affair, or a blowout in our favor) and win by the good guys. And a quick note for the organization - the regular season may not be a sprint, but the playoffs are. One stumble and you're likely to be out. Consider these last remaining games to be qualifying heats for the "championship race". A bad heat, and we could be on the outside looking at scheduling tee times until camp starts next year. Forza Rapidos!
Lineup has been posted: Bouna Ihemelu - Erpen - Petke - Prideaux - Sanneh Ballouchy - Pablo - Clark Kirovski - Casey Bench: Thorton Cancela Gomez Cummings Peterson Osorno Nico WhereTF is Cooke? And needing a result, why only 4 attacking players? Clavijo strikes again!
Sanneh can play right midfield. Not necessarily well, but he can play it. I'd imagine Cooke is injured, unless Fernando decided to ship him off for no reason too. Also, I can somewhat see this working out because most of the Crew's attack comes through Schelotto, and with the brains of Sanneh and the speed of Ihemelu, Schelotto should be a non-factor. Should be.
10' 0-0 Hessmer made one save on a Casey shot from outside the box, Bouna hasn't toughted the ball yet. Lots of back and forth in the midfield, neither team in rythym.
Eddie Gaven tried the volley from about 27 yards out and just puts it over the bar, Bouna had no chance had it ben on target.
Altitude is buggered on my TV (I get this a lot with FSC in my room as well, though not in the living room, I guess Comcast hates soccer ), please keep the pbp coming if you can.
Duncan Oughton and Bouna get in each other faces, and Ugo comes up to give Oughton a shove. Ref breaks it up, but then has words with Bouna?!?!