This bye week is killing me! The Rapids are 1-6-1, have scored only 4 goals (fewest in MLS, LA 2nd with 7) in 8 matches, while allowing 15 (tied with KC for most). Even without Twellman, I say this is a game we have to win.
We are away and playing at altitude, but we lose Taylor and they lose Pablo...we have JMM back from injury. I think we get the better of the 'off to play with the USMNT' loss. Plus, we are better to begin with. The key to Colorado, which was confirmed when I watched them this weekend is to control Chung as much as possible. They don't have much else in the way of 'through' the midfield. We should win this one. The only suspense seems to be whether Noonan gets the start over Wolde and whether Joseph is healthy again.
MLSNet Injury Report as of 6.10: QUESTIONABLE: M Brian Kamler (L hamstring strain); PROBABLE: D Shalrie Joseph I didn't know Brian was hurt?
kamler I've heard nothing about the injury until now. Questionable, not probable: is it really that serious? If Beaker can't go, who slides in at left mid? Noonan has been backing him up, but to me Patty looks best up front and slightly out of place on the left, plus I'd like to see him paired with JMM. There's also the question of full match fitness for him. Can Jason Moore play on the left? Marshall Leonard to debut? How about bringing back the golden one, John Wilson? Ah screw it. Give me Kamler on one leg and we still should win.
Strong rumor that the CRapids are about to make a coaching change. I sure hope they wait till after this weekend. I don't like the boost a coaching change gives to a poor team. On the other hand, they just lost another of their defenders for the season with an ACL. Should be 3 points but these are the matches that can bite you in the butt if you get too over confident. Rev 2--CRapids 0 George
Even though Joseph is listed as able to play I'm thinking SN will hold him out till he's completely healed. I do think we'll see Rusty back in to replace Kante. Replacing Kamler is a bit more problematic but I think Noonan gets the nod. Wolde and JMM will start up top. If we get a lead I would not be terrably surprised to see Joseph come off the bench to replace one of the Forwards Brown Heaps, Rusty, Llamosa, Joey Ralston, Cullen, Hernandez, Noonan JMM, Wolde Bench: Reise, Knate, Jason Moore, Joseph (For awhile I had the wild thought of I. Kante getting in late in the match. That guy is HUGE. Talk about a big target) George
Possible starting line-ups. Colorado Rapids: GK: Scott Garlick RB: Matt Crawford CB: Robin Fraser CB: Nat Borchers LB: Ritchie Kotschau RM: Chris Henderson CM: Wes Hart CM: Kyle Beckerman LM: Mark Chung FW: Chris Carrieri FW: John Sepncer The Rapids are currently without starters Zisi Roberst (MCL tear,) Jeff Stewart (ACL tear,) and Pablo Mastroeni (National Team duty.) Colorado has a mid-week match this evening against D.C. United. New England Revolution: GK: Adin Brown RB: Jay Heaps CB: Rusty Pierce CB: Carlos Llamosa LB: Joe Franchino RM: Steve Ralston CM: Daniel Hernandez CM: Leo Cullen LM: Jason Moore FW: Joe-Max Moore FW: Wolde Harris The Revolution are currently without Taylor Twellman (National Team duty.) New England is coming off a bye week and has no mid-week match. The last meeting between the two teams was a 3-1 Revolution win at Gillette Stadium on August 28, 2003, Chung scoring for the Rapids in a physical affair that saw four Rapids players get booked. The Revs split their two matches at Invesco last season, getting stuffed like a Thanksgiving turkey on May 22nd in a 2-5 loss that featured two goals each from Chung and Henderson. New England earned a result in their favor only weeks later in a 2-1 win on June 15th, Kamler and Twellman getting the Revs goals. Colorado fans have suggested that Tim Hankinson prefers his central midfielders to stay put in holding positions rather than moving forward, allowing Chung and Henderson to cut back inside towards goal, something both players have done to good effect over the past few years against the Revs. This will most certainly put pressure on our wing backs in Heaps and Franchino, while Pierce has to be positionally sound, watching for cutting inside runs from Chug while making sure Carrieri doesn't exploit that by finding space behind him. If Kamler isn't playing then Jason Moore has to make an effort to get back and help on defense on the left especially with the bulk of the Rapids attacks likely to bypass the center of the pitch and up the wings. Spencer's also got a nasty outside shot and Brown will need to be on his toes. The Revolution cannot afford to come out flat, nor can they let up late as they did against Kansas City. I don't see Joseph starting immediately pending his injury status, and it may be to the Revs benefit to have a more physical player in at the get-go to put a body on the likes of Chung or Henderson. Let them get worn down a bit, then insert Joseph later in the match who can help hold the ball, maintain possession, yet may be able to push forward into the middle of the field, especially with the Rapids missing two central players in the middle of the field in Mastroeni and Stewart.) The big concerns are these: goal production and lingering effects from a long lay-off. Harris has struggled in those few matches he's played in to this point, not finding a great deal of space inside and holding onto the ball a bit too long. If he can find a bit more space and plays the ball on the first touch a bit more this could be his breakout game, especially if the Rapids defense cues in on Moore who's more the Twellman-type. If the Revs keep their composure and apply consistent pressure throughout the game they should probably win. If they let Colorado take the game to them then we could see a repeat performance of May 22nd. I'm going to go out on a limb here and predict a 3-1 Revs win, goals from Moore, Noonan, and Hernandez for the Revs, and Mark Chung for the Rapids.
In MLS there is never a sure victory. Especially on the road with a week off. Brown Heaps Pierce Llamossa Cullen Ralston Hernandez JMM Franchino Harris Noonan I know this is a long shot, but it looks like it could work. Although the forwards are weak.
Bill, I don't understand this line up at all. Why all the switching players around away from their normal positions? Our back line is learning to play well as a unit and switching Franchino and Cullen makes no sense. BTW, JMM is a Forward in SN's eyes and will not be playing midfield any time soon. The only real questions are who will replace Kamler and TnT. I think were more likely to see Noonan than Jason Moore and Kamlers replacement. George
I'll go with the Magpie's lineup, although I wouldn't be surprised to see Noonan at LM instead of Jason Moore. Since joining the Revs, Wolde Harris has scored twice against the Rapids, and always seems to play well against his former club. Here's hoping he has a breakout game Saturday. He's certainly due.
We have played better on the road than at home so far this season. Colo has a mid-week game tonight. They have yet another starting player out with injury. We should have the troops pretty well-rested and ready to rock and roll after the week off. And the Rapids suck: bottom of the league with 4 pts from 8 games and a -11 goal differential. So why am I filled with a strange foreboding? Probably because of all of the above: this game has "Rev overconfidence" written all over it. What we don't want is to repeat the performance we gave against Cbus on 4/19. And while the Galaxy are off to a rather poor start, the Rapids showed them enough to make the Depot opener a pretty entertaining affair. If we play alertly and don't let up on D, we should win this. But I'm praying we get the first goal of the match, and that JMM steps up and has a break-out game. If he doesn't, I'm going to begin to question if he belongs in the starting 11. Adin Jay Rusty Llamosa Joey Ralston Joseph Cullen Kamler/Hernandez Wolde JMM
I do feel much better after Colorado won their home match against LA, though. If the Revs were up against a winless Colorado on Saturday, well, that would have had Revs jinx all over it.
The Crapids and DCU played in a 0-0 match last night with the CRapids losing another defender (red card) for Saturdays match. They are a hurting unit to say the least. I think they are a demoralized side who no longer have confidence in their coaching staff. Lets hope they don't make a coaching change till after our two matches this month. This is JMM's and Wolde's chance to get on the scoring table. Lets hope they both have break out games. George
No mystery why they're horrible. Borchers is out (and who knows who will replace him) and there's no Mastro to protect Fraser and his anonymous crew. The Revs should pressure the Rapids mercilessly in their own end. Colorado has some pretty decent offensive personnel between Spencer, Chung, Henderson and Carrieri - so the Revs should make sure those guys have to help out the defense and come back to their own end to see the ball.
You're right, with Borchers out one wonders who Hankinson might pick to fill in: perhaps Alberto Rizzo will see action? As previously stated, this is a match that by all rights the Revolution should win, but the players need to make sure they come out with the sufficient intensity and concentration to play for 90 minutes - no let ups, no taking their foot off the gas. The Magpie
Just reported by Chris Bergin---Hankinson and Ray Hudson will be keeping their jobs---for now. I'm really glad that the Revs won't be going to play a team with a new coach (which almost always seems to give a team a boost). George
Off thread, but: I think Hudson is the one on shakier ground. Big fan signs at RFK for his sacking. This year's DCU model is Ray's team, and it better produce...or else.
Re: Re: Revs vs Rapids 6/14 Pre-game It's hard to imagine how he's still employed. For all his entertainment value, he hasn't accomplished diddly since he arrived. And he's got talent! This offseason he did all the manuevering he wanted and the result: even worse crap than last year. Hey, Thomas Rongen had one good year too - but people seemed to wise up about him. Somehow they still believe in Hudson's Miami Miracle. And Payne is supposed to be pretty saavy... But then, he fell into the Rongen trap too!
According to my listings, the WNT game is at 9pm, just like the Revs. On the unavailable front, I guess TFII is no longer a key player From Soccer America Daily: Key Players Out: Colorado - F Zizi Roberts (R MCL tear), D Jeff Stewart (R knee sprain), D Nat Borchers (suspension); New England - none.
Living in Denver, I see nearly all Rapids matches. So here's what's gone on so far: Borchers had been playing a lot better than expected in central defense. No one out here seems to know what the deal is with Rizo, and not for lack of trying, so who knows if he'll play or not. He seems to be more of a wide back. Spencer's off form, Chung and Henderson aren't playing the ball out to the flanks like they should, apparently because Hankinson wants them to play through the middle. They can't generate any possession like that, but seem commited to keep trying it. Carrieri plays a different position every week so he hasn't gotten untracked. Stewart was probably the Rapids best defender before his injury. Garlick's played okay but not as well as in past seasons with DC and Colorado. Also, the Raps have been listless and seemingly unmotivated for most of the season. Bottom Line: If the Revs show up and play with any composure, it's three points and I go home happy. This should be a win, and will be if the effort and focus are there. What scares me is the Revs history in these "gimmie" games. I think Nicol will have them focused and chomping at the bit after the layoff though.