Up And Down The Dial

We're living on the air in Cincinnati

The Rapids face their biggest test, maybe of this season, tomorrow night as they're off to the land of flying turkeys facing off against the defending Shield holders.  This might be a tougher game than the trip to Miami, given that FCC is a better overall team even if they don't have the high-end talent of the GOAT.  We're also a little beat up, with 6 players on the injury report compared to 1 for Cinci.  Kickoff tomorrow is at 5:30 and we're once again stuck with the Rogondino and Pearce as the announcing duo.  Oh for the days of Fleming and Balboa...

Player Availability:

OUT: GK Adam Beaudry (Arsenal training), M Jonathan Lewis (knee), M Connor Ronan (knee), M Jasper Löffelsend (knee)

QUESTIONABLE: D Lalas Abubakar (hamstring), D Sam Vines (concussion)

Hard to believe Vines would be Questionable if he was still in concussion protocol so I assume that means he's cleared to play but since he didn't practice some or all of the week they're not sure if he's ready to start.  Not great seeing Löffelsend out again after having just come back from injury.

If its not broke...  I don't expect any changes other that the one forced by Vines' injury.  If he can go then Rosenberry goes back to his normal spot on the right.

Prediction: 1-0 loss.  Cinci has the best defense in the league and we can't rely on own goals and penalty kicks forever.  I think this is where our never say die attitude comes up short due to our never shoot the ball attitude.  We're not going to get played off the field like we did in Portland, but we will be the lesser team.

Goalkeeper Shuffle

Earlier this week there were reports that Rapids goalkeeper Adam Beaudry had been offered an opportunity to train with Arsenal later this month.  With Rapids 2 off until May 3rd there wasn't going to be much playing time for him in the near future.  Before everyone gets excited (like one Arsenal blog I saw) this isn't expected to be a precursor to an immediate move, but I'm sure part of the reason the training was offered was for the London-side to get an up close look at him as somebody they will keep an eye on in the near future.

Of course, along with starting for Rapids 2 Beaudry is also Steffen's backup for the first team and if he's in London that leaves us a keeper short.  Colorado solved that today by announcing that Rapids 2 backup Ethan Bandré has been signed to a first-team contract for the 2024 season with team options for 2025 and 2026.   Bandré  has been with Sporting KC 2 the last two years before moving to the Rapids 2 side this past offseason.

The Rapids could have solved their bench shortage with a short-term callup of Bandré for the next couple of weeks while Beaudry is in the UK.  The fact that they decided to go with a full-signing suggests that they expect to need his services beyond the next couple of weeks.  That could be because Beaudry will get more chances to train in Arsenal, chances with the youth national teams that will cause him to miss games, or that they think Steffen will get a shot with the National Team at some point this summer, which will push Beaudry to the starter role and they'll need Bandré as the backup then.

Bandré is expected to be on the bench in Cincinnati this weekend while Beaudry heads over the pond.

Shades Of MLS Cup 2010 In Rapids Win

On Friday I predicted:

2-1 win, goals by Navarro and Mihailović.  It worked in Toronto, we should be the better team, so why not see it working again tomorrow night?

IN the end my homage to MLS Cup proved to be more accurate than I expected.  The main difference is that Colorado never trailed, but they did get the win due to an own goal (or two).  Not that they didn't deserve it.  Colorado outplayed Dallas for the majority of the match and it was only a few nervy moments in stoppage time when it felt like Dallas might get a point.

• Another similarity to MLS Cup 2010, it was damn cold.  Its not a Rapids season though unless we have at least one freezing or lower game in the spring.
• Kevin Cabral. Kevin Cabral! If the man could hit the broadside of a barn he'd be in the golden boot race.  He had 3 chances in the first half that a quality striker scores 2.5 of them (the header was a bit difficult, especially on a cold night when the ball feels like a rock).  He's actually looking better this season, more engaged, but if you can't score that's a problem.
• The first own goal was an eerily close mirror image of the winning goal from MLS Cup.  A cross from the end-line deflects off a center-back's thigh and beats the keeper covering the other post.  Nice job by Bassett playing the Mac Kandji role.
• After half the second own goal was originally ruled an own goal, and then credited to Harris.  Technically that's probably correct, since Harris' shot was on target, but it really was an own goal.  Dallas' keeper saved the shot but the rebound went off a Dallas defender and into the goal.
• It wasn't clear in the stadium but Sam Vines was subbed out due to concussion symptoms.  Armas said they were light after the game so here's hoping he recovers quickly.
• If Sam isn't back quickly we don't have an immediate plug-and-play option.  On Saturday Seb Anderson came in at right back and Rosenberry switched to the left side.  One thought that was suggested was trying Cabral at left back.  It takes the pressure of scoring off of him while, in Armas' system, still allowing him to feed the attack.  I wouldn't try it first against FCC this weekend, but its an interesting idea.
• This game was screaming for a defensive midfield presence from about the 60th minute on, yet Löffelsend and Diack didn't come in until the 87th minute.  That tells me that, for whatever reason, Diack isn't fitting into Armas' plans.  We should release him as soon as we're able and use those resources somewhere else.
• Bombito is a beast.  Assuming he stays healthy and continues his improvement I don't see how he's still in Colorado by the start of the 2026 season.
• This team can't figure out how to score reliably, but they have figured out how to win reliably, somehow.  You have to like the fight in this squad.  I'm not sure how long w can keep the juggling act up without fixing the offense, but a big test is Saturday against FC Cincinnati.

Man of the Match: Cole Bassett.  Forced the first goal, was active all night, and set a new club record for homegrown appearances.  As many of us have said, he's better as an 8 than a 10.

F*C* Dallas

Our old MLS Cup 2010 friends are back in Commerce City tomorrow night.  The Rapids should plan on sending them home the same way they did in Toronto, with some nice parting gifts and a loss.  Dallas is off to one of the worst starts in their history, so like San Jose last week this is a team we should take advantage of at home, but our injury situation might put a crimp into that idea.  Kickoff tomorrow is at the normal 7:30, and its going to be a cold one, with temps in the mid 30's by the end of the game.  Not quite a Snow Clasico but we needed at least one truly cold game this spring.

Player Availability:

OUT: D Jackson Travis (leg), M Jonathan Lewis (knee), M Connor Ronan (knee)

QUESTIONABLE: M Cole Bassett (leg), M Kimani Stewart-Baynes (illness)

Seeing Cole on the injury report isn't great.  The good news is that he was part of Rapids' Earth Day visit to the zoo yesterday and the social media pictures showed him was a bandage on his shin but no other evidence of an injury, so that suggests he could be available tomorrow.  Löffelsend appears to also be available.

This assumes Bassett can't start.  If Cole can go he would take the spot from Diack.  Otherwise I think we see very little change.  Possibly Fernandez instead of Harris at right wing.

Prediction: 2-1 win, goals by Navarro and Mihailović.  It worked in Toronto, we should be the better team, so why not see it working again tomorrow night?

Navarro Scores When He Wants!

Its been a long time since the Rapids were clear favorites on the road, played like it, and got the expected result.  Saturday night that's exactly what they did.  While it wasn't perfect it was the most complete game the team has played this season (and probably last).  Colorado also got its first shutout of the season and moved solidly into the playoff part of the table (though its way too early to take much from that).  With a struggling Dallas team coming in next week the team has a chance continue this run.

The first goal early in the game came out of that some of that counter-pressing we've been told to expect this year.  Bassett, Cabral, and Mihailović forced San Jose into the corner where they made a mistake and Mihailović quickly  turned the mistake into an attacking chance for Navarro.  Unfortunately it was former-Rapid Yarbrough who paid the price, having to wipe out Rafael and giving up the PK, which Navarro converted for his 3rd PK of the season.

Colorado did go into a bit of a shell after that (one of those areas to work on), only getting one more shot off before the halftime break.  San Jose had some looks, including a strong one right after our goal, but the couple that were dangerous and got through Steffen was able to handle.  Coming out of half the Rapids picked up their play and were rewarded.  In the 60th minute a long throw was badly cleared by San Jose and crossed back in to the middle by Harris (I think?).  It pinballed a bit in the box before Navarro got a foot on it to get his first goal from the run of play.

After that the Rapids were focused on getting the clean sheet.  Steffen had to come up big a couple of times but there was never a threat that San Jose was going to come back for a draw (or win).  Bassett finished it off after a nice layoff from Navarro to give him a run at goal.

There are still areas that need improvement, namely the inability or lack of desire to pull the trigger more often we are at least efficient with our shots.  During the game MLS had us with 2 shots on target and 1 goal in the first half, and 1 shot on target and 2 goals in the second half.  Not sure how the latter is possible but 3 shots on goal, 3 goals, that's at least making what few chances we create count.

Man of the Match: Rafael Navarro.  2 goals, 1 assist?  Easy call.  Basset had a goal and an assist as well so he should get an honorable mention.