Friday, April 24, 2009

This Feels Like a Broken Record

The Rapids finally return home tomorrow night to take on, stop me if you've heard this before, the LA Galaxy. Yeah, our 3rd matchup in 5 games against the retirees from LA-LA land. At least after this we won;t have to think about them any more unless somehow they manage to make the playoffs and draw us. Kickoff at the Dick is at 7:30 MDT. Altitude will also be broadcasting the game for those who can't make it.

Injury Report:
DOUBTFUL: DF Ty Harden (hamstring); QUESTIONABLE: MF Jacob Peterson (L groin), DF Cory Gibbs (R groin); PROBABLE: DF Ivan Guerrero (R ankle sprain), FW Omar Cummings (L ankle contusion)

Official Discipline Report:
TWO CAUTIONS FROM SUSPENSION: Cory Gibbs

We're still looking beat up on the back line so we have to hope Palguta has learned from his encounters with GBS and Ching. My prediction:


Burpo
Kimura - Ihemelu - Palguta - Harvey
Pablo
LaBrocca - Black Hole - Clark
Cummings - Casey


I'm betting that Smith doesn't rock the boat too much from the team that got some good results on the road trip. This means sticking with the keeper with the hot hands and the LaBrocca/Black Hole combo in midfield. Personally I'd like to see Pickens and Cooke in the starting 11, but I don't see that happening.

Key To Look For:

Home Dominance.
If we're ever going to be a contender in MLS we need to own our home field. We have the biggest natural advantage in the league with the altitude, but since we moved into the Dick we've been mediocre at best at home. There should be no reason for a team like LA to ever appear to be in this game while playing in Colorado. We should win this game and we should play like we expect to always win at home.

Prediction: 2-1 win, goals by Conor Casey and Omar Cummings. Our defense doesn't have a shut out yet this season, and I don't think they get it against a team with PrimaDonnavan on the field. Casey will keep up his scoring ways against LA, and while they're distracted trying to contain him Cummings will slip by to score as well.

No comments: