The Rapids get their first look at the team trying to swamp their control of water nicknames in MLS, the Vancouver Whitecaps. Essentially you've got turbulent river water versus turbulent sea water at the Dick tomorrow. Vancouver just traded for former Rapid Jordan Harvey, so we may see him back at the Dick for a second time this year (he already played for Philly last month). Game time tomorrow is at 5pm and the tailgate kegs will be tapped at 4, with the grills being fired up at 5. For those of you unable to make it the game will be on Altitude.Injury Report:
QUESTIONABLE: FW Macoumba Kandji (L knee ACL tear)
PROBABLE: FW Omar Cummings (R ankle sprain); MF Brian Mullan (lower back spasms); MF Joseph Nane (R shoulder strain); GK Matt Pickens (R groin strain); MF Jamie Smith (R calf strain); DF Anthony Wallace (R quad strain)
Disciplinary Report:
SUSPENDED: MF Pablo Mastroeni
SUSPENDED AFTER 2 MORE CAUTIONS: FW Conor Casey; MF Ross LaBauex; MF Jeff Larentowicz; DF Tyrone Marshall; DF Drew Moor; DF Anthony Wallace
No official change to the injury report for tomorrow, though all reports are that if he wasn't suspended Pablo wouldn't be able to play anyway. Vancouver has 6 players injured or suspended so they're hurting more than we are. My guess on the lineup:
Pickens
Kimura - Wynne - Marshall - Moor
Mullan - LaBauex- Larentowicz - Smith
Casey - Cummings
I think that after a week's rest and not travelling to KC both Mullan and Smith will be able to go. Other than that the starting XI is fairly obvious. LaBauex has been the best player off the bench, though I wouldn't be shocked to see Nane starting instead.
Key To Look For: Expansion team, at home, with 10 of 11 starters available. There's no reason the Rapids shouldn't control this game start to finish.
Prediction: 2-1 win, goals by Casey and Cummings. C+C Goal Factory find their rhythm and put the Rapids up 2, but the defense continues to have at least one breakdown a game to make things interesting in the second half.
Posts
2 comments:
I wouldn't be surprised to see Nane, but I would be disappointed. I would prefer having Smith move to the middle, w/ LaBauex or Thompson on the left. Or Mullen on the left and Nyassi on the right.
I'm more concerned w/ Kosuke. As bad as he was hobbling at the end of the last game, I don't know if he is good to go or not.
Now that everyone is mostly healthy, they need to work on confidence and consistency. They just seem to have lost their Mojo. A big win tonight, and a clean sheet, would go along way towards helping them find it again.
Off topic, I thought the "Whitecaps" name was a reference to snow caps on the mountains.
Vancouver claims that Whitecaps refers to both choppy water and the snow-capped mountains, but having grown up in the area if you tell anyone "Hey, look at the whitecaps" they look at the water, not the mountains.
Post a Comment