Back With A Bang

What's this?  A game?  So I guess I have to remember how to write a game preview huh?  At least they make it easy on me by starting out with a game against that team.  Yep, Sunday night at 8:30pm on ESPN its Rapids - FSL at the MLS Is Back Tournament.

To be very clear, the Committee of 10 that organizes the Rocky Mountain Cup has decided this match will not be used in deciding the RMC in 2020.

I'm actually (back) on the committee and the discussion was that since we aren't sure how many games there will be this season and who may or may not have home games we would pass on this one, and the idea of awarding a Rocky Mountain supporters cup in Florida without fans didn't make much sense.  If/when the regular season continues in home markets the Committee will make an announcement about what will happen with those games.

That aside though, both teams are talking about this being as much a rivalry game as any other, so I don't think the lack of the actual Cup will change much.  Plus both teams are anxious to get on the field again.

There is no injury report for this game, and I doubt we see one at all in this tournament.  What we do know is that the whole team other than Ford and the players loaned out are in Orlando and available (and apparently Matt Hundley was recalled from loan as well).  My guess on the XI:

RosenberryKelly being because there was a rumor that Rosenberry was one of the players that arrived late and as such, may not be fully ready to start. I think Kelly is more likely to take his place in that scenario than having Moor shift over and Trusty starting in the middle.

But this is all a guess.  These guys have been off, without even friendlies, for 4 months.  Who knows who's rusty, or not ready to go 90, or just lost their starting position.  I don't think Yarborough is going to be the starter over Irwin, but I'm not going to be shocked if it happens.

Prediction: 2-1 win, goals by Kamara and Shinyashiki.  The Rapids are a better team, on paper, than FSL and I think their style of play, particularly focusing on set pieces, will be easier to return to than FSL's.  But its going to be sloppy and ugly and we're going to be happy to get out with 3 points.