Freezing For Nothing

A scoreless draw is not worth standing out in near-freezing weather on an early March night for, but that's what we got on Saturday.  The Rapids looked better than they did in Seattle (they could hardly look worse) but that still wasn't enough to actually score a goal, and it took a record performance from Yarbrough to keep SKC off the board.  Unless Diego Rubio gets healthy quick this might be a long month for Colorado.

A little different writeup this week, going to alternate pros and cons until I run out of one (hopefully cons):

• Home sweet home.  The home opener is always a good day even if its freezing, just because we're all back at the Dick
• That said, a night game before Daylight Savings Time is not recommended.  It got so dark with an hour to go in the tailgate that we gave up figuring out who was actually standing around.  I understand Apple wants all games at 7:30 but if I'm the Rapids I push for an earlier time somehow.  I don't want them to be on the road for three weeks though.
• The work C38 and the Front Office put into the South end looked great.  The Man of the Match Oar display in particular stood out.
• If only DSG Park Operations had put as much into their planning.  The long lines at every store and for the Season Ticket Holder gift were unnecessary.  (Also annoying that the New Day kit socks apparently sold out before the first home game)
• VAR got both major decisions correct in this game, the goal waved off for offside was clear on the first replay they showed on the scoreboard screen.  The goal that did not cross the line was too close to overturn given the angles so it wasn't clear and obviously wrong not to over turn it.  I know that's frustrating to hear, but in the long run correct officiating is a good thing.
• That said, Alan Chapman has had better games.  He got the big calls right, and didn't impact the result, but there was some ticky-tack stuff that seemed to be poorly called.
• Shoutout to the defense for significant improvement.  Beitashour was a big upgrade to Gersbach and in general things were actually organized.  Yarbrough had to come up with a record number of saves (more on that later) but the majority of them were on balls hit right to him.  It wasn't until late in the game that he really had to come up big.
• Benching Gersbach after one game is concerning, as is Cabral still not starting.  This suggests players who aren't ready (yet) for the season.  Every game matters, 3 points now is as valuable as 3 points in October.  I don't like this idea that the Rapids are easing people in.
• You can see Yapi has all the potential in the world and he is close to putting it together.  Love to see that in a young player.
• But as I said in my predictions, I still think next year is his breakout year.  This year is him being an accompanying piece.
• Early returns are that Ronan was our best offseason pickup.  Two games in and he's locked in a starting spot (contrary to my prediction).  Him and Price teaming up could be a real solid midfield.
• Nicholson can't play the role he's being asked to play.  He can't create in the middle when he switches.  If we're going to start him (and we shouldn't at this point) he needs to be on the line the whole game.
• To be fair, last week I said Barrios shouldn't be starting and he proved me wrong this week.  I still don't think he should be a regular starter but I'll give it a chance.
• Last con: The p*** chant appeared in and around 117.  It was not any of the C38 or Mile High Lokos in those sections, but being a new season with new fans it appears that some of them thought it was "cool" and "edgy" to do that chant.  It isn't.  C38 has already released a statement accepting responsibility (but not blame) for it and vowing to re-eliminate it.  We all got complacent about the chant after having eliminated it a couple of years ago, well that's over.  Time to get back to work.

Man of the Match: William Yarbrough.  He set a team record with 11 saves in a shoutout, the first Rapid keeper to do that.  As I said earlier a number of them didn't make him work but he came up with 2-3 big ones late to preserve the 0 on the board.  Apparently Ilic getting his vis has reignited some competitive spirt, which I think was part of the reason we brought Ilic in.  Will was also named to the MLS Team of the Week for his performance and is nominated for the Player of the Week award.