Same Place, Same Result

Yeah, Seattle just sucks as a place for us to play.  Every game is the same result, we're outmatch and lose.  This time we were outmatched in the first 10 minutes, giving up two goals that could have been three or four.  Embarrassing defending from everyone involved except Tim Howard.  Hard to blame the keeper when the defense is leaving attackers unmarked at the penalty spot.

Seattle figured the strategy out very early, drive it down the sides, cross it into the middle, and assume Wilson and Wynne wouldn't be marking anyone.  Both goals came about the same way and in both cases unmarked attackers literally stepped on the penalty spot as they lined up their shots.  The keeper doesn't stop PKs when he's prepped and waiting for them, no chance shots on a keeper scrambling to follow the ball were going to be stopped.

After the first 15 minutes things settled down but the damage had been done.  The Rapids got their feet under them and made a couple of good attacks but Seattle was also able to sit back and absorb them with a two goal lead, which let the Rapids have better play.

The end result of this game was about what I expected, but I didn't see us getting overrun like that from the start.  The team wasn't ready at the opening whistle and it showed.

Random Musings:

• This season is going to rise or fall on the availability of Ford, Smith, and Sjoberg (and maybe Opare).  Any game we have to start Wynne or Wilson in the middle is a game we are unlikely to win.
• Seriously, Wilson doesn't belong anywhere near a MLS field at this point.  Any minutes Hudson even considers giving to him should go to Raben.  He's equally unready but at least he can take it as a learning experience for the future, there is no future for Wilson in Colorado.
• Two games in a row Rosneberry has been burned early, he was out of position on both goals.  In both games he settled down and played great after the early mistakes but it a habit that needs to be broken.
• The midfield didn't make much sense.  Acosta was the only one playing in his best position.  I'm not sure what the thinking was moving Feilhaber all the way back and Mezquida forward.  Price should be the 6, Feilhaber should be the 10, Acosta and Mezquida should both be 8s.
• Feilhaber in general looked pretty poor in this one.  Maybe its the new baby keeping him up but he was disinterested at times and was regularly beaten.
• Serna and Acosta had a couple of attacks along the left side that looked distinctly like failed 2018 attacks.  It was not good.
• That said the offense in general looked better.  Last year's team would have curled up and died and lost 3 or 4-0.  This team actually gave me hope that I predicted 2-1 correctly.  We got close on a couple of occasions.
• Hudson regressed in his coaching in this one.  The team wasn't ready, players were out of position, he waited too long to make subs, and he only subbed two players.  No more of that please.
• In the end after two games I'm still feeling a bit positive.  I expected a draw and a loss and that's what we got, but in neither game did we look like we didn't belong on the field.  When we start playing more average MLS competition I think we can start putting up 3 points.

Man of the Match: Kei Kamara.  He gave it his all the whole game and never checked out, unlike some of his teammates.  So far all the concerns about his attitude seem overblown and he's putting his full heart and effort into the game.