RIP Frank Bonner

I was going to make a WKRP joke this week, seeing that we're making our first trip to Cincinnati tomorrow, but Frank Bonner, who played sales manager Herb Tarlek on the comedy, passed away yesterday.  It felt better just to acknowledge his great portrayal of a late 79's/early 80's greasy sales guy instead.  See you Herb, hopefully the Ferryman Funeral Home takes good care of you.

Tomorrow night the Rapids get their first look at Cinci's new gorgeous (by all accounts) home, TQL Stadium.  Kickoff is at 5:30pm and TV is what it is.  It sounds like everyone is healthy other than the news about Namli and everyone is currently available and not on international duty.  That could change in a couple of weeks as Acosta, Bassett, Lewis, Trusty, and Vines were all named to the U.S.'s provisional 60-man roster for the Gold Cup today.  That will be cut down before camp opens and down to 26 before the tournament starts (and teams aren't even limited to the names they submitted today) so odds are only one or two of that list will make the final roster, most likely Vines (almost certainly) and Acosta or Bassett.

The big concern going into tomorrow is that for a season plus the Rapids have been lousy after a long hiatus.  We looked awful at the MLS Is Back tournament, we lost big to FSL when we restarted at home after the tournament, we were pretty ugly after our enforced COVID break, our playoff game was forgettable, and starting the season this year wasn't great.  now we're coming off a two week break and we'll see if Fraser has solved this ongoing problem.  Short of being at home there's not a better matchup, playing a Cincinnati team that has yet to find its legs pretty much in its whole existence.  But that also screams trap game.

Injury Report:

OUT: M Younes Namli

With the Namli injury I think 8 of our starting 11 are solidly locked in at this point.  The only positions up for grabs are the winger opposite Barrios and which 2 of our 3 top center backs start.  Right now I think Fraser sticks with what he's been using and starts Shinyashiki and Trusty, but I could see Lewis and Abubakar.  Regardless I'm pretty sure Wilson starts.

Prediction: 2-1 win, goals by Bassett and Rubio.  Cincinnati's defense is awful, giving up 2.5 goals a game.  Our offense is pretty solid so I expect to put up goals tomorrow.  I don't think it will be the walkover we hope for though, given our difficulties after a layoff.  The home side will keep it interesting until the end.