Friday, April 26, 2024
Up And Down The Dial
Thursday, April 25, 2024
Goalkeeper Shuffle
Monday, April 22, 2024
Shades Of MLS Cup 2010 In Rapids Win
On Friday I predicted:
2-1 win, goals by Navarro and Mihailović. It worked in Toronto, we should be the better team, so why not see it working again tomorrow night?
IN the end my homage to MLS Cup proved to be more accurate than I expected. The main difference is that Colorado never trailed, but they did get the win due to an own goal (or two). Not that they didn't deserve it. Colorado outplayed Dallas for the majority of the match and it was only a few nervy moments in stoppage time when it felt like Dallas might get a point.
- Another similarity to MLS Cup 2010, it was damn cold. Its not a Rapids season though unless we have at least one freezing or lower game in the spring.
- Kevin Cabral. Kevin Cabral! If the man could hit the broadside of a barn he'd be in the golden boot race. He had 3 chances in the first half that a quality striker scores 2.5 of them (the header was a bit difficult, especially on a cold night when the ball feels like a rock). He's actually looking better this season, more engaged, but if you can't score that's a problem.
- The first own goal was an eerily close mirror image of the winning goal from MLS Cup. A cross from the end-line deflects off a center-back's thigh and beats the keeper covering the other post. Nice job by Bassett playing the Mac Kandji role.
- After half the second own goal was originally ruled an own goal, and then credited to Harris. Technically that's probably correct, since Harris' shot was on target, but it really was an own goal. Dallas' keeper saved the shot but the rebound went off a Dallas defender and into the goal.
- It wasn't clear in the stadium but Sam Vines was subbed out due to concussion symptoms. Armas said they were light after the game so here's hoping he recovers quickly.
- If Sam isn't back quickly we don't have an immediate plug-and-play option. On Saturday Seb Anderson came in at right back and Rosenberry switched to the left side. One thought that was suggested was trying Cabral at left back. It takes the pressure of scoring off of him while, in Armas' system, still allowing him to feed the attack. I wouldn't try it first against FCC this weekend, but its an interesting idea.
- This game was screaming for a defensive midfield presence from about the 60th minute on, yet Löffelsend and Diack didn't come in until the 87th minute. That tells me that, for whatever reason, Diack isn't fitting into Armas' plans. We should release him as soon as we're able and use those resources somewhere else.
- Bombito is a beast. Assuming he stays healthy and continues his improvement I don't see how he's still in Colorado by the start of the 2026 season.
- This team can't figure out how to score reliably, but they have figured out how to win reliably, somehow. You have to like the fight in this squad. I'm not sure how long w can keep the juggling act up without fixing the offense, but a big test is Saturday against FC Cincinnati.
Friday, April 19, 2024
F*C* Dallas
Our old MLS Cup 2010 friends are back in Commerce City tomorrow night. The Rapids should plan on sending them home the same way they did in Toronto, with some nice parting gifts and a loss. Dallas is off to one of the worst starts in their history, so like San Jose last week this is a team we should take advantage of at home, but our injury situation might put a crimp into that idea. Kickoff tomorrow is at the normal 7:30, and its going to be a cold one, with temps in the mid 30's by the end of the game. Not quite a Snow Clasico but we needed at least one truly cold game this spring.
Monday, April 15, 2024
Navarro Scores When He Wants!
Its been a long time since the Rapids were clear favorites on the road, played like it, and got the expected result. Saturday night that's exactly what they did. While it wasn't perfect it was the most complete game the team has played this season (and probably last). Colorado also got its first shutout of the season and moved solidly into the playoff part of the table (though its way too early to take much from that). With a struggling Dallas team coming in next week the team has a chance continue this run.
Friday, April 12, 2024
I'm Not Down
For the first time in a long time I'm not down going into a road game! But before we dig into that we have a couple of personnel moves from this week to discuss.
First, Dillon Serna announced his retirement from professional soccer. Arguably the first successful homegrown player from the Academy (along side Shane O'Neill) out of his 147 professional appearances 125 of them were with the Rapids organization in some form. A one year stint with Sporting KC II and a year with the Switchbacks were his only other stops. Hopefully he'll find a place in Commerce City post-retirement.
The Rapids also made a permanent and temporary move with the current team. They extended Löffelsend's contract another year through 2025, with an option for 2026. Then today they called up Marlon Vargas from RapiDos on a short-term contract for tomorrow's game.
Speaking of, the Rapids are off to San Jose to play the Earthquakes tomorrow night. The former Clash are off to a rough start this season, last place in the league with the most goals allowed. This might be a chance for Colorado to build on the confidence of 5 goals and 4 points in the last 2 games. We are a little thin in midfield though. Kickoff is at 8:30 tomorrow, and we're stuck with the Rogondino/Pearce team again.
Monday, April 8, 2024
Colorado Homegrowns Stand Up To Barca Miami
Well that was an interesting game. Hard to call it fun when we didn't get the win, but at the same time I don't think anyone would complain about a draw all things considered. The Rapids rolled out a lineup featuring 4 Rapids Academy homegrowns (Anderson, Bassett, Larraz, Vines) and brought another (Yapi) in off the bench. Meanwhile Miami tried to coast through this game by leaving Messi and his friends on the bench, but realized at half they're not good enough to pull that off and brought the gang in. In the end all the GOAT and the other Barca All-Stars could do is manage a 2-2 draw against the Colorado Kids. Its only 1 point on the table but its one of the few "moral victories" that not just trying to make a failure look good.
Friday, April 5, 2024
Where Am I?
Wednesday, April 3, 2024
Open Cup Tonight, USL 2 Match In June
Monday, April 1, 2024
The Dick Continues To Be A House Of Horrors For LAFC
We should have seen that coming. LAFC always struggles in Colorado and yet the 3-2 win still feels like a surprise. Mainly the 3 goals for a team that only had 5 all season coming in! The Rapids still struggled for long-stretched of the game, but the 20-25 minutes they were on they were really on. This was the debut we really needed from Mihailović, Navarro got an assist, and even Cabral showed some drive during this game. While there's work still to do a win like this can be the jump-start a team needs to get going. The key is not to waste it over the next 3 weeks.
- In their expansion year LAFC came here and beat us 3-0 in 2018. Since then they've been outscored 11-4 over 5 games with 4 losses and a scoreless draw. They really don't like Colorado.
- This was the Rapids first comeback from being in a losing position when going up a man to win since the CCL match against Comunicaciones at the beginning of 2022.
- Speaking of coming from behind, we're seeing a very positive change in the team this season. They don't give up after going down. Even in Portland, down 4-0 after half, they were still fighting. In this one they were down 1-0 and 2-1 and came back both times. They now have earned 7 points after being down this season. That equals their total for all of last season.
- Neither of LA's goals were particularly good defense. They were both hit really well but on the first Cabral just let his man go by while he turned away. On the second the LAFC attacker dribbled through two defenders and curved it around a third before a fourth could get there. They should have both been stopped before the shot even was taken.
- Great work from Moise Bombito in this one. Before Mihailović hit the game winner I was trying to decide if his good defensive work and a goal was better than Mihailović's goal and assist for man of the match. He's also quickly becoming a fan favorite with his interaction with C38.
- I wonder if his defensive blunder is what made Cabral so engaged for the rest of the match. He had some solid defensive work, including a long cross-field run to chase down a LAFC player, tackle the ball away, and start the counter-attack. That all happened right after Bombito's goal a 5 minute period where for the first time we really saw the "play in transition" and pressing mentality we've been told to look for from this team.
- Navarro continues to do the little things well, and set up the final goal. But we need more than that to justify buying him.
- Kimani Stewart-Baynes had great vision and unselfishness on that Navarro cross. Many (most?) strikers would have thought goal first given the time he had, but he saw how unmarked Mihailović was and knew that laying it off was the better move.
- Before that the rest of the first-half was pretty blech. Much like we've seen during the rest of the season. Then that continued into the first half of the second half. It wasn't really until shortly before the second LAFC goal that it felt like the Rapids we're starting to command the game. Which is why that goal felt like another gut punch and points lost.
- After that goal though it was all Rapids, especially when LAFC went down a man. Again, credit to the team for not giving up and pushing their advantage.
- Next up is a tough test against the Inter Messi's, even if I suspect Messi won't be playing. Once we get past the longest road trip we have its an easier road trip to San Jose and a home game against Dallas, two games we should expect to take points out of.
Friday, March 29, 2024
A Rare Afternoon Game Tomorrow
We get an afternoon game in Commerce City tomorrow with a rare 2pm kickoff against LAFC. Its the only one of the season at home so enjoy it, especially since it won't be blazing 90 degree temps of July and August. LAFC might have an old friend with them as this afternoon they announced the signing of Kei Kamara. I don't know if Kei can be in the gameday squad just 21 hours after signing, certainly he won't be starting, but maybe we'll see him on the bench? The brunch-themed tailgate will start around 11, maybe a touch earlier. I'll be happy if I can get there in time to grab a couple of dogs before kickoff, I did not realize it was a day game until last weekend and have plans tomorrow morning.
Thursday, March 28, 2024
The Badge, The Players, The Fans Deserve Better...Have They Gotten It?
I mentioned before the season that I wanted to follow up on the Centennial 38 protest letter from last year to see what progress has been made, but I wanted to wait until we got into the season a bit. Well, since March ends this weekend this seemed a relevant time to do it (more on the timing later). To remind everyone, the letter from C38 can be read here, with the KSE response here. Also, to state my biases up front, I helped craft the C38 letter and I stand by what was said in it. But to be clear, this column is my personal opinion of where things have gone since then, this does not reflect in any way what C38's current stance is.
On the field, we are focused on returning the team to the level of competitiveness we expect and have seen in recent years
Well so far this season the team looks a great deal like the Robin Fraser teams of the past few years, with that level of competitiveness, so I guess that's been achieved, though not in the way they meant. Chris Armas talked in preseason about "playing in transition" yet Joseph Lowery showed on MLssoccer.com this week that we're using the same slow possession game we've used the last couple of years under Fraser.
Off the field, we have already engaged Legends, Civitas, Perkins & Will, and Turner Construction on a number of feasibility studies and analyses around potential infrastructure projects as we assess a future vision for DICK'S Sporting Goods Park and the Club's training environment. We are also actively evaluating additional ways to enhance the gameday experience inside and outside the stadium.
The team did hold a couple of open house sessions with fans this offseason and sent out a survey to find out what the fans wanted to see at the Dick. However, having taken the survey myself, what they seemed to be asking is "what amenities would get you to pay higher prices for tickets" when really what the fans need is for the basic experience to be brought up to a modern standard. Making the North Boundary or the suites into a premium experience doesn't help the family of 4 sitting in section 110 having to choose between reheated hot dogs and stadium nachos. It suggests that, once again, KSE has missed the point.
Over the next few months, we will be finalizing the master plan for our exciting Victory Crossing Project. When this is ready in early 2024, we will be hosting several open forums with supporters and members of the community to gather feedback on our plans for the club, stadium and entire project.
Remember that comment about the end of March being an appropriate time to have this conversation? That's because its about the last point you can call it "early 2024". Maybe you can stretch it into early April, or maybe they meant "early in the 2024 season" but either way, we're about out of time and so far I haven't heard anything about this master plan for the "exciting" Victory Crossing. Well, that's not entirely true. We did hear in the offseason that KSE was partnering with local colleges to have students help with drafting the plan as part of their education. Which certainly suggests that when they wrote the above in September plans weren't nearly as far along as Josh made it appear.
Now all of this comes with the obvious caveat that its only been 6 months. We weren't going to become a top-tier MLs organization in that time. The frustration though is that there appears to be nothing but lip service given to the idea of improving. We have a team that has scored one goal from the run of play in the first 5 games, have given 3 points away by giving up very late goals in the first two hone games (while only scoring a single goal, and that an own goal), and continues to try to sell a sub-standard gameday experience. The very visible example of this is the failing scoreboard, while their opponents down I-70, Sporting KC, managed to do a complete revamp of their video setup in one offseason. If more is coming, then make an effort to show it to us.
To answer the question I asked in the title of the piece, no, we haven't gotten better yet. While we have some shiny new pieces on the field (that haven't yet changed any results), the rest of the organization is still far behind even a midlevel Major League Soccer team. This isn't an org that can expect to compete year in and year out, which is the bar Padraig Smith has stated on multiple occasions.
Monday, March 25, 2024
Scab Ref Costs Rapids A Point, Hides Team's Ineptness
Friday, March 22, 2024
Rapids 1 Try To Follow Up Rapids 2 Dominance
As promised, a quick recap on last night's RapiDos Open Cup match before we get on to the preview of tomorrow night's league match. Rapids 2 had a rather easy night of it, running out 3-0 winners over Azteca. By no means was Azteca a pushover, but it also never really felt like they were a threat to win either. Certainly when 2 got their second goal from a Seb Anderson corner just before half you felt like they had the game in hand.
Wednesday, March 20, 2024
Rapids 2 In The Open Cup Tomorrow
Monday, March 18, 2024
Rapids Fumble Their Way To A Draw
Well, that was something. A game where it felt like the Rapids were going to lose a game they should of won they pulled out a draw at the last minute. It was both an unexpected point gained and two points lost at the same time. IF at the beginning of the season you had told Rapids fans they would have 5 points after 4 games, including a win over FSL, we all would have taken it. At the same time though, we dropped 2 easy points against Nashville and we probably should have won this game, so its not hard to feel like we're not where we should be based on our play.
- Djordje Mihailovic - Has not looked like a TAM-level player, much less a "team-record signing" player yet. His game on Saturday, other than the free kick, was fairly bad and taking a PK away from a guy who made one last week and then hitting an easily saved shot is a bad look.
- Rafael Navarro - Does good things off the ball, but he's being paid to score and he's not scoring.
- Kevin Cabral - Well, we all knoew going into this season who Cabral was and that hasn't changed. Credit for being in the right place to finish off that goal this week, but is few goals he's had for Colorado have all been like that, where somebody else does all the work and then he has a simple finish. For a DP he needs to be doing more.
- Lamine Diack - A TAM-level player who's here on loan for the first 20 games can't get a start 4 games in when the players starting in front him are out injured and we play a striker out of position on the wing instead? That's a really bad sign. If we don't see him this week its hard to think of him as anything but a bust already.
Saturday, March 16, 2024
A Chance For A Result In The Emerald City?
Colorado goes to my hometown with a chance to get a result for the first time in a long time, maybe ever. Seattle is struggling to start the season with only 1 goal in their first two games (last week's game was rained out in Philly). The Rapids aren't doing much better, but after a horrid first half in Portland their defense has given up one goal from the run of play and one PK on a stupid handball. High-scoring this is unlikely to be. Kickoff is an early 1:30pm MT today as the game is on FOX as well as Apple TV. I'm not sure who FOX will have on the (lesser video quality) broadcast but Max Bretos and Brian Dunseth will have the Apple TV call.
Tuesday, March 12, 2024
Rapids Return Priso North Of The Border
Monday, March 11, 2024
Rapids Finally Get 2024 Started With An RMC Win!
It took two and a half games but the Colorado Rapids finally decided to join the 2024 season in the second half Saturday night. In the process they also frustrated FSL en route to a 2-1 win and reclaiming thee advantage in this year's Rocky Mountain Cup. Now 45 minutes doesn't erase the other 225 minutes this season (or the 34 games last season) but for the first time in a while there's a bit of hope across the fanbase. It was a massive win for this club and its fans.
Lets get through that first half though. It was rough for 30 minutes and not great for the last 15. We spent more of the first 10 minutes down a man than at full strength due to aa momentary injury to Larraz and a more serious one to Ronan. One that would force him to be subbed out in the 11th minute for Löffelsend. For the next 20+ minutes FSL had their run of the game, including a goal in the 20th minute that came right through Löffelsend. To be fair to Jasper, Mihailovic sent him a ball with no options, at all four cardinal points the closest player was in FSL red. After the turnover Maxsø seems to have lost track of his man and didn't know he was on his back shoulder, which made the finish from the cross easy.
Colorado slowly worked themselves back into the game and got a lucky break in the 41st minute with a handball in the box by FSL. Navarro finished the PK (though it looked like Bassett wanted it originally) and the Rapids were a bit lucky to go into the locker room tied at half. Whatever Armas said or did in their worked, because Colorado was much more focused and aggressive in the next 45. Bassett finally got on the board in the 70th minute with the Rapids' first goal from open play this season (corner, own goal, PK for the others) and the team managed a combination of good defense and luck to ride out the win.
Other Thoughts:
- I'll admit, 30 minutes in I thought we were looking at another disaster in Sandy and what was likely a lost Rocky Mountain Cup and a cusp of a lost season. The 2022 and 2023 Rapids would have lost this game.
- FSL was bombing down our left side at will in the first half. I don't know if the tactics we were playing were pulling Vines out of position or if there was confusion but it was not a good look for Sam.
- Despite being a better team in the second half FSL still had the majority of possession in every 5 minute interval in the half. That's not a combination that normally leads to a shutout.
- Löffelsend had a rough night and showed why Larraz has been starting the first three games. He got better as the night went on, though.
- At the end of this one the Rapids were doing to FSL what they normally due to us. Frustrating them, killing the clock, and working the refs. Fun to be on the better side of that for the first time in a while.
- Bassett had a great game. It was a classic Goal Bassett goal where he sets up the initial shot and continues his run into the box to be available for a second chance. It was also his 100th appearance with the club.
- Good to see Navarro get on the scoresheet. Only a penalty, but maybe its the jump-start he needs.
- Fernandez got his first start and while he didn't seem to be as involved as you would expect, he popped up at opportune moments to make a play.
- Mihailovic though, still needs to be providing more to justify his DP status & salary.
- There are two more game sin this year's Rocky Mountain Cup, One in Sandy on Volcano Day (May 18th) and back here in Commerce City on the 55th anniversary of the lunar landing. Appropriate since this game was on my birthday. One win or two draws and the Cup is ours.
Friday, March 8, 2024
Rocky Mountain Cup 2024
Well, here we are. Nobody needs to explain what's on the line tomorrow in Sandy. The first of three games in the 2024 Rocky Mountain Cup and a Rapids team still looking for their first road win since May 6th of last year (at the Galaxy). We haven't beat FSL since August 21st 2021, and have only won at Questionably Racist Name Field once, the 5-0 shellacking we gave them in 2020 to win the Cup. Kickoff tomorrow is at 7:30pm, and Apple TV is giving us Keith Costigan and Maurice Edu on the call. If you know Spanish, or just prefer to listen to somebody you know understands this rivalry even if you don't, Jorge Perez-Navarro and our own Marcelo Balboa will have the call.
Ha Det Marko Ilic
Thursday, March 7, 2024
A New Day At KSE...Aw, Never Mind
Last month long-time KSE leader Matt Hutchings, who was essentially Padraig Smith's boss (there may be another layer or two in there, but he was the last stop before Stan/Josh) stepped down from his position as Chief Operating Officer. He was responsible for all of Kroenke's sports teams in the KSE organization, including the Rapids. Today KSE announced that Los Angeles Rams President Kevin Demoff was name President of of TEam and Media Operations for KSE, taking over responsibility for Kroenke's 5 sports teams (Rams, Avs, Nuggets, Mammoth, and the Rapids).
When I heard this I thought this might be an opportunity for KSE to take a new start with the Rapids and the fan base. While I don't expect big changes it would be a chance for Demoff to make a statement, or have a press conference, or send a letter saying something to the effect of "I know that its been a turbulent time in Commerce City. As the new person in this role I plan to dedicate some time to understanding the issues, etc.". Again, that doesn't mean there would be changes but it would be an opportunity for everyone to reset and give it a new shot.
Well, that didn't last long. Demoff was asked about the Rapids in his opening press conference today. Here's the relevant bit as transcribed by Jake Shapiro of DenverSports.com.
You all remember those marches to the match that we've actually never done, unless you mean crossing the street from the tailgate to the entry gate en masse right? And we didn't even do anything like that on Saturday at the home opener he apparently attended. We tailgated up a storm, like we always do, and if he had come out to check that out he would have known that. He could have just wandered in as another fan and I guarantee you nobody would have known who he was and bothered him.
Also, what is this "activated around Commerce City"? The lack of local outreach was one of the things called out by Centennial 38 in their public letter last fall. Now I will admit that the Rapids have made some strides in that area since then, particularly engaging with youth programs as part of the new kit program, but its probably too early to judge them a success or not.
This was a chance to turn the page and write a new chapter, but instead KSE stumbled out of the starting blocks (to mix metaphors) and fell on their face. I can't think of a way to come off more inauthentically than to talk about being at the home opener and then refer to fan activities that didn't occur (and have never really occurred). If Demoff was at the Dick on Saturday, he clearly never got out of the President's suite above the west stands to see what the real fan experience is. Once again its clear the Rapids are the unwanted child in KSE's empire.
Monday, March 4, 2024
Lewis Hands a Draw To Nashville
The story of the Rapids this season is much like 2023. No ability to score. The play is probably technically better, but if you can't put the ball in the net it doesn't matter. On Saturday they had 2 shots on goal and a 0.7 xG. Our three DP's (Cabral, Navarro, and DM) have a combined 0.16 xG this year. Fernandez, who played 26 minutes on Saturday, has 0.22 himself.
Saturday, March 2, 2024
For Joan
For those fans who didn't know Joan Dobrzynksi she was a wonderful woman who became somewhat of a 'team mom' over the years. She was a regular at training for the Rapids over the last 10+ years and was always in her seat in 108 for the game. For a number of years when I sat in 108 I had a seat first right in front of her and then nearby. Joan battled leukemia for the last couple of years and wasn't able to see her Rapids as often, but the team hooked her up with a tablet and Season Pass so she wouldn't miss any of the action. She passed away in January. At today's home opener she will be remembered both by the team and her friends in the stands. Her seat will be left empty this season and in the 38th minute C38 will be raising an overhead tifo in her honor.
Friday, March 1, 2024
Open Cup and Player News
Monday, February 26, 2024
Here We Go Again
- Marko Ilic didn't even make the bench for this one, Adam Beaudry was Steffen's backup. Maybe they were rewarding Beaudry for his preseason work (more on that below) but its not a great look for Ilic to have fallen down to 3rd less than a year after we paid a notable transfer fee for him.
- Oliver Larraz got the start over Diack and Löffelsend and it wasn't good. After the game Armas said tht he had earned the start with his work in the preseason (likewise Jackson Travis subbing in for Vines) but if Larraz really beat out Löffelsend as the backup d-mid we're in a world of hurt because Larraz did not look ready to play the role. Portland ran him over. The 6 role was the key need in the offseason and it doesn't look like we sufficiently filled it after one game.
- Of course the other key role was the number 9 and Navarro looked just as good as last year, which is to say not good at all.
- You hate to say it, but the worst performance of the night went to Rosenberry who got burned on the first two Timbers goals and never recovered. Last time I saw a captain getting beat that bad a Gorn was on the other side.
- The defensive breakdowns were very similar to 2023, players out of position, lack of communication, and lack of teammates covering. Disappointing.
- Offense was very similar as well, lots of chance creation, very little accurate shooting.
- The Rapids have now been outscored 11-1 in their last 4 season openers (and the first of those was a 0-0 draw. Which, yes, means Harris' goal was the first opening day goal since 2020.
- This was an absolute worst possible start for an organization who wants to turn around its image this year. Any sort of good feelings or honeymoon from what was a good offseason have essentially been dashed, From the POV of the standings Saturday's home opener against Nashville isn't a must win, but to convince the fanbase that something has actually changed it might be, especially with trips to FSL and Seattle following it.
Saturday, February 24, 2024
We Go Again
Ok, time to put 2023 behind us and move into 2024. New coach, lots of new players, and the return of the Sam Dimes/Goal Bassett combination. We get this season started in Portland tonight against an equally revamped Timbers squad, also with a new coach (and while Armas was not my top choice, I'd easily choose him over Neville). Kickoff tonight is at 8:30 as the Apple TV returns with the standard 7:30 local kickoff times. Unfortunately we have the commentary duo of Rogondino and Pearce and they were...not good last year with comments that made it clear they weren't tracking the team. We'll see if they improve this year, or if Apple finally gets the road radio call synced up.