A Horrible Week Comes To A Lousy End

More of the same from the Rapids.  Boneheaded defending combined with a complete lack of creativity led to a 2-0 loss and the loss of the Rocky Mountain Cup, again.  I won't discuss the Rapids offense because there was none.  0 shots on goal in the game.  On the defense things were relatively solid until Wynne brain-locked again.  With Espindola hanging around Wynne played a slow backpass to Pickens and Espindola pounced.  Pickens made a noble attempt to get to the ball but the deflection rolled right in front of goal.  Saborio invited Espindola to come over and finish it because there were no Rapids nearby but eventually finished it himself.

Right at the end of the game the Rapids defense had another individual mental mistake.  Marshall held the ball while Saborio stayed on his back.  Sabario was able to muscle Tyrone off the ball and poke it to an on-rushing Will Johnson.  Again a stranded Pickens tried to make the stop but it was an easy 2nd goal.

My key to the game was if the team cared.  From the looks of things, not really.

Other Observations:

• I know there's been a lot of talk on-line about the Rapids being bad because Pareja's lost the locker room.  Maybe so, but that doesn't excuse the two idiotic mental mistakes from Wynne and Marshall.
• After Wynne giving up on the second goal on Toronto and the stupid backpass int his game I'm wondering where his mind is.  I would actually consider sitting him down for a game or two just to see if he gets his head screwed on straight.
• At some point somebody just needs to shoot the damn ball.  Cummings had a great chance he passed up on trying to get the perfect shot, and he wasn't alone.
• Thompson had a good game as a surprise starter.  I still think he's best as a late-game defensive sub though.
• Mullan was in the running for player of the game.  He was certainly our only offensive player that looked like he knew what he was doing.
• Omar coming in at halftime had a positive effect form a first half of garbage.
• Largely due to Jaime Castrillon once again being completely invisible.
• Edu is still a waste of space on the field.
• No preview for tomorrow's friendly against Swansea City.  It should be a fun time though!

Player Of The Game: Joseph Nane.  Yeah, I'm a little surprised too but Nane really stepped in for the suspended Larentowicz and did a good job as a defensive/holding midfielder.  I'm not ready to say he should be starting but considering that before Saturday he probably would have been the first player I cut if I needed to cut someboady his performance was a big surprise.

Rocky Mountain Cup Round 2

It would be nice not to lose this tomorrow

At this point the last thing the Rapids probably want to do is play a game.  On top of the horrible events in Aurora last night the team had to change its plans for today.  Originally the team was scheduled to fly straight from Toronto to Salt Lake City but they stopped in Denver today for the funeral of Marisa Colaiano.  Maris had been the head of the Rapids Community Relations department for the last 10 years before she passed away on Tuesday due to complications from MS.  The whole team attended the funeral today before getting back on a plane and continuing to SLC.  The team will wear black armbands in her honor tomorrow (they also wore them in Toronto).

Game time tomorrow is 8pm and the game is on Altitude.  The large watch party is at the Celtic.

Injury Report:
OUT: MF Pablo Mastroeni (headache symptoms); DF Anthony Wallace (L Achilles tear)
QUESTIONABLE: FW Conor Casey (L hamstring tightness)
PROBABLE: FW Omar Cummings (L ankle sprain); Jamie Smith (R ACL tear)

Disciplinary Report:
SUSPENDED: MF Jeff Larentowicz
SUSPENDED AFTER NEXT 2 YELLOWS: MF Jaime Castrillon; DF Tyrone Marshall; MF Martin Rivero

Jamie Smith is now back on the injury report and Casey has gotten worse.  Ginger is suspended.  My guess at our starting XI is going to be a pure guess:

Cascio - Cummings

Castrillon - O'Neill - Rivero - Mullan

Zapata - Moor - Wynne - Freeman

Pickens

I think OP rested Castrillon and Zapata on Wedensday so they'd be ready for this game.  And yes, I'm predicting that homegrown player Shane O'Neill gets the start in Ginger's place.

Key To Look For: Does this team care?  It didn't look like it on Wednesday and the week has only gotten worse from there.

Prediction: No prediction this week.  I have no idea where the team is mentally right now.  We could go out hair on fire and win 4-0, or we can show up like we don't want to play and lose 4-0.  More importantly I hope the players, staff, and fans can get a couple of hours of enjoyment out of the game after a long week.

In Our Thoughts

Haven't I Seen This Before?

Did you watch the Dallas game?  The San Jose game?  The New England game?  Then you saw this game.  I feel lousy and apparently the team doesn't care about actually making an effort (way to totally give up on the second TFC goal Wynne.  That will get you time in the Nats) so why should I make an effort?  We lost, the team didn't care in the second half, and this season could spiral out of control. 

Player Of The Game: Conor Casey.  He was about the only player that did care and he got his 50th MLS goal.

Our Greatest Triumph

Second game in a row I can use this pic :D

We go from facing our opposition in MLS Cup to playing at the location of MLS Cup.  Unfortunately the Rapids have lost every game they've ever played in Toronto other than MLS Cup.  Much like Seattle, Toronto appears unbeatable at home, at least by us.  Tomorrow we make another attempt with an early (for Denver) start time of 5pm MDT.  The game is on altitude, and those people who can get there from work will be meeting at the Celtic.

Injury Report:
OUT: MF Pablo Mastroeni (headache symptoms); DF Anthony Wallace (L Achilles tear)
PROBABLE: FW Conor Casey (R hamstring strain);  FW Omar Cummings (L ankle sprain)

Disciplinary Report:
SUSPENDED AFTER NEXT YELLOW: MF Jeff Larentowicz
SUSPENDED AFTER NEXT 2 YELLOWS: MF Jaime Castrillon; DF Tyrone Marshall; MF Martin Rivero

Jamie Smith is now off the injury report, which is great!  I would expect Casey and Cummings to start despite their status.  Toronto is missing 6 players to injury, including former Rapids Ty Harden and Adrian "Dalek" Cann.  They also lost their attacking DP Danny Koevermans last week to a blown ACL.  Needless to say, they're hurting.  My guess at our starting XI:

Casey - Cummings

Castrillon - Larentowicz - Rivero - Mullan

Zapata - Moor - Wynne - Freeman

Pickens

While I would like to see Smith in Castrillon's role, I expect OP to stick with what he's been doing.

Key To Look For: Can the midfield cover when the defense gets pulled out of alignment?  I've realized we are giving up a number of goals where the opposition overloads one side of the box, forcing the defense to that side,, and leaving a attacker open at the back post because the midfield isn't covering.  That needs to change.

Prediction: 1-1 draw.  goal by Casey.  Honestly even with our struggles in Toronto this should be an easy win, but the team has played so horribly lately I can't imagine doing better than a draw, and even that seems optimistic.