Rapids Set Records

Early game review this week because its very short.

Fasted red card in league history (23 seconds, former record 2+ minutes)

Worst loss in team history (prior record was a 5 goal loss)

One of the 7 worst losses in league history (two 7 goal losses and this was the fifth 6 goal loss)

Seven game losing streak is now the worst in team history (prior record was a six game losing streak, twice)

This is a real low point in team history.  We have never been here before, though we've had worse overall seasons.  Hinchey, Bravo, and Pablo owe the fans a real statement and not platitudes after this loss.

Rapids Try To Avoid Seven In A Row Against Galaxy

The Pleiades or the Seven Sisters

Colorado looks for their first points since July 25th tomorrow night in LA.  A loss would be a team record seventh in a row.  Game time tomorrow night is listed at 8:30pm but its an NBC Sports game, which means kcikoff will actually be somewhere between 8:50 and 9pm.

Injury Report:

OUT: DF Drew Moor (R ACL tear); MF Brian Mullan (L knee injury); MF Jared Watts (L hamstring strain)

QUESTIONABLE: MF Jose Mari (L ankle injury); DF Shane O'Neill (R knee sprain)

Disciplinary Report:

SUSPENDED AFTER ONE MORE YELLOW: MF Nick LaBrocca (1 good behavior game left)

SUSPENDED AFTER TWO MORE YELLOWS: MF Carlos Alvarez

LA has one player questionable, but Keane and Penedo are with their national teams and Jamieson is with the U.S. U-20s.  Jose Mari is expected to be available but none of the others on our injury report.  My guess at our XI:

If Sanchez can't go we'll probably see Buddle, but we should see Torres.  Otherwise this seems to be pretty much our standard lineup.  Other than Nasco that is, who is reportedly going to get another start.  He was good last week but you don't bench your starter unless there's something wrong, and I ahven't seen anything wrong with Irwin.

Strategic Consideration: Landon Donovan.  He's been lighting it up (either scoring or assisting) since announcing his retirement.

Prediction: 2-1 loss.  Goal by Brown.  What in the last 6 games leads anyone to believe we'll win tomorrow night?

Go Hawks!

Zat Knight Inbound?

Colonel Jack O'Neill with a Zat'nik'tel (aka Zat)

Yesterday the Rapids confirmed that an experienced international center back would be flying to Denver this week for final negotiations to join the team.  Today sources indicate that the defender is former Bolton and England center back Zat Knight.  He's 34 years old and has played for Fulham, Peterbrough United (on loan), Aston Villa, and Bolton.  He was named Bolton's captaoin for 2013-14 but made only 5 appearances last year.  His 2 caps for England came in 2005, with his first cap being against the U.S.  He'll turn 35 years old in May.

Color me unimpressed.  Knight may or may not be a serviceable back, but its too little too late.  Since he's an international he'll need to get his ITC transferred and an American visa before he can play.  There's no way that happens before this weekend's game and I'd be shocked if it gets done before the Portland home game next week.  Add in that he hasn't played since May and he'll need time to get up to game fitness so we're looking at maybe 6 games this season, but probably 5 or less.  By that point the season will be over.

He'll add some depth and leadership next season but where will he play?  If he's happy coming off the bench then that's great, as I expect Moor and O'Neill to get a majority of the CB starts next season.  Maybe we move O'Neill to RB or DMid, but I think that's a waste of his young talent.  I'd have to make a big signing and have to leave him on the bench or move Moor or O'Neill.

My question is where was this move 6 weeks ago?  O'Neill went down in July and we were already struggling on defense.  Moor went down 2.5 weeks ago and we were in real trouble.  Now, maybe, we might make a signing?  What took so long?  In the last 6+ weeks the season went downhill quickly.

In the end if we sign Knight for $125K or less he gives us decent depth and can fill in for Moor if he's not back to start the season next year before going to the bench.  If we spend significantly more than that or our forced to make other roster changes to fit him in then this is a late knee-jerk reaction to a season that's already lost.

And yes, that's a picture of Richard Dean Anderson in Stargate SG-1 at the top.  The Zat joke was too good for a geek like me to pass up. ;)

Yet Another Loss In Seattle

In a reversal from the LA home game our defense actually played well but our offense went missing.  A 10 second mental lapse from Marc Burch let Dempsey get free on a corner and that's all he needed to score the only goal of the game.  Meanwhile at the other end of the field the Rapids managed just two shots on goal, neither one of which was particularly dangerous.  In the end it was a record-tying 6th straight loss for the burgundy & blue.

• Now 11 games,  1 point, 7 goals, -19 goal differential all-time in Seattle.
• There's almost no chance of a playoff run at this point.  We're only 4 points out but we face one of the toughest remaining schedules and don't look much like a playoff team.  Meanwhile Vancouver and Portland are in front of us and San Jose can catch us with games in hand.
• Moving to Piermayr to center back seemed to work for the defense.  That combo (with Wynne) has been our best solution since we lost O'Neill and Moor.
• Of course the Rapids started the game packing the box and looking for the 0-0 draw, so that helped.
• There was nothing from the offense though.  Lots of kicking it around just above teh attacking third but no creativity to generate a chance.
• There was some grumbling about the officiating and it was very lax which helped Seattle more than Colorado, but it wasn't biased or poor.  The Rapids have to be able to play with whatever ref is out there.
• Six losses in a row ties the record set by the team in '97 under Mooch and equalized under Pareja in '12.  Interestingly it was the first season in charge for all 3 head coaches.
• Friday we try to avoid setting a new record in LA, gulp!

Man of the Match: Joe Nasco.  An unexpected start in place of Irwin, who was being rested for his mental health.  Made a couple of good saves, including one up for save of the week, and wasn't at fault pn the goal.  A great first MLS start for the former police office.