I'm Done

That's it, I'm done with this team, at least for this year.  That was a shameful performance from the organization on Saturday night.  It started with a pregame show that featured a 4.5 minute segment on how well FSL is fitting into the community in SLC for no reason other than what, to shove it in the fans faces that their rival is doing so much better than them?  It continued into a game where pretty much the whole team gave up on that rivalry match after FSL scored a goal.  Slight credit to Cooke, the team did come out of the halftime locker room with a bit more fight but that dissipated quickly, leading to the worst loss of the season and putting us firmly in last place in the league.  Then it ended with a post-game where everyone wishes they had done better but no real acknowledgement of how they didn't live up to the standards of a professional team.

I waited until tonight to write this hoping that as everyone got back to Denver and we got into a normal "work day" we might see something out of the Front Office to address the fact we hit rock bottom on Saturday but other than an appreciative nod to the travelling supporters we haven't seen anything.

Clearly at this point this team doesn't value anything but getting this season over with, so fine, its over for me.  I'm strongly considering skipping the next home game to stay home and watch Washington-Fresno State.  As far as this blog I'll probably still do the basics (game previews, game reviews, etc.) but with only basic info, not much more than that.

We'll see how the final 9 games go and the offseason.  Based on that we'll see how much I want to write, or even follow this team.

Only Thing Left To Play For; The Rocky Mountain Cup

The season is over so we have one thing to play for and it continues tomorrow, the Rocky Mountain Cup.  FSL won the first game earlier this year in Colorado 2-1.  The third game will be at the Dick on October so this is the only visit to Utah this year.  FSL wins the Cup with a win tomorrow.  With a draw the Rapids will have to win the final game by 2 or more.  With a win by the Rapids tomorrow they'll still have to win the final game, but if they win by 2 or more tomorrow they'll claim the Cup with a draw in the final game.  Its a late 8pm start tomorrow night on Altitude and about 150 Rapids fans will be in Sandy to support the burgundy boys.

Colorado will still be missing MacMath and Burling will be questionable but everyone else is available.  FSL has 4 players out, 3 questionable. and Kyle Beckerman is suspended for yellow card accumulation.  The Rapids rested the big guns on Wednesday for this one so I expect to see the likes of Sjoberg, Gashi, Hairston, Doyle, and hopefully Aigner, in the lineup tomorrow.

Prediction: 2-1 win, goals by Gashi and Badji.  Yes I'm being unreasonably optimistic with this prediction, I figure this is the last chance this season to do so and I'm taking it.  If there's any pride left in this team we'll see it tomorrow.  If we don't it will just be 9 long games to suffer through until the end of the year.

Juan Ramirez Officially Off The Roster

As expected, the Rapids announced today that they and Juan Ramirez mutually agreed to a contract termination.  That's one more player off the roster as we rebuild this offseason and we now have an open DP slot.

Rapids Continue To Sink

Not going to spend too long on this game review.  It was just more of the same.  This team is just not very good and that's not going to change in 2017.  Defensive breakdowns and a hell of a goal from Nagbe led to the 2-1 loss I predicted.  Saeid slipped a goal past the Portland defense to avoid the shutout.

• Last night's starting XI showed we were going for it...on Saturday.  I have no problem with that decision.  The only thing for the fans to look forward to this season is maybe winning the Rocky Mountain Cup so I was glad to see the team use a test lineup last night and save the best options for Saturday in Sandy.
• Mike da Fonte is not a MLS caliber player.  VAR got that call correct.
• A number of players (Williams, Serna, Gatt) had a chance to make a statement last night.  They were very quiet instead.

Man of the Match: Mohammed Saeid.  Yeah, I took the easy way out.

Short turnaround as Rapids head for Portland

Colorado is in Portland for a midweek game tomorrow night.  Portland is flying high with a shot at going to the top of the table with the right results tomorrow.  We all know the Rapids are looking towards 2018 already.  This would appear to be a mismatched battle but that's why they play the games.  Its not even the most mismatched battle I'll watch tomorrow as at 12:45 tomorrow on ESPN3 the East Lancashire Derby is renewed as Blackburn hosts Burnley in the League Cup.  Just because Burnley thinks they're all that now that they're in the EPL doesn't mean they aren't going down tomorrow to a League One side.  Kickoff for the Rapids game is at 8:30 tomorrow night with the game on Altitude.

The Rapids are still missing MacMath and Burling is questionable but everyone else should be available, though Aigner's fitness status is up in the air.  Portland has 1 player suspended, 2 out to injury, and 3 more questionable.

I expect much the same in the lineup, with some players like Gashi rotated out for rest before the Rocky Mountain Cup match on Saturday.  Honestly given where we are this season I'd be happy to see a lot of young players get some time tomorrow and rest the big guns for the one important match we have left (if we lose on Saturday FSL wins the Cup, a draw means we'd need to win the final home game by 2, a win means we'd need to win by 1).  its time to see what the kids can do and this game has loss written all over it anyway.

Prediction: 2-1 loss, goal by Badji.  Portland has a top 5 offense and a bottom 5 defense.  The short rest will keep this game closer than it probably should be but Portland will build up a 2 goal lead before the Rapids get one late to avoid a shutout.