by Geoff McPherson
Is this the week we get two results on the trot? Or another frustrating week when are unable to take advantage of the results that keep falling in our favor? The Earthquakes have had one win in 7 games, so you’ve got to rate our chances even for this Jekyll and Hyde team, maybe this will be the week where the spell is broken.
Class VI’s Dave Ferrey argued a very good point this week re the Rapids limited ability on the player continuum where the cream rises to the top at the end of the season and the Rapids squad don’t have the combined skills to make it to the top of the bottle this season.
Before reading Senor Ferrey article my perspective was yes we are spotty and inconsistent but at the same time the Western division is very poor and winnable by any team that wins a few games on the trot. I’m not saying we can be competitive with the top three teams in the east but I do believe we can win this division. Maybe I just have an overdose of the naive passion of being a Rapids fan and in complete denial of the logical reality of what we have and where we will be on the final day of the season. Sometimes it feels good to be a little naïve.
We stay with the same 3-4-1-2 line as last week, including 31 year old Mastroeni who stated on Goal TV this week he if is not going this transfer window he’ll be going at the end of the season. The Earthquakes pick up Darren Huckerby mid week of Norwich fame (if there is such a thing) he’ll suit their long ball ping ball style of football yet it won’t be all official until the transfer window opens July 15th.
Fantastic opportunity for Casey after 11 minutes, then 8 minutes later McManus puts one away but play is pulled back due to an offside call. We are providing the Earthquakes too much space out side our box, when the ball is cleared they seem to have easy options to deliver the ball in again (same problem we had against Chicago). Playing against a long ball team 4 at the back may be more effective, Cook is dropping way back on defense nearly falling into a right back position. As a result all our offense is coming from the over populated left side. We need to play the ball on the deck and not play the aerial balls as its just bread and butter for the Earthquakes defense.
It’s a touch painful watching the slow energy sucking style of football that the Earthquakes serve up. Thirty one minutes and we have to up the tempo and the running off the ball, no idea why we are feeding long balls into Casey, it cuts Gomez out of the game and it’s not our strength, even though Casey plays that role well. In fact is Gomez still on the pitch?
Casey every time he gets the ball on the flanks he makes good decisions and more often than not gets a good cross but we don’t seem to time our runs into the box for these crosses. Dear lordy who’s picking up Ivan Guerrero? Who just waltzes in on the back post, Bouna saves the ball and Ugo's embarrassment, who is just marking space or checking out the blonde in the front row, to add his chance he served up on a platter earlier on to Karmara.
Half time its 0-0 and I’m trying to work out what’s more exciting the first half or the ads on Altitude TV.
Ok we need to take off Gomez it’s just not happening today, bring on Herculez or start playing the ball on the deck. Midweek Tigres coach said he was concerned with the pace of the Rapids players and passing and rightful so it’s our strength and when we do it we do it well but for some reason management doesn’t want to play that card today.
51st minute, we get the a cross on the deck but no one makes a run, but it shows its going to more effective against this defense, the space is starting open up, and the speed of the Rapids is resulting in yellow cards and penalties against the Earthquakes. Yep we need to bring Herculez.
Instead Cummings comes in for McManus; I would have taken off Casey if you’re going to bring on Cummings, McManus you know will run all day.
Utter bollocks the Rapid season continues its same theme, Rapids have a number of chances to score, don’t capitalize, then make a defensive error and now we are down 1-0. Ugo is having a little bit of nightmare to say the least.
Gomez comes off replaced by DiRaimondo; Ballouchy pushes up in Gomez’s role behind the front two.
Ok keep Casey on, great cross by Cooke great goal by the big lad, definitely no penalty, 1-1. Frank Yallop is sent off for throwing a grumpy pants tissey, quiet comical since his team has been getting away all game with the physical niggles.
We keep pushing forward, making substitutes that just bemuse me, Casey comes off in the 93rd minute, we hang for a draw, only the second of season but at the same time 2 more points dropped to the Earthquakes.
We didn’t win back to back games, I’m still feeling like this team has something a little magic, if they could get on a role, maybe and just maybe they could be the Rockies of 2008.