Rapids-Galaxy: Colorado Capitalizes in Front of a Full House

Long time Rapids fans can all recall the big crowds for the Fourth of July games at Invesco and last year at Dick's Sporting Goods Park.  Each year the Rapids have sold out these games.  Each year casual fans have made the decision to make their annual trip to watch an MLS game, because of the firework the ticket included.  It has been an annual embarrassment that the Rapids have managed to fail in front of a large audience.  Giving them nothing to come back for. 

For once the Rapids capitalized in front of a sell out crowd. 

Many MLS fans get irritated when the LA Galaxy visit their town, and they suddenly have a full stadium as a result of David Beckham's presence.  Becks has been great for MLS.  I welcome all the people who show up to watch him in the hopes that a few will come back to support the home side.  Even if they do not come back the money in the coffers only helps the league, and ultimately my team.

I should be just as forgiving of the media, but I honestly detest the main stream media.  Sitting in the front row of the north stands put be directly behind a row of cameras that will not be there until next time David shows up.  On the news the broadcasts sports reporters all mentioned David Beckham, but that did not translate that to any news on the Rapids.  Furthermore, a few saw fit to take the opportunity to make snarky comments about a game that more people like than they care to admit.  The cost to the psyche is too much to bear.

The fans who came out were treated to a good game of soccer.  Everybody has their spin on the game.  The Galaxy are a pub team seems to be a favorite.  The Rapids only look good because of the quality of the Galaxy, is another.  Travel time and altitude really damaged the play of Landon Donovan and David Beckham, is a third.  

For me I saw several things that were missing since 2005, which was the last year I had hope for the team to build a quality side.  

First and foremost is movement.  from the top to the back Saturday's game featured players who are not in the habit of standing in one spot and calling for the ball.  Omar Cummings ran the whole time he was in the game.  His runs and cuts provided Cooke with three identical passes that Cooke appears to be getting all the credit for.  The first resulted in a penalty kick.  The second resulted was thwarted as Omar pulled out the ball back rather than shoot.  The third resulted in Omar's goal.  All three came with Omar running diagonally and cutting inside for an easy pass from Cooke.  How different would those plays have looked with a big target forward drifting inside for a header?

Christian Gomez, provided the team with a lot of possession, also has the nice habit of moving to support the play.   For the last two years we have been treated to players who want the ball sent to them rather than moving to where they can best receive it.  Gomez brings a lot of class to his dribbling, vision, and shooting.  He also supports his team mates.

That brings me to another aspect of this game.  We started to young guys in the center of the park.  John DiRaimondo and Nick La Brocca.  Both players ran tirelessly.  Both players moved to support each other.  Both fought for the ball.  Neither was strictly an a-mid, neither was strictly a d-mid, both were simply central midfielders.  The closest the Rapids have seen to that was in 2005 when Beckerman and Nkong ran the center of midfield.  The two players made themselves greater than the sum of their skills.

This is the area of biggest concern to me.  Pablo does not work well in this arrangement.  He may be the best d-mid in the US, but he is not the best center mid.  What he lacks is what prevents the kind of interaction that two lesser known players showed on Saturday.  Pablo likes to make his tackle, make his pass, and then hang back.  No more movement, no support, and that puts more pressure on who ever he plays with.  How will Gomes and Pablo pair up?  It remains to be seen if Pablo and Gomes can make themselves even equal to the sum of their skills.

The reserve team matters.  Bouna, Keel, Kimura, DiRaimondo, Clark, La Brocca, and Cummings all came through the Rapids reserves.  Many people have claimed the reserve championships are owed to the performance of Mathis, Thorton, and Cancela.  After Saturday it is clear that the these guys had something to do with the two championships.  Two of my players to watch, Keel and Clark, made an impact on the game.  

L.A. may just be that bad, but the Rapids did their part.  A 4 goal shut-out has not been something the Rapids could claim against the worst teams they have faced.  And, LA is not the worst team the Rapids have faced.  A season of performances like this one may even get the fans to come out even without Becks.  I am less optimistic about the cameramen returning.