Previewing the July from Hell
by UZ on Jun 28, 2011 7:01 AM MDT
in Colorado Rapids Views
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The second that the schedules were out for MLS this season, the Colorado Rapids looked to be in a tight jam come summer, with a fairly innocuous June leading into what I probably should have termed at the time 'the July from Hell.' (Had I done that, I could have posted a link to something back then that would make it seem like I wasn't making this stuff up as I go along.)
The Rapids will be playing seven games in July, a loaded schedule that includes a full week of rest only once and three games away at some of the hardest places to play in the entire league. Join me after the jump for a short look at the seven games we'll be seeing the Rapids play in July.
July 3rd vs. Houston - That's right, we got screwed out of our July 4th game! Hopefully this still counts, as the Rapids are notoriously hard to beat during 'Fourth Fest' with an all time record on July 4th of 11-2-2. The record was an even more impressive 11-2-1 until last year when the New York Red Bulls came into a torrential downpour and drew the Rapids after a goal for Colorado was controversially called back. Hopefully the weather - and the result - will be better this year. At the very least, the two game losing streak is very likely to end.
July 6th @ Kansas City - This one is going to be a doozy. LIVESTRONG is already getting a reputation as a tough place to go into and get a result despite the small number of matches played there so far. On three days rest against a Sporting Kansas City team that's finally starting to find its legs after that tough start to the year, it will be a tall order for the Rapids to get a result here unless they're at full strength with a bit of luck.
July 9th vs. Vancouver - Probably the second most winnable game next to the Houston match this month. Vancouver has been fairly easy to defeat on the road, although Colorado will be at the tail end of one of them "three games in nine days" jobs. Vancouver will be coming off a similar thing with ten days substituted for nine, but it will still probably be hard fought. Vancouver may not have enough to win on the road often but they have gotten some results like that brilliant 2-2 draw in Seattle.
July 16th @ Seattle - The Rapids are very lucky that they're getting a week of rest before this one, a game that will no doubt be the toughest of the month. Not only will the game be in Seattle - a place that the Rapids have never managed to win - but it will no doubt feature Brian Mullan in the starting XI for the Rapids. If you recall, Seattle fans aren't too fond of him at the moment. This one might be painful.
July 20th vs. New York - NYRB are a tough nut to crack anywhere, but the Rapids held their own against them earlier in the season. Doing it at home with no De Rosario to worry about - he was the one who kept torturing the Rapids during that last match - will be slightly easier. Still, a draw is probably what we can expect out of this one if the Rapids keep up their form as predictably as the season has gone.
July 23rd vs. New England - This should turn out better than the last time these two teams met when it was a Revs dominated 0-0 draw. NE seem to have somehow gotten worse as the season has gone along; it's probably a good thing that most of the home games in this July stretch are against the weaker teams in the league because the Rapids will need ideally to get all 12 points out of DSGP if they can with the tough road matches.
July 29th @ Philly - And the month ends on another doozy. The Rapids have only played once in Philly before and drew that match but that was against the very weak Philly team from last year. This year will be a lot more tough on the legs of the away side. On the bright side, Philly games do tend to be low scoring so maybe the Rapids will get lucky, eh?
I'm getting a potential record of 3-2-2 out of the month if the Rapids are healthy the entire time and coach Smith figures out this discipline and roster problem that's been plaguing them. Even then, that's mostly because of the three easier home games. Considering the fact that the later months of the year contain no more than four games for the Rapids each, July is pretty much going to be the make or break month for this team's playoff hopes. Good time to go on such a terrible run of form, eh?
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Didn't MLS pack the Rapids' July schedule so they wouldn't be too congested when CCL rolls around?
Including CCL play, Colorado will have 6 games in August and 6 games in September, then 4 games in the first 3 weeks of October. The schedule doesn’t get all that much easier after July.
Well I’m talking strictly league play here leading to playoffs, the only real place that a trophy may materialize. It’s an unpopular stance, but I doubt the Rapids have much of a chance in CCL.
The reason that July is such a tough month in league play is more the unrelenting quality of opponents we’re slated to face than just the straight up numbers. Like I said, even with the most optimistic outlook I could put on it I still only got 11 points out of 21.
#FireBobBradley
2011 Buffalo Bills - as of right now, guaranteed not to lose a game this year!
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by UZ on Jun 28, 2011 3:11 PM MDT up reply actions
Historically, you've done very well at home, I think
So with Marquez potentially being out for the NYRB game (which is also a short turn-around for both teams), I think optimistically there’s a chance for wins in all four home games. I’ll give you that the away schedule seems pretty tough.
When you say the Rapids don’t have much of a chance in CCL, do you mean they don’t have much of a chance to win it all, or to advance out of their group?
The home form has been a lot shakier this season than last year’s dominance at DSGP sadly, with draws being more likely than wins on any given week. Last year we destroyed Houston and New England at home, but that was during the late season tear that the Rapids went on and this team resembles last summer’s Rapids team more than last autumn’s.
Honestly it’s really hard to tell what the Rapids will do simply because their form seems to go to random, unpredictable extremes seemingly week by week! This is assuming perfect health and the occasional dropped game as they tend to have.
I think there’s a reasonable chance that the Rapids can finish second in their group in CCL, they’re in a decently easy group as CCL goes but will probably lose out the top spot to Santos Laguna or Metapan. I highly doubt they get past or even into the Semi-finals though, unless they face another MLS team in the Quarters like RSL did. My mind will change depending on what the Rapids do in the transfer window this season, they’re clearly in need of some more quality on the wings of both the defense and midfield.
#FireBobBradley
2011 Buffalo Bills - as of right now, guaranteed not to lose a game this year!
Burgundy Wave - SBnation's Colorado Rapids site
Crystal Palace FC - Eternally a point from relegation (._. )
by UZ on Jun 28, 2011 8:36 PM MDT up reply actions
Metapan
I don’t think Metapan will take the top spot. Santos Laguna could be serious competition for it.
Agree that the Rapids need more quality wing play from the back. I think the coaching staff is trying to address that need in the transfer market.
by Bulldog Ben on Jun 29, 2011 11:28 AM MDT up reply actions
I would be surprised if Metapan made it past Puerto Rico
At least last year, Metapan looked like they would be a barely passable MLS reserve side when they played the Sounders and I was pretty disappointed the Sounders couldn’t score more against them. That said, PR has been no joke in CCL play and it could turn out to be a tricky group.
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