The Bleu-blanc-noir is live from the Rockies, having landed on Thursday in the home state of four boys who are stuck in fourth grade since two decades. And if the term has been slightly overused in the past weeks, now, it’s really a crucial game at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park, on Saturday at 9pm EDT (TVA Sports, CJAD 800). Here are 10 things on Colorado.
Context
The Rapids, not unlike all other teams owned by Kroenke Sports & Entertainment, is not having a good spell: after a Western Conference finals appearance in 2016, this season is bad. Colorado is at the bottom of their Conference and has registered only one win since July 1.
Current form
L-L-D-W-L-L
Head coach
Steve Cooke (1-1-6 as Colorado Rapids head coach and all-time in MLS) has been named Rapids interim head coach on August 15, 2017. The Englishman has started in his homeland as an academy coach at Sheffield Wednesday and with the English FA in the ‘90s before moving to the US. Cooke has been with Colorado since 2010, when he joined the academy staff, and was named in the first team coaching staff as an assistant in 2012.
Current top scorer
Dominique Badji (9)
Players to watch
1. Shkëlsen Gashi (#11) – Gashi is creative, efficient and a hard worker – he has everything a coach looks for.
2. Micheal Azira (#22) – A similar player to Osvaldo Alonso in Seattle, Azira has almost played all of his team’s games this year. He sits atop the defensive line and gives his attacking teammates a bit more freedom.
3. Marlon Hairston (#94) – The American midfielder wears his name pretty well. You can’t miss him because of his hairstyle, but also because of his relentless efforts. He tackles, breaks down moves, distributes properly in the middle of the park.
Team profile
It’s a season to forget in Colorado. The attack is firing blanks and is barely helped by a crumbling defense that concedes early and late – the Rapids have given up goals in the first 10 minutes of their last two games. It looks like Dominique Badji has to be the saviour, as a lone striker, to hold the ball up and to find the back of the net, something he has done nine times in 2017 – an accomplishment, considering what little support he has around him in attack.
In 2017:
<span class="s1"><b>Shots on target*</b></span> |
<span class="s1"><b>Goals scored from inside the penalty area</b></span> |
<span class="s1"><b>Goals scored from outside the penalty area</b></span> |
<span class="s1"><b>Goals scored on headers</b></span> |
<span class="s1">22nd (95)</span> |
<span class="s1">21st (25)</span> |
<span class="s1">=20th (2)</span> |
<span class="s1">=11th (7)</span> |
<span class="s1"><b>Possession (%)</b></span> |
<span class="s1"><b>Big chance conversion (%)</b></span> |
<span class="s1"><b>Successful passes in attacking third (%)</b></span> |
<span class="s1"><b>Duels won (%)</b></span> |
<span class="s1">18th (45.1%)</span> |
<span class="s1">14th (46.9%)</span> |
<span class="s1">21st (59%)</span> |
<span class="s1">19th (48.4%)</span> |
*Source for all data is Opta.
Tactical formation
The interim head coach did not really change the Rapids’ recipe, himself choosing a 4-2-3-1 as well. Lineup against FC Dallas (September 27): Howard; Williams, Burling, Ford, Miller; Azira, Boateng; Serna, Saeid, Aigner; Badji.
Last game against Impact
The only meeting between the two teams last year ended up in a 2-2 stalemate, goals by Drogba and Tissot being leveled out by Gashi and Burling.
Injuries, absences and call ups (as of September 29)
None
Upcoming games
Colorado Rapids v FC Dallas (MLS, October 7)
Colorado Rapids v Real Salt Lake (MLS, October 15)
Seattle Sounders FC v Colorado Rapids (MLS, October 22)
