SB Nation St. Louis: All Posts by Chris White

With Edson Buddle Suspended, Deshorn Brown Must Take Over

2013-05-16T20:07:55Z

Ah, it all seemed to be coming together for the Rapids during their game against the Crew. They continued a fine run of form, looked good in the process and, most importantly, started getting some of their big names back. A few days after the game, we're down another man with Edson Buddle being handed a single-game suspension after a fairly stupid challenge that earned him a yellow card. (Drew Moor being punched in the face, by the way, did not merit a card or a suspension. lolMLS and all that.)

It's unfortunate to lose Buddle, because he is quickly proving to be a valuable asset to the Rapids offense. It's not just his goal scoring, though two goals in two games is just what the doctor had ordered for this team, but also the steadiness he provides up front. When we called him a 'cheaper Conor Casey', we meant it, and he's showing us why. He keeps the possession steady with great hold up play and good touches when he's laying it off to a partner, just what you want to see from him. Thanks to his return against Toronto and Columbus, the Rapids got six points.

Against a San Jose team that likes to ~~kill people in~~ boss the midfield, they're going to need all the possession help they can get. Martin Rivero being back will be a boon in that regard, Dillon Powers is awesome, and Nathan Sturgis looks like he was a very smart signing after a Hendry Thomas-esque performance against the Crew. In the back, they aren't bad off either, with two very good possession fullbacks in Brian Mullan and Chris Klute.

That leaves the forward spots, where we have a lot of speed and a lot of finesse, but not many guys who can hold the ball up like Buddle can.

Atiba Harris has shown occasional flashes of being able to play a possession game at the top, but he's far too erratic and prone to unfortunate decision making. Danny Mwanga is... well, Danny Mwanga is something, but that thing is not 'good at hold up play'. Kevin Harbottle and Tony Cascio aren't particularly suited for the role either. Who's left?

More like Who's That? (BroooOoOOooOOOoOoOoOOOooOOwn)

Deshorn Brown was pegged as a center forward before the season started, and he's not disappointed in that regard yet. He's big, he's fast and he's not all that bad with the ball at his feet. One thing he hasn't shown us yet, though, is an ability to play hold up ball. It's not that he has tried to do so and failed, it's just that I don't think he's been asked to try yet.

Can he do it? I'm sure he can, we've seen his strength and his craftiness a few times this season. The game against the Quakes will be a litmus test for him in that regard, as I doubt we're going to see a return to the 4-3-3 right away, and until we've got three forwards helping each other in the final third with Rivero right behind them, hold up play will be the easiest way to get goals created. I loved the formation that Pareja pulled out against the Crew, by the way. A 4-1-3-2, was it?

The real question is, will Brown start? If he does, I can't think of anyone I'd rather have holding the ball up. And as we've seen the past few games, holding the ball up can help you put balls in the back of the net.

Colorado Rapids vs. San Jose Earthquakes - Rapids Head To California

2013-05-16T16:50:32Z

Colorado lost to the Quakes by a 10-3 aggregate score last year, can they improve things this time around?

Colorado Rapids head off on another road trip, this time out west to face off against San Jose Earthquakes on Saturday evening looking to extend their winning streak to three. With little transfer movement of any significance over the off-season, the Earthquakes came into 2013 with much the same first team as their previous Supporters' Shield winning team of 2012. The results haven't matched however, picking up only three wins so far as they sit 6^th in the West.

They have suffered from injuries and suspensions though, missing several players each week and having to rely on a young rookie up front, Adam Jahn, to steal points towards the end of every game. Jahn has pitched in with four goals so far - not bad for a guy who wasn't even invited to the combine. Last time out San Jose were smashed by Seattle Sounders 4-0 despite having more attempts at goals and more possession. The result is pretty indicative of their season so far - letting in a tonne of goals. With only one win in their last eight (and that being against Toronto FC) the Earthquakes aren't coming into this one in any sort of form, which is in contrast with the Rapids who seem full of confidence at the minute, looking to extend their run to three wins in a row.

Criticism of the style of the Earthquakes play follows them around wherever they go. Everyone knows how they are going to be set up and that they are going to play direct, using the aerial ability of their forward pairing but it still remains difficult to stop it. Frank Yallop loves his 4-4-2 with the central pairing acting sometimes as what you could call a double-pivot but then others as a simple diamond with Walter Martinez (Rapids reject) for the last few games at the top and Sam Cronin sat in the defensive midfield slot.

As with the central midfield spots, out wide the Earthquakes have also had their depth tested. Marvin Chavez, Rafael Baca, Shea Salinas and Ramiro Corrales have been interchanging for most of the season, with the preferred duo of Chavez and Salinas missing out in the defeat in Seattle. The pace of Chavez and Salinas could prove difficult to deal with and Chavez at least looks likely to start considering his ban for the match was rescinded this week. Typically, the way the Earthquakes play is that they focus down the wings and deliver as many balls as possible into the box, constantly piling the pressure on the defence hoping it caves in and they can tap in a scrappy goal.

Up top, it's looking as though Chris Wondolowski with his new designated-player status will be partnered by Alan Gordon just like in Seattle despite Jahn's goals so far this season. Jahn sat out last weekend's defeat due to a thigh injury but should be fit for this weekend to challenge Gordon for a starting spot. The obvious danger with these is their strength and aerial ability. The Rapids backline will have to employ one centreback as the more aggressive one, challenging for every aerial ball whilst the other covers in behind in case of any flick-ons. Wondo thrives on these flick-ons/knockdowns so he is going to have to be watched very carefully by the other defender (probably Drew Moor as opposed to Shane O'Neill).

The strengths of this San Jose team could be said to lie not in the physical or technical side of their game but in their mental strength. This ‘Goonie Magic' or whatever silly name it has been given is mostly just the fact that the Earthquakes retain the belief that they can still get a result no matter how late on in the game it is. Inevitably, if you are going to put the ball in the box that often then chances will eventually come and their forwards are always prepared for any ricocheted balls or fortuitous bounces. It is a style of play that has many detractors but for me, if it wins games then that is all that matters. There is a nice way to play football and there is the Earthquakes way of playing football but there's no argument against its effectiveness, particularly last season. The Rapids just have to get a handle on the battles in the air - if they don't win the first ball, make sure that they are onto that second one without hesitation or we will get punished.

Whilst they do threaten up front, their defence has been particularly poor recently, giving up 10 goals in their last five games. Nana Attakora's return to San Jose after a stint in Finland has not been a happy one. The breakup of the Jason Hernandez-Victor Bernardez pairing has coincided with the Earthquakes shipping goals for fun and seems to be the way through this team. With the Rapids missing Edson Buddle after the ridiculous decision from the MLS Disciplinary Committee to ban him (for a foul committed under the referee's nose, for which he was cautioned), DeShorn Brown could be started down the middle and would have a lot of fun against Hernandez in particular.

The Rapids are going to have to be wary of a team on the rebound after being battered by the Sounders and assume the Earthquakes are going to come out all guns blazing from the off on Saturday. For Colorado to get anything out of the game they are going to have to score more than once and keep the frontline of San Jose quiet by mopping up the second balls and, if possible reducing the amount of crossing opportunities. At the other end, there isn't exactly a specific weakness in the San Jose defence that is worse than the other parts. As a whole it is a pretty shoddy defence without the Bernardez-Hernandez partnership and will give up a few chances that the Rapids strikers will have to take. If we manage to restrict the mayhem that can be caused up top by the Earthquakes' battering rams we could be in with a good shout of getting a result to take on the plane with us back home.

Rapids' First Potential Open Cup Opponents Revealed

2013-05-15T23:06:40Z

Both the Colorado Rovers and the Real Colorado Foxes have been knocked out of the US Open Cup already -- both by the Georgia Revolution, who apparently have some sort of anti-Colorado hoodoo about them -- but the highest class team in the state is still yet to take their first kick in the tournament. We learned their two potential opponents on Wednesday: Orlando City of the USL or the Ocala Stampede of the PDL, the same level that the Foxes play in.

The two will face off in a second round match on May 21st, with the winner taking on the Rapids in the third round, when MLS teams enter the fray. Rapids fans will want to root for Ocala, not just because they are a lower division side than Orlando and probably an easier opponent, but because a Stampede win will mean the Rapids will host the third-round affair. It would be Colorado's first Open Cup game in Colorado in ages.

The Daily Wave: Shoe On The Other Foot

2013-05-13T14:00:04Z

Think back to last season for a second. I know, it's painful, but do it. Remember all of those matches that saw the Rapids put 15-20 shots on the opposition, but not score a single goal and lose 1-0 or 2-0? (Sometimes 2-1 if we were 'lucky'.) It was a recurring theme, and there was a very easy tactical blueprint to use against Colorado last season.

You see, the Rapids suffered from two things -- well, more than two, but we'll focus on two -- last season: finishing that wasn't particularly clinical and a horrid lack of defensive presence on the outside of the pitch. That meant an easy out for any team with even an ounce of width. All you had to do was let the Rapids hold the ball as much as they wanted in the back and the midfield, press high in the final third and they would either miss every chance or turn the ball over. A quick restart or a counter attack down the flanks later, it always ended in either a brilliant Matt Pickens save or a goal for the other team.

Well, the shoe's on the other foot now, and don't it feel good?

Getting an early goal is always a good thing, but the Rapids were able to pull a very similar tactical move against the Crew on Saturday after Edson Buddle tapped the goal in during the 9th minute. Columbus is a talented team, but their attack has been incredibly streaky this season and looked like they were misfiring a bit through the first 10 minutes of the game.

One might ask how we can say that the Rapids played a dominant game when they got outshot by 18 and let the Crew win the possession battle. It's the same reason that the Rapids were often dominated last year despite holding those stats: remember, when it comes to statistics, especially in soccer, one must always remember the narrative that followed them.

When Barcalona have 70% possession and 25 shots, it's usually because the other team simply couldn't stop them. There were no tactics involved there, it was simply Barca being Barca and taking down their opposition with no trouble. In this case, it wasn't a dominant performance by the Crew, it's because the Rapids let the Crew have the possession in the back and the midfield whenever they wanted. (When people try and say that possession is a 'useless' statistic, they usually only do so after that sort of game, when a team is being handed possession instead of working for it themselves.)

With the Crew holding the ball in the midfield and back the whole time, the Rapids were free to keep a high press going in the final third and try to force Columbus into bad attempts. To make an analogy to another sport, it's almost the soccer version of Syracuse's 2-3 zone in college hoops. No pressure until they get to the final area, and then smart positioning to keep them from getting anything but long shots. It's a bit risky, as your defense being subpar or the other team being able to take long shots destroys the idea, but it worked wonderfully for Colorado.

Check the OPTA chalkboard for the game, specifically at the shots that Columbus took. 14 out of the 22 shots were from outside the box, some of them from way outside. Six more were from just inside the box -- an area I'm classifying as anywhere from the edge of the box to the penalty spot -- and four of those missed the target. Only two chances came from close range, and both of those missed as well.

There were differences in the tactic from how it was used against Colorado last season, namely the fact that the Rapids played their usual game instead of trying a quick counter every time, but the final result was the same: a fantastic 2-0 win. I'd argue that the Rapids playing their usual ground game was even better than just going for counters every time as well, since it allowed the Crew fewer chances to have the ball themselves. Kind of a 'we'll give you possession, but keep it when we get it' sort of system. (Had they just gone counter the full 90, I doubt the possession would have been anywhere close to 55-45.)

That tactic is not going to work every time, but it does show another page in Oscar Pareja's tactical book, one that seems to be growing as the season goes along. Considering that particular one was used against us maybe 20 times last year, I'm glad he was able to figure it out.

Colorado Rapids 2 Columbus Crew 0 - Streak-Busters

2013-05-12T01:53:17Z

Going into a stadium where they hadn't won for nearly a decade, coming off of a series of injuries and with lukewarm road form so far, expectations for the Colorado Rapids on Saturday evening weren't particularly high. However, as they've done all season, the Rapids found a way to surprise us with a brilliant 2-0 victory at Crew Stadium.

It wasn't a win that came against the run of play, either. Colorado had the ball and used it well right from the outset, with their first goal coming early. Edson Buddle won a ball in the midfield, allowing Danny Mwanga to whip a ball in to Atiba Harris in the box. Harris couldn't control it, but the ball landed kindly, right in front of an onrushing Edson Buddle. Being the finisher that he is, there was no doubt it was going in.

At that point, it looked like the Rapids switched up to a style that teams were using often against them last season. That is, they let the Crew have possession for most of the match, keeping enough men behind the ball that it was difficult for the Crew to get into space. There's a reason that the result looked like a reversal of many of Colorado's results last season -- Columbus outshot the Rapids by almost 20, but nearly all of those chances were subpar or from outside the box.

Colorado wasn't exactly playing a counterattacking game, but they weren't pressing particularly hard either until the Crew got into the final third. Having Martin Rivero in his first start all season didn't hurt matters, as the Rapids were able to get the good possession they needed when they got the ball in the midfield. Rivero, as we predicted, was an absolute boon to the team up at the top of the shifty midfield. He held the ball like a platypus protecting his young, attempted very smart passes and drew a ton of fouls that led to decent Rapids chances.

With the gameplan working to perfection, all the Rapids needed was to add a second and seal the deal, lest they allow in a late heartbreaker. Fortunately, they got it in the 69th minute. After Colorado's only corner of the game, the Rapids earned a set piece just a few feet ahead of the corner flag. It wasn't a bad one from Martin Rivero, and the bouncing ball in the box deflected off of Deshorn Brown and onto the waiting foot of Dillon Powers. His shot was deflected as it hit the back of the net, but it was still counted as a Powers goal, his second of the season.

Columbus never looked like they were going to get back into it after that.

First win at Crew Stadium since 2004, first two-goal victory of the season and another, very well earned, clean sheet? Yes, yes and yes. Perhaps there's hope going into San Jose next week.

Colorado Rapids vs. Columbus Crew - Rapids Take 2-0 Win

2013-05-09T15:18:03Z

Edson Buddle and Dillon Powers tallied as the Rapids pulled a massive 2-0 result out of Columbus.

Colorado Rapids head to Columbus on Saturday to face the Crew looking to extend their (mini)unbeaten run to three games. Crew Stadium has not been that kind to the Rapids historically so it will take some effort to come out of there with a result. As one of the preseason possibilities for the MLS Cup, Columbus Crew haven't exactly started off like a house on fire with only three wins under their belt and sitting 5^th in the East. And out of these three wins, two have been against the absolutely horrific D.C. United, so can we assume they aren't all that?

I wouldn't say so. They still possess a lot of threats going forward in particular that could damage any team in the league with Federico Higuain and Jairo Arrieta providing the firepower and Eddie Gaven on creating duties. Over the off-season the Crew improved their roster massively with a handful of signings in key positions including Glauber and Tyson Wahl to strengthen the back line as well as Agustin Viana and Matias Sanchez to solidify the midfield. The only significant addition for the Crew in attack has been Dominic Oduro heading over from Chicago Fire, adding an extra dimension to an already threatening Crew attack. On top of that, there weren't any considerable departures from Crew Stadium despite the quality of the additions indicating Columbus' desire to add another MLS Cup to their cabinet.

There isn't likely to be many surprises from Robert Warzycha on Saturday. He is pretty stuck in his 4-4-1-1 with Higuain in the hole behind Arrieta who will spearhead the attack. Nathan Sturgis will have to be on his game again as Higuain's movement will make him difficult to pick up as he floats in between the defence and midfield looking to pick up the ball and shoot/play through-balls. Arrieta, if he somehow manages to unlearn his innate ability to be constantly offside, is a real threat with his boundless energy and terrier-like movement keeping the defenders on their toes. Neither Arrieta nor Higuain have been the main goal threat this season, though, with Oduro sitting as Columbus' top scorer with four goals in the 2013 campaign. Oduro and his ridiculous pace have exposed many a defence so far, leaving them looking on helpless whilst he streaks in behind.

The two central midfielders in the 4-4-1-1 sit particularly deep in Warzycha's system with both as defensive midfielders who at times, albeit rarely, support attacking moves but typically instigate them by laying the balls off to the more attack-minded players. Danny O'Rourke and either Viana or Tony Tchani (depending on whether Viana fills in at left-back) are the centre-midfield pairing that are tasked with getting a grip of the Rapids guys and will clog up the central areas of the park with the aim of stopping the Rapids creativity. To counter this, the Rapids should overload on the flanks as there will be more space to engineer attacking opportunities as well as have a significant pace advantage over their opposite numbers. Both Wahl and Josh Williams aren't exactly blessed with an abundance of pace and could be prime targets for the Rapids frontline to focus their efforts, especially if DeShorn Brown gets the start. He will absolutely roast those two given the opportunity and if fit he certainly has to go straight onto the left side of the attack. Another thing from what I've seen of Columbus this season is that these fullbacks tend to push too far forward with their lack of pace meaning they leave themselves rather exposed on the counterattack which we have been adept at playing so far this season.

Glauber and Chad Marshall are a pretty firm combination at centre-back and may have the edge over Edson Buddle who can usually use his strength to unsettle defenders. Out of the two, I'd pick out Glauber as the most likely to make an error and as he is prone to a little moment of madness so if pressured could give up an opportunity or two. There's little point in playing any high balls forward as all four across the back are of decent size and will be up for any aerial battles that may take place.

Both Gaven and Oduro on the wings for the Crew pose a significant threat to the Rapids hopes of holding out for a cleansheet at Crew Stadium. Gaven has notched three assists so far and his expertise at creating goalscoring opportunities for both himself and teammates mean that whoever is at right fullback on Saturday will have to close down Gaven and stop him at source before he can deliver into the box. Despite one of Chris Klute's main advantages being his pace, he will still have his hands full with one of the quickest guys in the league in Dominic Oduro running at him all game. He will need to enlist the help of whoever plays on the left of midfield to give him some support as doubling up on Oduro will negate his pace.

For Colorado to create chances going forward it has to be down the flanks. By utilizing the pace of whoever plays on the wing in the 4-3-3 (hopefully Brown on one side), the Rapids will be able to isolate the fullbacks and get in behind them to create for Buddle to add the finishing touch. The centre of midfield will be pretty congested and the only space that will be left there is on the counter if Viana/O'Rourke/Tchani lose their discipline momentarily. This means Dillon Powers and co. won't have any time on the ball and will need to be simple in their distribution as the Crew will be closing them down all over.

At the other end, despite his quiet start, Higuain still poses the biggest danger particularly as he is not easy to pick up. If Sturgis and the central defenders fail to communicate as to who is picking him up then he will cause a lot of damage to Rapids hopes of gaining a result. If he is shut down and the Rapids defence performs to the standard that it has done recently (and Clint Irwin continues being ridiculous) then I've got a sneaky feeling the boys could take the three points back on the flight home with them.

Georgia Revolution 2 Colorado Rovers 1 - Rovers Fall On Penalties

2013-05-08T05:58:57Z

All right, I'm going to be completely honest here, I don't remember much from that game. I mean, I was there, and I watched all of it, but I was too busy enjoying myself with the other C38 crew there to remember much of anything. Also I never learned anyone's name so that didn't help matters.

Here's some tidbits:

* Georgia was playing what looked like a 4-3-3 with three large targets up top, trying to overwhelm the smallish Colorado defense. Colorado came out in a 4-4-2 and looked like they were going for a width-based game, though they weren't particularly good at it.

* Both teams were playing hilariously bad soccer, which is what you expect from a USSSA team taking on an NPSL team, I suppose. It made for some very high entertainment value, who says Barca are the most fun team to watch in the world?

* The first goal came somewhere around a half hour in when a botched clearance or two in the box left one of Georgia's forwards wide open for an easy finish.

* Colorado equalized after a terrible mistake by the Georgia goalie allowed Marc Herschberger's ball to slip through a few minutes into the second half. (If it sounds like I don't know what times were, it's because the scoreboard was hilariously screwed up. At one point it said we were in the sixth quarter.)

* The penalty kicks were unremarkable, with Colorado going down early and then everyone making their kicks until the end.

* Shea Stadium is kind of a dump, the corners had slopes to them and there was a ditch that all the balls on the far side kept falling into. Also, the place is so small that when I did my famous 'Ball control in the gay bar' heckle at their goalie, every single person on Georgia's bench turned and gave me a 'What the fuck, man' look. One of my finest moments.

...That's it. Good night everyone, see you next time when the Foxes try to enact some Coloradan revenge on the Revs!

Colorado Rapids vs. Toronto FC - Player Ratings

2013-05-07T16:00:03Z

To call Colorado's game against Toronto on Saturday 'beautiful football' would get you smacked, but it was still a Rapids victory in the end. How did the players do overall during the Smash N' Grab bonanza that Toronto helped to pull out, though?

DEFENSE:

Clint Irwin - 7
Pitched yet another shutout, though he had a bit less to do this time than some of the last few games. Still, the saves he made were solid and he kept the defense organized very well on an influx of set pieces late on in the match.

Drew Moor - 6
Solid as usual from the captain, especially on set pieces where he provided a header or two to knock danger away.

Brian Mullan - 4
Oof. Not one for the resume of Mullan, who seemed to give the ball to Toronto players on his distribution more often than Rapids players. Score is saved a bit by his defending, which was adequate going back.

Shane O'Neill - 5
O'Neill provides a steady presence next to Drew Moor, and that's all we can really ask of the homegrown hero. Nothing flashy, but he doesn't need to be.

Chris Klute - 4.5
He's good for a solid ball into the area every so often -- the one that Buddle put into the net was a pretty good one -- but inconsistency offensively keeps him from getting a higher score. Hopefully the playing time he's getting will help him continue to grow.

MIDFIELD:

Nathan Sturgis - 5
I scarcely heard his name all game, which is usually a good thing for a defensive midfielder. Tidy game in relief of Hendry Thomas.

Dillon Powers - 5
Not the best game Powers has put out for the Rapids, but not a bad performance either. Occasional turnovers, but I feel like sometimes he is put into bad positions by other players, giving him the ball in tough spots because he can usually get out of them. That's not a bad thing to see from your rookie, I suppose.

Kamani Hill - 3.5
If Kamani wants more playing time, that's not the way to earn it. Tentativeness on the ball, a lack of good shots and committing fouls is not what you want from an attacking midfielder.

Nick Labrocca - 4
Missing that easy shot right from the outset paced his game, which was rather unremarkable.

FORWARDS:

Atiba Harris - 4
Harris had a game like most games he's had this year. He had energy and fought hard, but didn't produce anything of any note. Missed one of his trademark sitters when he failed to get a good touch on an open chance.

Danny Mwanga - 3
Atiba's game may have been up and down, but Mwanga's was just down. Seems afraid to do anything with the ball at his feet, which is bad news for a forward.

SUBS:

Edson Buddle - 6.5
He wasn't fit, but he didn't need to be. Buddle was getting in the right positions, making smart flicks and providing a focal point to the attack that was missing in the first half after he came in. His goal was opportunistic, but how many times have we seen ~~Atiba Harris~~ someone on the team missing the 'easy ones' this year?

Martin Rivero - 5
Still getting back in the swing of things, and not taking the set pieces yet, but he performed smart moves on the ball and provided a settled passing game.

Deshorn Brown - N/A
Didn't really have the time to do anything special, especially with Buddle acting as the focal point in the attack,