October 20, 2008 4:33 PM
Random thoughts from a Rapids victory
No rhyme nor reason today, folks, just a collection of thoughts from the Rapids' 2-1 road victory against Chivas USA on Sunday at the Home Depot Center.
MAN OF THE MATCH: Colin Clark had quite a few nice moments and an all-around good game. Clark had a beautiful header to score the Rapids' first goal, in the 67th minute. Near the end of the first half, he had a sweet sliding save along the left touchline to prevent the ball from going out, then he immediately sprinted up the wing and collected a long pass for a lightning-quick strike into the Chivas offensive third. He also had some of his trademark sprints toward goal with the ball at his feet. He's a thing of beauty when he's running onto goal. Did anybody mention he's from Fort Collins?
REMEMBER WHEN ... Christian Gomez used to play for the Rapids? Seems like just a few months ago. Ah, those were the days ...
GOOD GRIEF: Why wasn't that foul on Kosuke Kimura in the first minute a yellow-card foul? Had a defender done that to a striker, the card would've come out. Does that mean a defender's role on the team is less important than a striker's? Or a midfielder's? Show the card. The Rapids don't need a starting defender to be injured before one minute has elapsed in the game.
THE OUT-OF-TOWN SCOREBOARD: Did everybody notice who that was who scored in extra time to give the Wizards a 3-2 victory against San Jose on Saturday? Why, it was our old buddy Herculez Gomez!
RULES PROPOSAL: In the 40th minute, disappointed with the direction a call was made, Chivas' Jesse Marsch put his hand on the assistant referee's shoulder. The assistant referee didn't like it, and he told Marsch, "Don't touch me. Don't touch me." I submit that touching one of the officials should be an automatic yellow card. In the NFL, it's an automatic ejection. But for some reason, FIFA is rather lenient in allowing players to physically come into contact with the officials. Too lenient. Face it, some of the behavior of the fans and players around the globe is shocking. The officials deserve an extra layer of protection against disgruntled players, even though the buffer zone would be an intangible one.
LOTS OF EMPTY SEATS: It was disappointing to see another MLS team fighting the same late-season attendance slump that the Rapids have found themselves in. On the other hand, at least the Rapids aren't alone. Glass half empty? Glass half full?
HEY, WASN'T THAT ... Leo Percovich, former Rapids goalkeeper coach, on the sidelines for Chivas? Why, yes, it was. He's the Goats' goalkeeper coach, as of January.
THIS HURTS ME TO SAY: The next time Conor Casey and Tom McManus are on the field at the same time and the referee awards the Rapids a penalty kick, Casey is to take the kick. No discussion. No game-time decision. Casey takes the PKs from now on. McManus' penalty kick against Los Angeles last week barely made it into the net under Galaxy goalkeeper Josh Saunders. And against Chivas on Sunday, when the Rapids desperately needed a goal, McManus' PK attempt was saved by Chivas' Dan Kennedy. Then, when the refs gift-wrapped a second soft PK to Colorado, Casey proved why he should be taking the PKs automatically. Casey's one-step approach was so strong and his aim so good that it didn't matter that he struck the ball into the same lower corner that McManus had. And it didn't matter than Kennedy again guessed correctly. The ball already had banked off the post and into goal by the time Kennedy's outstretched hands were in the lower corner. McManus is one of my favorite Rapids, but Casey on the PKs is a no-brainer.
October 20, 2008
11:14 PM
Allen writes:
I'm with you on Casey taking PKs.
October 21, 2008
2:24 PM
Nick writes:
George, agree on the Marsch incident. Marsch is a thug and he should have his hands nowhere near an official. Automatic yellow for sure. I might even go further than that. It might get a little tricky in terms of interpretation because, sometimes, a player's hand on the referee can be completely unthreatening. However, in this case, he was way out of line. I've never liked that guy. I think, in this case, it would not have been inappropriate to have sent him off. After all, players are quickly punished for even raising their hands on the field of play.
October 23, 2008
3:08 AM
Coop writes:
Personally, from observing a lot of South American / Mexican football, I think the hands-on-the-referee thing being allowed is due to cultural differences.
Having been raised watching NHL / NFL, my internal alarm always sounds when I see someone touch an official, but it looks completely understood in the Latino culture.
Still, the no-hands line is easily enforced, with zero shades of gray.