No Fan Alone Colorado Rapids Supporters

Honestly, if anything exemplifies how weird the final hours of the MLS playoff race have become, it’s the outcome of the Chicago-Chivas game on Thursday. The teams were tied 0-0 in the 67th minute when Blanco launched a corner kick that was headed into the net – not on purpose – by a Chivas player. So the Chicago Fire advance to the playoffs based on an own goal. That’s faintly embarrassing, but I’m sure they’ll take it nevertheless.

So now it’s the Rapids turn to come up with some way to win this weekend against Real Salt Lake. A win and they’re in. A draw or a loss – well they aren’t necessarily not in, but that might not become clear until Sunday evening when all the MLS 2009 season games are finally over. None of the Rapids, least of all Gary Smith, wants to depend on other teams’ results to advance. His comments on the upcoming RSL match reflected a gritty determination that “we don’t get beat.” “It will be a tooth and nail competition,” with both teams anxious and edgy, with so much on the line. He’s hopeful that the officials will be able to keep the game under control, and that the crowd’s energy will inspire the players.

Gary spent some time comparing the team’s current status to last season. He feels that the team is in better mental and physical shape than they were a year ago, injuries aside. They’ve been in the Top 8 for most of the season, and they’ve clawed points out of recent games when they should have been beaten.

The recent game against Dallas comes to mind. According to my source, the team felt that it was one of their worse efforts this year. On the other hand, some of the fans watching with me were lamenting that Dallas looked terrible, and how could the Rapids lose to a team that couldn’t finish goals in an open net. But lose they did. Pat Noonan scored on a set up from the hard-working Nick LaBrocca. Smith thought Noonan’s shot was very well taken, and likes that he keeps his cool in these situations. He wishes more players would step up and create scoring opportunities. A lot of the discussion today focused on Omar Cumming’s recent inability to score, and Smith noted that his chances have been fewer and farther between due to the loss of the wide players like Colin Clark. More scoring threats from the midfield would force the opponents to spread the focus around more.

Despite the dysfunction in Dallas, I noticed that Nick LaBrocca was all over the pitch, trying to create some scoring opportunities. Class VI fans noticed, too, as he seems to have won MOTM this week. I asked him about being, as Smith noted previously, under appreciated. Nick replied that maybe being unnoticed is good. He can do his job better. Given that he’s a bit incognito now, with a shorter haircut, Real players might not recognize him at all. He says his responsibility is to do whatever the game calls for, figuring out which of the forward players has a “hot hand”, and feeding the ball to them. Which means, if someone seems to be successful getting through the defenders, then send the ball their way. And if no one has a “hot hand”, then try to make his own chances.

How can the Rapids improve their chances? The midfielders need to step up and become threatening. There, wasn’t that an easy solution. If saying “Make it so” would work, I’d say that. Instead, there’s a poll: which midfielder do you think has what it takes to step up and become a scoring threat in this time of need?