Pre-Game: @ RSL

by Brendan "Dr. Voice" Wyatt

Our Rapids are heading to Krypton and so are some of C38, where the burgundy boys will attempt to bag a rare 3 points from Rio Tinto stadium.  The fact that the Rapids have yet to win at Rio Tinto is one that any Rapids fan; player or coach wants to change. It’s hard to defend the Rocky Mountain Cup when you struggle to get points away from home. 

 

If you haven’t read, or felt on your own that this is a different Rapids team, you’re probably not reading this.  But, it’s being said with emphasis this season and with ten new guys on the roster it’s hard to deny.  The question could be raised, that if there are so many new guys on the squad, could that have an effect on how they view the Rocky Mountain Cup? I will admit every answer I heard this week went something along the lines of; we take every game seriously.  Granted that’s the cliché answer, but if they are new to the club they don’t know that isn’t the answer that C38 wants to hear.

 

What they do want to hear is how they will fight for three points.  Especially when they are going to a place where three points is hard to get, no matter what team it is.  They want to hear that the guys who can make an impact on the game are the ones that are playing.  They want to hear that when the players see RSL on the schedule that they circle that one as a vital one.  Two out of three isn’t bad, remember that our head coach is the same guy who ripped off his jersey and shoved it down his pants in an emotional ending to an RSL game.  If anyone can spur the boys on, it’s Coach Pablo.

We shouldn’t expect much of a change in the lineup, or the way the burgundy boys play this week.  They will go out and attack from the get go. Attack is the best form of defense, and the Rapids have ones of the best defenses yet so far.  Shkelzen Gashi is due for a goal and if you’re a betting person, bet a pint on Marco Pappa having something to do with it.

 

This is the first of three games in 8 days, with Sporting KC and New York red Bulls up next, the lads are prepared and fit and will fight hard to win, in any environment.

There are a few ways to catch the game, Blue Spruce Brewing is a good way to catch a game if you love draft brew. Otherwise you can catch the game on Altitude, coverage starts at 7:30.

Predicted Starting XI: Zac MacMath, Eric Miller, Axel Sjoberg, Bobby Burling, Marc Burch, Sam Cronin, Michael Azira, Marco Pappa, Dillon Powers, Shkelzen Gashi, Luis Solignac.