Burch, Rapids Look Forward from Outside over New England

By Brian Jennings

Colorado’s home win streak stayed intact following a second half Dominique Badji goal to down New England 1-0 in the 2017 season opener.  However, fans may not have noticed something different in the tactical movement of defenders Eric Miller and Marc Burch consistently throughout the match.

When those fullbacks were able to push forward, as they were most of the night, the attacking four of Marlon Hairston, Kevin Doyle, Badji, and Dillon Powers were able to control more of the flow of the game creating enough chances to keep New England scrambling for the majority of the 90 minutes.

“That’s part of our style we’re trying to implement this year getting us more in the attack and then us providing the width letting our forwards be more dynamic towards goal instead of just being out on the wings,” Burch told The Voice of C38 postgame.  “The more balls I can whip in the more I enjoy the game.”

“It’s definitely a different look from last year getting those outside backs more advanced,” midfielder Dillon Powers said postgame.  “It’s still a bit of a process figuring out what the best positioning is…The one thing it does give us is service into the box-from that come second balls and we’re able to keep other teams in their own half.”

As the Rapids backline will tell you, the most important focus is to defend first in Head Coach Pablo Mastroeni’s system.  Saturday night, New England’s Kei Kamara and Juan Agudelo were unable to showcase their scoring talents due largely to the lockdown efforts by Colorado’s busy fullbacks, as well as centerbacks Jared Watts and Axel Sjoberg.

Granted, Kamara forced a point blank save from Rapids keeper Zach Macmath in the first half, but that was about it on the night, to which Burch attributed a tenacious effort on those two dangerous players.  “We try to make teams uncomfortable and it starts with our pressure up top-not allowing people to play easy balls.  If Kei (Kamara) has to battle for balls all day long it’s going to be tough.  I think we made him fight every single play, instead of giving him some space where he can maneuver, and I think we were good at blocking some crosses making sure he didn’t get his head on too many.”

Marc admits things won’t always go as planned for Colorado and its evolving style of play, but one thing learned from last season is how to adapt to the situation.  “No matter what we need to do we’re going to do it and find a way to win.  We will adjust, we’ll keep fighting, we’ll keep pushing and that’s just how this team is.”

“Tonight it worked alright.  It’s a typical Rapids performance and win and we’re going to keep building on it.”