Two games into the 2017 MLS season and Colorado has put up
almost mirror images in their win at home and loss on the road. Against New England, it was the Rapids who
pressed the visitors back into their own defensive third and didn’t let up
until the win was secure. However, on
the road in New York the Rapids were the ones being constantly pressured back
onto their heels finding it difficult to switch back into attack mode.
This Saturday, Colorado will need to find their creative
side, according to Forward Kevin Doyle, and not be hesitant to play on instinct
at times against what could be a desperate opponent. “We’re a very well-organized solid team that
doesn’t concede much goals and when teams are like that teams struggle to score
because you are so organized,” Doyle explains to The Voice of C38.
“It’s what works for us, it’s been brilliant for us. So it’s getting out of that mode and allowing
yourself that freedom in your head to enjoy going forward and attack instead of
worrying in your head if you lose the ball where do I go? We’re so well drilled that (part) comes
instinctively so to let our instincts take over when we’re going the other way.”
The veteran Doyle has seen both ends of the table in his
past and knows that as attackers, just letting go and trusting yourself can
provide a spark. “Sometimes there’s only
so much practicing-it’s got to be instinct.
You can’t practice individual ability to create stuff. You can practice on your technique, you can
practice on your shape and formations, but you can’t practice on certain
instincts where it comes natural that you’ve learned over years. You need to forget about it and just enjoy
when we’re attacking and the rewards will come from that.”
This could be pivotal facing Minnesota United who is looking
for something positive to cling to after conceding 11 goals in their first two
matches because a team like the Rapids don’t want to become predictable
suggests Doyle. “Sometimes you get so
worried about being in the right position, the right shape in an attacking
sense that it becomes easier for teams to defend because it becomes very set
up.”
Which is most likely what MNUFC will do is to concentrate on
defending first and see if they can make at least an improvement in one
area. “What do you do if you’ve conceded
that many goals? You come in and you organize and you make sure you don’t
concede,” says Kevin who has been there, done that. “Everyone works extra hard, everyone watches
the video, everyone is drilled to not concede.
They’ll probably put an extra man behind the ball and hope to frustrate
us. It’s the easiest thing to do, in a
way, is to come and shut up shop.”
“We’ve played against teams like that before but we just
keep getting numbers in the box and not get frustrated,” he reiterates. “From us it’s be patient, get attempts on
goal, get people in the box. Everyone’s going to be expecting whatever from
us. I can see them coming here and be
very patient, put a lot of people behind the ball and make it very difficult
for us. From our point of view it’s not
to get too frustrated and keep doing the right things.”
“MLS is so even there’s not a massive difference in any of
the teams. Once (MNUFC) get settled and
used to the league they’ll be fine it’s just they’ve been caught on the hop the
first few games and its made headlines.
They’ll be fine but I don’t want it to be this weekend,” Doyle says with
a big laugh. “I want it to be us
celebrating the end of the game. If it’s
1-nil I don’t care.”
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