Editorial (April 23, 2018) – Jack Price has received four yellow cards in just eight league matches this season for Colorado Rapids. Prior to this weekend’s loss at Real Salt Lake, he had been carded in four straight games. Let’s take a look at this possibly worrying trend.
“We’re going to try and work on that. But at the same time, we want to have an edge about us.”
– Anthony Hudson
Rapids Manager Anthony Hudson has been feeling bittersweet about Price’s approach to physicality.
“I wish he hadn’t have done that. We’re going to try and work on that. But at the same time, we want to have an edge about us,” he told Last Word on Soccer after a recent home game.
With his next yellow card, Price will be subject to a game suspension for yellow card accumulation. If he goes without a booking in the next two matches, he’ll have one rescinded per the Good Behavior incentive.
Hudson isn’t completely upset with the approach from Price:
“There have been times in games where Price has been one of the leaders in the team, stepped up, and made a tackle, and shown a bit of aggression that’s needed in those moments. It’s just about getting the right balance.”
Breaking Down the Jack Price yellow card concerns
Unfortunately, none of Price’s yellow card highlights are available on any club or league channels. Colorado’s games of late have been eventful, so yellow cards don’t make the cut for the four-minute match highlight videos on MLSSoccer.com. Due to the league moving its streaming platform from MLS Live to ESPN+, the 10 minute condensed highlights and full game broadcast archives are harder to access.
I’m no legal expert, but I’d rather not risk getting sued for illegally pulling copyrighted league footage of these plays from any of these sources and putting them on Last Word on Soccer. I’ll do my best to describe the play visually in detail. MLS Live will be shutting down tomorrow, for your information.
With that, let’s break down every one of Price’s yellow cards and what he could have done differently.
March 24, 15th minute vs Sporting KC, 2-0:
The Pids are on fire, scoring two goals in the opening 10 minutes of play. Kansas City are playing out of the back when the ball comes centrally to Yohan Croizet. Price disrupts his dribble with a one-footed sliding tackle, raising his knee to clip Croizet who tries to hurdle Price. Croizet goes down a bit hard and the official has a textbook decision to make, giving Price the first booking of the match.
Other than Badji, every Rapids player is in the defensive half of the field. Price has three teammates in the immediate vicinity of the ball, all in the general direction he’s looking when he goes in for the challenge. Graham Zusi is the only opponent close to Croizet and the ball. Sporting has just three other players (five total) in the attacking half, all ahead of the ball. The back line is organized and well positioned.
Colorado is set up to defend what Sporting has coming. Price has help around and behind him. It’s early in the first half and his team is up 2-0.
Verdict: The official made the right call. Price made a hard tackle for no reason and should have relied on his teammates to assist or gone shoulder-to-shoulder run with Croizet if needed. That probably would have earned him a foul but not a card.
March 31, 48th minute vs Philadelphia Union, 0-0:
Price has just taken a free kick that’s been cleared out of the box. Philadelphia has possession via David Accam, who is very dangerous and is turning upfield with numbers. Badji hasn’t scored his hattrick yet. Similar to the SKC yellow, Price tries to prevent the counter with a two-footed sliding tackle from the side of Accam. He ends up getting in front of the player, tripping him up. Price doesn’t get any of the balls, but his tackle results in Colorado winning it as it rolls to Enzo Martinez. It was a studs down tackle.
Price had good intentions but overreacted unnecessarily.
From the point of the tackle, the Rapids have four field players back to defend (not including Martinez and Price). Martinez is just a step behind Accam. Accam is the furthest upfield of any Union player, with just two others outside the box. Only three of Accam’s teammates are moving with any real urgency at the time of the tackle. The game is tied and the most dangerous opponent has the ball, but the Rapids appear to have the numbers to contain the distant threat.
Verdict: Good call by the official on a tactical foul. Price had good intentions but overreacted unnecessarily.
April 7, 68th minute at FC Dallas, 0-1
The Rapids have taken the lead on a goal from Joe Mason. Dallas is building out of the back when some passing gets Colorado’s midfield out of shape. The ball comes to Mauro Diaz who Price is marking. Diaz turns towards goal with no Rapids players within at least 10 yards other than Price. Price gives Diaz a two-handed shove in the back and takes a yellow for a professional foul.
Every center back and wing back is in the defensive third for Colorado. Maximiliano Urruti and Roland Lamah are in an advanced position. Jacori Hayes is level with the ball, out wide, and is being marked by Johan Blomberg, who is behind the ball. The Rapids have numbers and the lead but aren’t in a great position. Remember also that Kip Colvey and Axel Sjoberg started this game due to injuries. Neither is faster than Diaz, who on his best day is one of the most dangerous No. 10s in the league.
Verdict: The official made the right call. Price was slightly on the cautious side but made the right decision. This is the smartest of his yellow card fouls.
April 14, 86th minute vs Toronto FC, 2-0:
The Rapids are up in the dying minutes of a game and playing well. They’ve just sprung a counter-attack. The play slows down as Price gets the ball near the middle of the field. He tries to pass it but doesn’t get enough speed on it and it is intercepted. Ager Aketxe gets it and Price runs into him with speed.
This foul was completely unnecessary. The Rapids are up two goals, the foul occurs 12 yards outside TFC’s penalty area with just three Toronto players upfield. Price is one of six Colorado players in the final third. They had players to provide coverage and the ball hadn’t even begun to get in a dangerous position in a game Colorado had firmly in hand.
Verdict: Good call by the official. Reckless and unnecessary by Price.
Last Word:
Having a good bite helps, but on most of these plays all Price has to do is bark.
There’s a clear trend when you break down the film and look at the context of each play. Price is trying to prevent opponents from creating scoring chances. He’s doing this with hardnose tackles and preventing fires before they start. But he’s also getting carded on plays where his team is in an advantageous defensive situation.
They have numbers behind the ball. They’re not outnumbered. Price usually has help close by as well. Having a good bite helps, but on most of these plays all Price has to do is bark. Stand your ground, keep pace with your mark, and trust the back line to do their job. If Price does that, he’ll stop drawing unnecessary yellow cards and the Rapids will still be fine come full time.
