{"id":6750,"date":"2017-05-06T15:50:56","date_gmt":"2017-05-06T19:50:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsoccer.com\/?p=6750"},"modified":"2017-05-06T15:50:56","modified_gmt":"2017-05-06T19:50:56","slug":"colorado-rapids-need-to-keep-working-hard-and-catch-a-break","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/soccer\/2017\/05\/06\/colorado-rapids-need-to-keep-working-hard-and-catch-a-break\/","title":{"rendered":"Colorado Rapids Need To Keep Working Hard And Catch A Break"},"content":{"rendered":"

Editorial (May 6, 2017)<\/strong> – Striker Alan Gordon said it best: “We are struggling right now. We’re struggling to get goals. We’re struggling to see games out.”<\/em> The Colorado Rapids have lost five straight games. They have only four points on the season. They sit at the bottom of the Western Conference.<\/p>\n

Colorado Rapids Need To Keep Working Hard And Catch A Break<\/h2>\n

The Rapids had some reactions to Friday’s loss<\/a> to the Vancouver Whitecaps. There is frustration, but they aren’t discouraged. The message was clear: They’re going to keep working.<\/p>\n

The Effort Is There<\/h3>\n

Head Coach Pablo Mastroeni and the rest of the team improved from the Orlando City SC match. “Each game is getting better. We had more of an offensive threat,”<\/em> said recent acquisition Mohammad Saeid.<\/p>\n

Mastroeni added “Did they give 100%? Did they put in a great shift? And the answer is yes.”<\/em><\/p>\n

This was more of a complete performance for the Rapids than past games. They created 13 shots in total and had a majority of possession. The attack led mostly to chances from distance. The build up play was there. The effort was the defensively. The finishing hasn’t been there.<\/p>\n

Finding A Finisher\/Catching A Break<\/h3>\n

It’s fair to say that some of Colorado’s woes have been self inflicted. By design, they don’t create a lot of chances. In 2016, they were good in part because they were clinical. They haven’t been clinical in 2017. They’ve also been a bit unlucky with bounces going against them.<\/p>\n

“It’s tough for the group, you need a break, you need something to go your way so that it to open it up.. Being opportunistic is a confidence thing. We’re looking for that one moment of brilliance from someone who’s brave enough inside the area,”<\/em> said Mastroeni. “We just have to put our heads down and keep working hard. The only thing that can derail you is to stop,”<\/em> he added.<\/p>\n

Mastroeni did imply that some changes could be on the way. This past Friday was Gordon’s first start at home. It was Gashi’s first start in almost a month. The coaching staff could continue to shake things up, both in personnel and tactics.<\/p>\n

For as bad as their record is, their performances haven’t been as bad. “We’re playing well enough to get results, we’re just not. It’s fixable,”<\/em> said Gordon after the match. “There’s nothing else to do but look in the mirror, be honest with ourselves, and address the issues. We won’t give up, that’s the type of group we’ve got.”<\/em><\/p>\n

At the end of the day, the buck stops with them. Someone needs to finish a chance. This team needs a win. Then some of the pressure on the offense will be released. Maybe then, they can turn these struggles around.<\/p>\n

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Embed from Getty Images<\/a><\/div>\n