On March 8, Austin FC hosted the Colorado Rapids, losing 1-0 due to letting in a Rafael Navarro goal and not being able to match it. At the time, we checked in with our friend Matt Pollard from Burgundy Wave and decided to do it again ahead of Saturday night's Commerce City contest to complete the season series.
(Unless they, know, meet in the play-in game in October. Given their records right now, could totally happen!)
(Emergency Podcast was, however, split on a prediction as to whether Verde would break the current eight-match winless streak going in league play.)
To the questions!
Both Cole Bassett and Zack Steffen are out for this match ... how will those absences affect the Rapids, and who should we expect to see in the lineup for them?
Nico Hansen will start in goal. He has been a wonderful surprise this season. He joined Colorado Rapids 2 basically on a flier. Two injuries later, he started a home game against Seattle Sounders. He's done very well for a guy who's played four games. He's calm and collected when he has to make a save. He's been aggressive coming off his line. He made a PK save look easy at Portland last week.
Steffen's obviously a better keeper. Hansen might not be as good playing out of the back or organizing the defense. But he's making it work. He's yet to be at fault in the three goals he's given up.
Without Cole Bassett, this Rapids midfield is in flux. Chris Armas has tried a few formations and combinations this year with mixed results. He presses very well from a deeper role and still makes it easy for Colorado to get in transition. And he contributes with goals. He could have been Best XI last year. Nobody else on this roster does what Bassett does.
Oli Larraz is press-resistant and very skilled on the ball. Josh Atencio has as good a defensive work rate. Connor Ronan does all the things good but isn't elite at anything.
Colorado returned to the 4-2-3-1 after his injury and got two home wins. Then the Portland game happened. I don't know what the formation will be. Expect Larraz to be the 8, Atencio at the 6, and everyone around them to pick up slack.
At 6-6-4 and with a -4 goal differential, there's some strong middle-of-the-pack energy around the Rapids right now. Is that where they're fated to stay, or is there hope they can get beyond that into a safer playoff position by the end of the year?
My podcast cohost Rabbi Mark Goodman and I both had them 6th in the conference in our preseason predictions. I'd say they're slightly behind that right now. They've had a number of injuries to deal with. They prioritized Concacaf Champions Cup to start the year and nearly got that first-ever result at LAFC. Armas has played the kids and several of them are getting better. Things started clicking this time last year. Let's see what happens. If you told me they finish just outside the top four and have a first-round exit in November, I would not be surprised.
As with Austin, there are currently no Rapids in any of the positional top fives for All-Star voting. If Nico Estévez asked your advice for which Colorado player he should add to the roster (as he will get to pick 12 players), which player would you suggest and what's your case?
If one Rapids player is going to the All-Star game, it has to be Đorđe Mihailović. He's the straw that stirs the drink. He had 11 goals and 14 assists last year just in MLS play. He's got seven and three so far this year. He scoress banger free kicks and he's good on pens, all while doing all the other pressing and possession requirements.
The only other one you could really make the argument for is Zack Steffen. His post-shot expected goals are much improved from last year. But he's been injured and I think there are some better candidates out there. I would be shocked if Colorado got more than one MLS All-Star, given the roster selection has been a popularity contest for years. But I would be surprised and disappointed if they didn't get any.
Sam Bassett and Jackson Travis both have a shout for the MLS Next All-Star team.
Verde All Day is a reader-supported online publication covering Austin FC. Additional support is provided by Austin Telco Federal Credit Union. You can comment here if you’re a subscriber, or reach out via Bluesky.
On March 8, Austin FC hosted the Colorado Rapids, losing 1-0 due to letting in a Rafael Navarro goal and not being able to match it. At the time, we checked in with our friend Matt Pollard from Burgundy Wave and decided to do it again ahead of Saturday night's Commerce City contest to complete the season series.
(Unless they, know, meet in the play-in game in October. Given their records right now, could totally happen!)
(Emergency Podcast was, however, split on a prediction as to whether Verde would break the current eight-match winless streak going in league play.)
To the questions!
Both Cole Bassett and Zack Steffen are out for this match ... how will those absences affect the Rapids, and who should we expect to see in the lineup for them?
Nico Hansen will start in goal. He has been a wonderful surprise this season. He joined Colorado Rapids 2 basically on a flier. Two injuries later, he started a home game against Seattle Sounders. He's done very well for a guy who's played four games. He's calm and collected when he has to make a save. He's been aggressive coming off his line. He made a PK save look easy at Portland last week.
Steffen's obviously a better keeper. Hansen might not be as good playing out of the back or organizing the defense. But he's making it work. He's yet to be at fault in the three goals he's given up.
Without Cole Bassett, this Rapids midfield is in flux. Chris Armas has tried a few formations and combinations this year with mixed results. He presses very well from a deeper role and still makes it easy for Colorado to get in transition. And he contributes with goals. He could have been Best XI last year. Nobody else on this roster does what Bassett does.
Oli Larraz is press-resistant and very skilled on the ball. Josh Atencio has as good a defensive work rate. Connor Ronan does all the things good but isn't elite at anything.
Colorado returned to the 4-2-3-1 after his injury and got two home wins. Then the Portland game happened. I don't know what the formation will be. Expect Larraz to be the 8, Atencio at the 6, and everyone around them to pick up slack.
At 6-6-4 and with a -4 goal differential, there's some strong middle-of-the-pack energy around the Rapids right now. Is that where they're fated to stay, or is there hope they can get beyond that into a safer playoff position by the end of the year?
My podcast cohost Rabbi Mark Goodman and I both had them 6th in the conference in our preseason predictions. I'd say they're slightly behind that right now. They've had a number of injuries to deal with. They prioritized Concacaf Champions Cup to start the year and nearly got that first-ever result at LAFC. Armas has played the kids and several of them are getting better. Things started clicking this time last year. Let's see what happens. If you told me they finish just outside the top four and have a first-round exit in November, I would not be surprised.
As with Austin, there are currently no Rapids in any of the positional top fives for All-Star voting. If Nico Estévez asked your advice for which Colorado player he should add to the roster (as he will get to pick 12 players), which player would you suggest and what's your case?
If one Rapids player is going to the All-Star game, it has to be Đorđe Mihailović. He's the straw that stirs the drink. He had 11 goals and 14 assists last year just in MLS play. He's got seven and three so far this year. He scoress banger free kicks and he's good on pens, all while doing all the other pressing and possession requirements.
The only other one you could really make the argument for is Zack Steffen. His post-shot expected goals are much improved from last year. But he's been injured and I think there are some better candidates out there. I would be shocked if Colorado got more than one MLS All-Star, given the roster selection has been a popularity contest for years. But I would be surprised and disappointed if they didn't get any.
Sam Bassett and Jackson Travis both have a shout for the MLS Next All-Star team.
Verde All Day is a reader-supported online publication covering Austin FC. Additional support is provided by Austin Telco Federal Credit Union. You can comment here if you’re a subscriber, or reach out via Bluesky.
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