I have been productive this week and have already sent subscribers 8,000 words on the new NFL season, including a handful of previews for Sunday and some huge priced long term suggestions. In addition, I have just sent today's notes which ran to 4,700 words and including full previews of six games , you can read one below along with some basic stats on other MLS games taking place today. The half price subscription offer is still valid ( see above post) and if you are quick to take advantage I can send as a bonus (free stuff !), all of the NFL and todays notes, which will give you plenty of Saturday reading !
MLS:
Colorado Rapids- Seattle Sounders
Rapids 14 home games have seen 30 goals total at 2.14 per game before the break, a HUGE number.
Colorado have scored 8 in their last two home starts, Seattle's last 6 starts have produced 28 goals and there have been 3+ goals in 6/7 h2h games in Commerce City.
Rapids came into this season with huge hopes for the campaign, but 9 points from their opening 14 starts put paid to those ambitions and head coach Brad Friedel lost his job to be replaced by Conor Casey and the improvement was almost immediate and early in that revival I wrote .............
That came ahead of a 3-1 defeat of FC Cincinnati last week, a game in which Rapids also missed a further four big scoring opportunities, they have now scored in their last nine home starts, at an average of 2.11 per game, with 2+ goals in 7 of those , including 12 in the last five. They are clearly scoring and creating freely here at the rarified atmosphere of Commerce City which is at 1,574m above sea level and stopped giving away the silly goals which were plaguing them early season. Midfielder Jack Price told the club's main supporter blog this week that the biggest difference is one thing: “Getting our first win. It’s given the lads a lot of confidence. Since then we’ve shown we can win games in this league, training’s been good, we’ve worked hard for each other. That’s a key point—everyone’s working well, training well—I think that’s important. You train how you play.”
Interim HC Conor Casey has taken the reigns and made subtle tweaks to the daily regimen allowing the Rapids to get back to basics, according to Price. “There’s more freedom for the lads,” said the Pride of Shropsire. “Mentally, we’ve got less to deal with in terms of training. We’re just going out in training and enjoying it. There’s days where it’s just football and they can enjoy it.”
“It wasn’t anything to do with the previous manager, but when you go on a run like that you start to not enjoy it as much. Getting that win, getting that laughter back in training helps. Conor doesn’t give us too much to think about in terms of tactics and I think that’s helped a few of the lads,” he said. “We just concentrate on what we can affect today. You don’t think about anything else apart from your role and your job on a Saturday and so far, so good.”
Casey echoed those thoughts earlier in the week, saying he just wants the players to focus on their jobs day-to-day. “We’re only talking about processes and what we’re doing each day,” said the former Rapids striker. “I think they listen to me, but more importantly they’re listening to each other, and that’s the part that is the strongest thing.”
Pre season Rapids had big hopes for this season and are at least showing signs of that, even if it is too soon to really call it a turnaround.
They have subsequently taken 21 points from their last 14 starts and that is top 6 form. They are too far off that top 6 to get into the playoffs, but are playing well, are under no pressure and I suspect why Rapids opted to appoint Robin Fraser as permanent head coach early last week in a bit of a surprise appointment given how well Caey had done, giving him a chance to build now for next season. But Fraser started with a 2-0 win away to NYRB last weekend and will be very keen to win on his home debut, he will be without four players on international duty, but that is as nothing compared to Sounders who are without ten due to call ups.........Arreaga (Ecuador),Delem (Martinique),Jones (T&T),Morris (USA),Nouhou (Cameroon U-23),Ocampo-Chavez (USA U-17),C. Roldan (USA),Ruidíaz (Peru),Smith (Australia),Svensson (Sweden). That's five players who started their last league game, six who played and leaves them very short defensively. Home win.
1.75 units Colorado Rapids -0.5 ball 2.12 asian line/Sportmarket.
Orlando City- LAFC
OC have scored 7 of 13 home second half goals in the final 15 minutes.
LAFC have scored 10 road goals in that same final 15 minutes. They have scored 2+ goals in their last five away starts, 14 total.
New York City FC- New England Patriots
NYCFC have a +2 first half goal difference, which sky rockets to +11 in the second half.
NER have a fine +4 road goal difference in the opening hour of games, but fall away to -12 in the final 30.
City have won 7/10 with both teams scoring in 9 of those.
Both teams have scored in 7 of 10 Revolution starts, including their last four.
H2h wise both teams have scored in 4/5 meetings in Yankee Stadium.
FC Cincinnati- Toronto FC
FCC have conceded 24 of 28 home goals in the last hour of games.
TFC have scored 10/14 road goals in the last 30 minutes, conceding 16/21 away goals after the break.
FCC last 10 starts have seen both to score in 9 , losing 7 of the last 9.
Both teams have scored in 7 of Toronto's last 8.
Good Luck.
