Away - 09/16 Colorado
- Thread starter NYCFC_Dan
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Also, take into account Denver's altitude is not that relevant a factor. There's even debate if it is a factor at all, since your performance levels should be the same or almost the same than at sea level. Air only gets truly rarefied at above 6,000 ft. Denver is only 5,184 feet vs Mexico City 7,411. For comparisons, Quito and La Paz, where CONMEBOL qualifying matches take place, are 9,350 and 10,499.
If you want to take it more extreme, in the 1990s there was a first division team in Peru sponsored by a mining union, that played home matches at 14,210 in Cerro de Pasco. That was truly insane. Just google "Union Minas". They rarely lost at home.
This wasn't necessarily the approach the USMNT took for this year at Azteca. They purposely scheduled their game before Azteca to be played in Denver in order to start getting acclimated.
Can only imagine how high Ring's shots would go in the altitude?!? He needs to look at the blades of grass by his planted foot every time he shoots Saturday (assuming he plays).
Good idea, maybe Bravo want's to come back and destroy every player that comes through the middle near him:
The new Inside Training makes me wonder when it was recorded. Ring is training with all the other walking wounded, White and Mata, and Villa looks to be involved with the main team.
We call him Lurch. Just an fyi.
Jozy and Giovinco also aren't playing this weekend. I'm not surprised players are getting banged up.
What concerns me most is Herrera. No word of him coming back injured from VZLA camp, then all of a sudden he has a "slight" injury and hasn't been seen since. Remember Chanot was "day to day" with a slight groin injury and then bang, out eight weeks.
What concerns me most is Herrera. No word of him coming back injured from VZLA camp, then all of a sudden he has a "slight" injury and hasn't been seen since. Remember Chanot was "day to day" with a slight groin injury and then bang, out eight weeks.
It's that time of year.... lots of time on many legs.
Toronto is playing like a machine, but I gotta wonder if their important cogs have logged too many minutes for club/country and they're about to hit an injury bug through the midfield and (appears to already be) the forwards?
Atlanta is going to be teetering on the edge with so many tough minutes in the next few weeks, and all of their games are important for them... meaning likely as little rotation as possible will be done to ensure their best 11 is playing -> but that really leaves them open to injuries.
And RB is notorious for burning themselves out by the end of the season with their frenetic tempo. Throw in the multiple injuries they've carried already and they should have a tired roster.
Remember when we thought RSL was a sure-fire win after getting a point in Dallas?
We've lost some games on the road to some crap teams, but it has usually been when Vieira screwed the pooch somehow. Starting a shadow squad in Salt Lake and going with a new formation in DC are the shining examples.
I don't think Coach V will do anything out of the ordinary here, but with all the injuries, our roster could be the functional equivalent.
I don't think Coach V will do anything out of the ordinary here, but with all the injuries, our roster could be the functional equivalent.
For what it's worth, the MLS preview of Saturday's game has Villa and Herrera out and Ring as questionable. These should be taken with a Gibraltar sized grain of salt, however, as past versions have been way off.
https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2017/09/14/colorado-rapids-vs-new-york-city-fc-2017-mls-match-preview
https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2017/09/14/colorado-rapids-vs-new-york-city-fc-2017-mls-match-preview
Agreed -- the Rapids are very poor, but we are nowhere near full strength. Plus we are not accustomed to playing at altitude, even if only a mile high. That may or may not have any impact, but I wouldn't write it off. We really can't take anything for granted right now with so many injuries. I hate to say it, but under the circumstances I think I'd accept a draw (particularly if Villa is not ready to go 100%).
Villa, Mata in training today, as well as at least one academy kid.
I swear Villa is trolling us. He has posted more training photos on his IG and IG story this week then he has in a long while. And of course, I'm looking at everything trying to figure out if he is with everyone or is he is off to the side.
Probably not a good sign that a few of the pictures looked like Villa was working with Mata. That would probably indicate they are still working off to the side and not participating in full
Hard to tell with the Tweets if Villa and Mata are doing full speed work or are just conditioning on the side. Either way with Mata, it is good to see him out there period.
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