Post by QPR Report on Mar 31, 2009 12:08:25 GMT
MLS -
Despite win, Smith sees room for improvement
Rapids coach wants to fine tune defense, limit mistakes
03/30/2009 By Owen Perkins / MLSnet.com Staff
Cooke proves to be game-changer for Rapids Rapids find form in win over Wizards
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. -- The Colorado Rapids dramatically improved their outlook between their season opening 2-1 loss to Chivas and their home-opening 2-1 result over Kansas City Saturday night, but they remained vulnerable in victory, and there is room for the team to solidify its defensive play and add an element of security when protecting its net.
Perfection is a lot to expect, but it doesn't keep Rapids head coach Gary Smith from asking for it, especially after seeing a mistake cost them a point or more in L.A. two weeks ago and a flawed defensive approach result in a game-tying goal from Kansas City.
"Most teams in this league will punish us if we make mistakes," Smith said of the lapses. "The simple fact is at home, I don't know what the stats are, but we limited [Kansas City] to few opportunities. They came with a particular plan by the looks of it. They looked to stifle and slow the game down and take the sting out of it, and they did a very good job. Until the free kick, they were controlling what was going on. We found it difficult to find any openings to be positive, and when we did we weren't clinical enough."
New Rapids goalkeeper Matt Pickens allowed the game-tying goal when Wizards rookie Michael Kraus got past the back line for a one-on-one with Pickens, blasting his shot over the 'keeper and off the crossbar.
"I don't think there are going to beat many teams in this league if you offer up opportunities as we did," Smith said. "The goal was on a silver platter, missed kick, lad running on goal. They're not even situations that you would put in a training session, because they rarely happen. I'd love to be in that position on one or two occasions. It doesn't happen. We have to work for our goals. If we're going to win anything or we're going to achieve anything at all, that has to be tighter."
For his part, Pickens is feeling increasingly comfortable working with the Rapids starting defenders -- Corey Gibbs, Ugo Ihemelu, Jordan Harvey and Kosuke Kimura.
"I've got experienced guys in front of me that I'm glad to have in front of me," Pickens said. "Of course it's the second game of the season, so we do need to work on some things and work on some relationships, so that'll come with playing games."
A four-year veteran with the Chicago Fire, where he posted a 1.20 goals allowed average, Pickens is returning to MLS after a one-year hiatus that found him playing with Queens Park Rangers of England's Championship (second division).
"We do need to go back, look at the tape, and clean some things up, because I myself am still a little rough around the edges and I need to keep playing more games to get back into it again," Pickens said. "It's a result and we'll take it."
Chief among the areas to improve defensively is to fine-tune a shape that can be better prepared to deal with unanticipated lapses and avoid the "silver platter" syndrome.
"Every single time one of our defenders went to attack the ball, our back four were so flat that anything that skipped through or that was missed was going to be picked up by a forward that has a little bit of a gamble," Smith said, emphasizing the weakness in the Rapids' final third. "There wasn't any anticipation that one of our defenders might mis-head, mis-kick. We just looked vulnerable from straight balls. That can't be. I thought we were going to be punished again for a poor mistake as we were last week."
Pickens sees the issue as perhaps a touch of over-confidence, noting that sometimes belief in the team's strengths can blind them to their vulnerabilities.
"That's what we got to work on, relationships," Pickens said. "We know that we have good defense. So maybe that's getting in the way. Maybe we're a little too comfortable, but we do have good guys. We just need to work on relationships and we should be good to go. Second game, I'm pleased with what I have in front of me."
Pickens plays a vocal role conducting the defense, sharing as much as possible of his perspective from the box.
"I try to talk as much as I can," the goalkeeper said. "I feel like it helps me stay in tune with the game, so I try to blab a lot to be honest, and try to give informative stuff. Whatever they hear, whatever they take in is what they take in. If they can't hear me, they can't hear me, but I still need to do my job."
A piece of the job for every man donning the burgundy and blue is to figure out how to adjust to the mile-high atmosphere at Dick's Sporting Goods Park. Conditioning is key for the players on the pitch, but Pickens has also made careful note of the difference in the way the ball plays as it comes rifling at his nets.
"The ball definitely comes faster here," Pickens said. "It stays in the air longer. It feels like the ball just kind of goes. It doesn't really knuckle. It comes at you very fast, so you just kind of have to meet it a half-second quicker."
While he'll continue gaining experience and insight into flight patterns over the next few weeks of training, the Rapids are on the road for consecutive away matches in L.A., Columbus, and Houston. The challenging road stretch will be a vital test for the team, but with a focus for improvement and some clear strengths to build on, Pickens begins the journey feeling good about his club's chances after seeing what they could accomplish in their first victory of the season.
"We worked hard as a group," he said of Saturday's win. "We worked for each other, and I think that's what we need. It was good to get a result for working for each other. I'm happy with it."
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