<b>KEY PLAYERS :</b>
ATTACKING
There is no doubt that <b>Sebastien Le Toux</b> has a high work rate, and he leads the club with four goals, but there seems to something missing from the Frenchman’s game. His normally reliable touch around the box has been absent and it has hurt Le Toux’s ability to be a playmaker for his teammates. Rennie needs his biggest offseason acquisition to step up his game as they enter the second half of the season.
The Rapids continue to use <b>Martin Rivero</b> as their main playmaker and the Argentine continues to register assists, sitting fourth in MLS. In the first match-up against the Whitecaps, he was easily Colorado’s best player and was dangerous from start to finish. Rivero will either line up in the midfield as a central attacker or wide on the right side.
[PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
DEFENCE
Because of the absences in the midfield, <b>Alain Rochat</b> may be shifted to play as a holding midfielder in place of the suspended Jun Marques Davidson. He will most likely play a similar role to Davidson, sitting in front of the back four, but expect Rochat to venture forward and use his attacking style through the middle of the pitch.
The Whitecaps were fortunate not to face <b>Marvell Wynne</b> in their first match-up, as the pacey central defender missed six straight games with an injury. While he stands less than 5’10”, Wynne is an athletic and strong player who will not shy from playing a physical game for the Rapids especially inside the box.
<b>WHO'S ON FORM :</b>
There wasn’t much to the Galaxy game, as the Whitecaps were dominated, but the best player for the visiting side was <b>Davide Chiumiento</b> once again. The Swiss international put in another ninety minutes and was the most dangerous Cap on the pitch until Camilo was substituted in. With Harvey at left back, Chiumiento will be the main playmaker on that side when the Caps move on the attack.
After missing a number of games due to injury <b>Conor Casey</b>, for the first time this season, will look to start his third straight game. He looked like his old self against Portland, where he dominated their backline and was able to contribute with his first goal of the season.
<b>2012 RECORD :</b>
Vancouver:
7W-5D-4L
4th in Western Conference
Last Match: 3-0 Loss at LA Galaxy
Colorado:
7W-1D-8L
5th in Western Conference
Last Match: 3-0 Win vs Portland Timbers
<b>PROJECTED LINE-UPS :</b>
<b>INJURIES/MISSING :</b>
Vancouver:
Out: GK Brian Sylvestre (knee), FW Atiba Harris (knee), FW Omar Salgado (foot), John Thorrington (quad), Matt Watson (ankle)
Suspended: DM Jun Marques Davidson
On Trial: FW Caleb Clarke
International Duty: MF Bryce Alderson
Colorado:
Out: DF Anthony Wallace (L Achilles tear), MF Pablo Mastroeni (headaches)
Probable: MF Jamie Smith (R ACL tear), FW Conor Casey (R hamstring strain), FW Omar Cummings (L ankle sprain)
<b>GAME ANALYSIS :</b>
The Whitecaps will look to bounce back from one of their worst performances of the season as they take on the Colorado Rapids for the second time this season. In the previous game the Whitecaps came out on top, having gone down to ten men with thirty minutes to go after Darren Mattocks received his second yellow. This will be a much different Rapids team, as they will have a number of players available to them that were missing due to injury or suspension.
For the Whitecaps, there will be questions about their midfield as Jun Marques Davidson is out due to a suspension and John Thorrington is dealing with a quad injury. The Whitecaps will have to do some shuffling as they will also have Matt Watson still on the injury list, Bryce Alderson at a U20 camp and Barry Robson may not be ready for a start. Because of this, I see them shifting Alain Rochat in the midfield to partner with Koffie as the two holding midfielders.
With Rochat moving up, Jordan Harvey will get the start at left back and join DeMerit, Bonjour and Lee on the backline in front of Joe Cannon. The wide spots will continue to have Davide Chiumiento and Sebastien Le Toux on the left and right sides. With Camilo receiving a knock in practice, Eric Hassli could see a start as the target man, while Darren Mattocks will play in behind.
While many may not be happy with Mattocks as the withdrawn striker there will be benefits that could see him get more chances on net. He will be able to get away from the physicality of the central defenders, which has frustrated him the last two games. In addition to that he will need to start his runs early, which could catch the defenders as he either gets to long balls or receives a pass from Hassli who will hold up the ball for him.
With Rochat playing as defensive midfielder, it will also be interesting to see if the Whitecaps switch to a 3-5-2 formation when on the attack as they send Lee and Harvey on the wings. Expect Gershon Koffie to play a big part of the midfield play as he will play the main connector from the backline to the attackers going forward. While he may not start, Barry Robson should definitely see some playing time, especially if the Caps find themselves behind late in the game.
The Whitecaps will need to deal with a healthy pair of strikers in Omar Cummings and Conor Casey, who were unavailable three weeks ago. However, the main threat to the Caps will be Argentine playmaker Martin Rivero, who leads the club, and is fourth in MLS, with six assists. The Rapids has a midfield very capable of scoring from distance, with Jamie Castrillon and Jeff Larentowicz combining for seven goals this season.
One of the biggest factors will be the altitude the team will have to play in at Dicks Sporting Goods Park, but Rennie doesn’t feel it will as much of a factor: "We can’t get too caught up about it psychologically, but also tactically there are a couple of things we can do. It is going to be different when altitude is involved."
If the Whitecaps are looking to get a result, they will need to play a smart game and not chase the ball around the pitch. Expect them to keep their defensive shape and try to grind out some points against the team that is one place behind them in the table.
<b>AFTN Editor's Prediction: Colorado Rapids 3 Vancouver Whitecaps 1</b>
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