The experiment had its place, but had grown cold.
That would be the 4-2-2-2 formation the Colorado Rapids (5-5-4, seventh Western Conference) deployed in six straight matches spanning their first match against MLS expansion club San Diego FC in early April to, fittingly, their second match against SDFC last Wednesday.
It worked wonders when it first struck Dick’s Sporting Goods Park in that 2-0 win over a red-hot SDFC last month, but the weaknesses had become increasingly apparent since.
So head coach Chris Armas switched back to the 4-2-3-1 ahead of last Saturday’s Rocky Mountain Cup match against Real Salt Lake. And without their top goalkeeper in Zack Steffen and best striker in Rafael Navarro, the Rapids pulled out a 1-0 win over their biggest rival while simultaneously ending a three-game skid.
“The formation changes and the identity changes have been kind of (fluid),” said right back Reggie Cannon, who factored into the RSL match’s lone goal. “(Armas) hasn’t abandoned who we are, I think he’s just kind of shaped us in a way that’s going to force us to play to our best strengths.”
The tactical shift in April allowed Armas to get his plethora of quality central midfielders on the field at the same time. With a lack of production from the club’s wingers, Cole Bassett and Djordje Mihailovic — both center mids — acted as pseudo-wingers who pressed hard from the flanks and operated more centrally with the ball.
Effectively, the Rapids’ offense didn’t often go much wider than the 18-yard box when in the later stages of build-ups. It was a stark change from the Rapids’ identity during the Armas era, which has been to pounce in transition with young, speedy wingers like Kévin Cabral and Calvin Harris.
It went cold during the three-game losing streak that saw the Rapids score only once.
“It’s been interesting trying to find my exact position this year,” Bassett said before last Wednesday’s SDFC match. “I’ve only really played the position I did last year about twice so far (this season). That’s been a bit frustrating in terms of (being) a guy who felt like he was at the best in the league in that position and moving around a bit this year, but Djordje has done the same and so have other guys.”
Then came last weekend’s formation change from Armas.
The lone goal could be almost directly attributed to it. And, of course, the entire build-up came from out wide.
Ted Ku-DiPietro, a new winger in the system still gaining his altitude legs, just barely kept the ball in bounds with an outstretched leg and found Mihailovic. Cannon joined the attack and got the ball at the end-line and crossed it low to Bassett. He laid it off to Mihailovic, who struck the far post side netting.
With a more solid foundation, Cannon was granted the freedom to attack and roam deep enough that he ended up on his back outside RSL’s touchline as Mihailovic’s shot crossed the goal line. Armas called the match Cannon’s best in a Rapids jersey.
“(Armas) is pushing me a lot to emphasize my attacking side in the attacking third. I helped create the goal, and it doesn’t show up in the stats, but I’m trying to get in those attacking-third spaces,” Cannon said. “I’m really focusing on that this week.”
Related Articles
Rapids’ Zack Steffen called up to USMNT for June friendlies Rapids beat Real Salt Lake to begin Rocky Mountain Cup defense Zack Steffen’s connection to Rapids Unified program produces ‘life-changing’ relationship Colorado Rapids drop third straight match in loss at San Diego FC Father-son assistant coach duo on opposite sides of Rapids-Earthquakes matchThe 4-2-3-1 is familiar to the Rapids. Players know where to be and where each other is at almost all times. They don’t have to think too hard. Armas shouldn’t either when it comes to choosing which direction to go against a struggling St. Louis CITY (2-7-5, 14th Western Conference) this weekend.
Even if the 4-2-3-1 had not facilitated a turnaround against RSL, the way St. Louis plays would likely influence continuity. According to FBref, only two teams hold less possession than the Rapids. One of them is St. Louis.
By design, the way the Rapids play the 4-2-2-2 is meant to suffocate possession-based teams and steal the ball back in dangerous areas, which is effective against teams like SDFC, which possesses the ball at the second-highest rate in the MLS. That won’t be the case against St. Louis.
“We want to build on what we just did,” Armas said. “The 4-2-3-1, we were happy with that in many ways. … We had a good performance last week with Djordje in the middle, and that was a positive.”
Want more sports news? Sign up for the Sports Omelette to get all our analysis on Denver’s teams.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( Rapids found their stride against Real Salt Lake with familiar formation. Expect the same against St. Louis )
Also on site :