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Rough waters Rapids coach contemplates shakeup for playoffs
Posted: Thursday October 14, 1999 07:58 PM
DENVER (AP) -- The last weekend of the Major League Soccer regular season couldn't have turned out worse for the Colorado Rapids, and coach Glenn Myernick is contemplating a change in lineup as the team gears up for the Western Conference playoffs. “We don't have anyone from our midfield players and front players who distinguished himself during the second half of the season,” Myernick said. “Not just in terms of points, but in the consistency and quality of play. “It's not the right time of year to be [reevaluating personnel], but that's the reality of the situation.” The Rapids hit the skids at midseason. But going into the last weekend of regular season play, they still had a chance to finish first and with the Western Conference title. Instead they ended up fourth. The other three Western Conference playoff teams all won, while the Rapids came away with a 2-0 loss to Miami on Saturday. Colorado lost the opportunity to win home-field advantage and now must face Western Conference champions Los Angeles in a best-of-three series in the first round of the playoffs. The Rapids play their first home playoff game at Mile High Stadium on Oct. 22. Should the series go three games, the deciding game would be played at the Rose Bowl on Oct. 27. The Rapids were shutout in each of their last five games -- an MLS record. “I would say effort is a huge part of it,” Myernick said. “But I would have to say that we at times have not had enough good soccer players. Put it this way: The guys we had on the field during the second half of the season did not take care of the ball well enough.” Myernick gave the team Monday off before resuming training for the playoffs. He is hoping the week-long wait will help the Rapids. “We need to have some positive training sessions,” Myernick said. “We need to get our confidence back.” Injuries have cost the Rapids dearly and the team still isn't at full strength after Ross Paule turned his ankle last week against Chicago on the Mile High Stadium turf. Midfielder Anders Limpar, who missed 11 straight games, also sat out the Miami game because of a red card assessed in the Chicago game. The Rapids haven't done well at Los Angeles. They lost both games there this season (2-1 and 4-0) and trail 7-1 over four seasons.
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