Ahead of Saturday's trip to Colorado, we spoke with soccer journalist and broadcaster Jason Davis to preview #COLvSKC. Live coverage of the match is available starting at 7:30 p.m. CT on KMCI-TV (38 The Spot) and SKCTV with kickoff at 8 p.m. CT.
What are your thoughts on Colorado’s season up to this point?
Frankly, I'm astounded by how good the Rapids have been in 2016. It wasn't that long ago that we were talking about Pablo Mastroeni's job security, so to see them challenging for the Supporters Shield and the top spot in the West is a big surprise.
How much do you attribute Colorado’s strong first half to the addition of Jermaine Jones and what impact do you see Tim Howard having for the club?
Jones missed the first six games of the year, and the Rapids took 10 of 18 possible points. They've obviously gotten better since he entered the lineup, but it was clear they'd improved over last year regardless. Jones takes Colorado from a good to very good when he's on his game.
As for Howard, he's enough of an upgrade that we can expect him to earn them a handful of points more than they might have gotten otherwise. His experience and leadership is huge.
After struggling in April and May, Sporting KC have improved during the summer (unbeaten in 5 of 6). What are your thoughts on their current form and chances heading into Saturday’s match?
Sporting's form is good enough that you'd give them a shot to take Rapids down in Colorado--if it wasn't for the Rapids' near-perfect home record this season. Colorado just doesn't lose at Dick's Sporting Goods Park, so no matter what Sporting's form is over their last six games, winning will be difficult. That obviously brings up the question of how Peter Vermes should approach the game--go for the win, during a congested period in the schedule, or play it conservative and try to grab a point on the road (a fine result in MLS, to be fair).
What’s surprised you from the Western Conference this season?
Aside from the rise of the Rapids, it has to be Seattle's horrible first half. We knew things were going to be different when Obafemi Martins left for China, but I don't think anyone saw this coming. For the Sounders to be at the bottom of the conference and one of the lowest scoring teams in MLS is a massive surprise.
We are just past the halfway point of the regular season. How do you expect the Western Conference to play out and could this season be even more competitive than last season (2 points from 2nd to 6th place in 2015)?
It will certainly be tight again. Right now there are two teams with some separation at the top. but I don't expect that to be the case all the way through the second half of the season. When the stretch run games and there are only a few games left to go, I think we'll see as many as eight teams battling it out for playoffs spots and seeding, with very little decided before the final day.
