Rapids vs. Impact: Kill ‘Em With Variety

So here's where I juggle things a bit to get a result: the starting three up top. If I were managing the team — I've won several Football Manager trophies, I'll have you know! — here's some of the line ups I might consider:

Pareja can't afford to do that against a much better Montreal defense. If he starts Atiba and Labrocca again, the game's pretty much over before it began, especially because at that point 2/3 strikers on the field will be slow, and easily closed down by Montreal's defense, which is light on pace but heavy on talent.

There are three types of attacking players in my mind:

That in mind, let's put those three lineups I posted up there a different way:

If I'm going to wager a guess, I'd say that the first option up there, despite lacking finesse, is probably the most likely one we'll see. Though 'finesse' is missing, I'd argue that Harbottle's ability to run at people with his quick feet on the ball makes him close enough, and Brown's mix of the best of both worlds helps out even more. When I talk about variety in the attack, that's what I'm referring to.

Now, finishing is another story, but a story for another time. If there's no variety in the attack for the Rapids on Sunday though, I've got a bad feeling that we won't see any chances that will need finishing in the first place, and at this point, we're working on baby steps. If baby steps somehow get us back to the United States with a point in hand, I doubt any of us will be complaining.