Shrader's Spin: Of clouds and rain
Quakes trying to outrun rain clouds, both literally and metaphorically
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It may be the quote of the year, coming from Chris Wondolowski: "It feels like one of those cartoons where the cloud and rain are just following us wherever we go."
That's, of course, metaphorical, but the clouds and the rain have literally followed the Quakes to the nation's capital. It was damp and cold in Denver, where the Quakes settled for a second straight 1-1 game with the Rapids. Colorado managed to tie both of those games with stoppage time PKs from Connor Casey.
Here in D.C., it's warmer and damp. And D.C., like Colorado, is smack-dab in the middle of the playoff chase. No MLS game earlier this week for D.C., but they managed a CONCACAF Champions League win, 3-0, over Honduran club Marathon.
Those cartoon clouds may be a funny way to describe what's happened to a team that has seen about a half-dozen potential wins turn into late draws. But the clouds belie the fact that this team is getting better, they're playing with more confidence and I think they are only a couple of plays away from busting out; maybe Sunday afternoon in RFK Stadium.
"We're close," said head coach Frank Yallop. "The building blocks are there for us to be a solid team." "I think we're going to keep our same attitude," Wondolowski said. "Minus the stoppage time mindset, we're going to play our game. We're going to try to put one in the back of the net. Our defense is playing really well right now."
In the second half of the game Wednesday night in Denver, Yallop had to mix-and-match his lineup because of more injuries, particularly a twisted ankle for Andre Luiz. With the playoff numbers not adding up for the Quakes you could expect more lineup changes, as the Quakes use the final month of the season to tune up for 2010.
"Mentally we've taken a punch or two," said goalkeeper Joe Cannon. "But hopefully we come back a little stronger, especially next year."
