NFL
By Keith Richards
With only three matches remaining, the 2023 season is coming to a close. For many of the Rapids faithful, the season can’t end soon enough. However, Colorado’s season may not end on as much of a sour note as expected. Since stepping in as Interim Head Coach on September 6th, the Rapids seem to have a little fire back under Chris Little. So, that begs the question: Should the Colorado Rapids run it back with Chris Little in 2024?
Why not? In his short time at the helm, Chris Little has coached this downtrodden squad to noticeable improvements. No, the team has not been perfect. For that matter, Chris Little has not been perfect either, but you can just feel something there. To better understand the impact of Little, let’s take a look at the last five matches with him and the five matches previous to him.
In the five matches before (MLS and Leagues Cup play), the Rapids produced the following:
• 2-0 defeat at Real Salt Lake
• 3-0 defeat at Minnesota
• 4-0 defeat at LAFC
• 4-1 defeat “at” Toluca (played at Dick’s)
• 2-1 defeat at Nashville
That equals a minus-four goal differential over that stretch and, stating the obvious, zero points. Now, it is important to note that these five games were the end of the Robin Fraser Era. The season had long since been off the rails and the writing was on the wall that Fraser’s time was up. Before the season reached its valley, there was still optimism that there would be success. Cautious optimism, but there was still optimism. Unfortunately for Robin, that earlier season peak came too early and it was all downhill from there.
Now, in the five matches since Chris Little was named Interim Head Coach, Colorado has produced the following:
• 2-1 victory against the New England Revolution
• 1-2 defeat against the Seattle Sounders
• 3-2 defeat at Portland
• 2-2 draw against Vancouver
• 1-0 victory against Austin FC
In these five matches, the Rapids have picked up seven points with a record of 2-2-1. Before these past five matches, it was almost a certainty that Colorado would win the dreaded Wooden Spoon. Now, Chris Little has them four points clear of Toronto. That’s a goal differential over that period of zero, which also takes them out of last place for that statistic as well. So, again, why not Chris Little?
Why just take it from me though? The players have had great things to say about Interim Head Coach Chris Little as well. Chris has lived these last five matches under the mantra of “Earn the right to play,” which means simplifying the game and getting back to basics. It’s a mantra that the players seem to agree with.
After the Austin win, Goalkeeper Marko Ilic was asked how these past five matches have been under Coach Little. Ilic Stated, “They’ve been very good. Like I said, there’s some, you know, new energy in the team and it’s been going really well. Everybody was cheering for each other [and] I feel like we are improving every game. Hopefully, we’ll just stick with a game plan and listen to the coach and do whatever we can to get as much points and finish in a good fashion.”
Andreas Maxso, who scored the game-winning goal against Austin, would echo the sentiments of Ilic regarding Chris Little. He stated, “Yeah, of course, he changed some tactical stuff. It makes it easier for us. We are more compact and we don’t let [other teams] play in between the lines. We let [other teams] play outside and it makes it easier for the whole team…. I mean the whole staff, the whole group [and] the players have been really good. Since the change, everybody’s working hard in training and everybody’s listening.”
Someone who probably has benefited most from the change to Chris Little is Cole Bassett. The homegrown player from Littleton has been on an absolute tear as of late. During the five-match stretch with Coach Little, Bassett has been playing extremely well to the tune of three goals and one assist. In my opinion, you have to credit that to Chris Little.
After the Seattle loss, Cole was asked what is it Little had done to improve performance. Bassett stated, “I think for the midfield in the first halves, both of them, we’ve been flat, but, in the second halves, I think we’ve connected to each other a little bit more. That’s got more chances for the team and we’ve been able to switch play quite well as well in the second half.” Bassett has been playing a bit deeper, which suits him as he likes to make late runs into the box.
The Rapids head to Texas this week to face Dallas and Houston, on Wednesday and Saturday respectively. With both teams currently in the playoffs, strong matches against both would help Chris Little’s case quite a bit. If he continues to have the team perform well and be competitive to end the season, why not Chris Little?
