Denver, CO, September 17, 2004 (CSA) — "If you haven't got your health, you haven't got anything."

So was said to Prince Humperdinck in the movie "The Princess Bride," and so it remains true for the Colorado Rapids.

Two drivers account for the recent run, which sees the Rapids on top in MLS and winning four of their last five matches after being the top "play-to-tie" team in the league.

Health is one of those, according to Head Coach Tim Hankinson.

"Over the course of the season we've endured any number of obstacles," explained Hankinson, "most of them health issues."

"The past four or five games is a reflection of guys getting healthy, so we're able to present our best choices. We're getting weeks of training under our belt with that group, getting games with that group. That's why we're starting to build something.

"For us to continue, it has to be fueled by a fire, and we have to keep building that. If it goes out, we end up like last year -- flat end of season, flat in the playoffs."

And that's the second key to the Rapids future success: attitude on and off the pitch.

"We have to play with emotion," says Hankinson.

As right wingback Antonio De la Torre commented in the final training session before the team departed to New England for their Saturday against the Revolution, "There is no magic wand. It's plain hard work, everyone on the same channel and everyone playing as a team, together, looking for the same goal."

The success of the Rapids on the road these next two games will hinge on their ability to maintain 180 minutes of energetic, winning emotion.

Chris Henderson also believes the "[team] needs to keep the attitude that if we work hard, good things will happen. The next two games are huge and are going to show our character, and hopefully we come out and get results."

From the coach on down to the midfield and back line, the Rapids also have confidence in their tactical understanding of New England's primary threats and strengths.

The ability of New England to send in accurate and dangerous crosses is of primary concern. A tactic the Rapids have struggled against all season, the back line will be under pressure to provide the cushion necessary to allow the mids and forwards to continue a possession-based attacking strategy.

Nobody sees this more clearly than Henderson.

"[Steve] Ralston's a good crosser, he looks for guys in the box," said the veteran midfielder. "[Clint] Dempsey, he comes late from the midfield. They're a crossing team. We've talked about this. We have to recognize what their strengths our, but we have to play our game."

Hankinson agrees.

"If you take one aspect of their game and say 'what is their bread and butter...?' Well, what was the bread and butter of Kansas City? Defending, drawing you in and then counterattacking," said the Rapids coach.

And for the New England Revolution?

"It's Ralston to Twellman or Noonan on the cross," added Hankinson. "Each team has their go-to style and we have to be prepared to deal with that.

"The style of New England, with Pat Noonan and [Taylor] Twellman [up top] and Dempsey starting in place of [José] Cancela and coming into the box late, they are a very straightforward crossing team.

"You have [Brian] Kamler on the left side and Ralston on the right [to send in crosses], or perhaps Richie Baker."

Certainly New England has a lot of individual talent, but it remains to be seen whether they can find a cohesive playing strategy on the field.

"It's going to be a tough game," said MLS MVP frontrunner Joe Cannon. "New England is fighting for their playoff lives too. We've got to get up early. If we get down against a team like that they're going to bunker down."

The Rapids have made successful alterations to their midfield strategy, which they hope will continue to reap rewards and goals in their final four games.

Hankinson sees these midfield changes as having been necessary. For example, with Pablo Mastroeni back and now in the defensive midfield —but not fully ready— they pushed left midfielder Mark Chung to the center and added Jordan Cila in the midfield.

Hankinson further explained that the idea was to do this until "[Pablo's] 110 percent ready to go any distance under any type of match play."

Also, Chung's game has accelerated from being put in the middle, and the coach is trying to "focus on playing players to their present strength."

"Keeping Chung more central would be to our benefit and his benefit," said Hankinson. "We also feel Jordan has been instrumental in linking our forwards and midfielders, allowing us to attack in numbers."

De la Torre also sees benefits accruing to the entire team with the reconfiguration in midfield players and positioning.

"We're trying to pressure higher, not in our 18," De la Torre said. "Our back four is pushing our midfield, who is responding and pushing our strikers so the entire team can pressure on the [opponent's] half of the field.

"For me being a right back or playing defensive mid, I see my midfield playing better, being a little higher. When they drop, we have to drop and our strikers don't drop — so between our mid and strikers there is too much space.

"The opponent plays in that space, and that's when the gaps open. When our midfield pushes up, we close that."

Success breeds confidence, but the Rapids don't appear to be falling into the trap of overconfidence. Healthy players have brought competition to a new level on the training ground and in the game, and respect for opponents chasing them may keep Colorado from the pitfalls recently seen among other MLS standouts.

Players like Henderson know this is an important time and the Rapids have an opportunity to make their mark.

"To have a chance to win the league in the regular season, it means you are the best team over 10 months, not just one month, and that's a big accomplishment," Henderson said.

Colorado start a two-game road trip against the Revolution Saturday, 5:30 p.m. (MDT). The game will be available on television for Rapids fans via the Direct Kick pay package.

The list of substitutes expected to travel with the team includes Scott Vallow, Alberto Delgado, Ricky Lewis (in favor of the injured Gary Sullivan, recently downgraded to OUT), Seth Trembly and Kyle Beckerman.

Of note, this will be the first MLS soccer game viewed by the world's newest soccer fan. I am ecstatic to share that my beautiful second son Liam was born Sunday morning (a bit earlier than expected), and so the estimable Mr. Sweezey will continue his excellent reporting of Rapids soccer solo for the next month.

BilFish can be reached at bilfish@cybersoccernews.com.
© Fisher/Cyber Soccer Associates, LLC 2004