Matt Pollard
@bymattpollard.bsky.social
The Trent Crimm of #Rapids96 Managing Editor @burgundywave.bsky.social
Cohost @rapids96podcast.bsky.social
2024 MLS Western Conference Beat Writer of the Year
Cohost @rapids96podcast.bsky.social
2024 MLS Western Conference Beat Writer of the Year
Pinned
Chris Armas will not return as Colorado Rapids head coach. Here’s my reaction and reporting, and no personal beef:
burgundywave.com/2025/10/27/c...
burgundywave.com/2025/10/27/c...
Reposted by Matt Pollard
34' GOAL, R2!!
Mamadou Billo Diop scores remarkably as it bounces off his back foot and it loops into the back of the net. Stevie Flores with a heckuva cross. Diop literally over ran the ball, stuck his back foot out and it somehow found it and went in. Sam Bassett was the decoy. 1-0, R2. #Rapids96
Mamadou Billo Diop scores remarkably as it bounces off his back foot and it loops into the back of the net. Stevie Flores with a heckuva cross. Diop literally over ran the ball, stuck his back foot out and it somehow found it and went in. Sam Bassett was the decoy. 1-0, R2. #Rapids96
November 9, 2025 at 12:46 AM
34' GOAL, R2!!
Mamadou Billo Diop scores remarkably as it bounces off his back foot and it loops into the back of the net. Stevie Flores with a heckuva cross. Diop literally over ran the ball, stuck his back foot out and it somehow found it and went in. Sam Bassett was the decoy. 1-0, R2. #Rapids96
Mamadou Billo Diop scores remarkably as it bounces off his back foot and it loops into the back of the net. Stevie Flores with a heckuva cross. Diop literally over ran the ball, stuck his back foot out and it somehow found it and went in. Sam Bassett was the decoy. 1-0, R2. #Rapids96
Inbox: Anders Dreyer wins MLS Newcomer of the Year. Ran away with it. Cooked with San Diego.
November 4, 2025 at 4:03 PM
Inbox: Anders Dreyer wins MLS Newcomer of the Year. Ran away with it. Cooked with San Diego.
Inbox: Dayne St. Clair wins Goalkeeper of the Year. 10/10 no notes
🌟 My 2025 MLS Award Ballots:
🏆MVP: Lionel Messi
👨🏫Coach: Jesper Sørensen
🏰Defender: Alex Freeman
🧤GK: Dayne St. Clair
🆕Newcomer: Anders Dreyer
🚼Young: Obed Vargas
🤕Comeback: Nick Hagglund
🫶Humanitarian: Jonathan Osorio
😮💨Center Referee: Allan Chapman
⛳️Assistant: Cory Richardson
🏆MVP: Lionel Messi
👨🏫Coach: Jesper Sørensen
🏰Defender: Alex Freeman
🧤GK: Dayne St. Clair
🆕Newcomer: Anders Dreyer
🚼Young: Obed Vargas
🤕Comeback: Nick Hagglund
🫶Humanitarian: Jonathan Osorio
😮💨Center Referee: Allan Chapman
⛳️Assistant: Cory Richardson
November 3, 2025 at 6:16 PM
Inbox: Dayne St. Clair wins Goalkeeper of the Year. 10/10 no notes
With tonight being Rapids 2’s final home game, it’s finally lights out at DICK’s for 2025. MLS Decision Day and the NEXT Pro WCF were climactic. Season 10 in the books. Grateful. Humbled. NOGFC TID. I hit a DECADE in the DSGP press box come March 12. Can’t wait @coloradorapidssc.bsky.social
November 3, 2025 at 6:44 AM
With tonight being Rapids 2’s final home game, it’s finally lights out at DICK’s for 2025. MLS Decision Day and the NEXT Pro WCF were climactic. Season 10 in the books. Grateful. Humbled. NOGFC TID. I hit a DECADE in the DSGP press box come March 12. Can’t wait @coloradorapidssc.bsky.social
Colorado Rapids 2 win the MLS NEXT Pro Western Conference:
- Catharsis for Erik Bushey
- "Flipping the script"
- The kids me the moment
- James Cameron's knee slide celly
burgundywave.com/2025/11/02/c...
- Catharsis for Erik Bushey
- "Flipping the script"
- The kids me the moment
- James Cameron's knee slide celly
burgundywave.com/2025/11/02/c...
November 3, 2025 at 6:38 AM
Colorado Rapids 2 win the MLS NEXT Pro Western Conference:
- Catharsis for Erik Bushey
- "Flipping the script"
- The kids me the moment
- James Cameron's knee slide celly
burgundywave.com/2025/11/02/c...
- Catharsis for Erik Bushey
- "Flipping the script"
- The kids me the moment
- James Cameron's knee slide celly
burgundywave.com/2025/11/02/c...
Sydney Wathuta Hive: “He’s a beautiful footballer,” who is cooking in MLS NEXT Pro and looked like himself in a debut against a Liga MX contender
burgundywave.com/2025/11/02/s...
burgundywave.com/2025/11/02/s...
November 2, 2025 at 8:47 PM
Sydney Wathuta Hive: “He’s a beautiful footballer,” who is cooking in MLS NEXT Pro and looked like himself in a debut against a Liga MX contender
burgundywave.com/2025/11/02/s...
burgundywave.com/2025/11/02/s...
Mamadou Billo Diop: The Best Colorado Rapids 2 Player You've Never Heard Of
burgundywave.com/2025/11/02/m...
burgundywave.com/2025/11/02/m...
November 2, 2025 at 5:35 PM
Mamadou Billo Diop: The Best Colorado Rapids 2 Player You've Never Heard Of
burgundywave.com/2025/11/02/m...
burgundywave.com/2025/11/02/m...
Reposted by Matt Pollard
A Year Below Expectation
HTHL's year end review of what went wrong for the Colorado Rapids in 2025.
@rapids96podcast.bsky.social
open.substack.com/pub/holdingt...
HTHL's year end review of what went wrong for the Colorado Rapids in 2025.
@rapids96podcast.bsky.social
open.substack.com/pub/holdingt...
A Year Below Expectation
The 2025 Rapids were constructed by Pádraig Smith and led by Chris Armas in search of a trophy. The team fell well short. Here's HTHL's after-action report of what went wrong this year.
open.substack.com
October 31, 2025 at 2:56 PM
A Year Below Expectation
HTHL's year end review of what went wrong for the Colorado Rapids in 2025.
@rapids96podcast.bsky.social
open.substack.com/pub/holdingt...
HTHL's year end review of what went wrong for the Colorado Rapids in 2025.
@rapids96podcast.bsky.social
open.substack.com/pub/holdingt...
Takeaways From the Pádraig Smith and Kevin Demoff Press Conference:
burgundywave.com/2025/10/31/k...
burgundywave.com/2025/10/31/k...
October 31, 2025 at 5:13 PM
Takeaways From the Pádraig Smith and Kevin Demoff Press Conference:
burgundywave.com/2025/10/31/k...
burgundywave.com/2025/10/31/k...
Back again for the coaching search/off season press conference. I’m just here to ask reasonable questions. Hoping for reasonable responses and reactions.
October 30, 2025 at 5:57 PM
Back again for the coaching search/off season press conference. I’m just here to ask reasonable questions. Hoping for reasonable responses and reactions.
Inbox: Alex Freeman wins MLS Young Player of the Year. Deserving. Glad another person I voted for win.
October 30, 2025 at 5:56 PM
Inbox: Alex Freeman wins MLS Young Player of the Year. Deserving. Glad another person I voted for win.
Inbox: Nick Hagglund wins Comeback Player of the Year. Lots of good candidates for this one. Chose him because of the severity of the injury and because of how high a level he returned to, contributing to FCC's success.
🌟 My 2025 MLS Award Ballots:
🏆MVP: Lionel Messi
👨🏫Coach: Jesper Sørensen
🏰Defender: Alex Freeman
🧤GK: Dayne St. Clair
🆕Newcomer: Anders Dreyer
🚼Young: Obed Vargas
🤕Comeback: Nick Hagglund
🫶Humanitarian: Jonathan Osorio
😮💨Center Referee: Allan Chapman
⛳️Assistant: Cory Richardson
🏆MVP: Lionel Messi
👨🏫Coach: Jesper Sørensen
🏰Defender: Alex Freeman
🧤GK: Dayne St. Clair
🆕Newcomer: Anders Dreyer
🚼Young: Obed Vargas
🤕Comeback: Nick Hagglund
🫶Humanitarian: Jonathan Osorio
😮💨Center Referee: Allan Chapman
⛳️Assistant: Cory Richardson
October 29, 2025 at 5:45 PM
Inbox: Nick Hagglund wins Comeback Player of the Year. Lots of good candidates for this one. Chose him because of the severity of the injury and because of how high a level he returned to, contributing to FCC's success.
Reposted by Matt Pollard
It's time for my favorite piece of content we do every year: our fan survey.
This year, we're collaborating with over 20 independent outlets to try and get it out to as many people as we can! If you have even a passing interest in Major League Soccer, could you take a minute and fill this out?
This year, we're collaborating with over 20 independent outlets to try and get it out to as many people as we can! If you have even a passing interest in Major League Soccer, could you take a minute and fill this out?
2025 end of season fan survey
Voice your opinions on the quality of play in Major League Soccer, the television product, the proposed calendar shift and more!
www.sixonefivesoccer.com
October 28, 2025 at 3:08 PM
It's time for my favorite piece of content we do every year: our fan survey.
This year, we're collaborating with over 20 independent outlets to try and get it out to as many people as we can! If you have even a passing interest in Major League Soccer, could you take a minute and fill this out?
This year, we're collaborating with over 20 independent outlets to try and get it out to as many people as we can! If you have even a passing interest in Major League Soccer, could you take a minute and fill this out?
Inbox: Tristan Blackmon wins Defender of the Year. Deserving.
October 28, 2025 at 5:13 PM
Inbox: Tristan Blackmon wins Defender of the Year. Deserving.
Reposted by Matt Pollard
(Matt made me post this, apologies for the terrible screenshot quality this is from an fm16 save from like 5 years ago)
October 27, 2025 at 8:40 PM
(Matt made me post this, apologies for the terrible screenshot quality this is from an fm16 save from like 5 years ago)
Reposted by Matt Pollard
meanwhile in an alternate timeline
October 27, 2025 at 8:40 PM
meanwhile in an alternate timeline
Chris Armas will not return as Colorado Rapids head coach. Here’s my reaction and reporting, and no personal beef:
burgundywave.com/2025/10/27/c...
burgundywave.com/2025/10/27/c...
October 27, 2025 at 7:13 PM
Chris Armas will not return as Colorado Rapids head coach. Here’s my reaction and reporting, and no personal beef:
burgundywave.com/2025/10/27/c...
burgundywave.com/2025/10/27/c...
Reposted by Matt Pollard
Chris Armas posted a longer statement to the fans and about the club on the other site:
October 27, 2025 at 7:09 PM
Chris Armas posted a longer statement to the fans and about the club on the other site:
Reposted by Matt Pollard
BREAKING: Colorado Rapids have parted ways with head coach Chris Armas. Sources tell BW the decision was mutual, with a difference in contract length. The club is formally undergoing a search for a new head coach.
burgundywave.com/2025/10/27/c...
burgundywave.com/2025/10/27/c...
October 27, 2025 at 6:30 PM
BREAKING: Colorado Rapids have parted ways with head coach Chris Armas. Sources tell BW the decision was mutual, with a difference in contract length. The club is formally undergoing a search for a new head coach.
burgundywave.com/2025/10/27/c...
burgundywave.com/2025/10/27/c...
Inbox: Drew Fischer wins MLS Referee of the Year. Cory Richardson wins AR of the Year. Got one right. I'm fine with Fischer winning.
🌟 My 2025 MLS Award Ballots:
🏆MVP: Lionel Messi
👨🏫Coach: Jesper Sørensen
🏰Defender: Alex Freeman
🧤GK: Dayne St. Clair
🆕Newcomer: Anders Dreyer
🚼Young: Obed Vargas
🤕Comeback: Nick Hagglund
🫶Humanitarian: Jonathan Osorio
😮💨Center Referee: Allan Chapman
⛳️Assistant: Cory Richardson
🏆MVP: Lionel Messi
👨🏫Coach: Jesper Sørensen
🏰Defender: Alex Freeman
🧤GK: Dayne St. Clair
🆕Newcomer: Anders Dreyer
🚼Young: Obed Vargas
🤕Comeback: Nick Hagglund
🫶Humanitarian: Jonathan Osorio
😮💨Center Referee: Allan Chapman
⛳️Assistant: Cory Richardson
October 24, 2025 at 3:55 PM
Inbox: Drew Fischer wins MLS Referee of the Year. Cory Richardson wins AR of the Year. Got one right. I'm fine with Fischer winning.
No one good covers the Rapids and goes to retro night at the Avs @josephsamelson.com
(If only we had recorded the Rapids banter)
(If only we had recorded the Rapids banter)
October 24, 2025 at 1:43 AM
No one good covers the Rapids and goes to retro night at the Avs @josephsamelson.com
(If only we had recorded the Rapids banter)
(If only we had recorded the Rapids banter)
Colorado Rapids Offseason Preview: It's never too early to start thinking about a November 26 deadline so here you go Rapids fans.
burgundywave.com/2025/10/22/c...
burgundywave.com/2025/10/22/c...
October 22, 2025 at 10:24 PM
Colorado Rapids Offseason Preview: It's never too early to start thinking about a November 26 deadline so here you go Rapids fans.
burgundywave.com/2025/10/22/c...
burgundywave.com/2025/10/22/c...
Captain Keegan Rosenberry puts the 2025 Rapids season in perspective and discusses not being a regular starter for the first time in his career:
burgundywave.com/2025/10/21/c...
burgundywave.com/2025/10/21/c...
October 21, 2025 at 10:52 PM
Captain Keegan Rosenberry puts the 2025 Rapids season in perspective and discusses not being a regular starter for the first time in his career:
burgundywave.com/2025/10/21/c...
burgundywave.com/2025/10/21/c...
Reposted by Matt Pollard
Me and Matt have LOTS to talk about tonight. Including some unpleasantness, an apology, and going forward.
Oh yeah also the Rapids tied and missed the playoffs.
@burgundywave.bsky.social @bymattpollard.bsky.social
#Rapids96
Oh yeah also the Rapids tied and missed the playoffs.
@burgundywave.bsky.social @bymattpollard.bsky.social
#Rapids96
October 21, 2025 at 1:48 AM
Me and Matt have LOTS to talk about tonight. Including some unpleasantness, an apology, and going forward.
Oh yeah also the Rapids tied and missed the playoffs.
@burgundywave.bsky.social @bymattpollard.bsky.social
#Rapids96
Oh yeah also the Rapids tied and missed the playoffs.
@burgundywave.bsky.social @bymattpollard.bsky.social
#Rapids96