The Official Victor Bernárdez thread

Discussion in 'San Jose Earthquakes' started by Goodsport, Dec 28, 2011.

  1. Goodsport

    Goodsport Moderator
    Staff Member

    May 18, 1999
    Club:
    San Jose Earthquakes
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
  2. Cornballer

    Cornballer Member

    Aug 30, 2005
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
  3. FloridaFC2MLS

    FloridaFC2MLS Member

    Oct 17, 2009
    Florida
    Club:
    Orlando City SC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Literally seen his name pop up about 3 times in rumors before this. Didnt expect it to be SJ tbh. Very surprising, especially with Hernandez, Opara, & Attakora as available options at CB. However, its still a good signing seeing as that he's better than any of them. I really am a fan of what SJ has done this offseason. Chavez, Bernardez, & Alexandre very exciting signings & players I like. Salinas is fine aswell I guess.
     
  4. Ismitje

    Ismitje Super Moderator

    Dec 30, 2000
    The Palouse
    Club:
    Real Salt Lake
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Seems like a good signing - has to be an upgrade over Burling at the very least, and I suspect the upside is greater than simply that.
     
  5. Earthshaker

    Earthshaker BigSoccer Supporter

    Sep 12, 2005
    The hills above town
    Club:
    San Jose Earthquakes
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Kf7xwu30tI"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Kf7xwu30tI[/ame]

    Looks like he has a cannon of a shot.
     
  6. SoccerMan94043

    SoccerMan94043 Member+

    May 29, 2003
    San Jose
    Club:
    San Jose Earthquakes
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    It's funny that the high light clip doesn't show a defender actually defending ... looks like he might be a good forward though :) I love that he's comfortable with his feet.

    If he can defend better than Hernandez (it's a low bar I know) this is a great signing. Typically I'd say we have too many center backs, but with Opara so often injured I think we might need 4. This guy, matched with Opara, means the Quakes will have a large and potentially potent back line and that is the key to the post season.

    Color me impressed with the off-season (superficially until we see the result on field):

    1) We signed a proven target forward for the year
    2) We upgraded the speed of the outside of our game
    3) We signed a tough stopper (remains to be seen if he's better than Ring)
    4) We signed a big center back

    Those were 4 large holes from last year, with the biggest being center back.

    I'm wondering where this came from... Doyle has really struggled for the last 4 years. I wonder if Kaval is having a positive effect on how to manage a business.
     
  7. Neuwerld

    Neuwerld Member+

    Oct 15, 2007
    California
    Club:
    San Jose Earthquakes
    Agreed. It seems like every need is being filled, and the quality is much improved compared to previous off-season acquisitions. No USL players in the bunch.

    It's pretty customary to have 4 CBs due to injuries and suspensions though. Any less and we'd not be in a good position depth-wise.
     
  8. SJTillIDie

    SJTillIDie Member+

    Aug 23, 2009
    Club:
    San Jose Earthquakes
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Another good acquisition by JD. We needed CB help after the loss of Burling. Opara is great but made of glass and Attakora is still developing and a bit unpredictable.

    Bernardez has played at a high level in Belgium and Mexico and for the Honduran national team. He started their Gold Cup semifinal against Mexico in 2011 and their 0-0 draw against Switzerland in the 2010 WC. He is still only 29 and has plenty of mileage left on his legs.

    The downside seems to be he has only played in about 50-70% of his team's games the past 3 seasons. I can't tell if it's injury related or not. But he played quite a bit when he went out on loan so maybe he was just buried on Anderlecht's depth chart.

    Check out the Quakes spending relative to other teams the past few years. We are always in the bottom two or three teams in payroll. That is on ownership, not JD. I don't know what specifically has caused the change but ownership seems to be opening up the checkbook a bit more this offseason.

    Our non-draft-related 2011 preseason acquisitions were: McLoughlin and Luzunaris. That's it. Now compare that to this year. It seems to me there has been a change in payroll policy but we won't really know for sure until the Union releases its 2012 salary figures.
     
  9. SoccerMan94043

    SoccerMan94043 Member+

    May 29, 2003
    San Jose
    Club:
    San Jose Earthquakes
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    From what I know about the other signings, it hasn't cost us much. I doubt this one did either... time will tell (when we get salary detail during the season) but I'm not going with the "checkbook opening" yet.

    As for 4 CBs... assuming Corrales stay on, he's a servicable (albeit expensive) backup at CB, LB, LM and Stopper. I would think that would be enough... I say trade Hernandez assuming he has any value in the market but we all suspect Opara will be out a portion of games and I'd rather have him on the field than Nana or Corrales (or Burling for that matter).
     
  10. Neuwerld

    Neuwerld Member+

    Oct 15, 2007
    California
    Club:
    San Jose Earthquakes
    He was probably just a squad sort of player at Anderlecht. He's played a lot on loan and with Honduras recently though.

    We also picked up Donatelli in January...then released him about a month later before the start of the season.

    We should have a good bit of money free with all the players that were not re-signed (Sealy, Leitch, etc). I think we were close to the cap last season...maybe it's just smarter spending. The only way we could spend a lot more would be on a DP wouldn't it?
     
  11. markmcf8

    markmcf8 Member+

    Oct 18, 1999
    Vancouver, WA, USA
    Club:
    San Jose Earthquakes
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    So much for no more big signings. And let me say that I am happy about that!! :D

    So, a quality center back takes care of our worries about Ike being injured. If we can play both Ike and Bernárdez, we could have a very formidable defense.

    As for Kaval's influence, I think this is a case of Kaval telling JD and Frank to get some good players, and backing that up with Lew's money. I am not convinced that JD is an idiot, but rather that JD is often between a rock and hard place. Frank is an idiot though.

    I bet a lot of MLS quality center backs would be buried on Anderlecht's depth chart. So he got loaned out. This is the sort of player that we can afford, so it's good to look at him and guys like him.

    How about a really crappy, inexcusably bad 2011? And Frank and JD both said that ownership were willing to spend more for the '12 season. So here it is. We've made some good signings so far, we're still trying to get Dawkins on a longer deal, and we're trying to pry another player or two loose from Spurs, and I think (could be wrong) that we have a backup plan in Brasil.

    Smarter spending, and more spending.

    OF COURSE, we cannot know all of the ins and outs of the salary cap and how much (if any) we pay in loan fees or transfer fees and or other "hidden" costs. I'm not trying to wax conspiratorial here, I'm just saying that the way the league is run, we don't really know what a player costs us. We paid Dawkin's $60 last season, but we may well have been paying Spurs additional cash on top of that. (Some here argue that that must be the case, and I cannot disprove such a claim.)

    So, off to a good start for the pre-season!! Keep it up guys!! Redeem yourselves from a shitty 2011!

    GO QUAKES!!!!! :D
    FIRE FRANK!! :mad:

    - Mark
     
  12. Autogolazo

    Autogolazo BigSoccer Supporter

    Feb 19, 2000
    Bombay Beach, CA
    As mentioned above, this guy has a cannon of a freekick--similar to fellow CB Alex (who's leaving Chelsea).

    It either goes on-frame, breaks somebody's face or leaves the stadium.

    His size, power and experience will balance nicely with Opara's athleticism. Opara and Attakora can learn a lot from him.

    Good pick up.
     
  13. chilitownpontiff

    Jul 14, 2008
    San Ramon
    Club:
    San Jose Earthquakes
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    does this mean all the folks wailing and gnashing their teeth about how stupid Doyle was because he let Burling go should be bellying up to a large crow dinner?
     
    1 person likes this.
  14. OWN(yewu)ED

    OWN(yewu)ED Member+

    Club: Venezia F.C.
    May 26, 2006
    chico, CA
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    One less hole we have to worry about. our roster is shaping up nicely.

    very pleased this offseason so far :)
     
  15. NedZ

    NedZ Member+

    May 19, 2001
    Los Gatos
    Club:
    San Jose Earthquakes
    Bernardez and Chavez are both Honduran Internationals, so they will have some familiarity with each other on and off the field. That should make it easier for both to become comfortable on a new club.

    Roger Espinoza (KC) Andy Najar (DC) are the other Hondurans in MLS, according to a thread on MLS News and Analysis.
     
  16. DotMPP

    DotMPP 'Quakes fan in Stumptown

    San Jose Earthquakes
    United States
    Jun 29, 2004
    SE Portland, OR
    Club:
    San Jose Earthquakes
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Unless one of them is a "Less Filling" kind of guy and the other is a "Tastes Great" kind of guy and there is a flare up a week between them before the first kick of 2012.
     
  17. lurking

    lurking Member+

    Feb 9, 2002
    Club:
    San Jose Earthquakes
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Really crappy, inexcusably bad was New England, Vancouver and Toronto. We were just below average. Thats important, because its the difference between needing a total remodel and needing a few tweaks and upgrades here and there.

    As for our roster situation, I think its much cleaner and more maneuverable then DC, Portland, and Chivas, some other teams in our neck of the woods. I think the biggest thing about the end of last year is it showed we could play decently, if not always get the results we wanted, without relying on any real problem contracts or players. We had a solid base to build on this offseason, and I think they have been smart about what theyve chosen to address.
     
  18. davez

    davez Member+

    Aug 10, 2000
    Mountain View, CA
    I am surprised, and pleased, but this off-season so far.

    Chavez, Bermudez, Alexandre, Salinas, Lenhardt added/kept

    Burling, Convey (who was so far in Frank's doghouse he might as well have been in Hawaii) lost

    With Sealy, Luiz, Peterson, Weber likely to follow

    Let's sign Dawkins and get one or two other Tottenham loan projects and we are good to go.

    I think this team (on paper) is a playoff caliber team.
     
  19. JazzyJ

    JazzyJ BigSoccer Supporter

    Jun 25, 2003
    Btw, have the quakes signed Attakora yet? I thought I read that he needed a new contract. If he is signed then I think the Quakes are good at center back: Bernardez, Ike, Attakora, and Jason. Only concern would be injury-proneness of Ike and Attakora. If needed they could play Ramiro there.
     
  20. JazzyJ

    JazzyJ BigSoccer Supporter

    Jun 25, 2003
    Now that the Quakes have signed Marvin Chavez and Victor Bernardez, could a signing of former Giants steroid-swilling outfielder Marvin Benard be far behind, as, I don't know, club pharmacist?
     
  21. Revolt

    Revolt Member+

    Jun 16, 1999
    Davis, CA
    Club:
    San Jose Earthquakes
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I like this move a lot. I view Bernardez as a big improvement over Burling.
     
  22. bigdumbgod

    bigdumbgod Member+

    Jun 25, 2005
    San Jose, CA
    Club:
    San Jose Earthquakes
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Victor Conte. We need players that can last 90+ minutes...by any means necessary.
     
  23. Albany58

    Albany58 Member+

    Sep 14, 1999
    Concord, CA USA
    Club:
    San Jose Earthquakes
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Better watch the side effects of your meds, JJ.
     
  24. oofinalheavenoo

    Oct 30, 2006
    Daly City, CA
    Club:
    San Jose Earthquakes
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Earthquakes score a goal!!!
     
  25. Goodsport

    Goodsport Moderator
    Staff Member

    May 18, 1999
    Club:
    San Jose Earthquakes
    Nat'l Team:
    United States

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