Pre-match: Real Salt Lake - San Jose Earthquakes (Wednesday, 9/11) pregame thread

Vako and Kashia both played the full 90 for Georgia in Georgia yesterday. It should be possible to get to SLC but that's a rough turnaround. Godoy was not called up. Cummings played the full 90 in Panama last night, he could return. Fuentes just finished a 3 games in 5 days U-17 tournament in the Netherlands today. Marcinkowski is finishing U-23 camp today.

 

what a ridiculous amount of call ups at such a critical time in our season.

 

Yeah - this game is a complete cipher. Given the large number of starters for each team out, I'd say it's impossible to handicap this one. I have no idea what we'll see, but I believe that if the subs (i.e. tomorrow's starters) have paid attention during training and fully bought into "bushido" we're going to do alright.

 

FIFA does not care about the MLS season. They have literally no reason to. MLS depends on FIFA sanctioning in order to attract quality players. So they let players go for stupid friendlies at critical times and try to work around those dates instead of just playing through them on their regularly scheduled weekend match days. And even when they try to work around these dates, players still end up not being ready in time for the MLS matches, so they are making their own lives more difficult for no real reason. It's unbelievably stupid.

Honestly, pro leagues should realize that collectively, they have far, far more power than FIFA does. All FIFA does is mooch off the work of the pro leagues, and profits off those players while providing next to nothing in return. Yes, some players can use international games as a way to market themselves to bigger clubs that could pay them more, but that's becoming less and less relevant as time goes on.

Problem is, the pro leagues would somehow have to agree to no longer release players for FIFA dates. And I'm sure there are numerous legal hurdles that make accomplishing such a thing very difficult, if not impossible.

 

A bunch of normal USMNT starters left camp after the Mexico game so it looks like it can happen.

I am not thrilled to have our guys out but it is good marketing for both club and players and probably a dream for some of them so let it be.

 

If it's like the situation earlier this season, I imagine the USMNT probably let them return rather than MLS stipulating they be returned.

You think the marketing angle really makes up for an owner paying players to go play and potentially be injured in games that have no impact on their team? FIFA holds them hostage and they have to put up with it. It's as simple as that.

So no, we shouldn't just let it be. It's a completely broken system. If all the corruption scandals haven't turned you off of international soccer completely, then I don't know what to say.

 

Frankly, I'm more interested in my club than country, but I don't know that's a general sentiment. Of course, I also like to see the US playing well (and qualifying for WCs). Don't hold your breath waiting for FIFA to fold on this. The distribution of patronage and perks down the line ensure the regional and national federations are always going to line up behind the boys in Zurich, and since the leagues are dependent on the federations, they'll continue to effectively say: "Thank you sir, may I have another?"

 

I'm with you. Quakes uber alles.

As the Ultras sing:

. . . O'er the land of the free, and the home of the Quakes!

 

Most leagues don't schedule games during the international breaks.

 

Yes, and I already explained why this is the case. If you are trying to offer up a good reason why MLS should adhere to these breaks instead of playing through them, "because everybody else is doing it" has never stood up as a good reason.

FIFA dates have repercussions for professional leagues. In MLS' case, they have to seriously congest an already grueling schedule, putting undue strain on players and increasing their risk of injury. Ultimately, this impacts how much money the league could potentially make. FIFA isn't concerned about this because the individual players don't matter to them. They don't have much financial stake in any of those players. Individual national teams do, but FIFA does not.

 

Latest injury report from MLS shows no injuries for the Quakes, so I assume Shea Salinas must be OK now.

 

RSL will be missing 4 of its 5 top scoring threats.

 

Weather forecast for the game has been terrible, and we're notorious fair-weather fans, so turnout should be meager. It's raining right now but the revised weather looks good at game time so I think it'll be a lot of fun. I always like watching games against you guys - never know what's going to happen - and with all the callups, tonight should be especially...interesting.

Cheers.

 

How many people in a "meager"?

I can honestly say I have zero animosity towards RSL and their fans, outside of the phantom red card dive.

 

Anyone going to Jack's for the viewing party?

 

My prediction:
Quakes go all out and dominate possession in the first half but are unable to score.
Second half starts out even, but RSL gains ground and scores in the 60th minute. Quakes start to visibly fatigue and give up a 2nd goal on a counter in the 87th minute.
(Please make me look foolish.)