Unless MLS decides to expand rosters which I doubt, two GK's will be gone between now and February. I'm not really sold on Vega but he is Almeyda's guy and he is the best one of the what we got. I doubt either Bersano, Marcinkowski, Ochoa or Tarbell can beat him out. So far though, I'm not all that excited about this 2020 roster... Quakes Roster: Goalkeepers (5): Matt Bersano, JT Marcinkowski, Emi Ochoa, Andrew Tarbell, Daniel Vega Defenders (8): Jacob Akanyirige, Florian Jungwirth, Guram Kashia, Nick Lima, Marcos Lopez, Paul Marie, Tommy Thompson, Casey Walls Midfielders (10): Eric Calvillo, Magnus Eriksson, Luis Felipe, Carlos Fierro, Gilbert Fuentes, Siad Haji, Judson, Vako, Shea Salinas, Jackson Yueill Forwards (4): Cade Cowell, Danny Hoesen, Andy Rios, Chris Wondolowski.
Just have the cold weather teams play on the road in warm weather cities for the first 2-4 weeks of the season, with them then hosting consecutive/multiple home games in the warmer months. A good way to "kick the tires" on an eventual Apertura/clausura MLS calendar next decade
I suggested this one time on the MLS analysis thread and we all went back and forth for many pages and my suggestion was dismissed. The Quakes had a 3 game road trip in 2019 coupled with a bye week or two in the warmer months of the season and this proved fatal at the end. Therefore, I don't see why they cold weather cities can't travel to warmer climates to open the season and take their byes earlier rather than later.
You the man Falvo, forget the rest! FWIW My Gridiron football team just recently completed a LONG road trip and have fared OK.. (apologies for going off topic)
Good article. It seems like very sober speculation. Whereas I just post what I want them to do, rather than what I think they are going to do. We do need reinforcements. More defenders, probably another striker, definitely a replacement for Magnus, hopefully, a replacement for Vako. And ... Negra Modelo in quantity. Lots and lots of Negra Modelo. I like that it comes in the convenient 32 oz. size at the stadium. Go Quakes!! F!@# el-lay!! - Mark
So Emi is way too young to actually play with the first team. He might train with the first team, but he's going to playing with the U16 or U17 academy sides. He'll be loaned out all season. Bersano will either get traded or play for Ian in Reno. Probably we trade Tarbell, I think you're right about that. We could probably off-load him if we agree to eat a fraction of his salary. "We still need, 1) another proven Center Back preferably younger than Flo and Kashia, 2) a proven left back, 4) a true playmaker, and 3) another forward." My modification to your order of needs. A true playmaker has to come before another forward. Of course, we could easily snag another forward in the draft or the re-entry draft. Cade Cowell probably won't get any minutes with us this season, unless someone is on IR. I wasn't much impressed with Rios, but maybe he'll be better after a pre-season with us. So, another forward probably. I thought that Siad Haji was a forward? Am I wrong on that? In any case, I'm less stressed about forward (because we can call someone up from Reno if we have to) than I am about upgrading our #10. Magnus knows what he should do, he's just not quite good enough to get it done. Go Quakes!! F!@# el-lay!! - Mark
Regarding the goalkeeper situation, you seem to be overlooking the U-23 USMNT team for the Olympics in 2020 and the possibility that JT will be an active part of qualifying and (hopefully) competing during our regular season. While we need to trade Tarbell to offload his salary, and Ochoa will most likely not see a minute with the first team or Reno, as his age dictates he remain with the academy competition and continue to train with the GK coach as he has in the past, that leaves Vega and Bersano to be the dependable keepers. JT will be included whenever available. Reno may even have to find their own quality keeper, as I doubt San Jose wants to park Tarbell there for the salary he is guaranteed. It appears Almeyda likes 4 keepers for team training so the questioning of why we have so many keepers is getting old. It is still early; we have to wait and see what else Jesse is able to manage.
The regular season starts in 3 months and I'm assuming the preseason will begin in a month and two weeks.... It may be early for us on the board but not for the club's GM and coach..
I don't think the Almeyda system is as nearly dependent upon a strong playmaker as others within MLS. His offensive scheme utilizes quick attacking movements that start anywhere on the field. As a thought exercise think of what the impact would be if, instead of a playmaker, the Quakes found the equivalent of Espinoza for the left channel. I think that would be just as effective as a playmaker and result in just as many or more goals. And I think it would be easier to find that player at a price Fisher will pay, than it would be to find a quality playmaker. Those playmakers are naturally in very high demand worldwide.
We need another player like Espinoza who can score goals. Creating chances is nice but a goalscorer is what the club desperately needs. Also because we can’t rely on a 37 year old Wondo forever....
The science of sex? Next thing they’re gonna do the analytics. Instead of 538 we will need to consult 569.
Ah, good point. One of my many short comings (I'm 5'5") is that when thinking about OUR club, I keep forgetting about international play. Yeah, JT could and should be away with the National U23s. That completely slipped my mind. In which case, we need another 'keeper beyond the usual three. JT and Bersano were the only GK's who played for Reno last season, so yeah, looks like Reno need to pickup a GK or three. Maybe including one of the guys in our academy. So if Vega is our number 1 (not suggesting that he shouldn't be), and Bersano is our backup (he could push for starts), then JT will get time with the U32s, maybe with the Quakes, and maybe with Reno. He's going to log a lot of frequent flier miles. I still expect us to trade Tarbell because he doesn't fit our plans and he costs a lot. Maybe we agree to eat some of his salary just to off-load him. Then Reno still needs a GK or three. Hmmmmmm. Thanks! Go Quakes!! - Mark
We get a mention here: https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2019...ls-tactical-moves-2019-teams-should-copy-2020 Kind of nice to see MLSsoccer write something nice about us, instead of saying that we suck and play negative ugly soccer. (Both of which accusations have been mostly true since '08.) I wonder if Almeyda will make any tweaks or adjustments to our system? Or if there's just more of it than we saw last season? I mean, he well have more elements to introduce into the team and our guys just weren't ready, what with the huge adjustment of man marking and shifting attack points. I hope like hell that next season is more fun that '19, but I still fear that we need some serious upgrades at a few spots. I fear that the upgrades we need are too rich for PennyPincher Fisher. Fisher is worth $2.5B, he's 58 years old -- nearly my age. So, if he spends $50M a year, he'll run out of money -- assuming no further income -- in fifty years, so considerably longer than he's likely to live. He could spend a lot more on our team and on the A's, still never run out of cash for himself and his kids, and leave plenty to charity if he wants. Basically, the man has more money than he can spend. So, I'm not being a jerk expecting him to spend more money on his sport teams. He's a wanker. Go Quakes!! Sucking slightly less since 2019!! - Mark
So should Bersano. Sadly, though, Vega wouldn't even be able to get time with them. GO SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES!!! -G
Bersano is 27. Why would he get time with the U23's? I know that the Olympic squad gets to add a few players over 25 (three or five?), but why would they take Bersano? They'll take a much higher profile GK, someone with a lot more experience with them. Both to increase their chances of winning and to help mentor the youngsters. Go Quakes!! - Mark
I have no idea about the U23s, but since you previously mentioned the U32s, I figured that Bersano (who, as you correctly stated, is 27) could still play with them. GO SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES!!! -G
Alan Pulido tiene un propuesta bastante tentadora 💥👇#AlanPulido | #ReChivas | #Chivas https://t.co/pRhdijhvUC— TUDN MEX (@TUDNMEX) November 26, 2019 Almeyda looking at Alan Pulido. Would cost around 10 million. Scored 12 goals in 18 games for Chivas. Top scorer in Liga MX last season. https://www.tudn.mx/liga-mx/almeyda-y-sj-earthquakes-seducen-a-alan-pulido
That would be huge news, no doubt, but we also heard Almeyda was maybe going to Monterrey so we’ll see, Fisher has never done anything close.
Yeah there hasn't been any Quakes rumors which kind of concerns me. Who knows, maybe they were waiting for the LigaMX season to end.
Fisher spending $10 million for a player? He doesn’t even spend that much on an entire club much less on one player. I’ll believe it when I see it....
Can confirm this report that #Quakes74 are interested in Pulido. I’m told that Pulido is Almeyda’s top target this winter, and conversations have begun on a potential transfer. https://t.co/ftHh327yox— Joel Soria (@soriajoelfutbol) November 26, 2019