Pre-match: San Jose Earthquakes - Colorado Rapids (Saturday, 7/27) pregame thread

We can’t leave any points on the table here. This is a game we need to win.

 

Trap game? Do not to take this one for granted. Total domination is a must.

Will Fierro get some minute in this one?

 

Quakes need to win this one, not because we are desperate more because we are in a dominant position and need to beat a team below us in the table at home.

I trust in Almeyda to have the team in the right frame of mind. I think this is 4-0 Quakes.

 

This is the kind of matchup where if the Quakes don't get three points they might end up missing out on a home playoff game.

 

Sadly, Colorado have turned it around and are playing decent soccer. They were close to taking points off of NYCFC, even with 10 men for half the game. They beat MNUFC and LAFC recently (at home) and tied the Timbers on the road. On recent form there is no team better than the Quakes, and we should win the home game, but this is not going to be an easy one.

 

Beat the CRapids! It would be nice to beat Tim Howard in his last year.

 

It would be nice to beat Tim Howard twice in his last year. Is he hurt though?

 

It's been over 24-hours, so I can now say Howard left a minute before the end of the 1st half. He may not be available. Kamara missed the game with a back injury. Seb Anderson was read carded and will be available.

I agree with MtnGardener that even will all of those things they played pretty well. They are better than the record indicated.

 

Colorado has a bit more bite in them under Connor Casey's leadership, hes done a good job with a lackluster squad. Colorado will come to play, its gonna be a tougher one than people think, i think a tough 2-1 grinding win that people will be less than happy about. Of course Id love to see 4-0 to the good guys too, but i could see either one happening

 

A lot is going to come down to the 1v1 defense. The D are going to need to keep a careful line and respect the speed they have on the break. I think this is a game for TT and Lopez, no Lima. Flo, obviously, but Kashia or Cummings? I prefer Kashia normally, but maybe Cummings for a team that is so young and fast? I guess we won't get their super-young kid, Anderson (16yrs), since he got a red vs NYFC, but we'll get Shinyashiki (22yrs), Bassett (17yrs), and Lewis (22yrs) who are all very young.

This team can score, but their defense has been terrible. Worse than the Whiitecaps. The only team worse is Cincinnati. So I think more like 4-2? Another 30+ shot game. Espinoza finally lands one of his distance shots.

 

Id put Wondo up top too, this seems like a game he could be a gate crasher and just open it up completely

 

The Quakes are 11-7-9 in matches refereed by Baldo.

 

I read some pretty sad stories about Howard in the English periodicals. He isn't as holier than thou as he likes to portray himself to be...

 

what are the stories? and when has Timmy portrayed himself as holier than thou? Iʻve been a toffee supporter since cahill was bashing corner flags, and howard has always been flawed but ultra competitive

 

Ah yes, the original unimpeachable source...

 

Admiral Ackbar: It's another trap again!

BTW, Quakes' current goal scoring list on the season:
9 Wondo (on pace for 14-15)
6 Vako (MVP? What a turnaround)
5 Shea (“Salinassance”)
5 Danny (a couple key game winners)
4 Magnus (also 2nd on team in assists with 5)
2 Espinoza (Somehow only 2, surely more to come... +9 assists)
2 JY (future Nats regular?)
2 Tommy Thompson (both goals lucky but so happy he's found a place on the field)
1 Nick Lima (also with the best "goal disallowed after VAR" ever)

Every single one of these guys has more potential goals in them, and then we get Fierro. And the window to get that Rios fellow is still open.

 

We've got a 20-post lead on the (still non-existent) Colorado Rapids pregame thread. My non-scientific statistical analysis is that @Goodsport is far more diligent about this than anyone on BigSoccer.

Like Q, Goodsie is MLS' best (something-or-other).

 

While I haven't seen them play, looking at the last couple of months of stats show a low scoring team who has beat a couple of good teams by 1-0 scores. However, those wins were at home where they get an advantage with the altitude. I expect a win or tie.

 

Malcolm McDowell is a Quakes fan?

 

Howdy again from your friendly neighborhood Rapids fan again! First time posting over here in the San Jose threads since the above quoted "misery loves company" post....

I gotta say, I didn't see the turnaround coming this year that both of our teams have made. The 'Quakes are definitely the hottest team in the league right now, y'all have done an amazing job playing some really good soccer. And while our last few results haven't exactly been amazing, we've done a heck of a lot better from a pure on the field soccer perspective.

Don't count us completely out of this one, I imagine we will put up a good fight. Our last game we missed two of our strikers to injury, as well as our starting D-Mid. And even with the bone-headed red from our 16 year old kid, we still gave NYCFC a heck of a fight.

Cheers, and best of luck to both teams in this one. This weekends game should be a good match and fun one to watch!