Found this article: http://www.luzernerzeitung.ch/sport...-francois-affolter-trennen-sich;art98,1068562 Google translate says: Hmmm, four goals! But he's a defender, so ok. Apparently he knew it was coming. But...that doesn't answer the question of how he found us so quickly? There's speculation on Reddit that he's a friend of Hyka, and if he has Hyka's work ethic, we're happy to have him on board.
As was painfully aware midweek, we need reinforcements. He's reinforcements. At this point, I'm very secure in giving Fioranelli the benefit of the doubt with the quality he's bringing into the club. We recently said goodbye to Francis. Judging by his European pedigree, this has to be an instant improvement.
Centerback...with some Dmid and RB capability same as Flo. He's 6' 1'' He has experience playing in a three back. Great news... Possibly gets Flo further up field or at a minimum puts Imperiale on the bench.
I watched some Lucerne games. I'm sorry to say, there were many goals in which he was the primarily atfolter.
Flo to d-mid maybe, Andrés will continue starting. ChrisL rates him higher than Muma or any other defenders excepting Flo. ChrisL has had Imperiale starting as the center defender in our three man backline. Andrés has been directing traffic in the bck too. That means that ChrisL rates him, as do I. Muma's days as starter are numbered, at best. Andrés has another season (or two?) with us, I think. Oh, and I'm less impressed by Affolter's resume than by the fact that Jesse and his buddies think the guy is good. We need the reinforcements, so I'm pumped. Go Quakes!! - Mark
"NEWS: Earthquakes Sign Swiss Defender Francois Affolter" (SJEarthquakes.com - Friday, 7/21/17) GO SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES!!! -G
Not as tall but reminds a little bit of Goodson, thin frame who likes to stick his long legs in their to make a tackle.
Well, Bernardez was suspended for the match against NYRB, so that may have changed things a bit. There haven't been enough games with Leitch in charge to get any definitive answers on which players he prefers in most cases. He has gone with Imperiale numerous times, so he is at least willing to put him out there (something Kinnear wouldn't do for a very long time), but I don't know if it says anything in particular about his evaluation of him.
We shall see what transpires. And it could be that my pro-Imperiale bias is showing here. I think that he is clearly one of our better defenders. Also, I have thought that Muma was approaching or past his use by date for a season or two now. Go Quakes!! - Mark
Not surprising, I've been thinking pretty much since Leitch took over that they need to add a CB... https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=10154984830824613
Why would Flo move to d-mid? Recheck your math: three man backline, that probably means Affolter-Imperiale-Jungwirth. Okay, now I see where you're getting that from, the Mercury News article implies that Jungwirth has been forced to play CB by the injuries: The move to sign Affolter began in the preseason when Harold Cummings of Panama was lost for the year after breaking a leg while tripping in his home. The Earthquakes also lost versatile defender Marvell Wynne, who had open-heart surgery in March. The health issues forced the team to employ Jungwirth in the central defense where he has performed admirably. Seldom-used Argentine defender Andreas Imperiale has been starting since Leitch took over last month for the fired Dominic Kinnear. The latest signing could spell the end for central defender Victor Bernardez, 35, who is in his final year of his contract. But Godoy is a lock starter at d-mid....
The "holding the jersey" photo is pretty standard across leagues and sports, but the "signing the contract" photo just seems very Euro soccer... not sure previous Quakes players have posed like that, so maybe it's another thing that's been brought to the team by Jesse... Officially official. 🖊 #ForwardAsOne pic.twitter.com/dIlRUIbzSa— San Jose Earthquakes (@SJEarthquakes) July 22, 2017
Because those contracts say "MLS" on them and not "San Jose Earthquakes" means the reality is he is signing with New York based, Delaware formed MLS and being allocated to SJE.
On the surface this seems like what the doctor ordered, depending on how good Monsieur Affolter turns out to be. Quakes have been thin at CB. And this makes a 3-back easier to pull off w/o having to play a guy like Sarkodie back there. Plus he's relatively young and could stay a while. I think that is impressive. Jessie is signing guys that 1) fit an immediate need this year, and 2) are young enough to potentially contribute to the club for years afterward.
As long as he's better than Francis, Sarkodie or Cato I'm OK with this signing, otherwise it's just us spinning our wheels again.