"NEWS: Earthquakes Sign SuperDraft Pick Jack Skahan" (SJEarthquakes.com - Thursday, 2/27/20) GO SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES!!! -G
According to the reporters at the Black and Azul podcast, the Quakes appear to be planning to develop him as a central midfielder instead of the winger he was in college.
This guy is a bit intriguing. Didn’t the Quakes trade up to draft him? Was Ian Russell, the draft guru, the driving force to pick him up? Also, did he have a strong preseason camp while Tarbell did not?
I'm anxious to see him play...hopefully he has enough speed. He was a flank player in college, but maybe not enough speed for MLS on the outside...certainly looks like he would be heavy on the ball. He showed well and got stuff done in preseason...need to see him play. Bummer fans didn't get to see the new players in the usual Quakes v Reno/Sac preseason game...I really enjoy the opportunity to assess the newbies...Very cloak and dagger this year...can't wait to see what Almeyda is brewing.
They didn't. This is who they got by trading Drake C to Inter Miami for their 1st pick in the 2nd round. So that seems like some unexpected value already. They couldn't have known Skahan would be there to take so I would guess the main value they expected to get from the trade was actually the incentives they receive later based on Drake's performance. What that is wasn't released for us to know how hard/easy those goals are to reach...but it's probably related to appearances in the 18...that's my guess at least. So, in this trade, I suspect, they were betting on their academy product doing well and Skahan is gravy. The goalkeeper situation remains sort of interesting, mainly because JT will be gone. Reno still has 2 weeks to get a signing done, but for now they have no goalkeepers. One would assume Bresano may go to Reno again and they'll sign a projected back up. Except when JT is gone, Bresano will need to stay with the Quakes. Unless Reno would really be willing to use Ochoa as a backup keeper, then Reno will actually need to sign 2 keepers. Or maybe they're going to live dangerously for the period of JT's absence and actually use Ochoa as a backup. Is that irresponsible. Some people are implying it just due to the sheer size, weight and power of most USL players compared to a 14 year old. If Ochoa is just going to Reno for training in a professional environment, then it seems the safety question given his age would still be in play. As I said, interesting. It looks to me like the Quakes were thinking they'd be stuck with Tarbell's this season or Drake C wouldn't have been seen as surplus given all the above. But the opportunity to offload Tarbell presented and they seized upon it, even though the value they got for Tarbell seems to be less than they will get for Drake C. What Reno does keeper-wise over the next 2 weeks will be interesting. But it doesn't seem Ochoa only going there for the summer resolves much given JT leaves in March.
2in10 said that Reno had at least 2 keepers in preseason camp. I think it’s close to a zero chance that Ochoa will play in an actual league game for Reno, but I could see him involved in scrimmages against local colleges and maybe a friendly or two.
Skahan started his playing career as an attacking mid. Played predominantly 10/8 through youth ranks and at Philly academy. Only went to wing in college (due to overload in mid options). High soccer IQ and can slot in really anywhere in top 6.
Sounds like you followed him in his younger years. What do you see as his attributes and liabilities?
I did. My son grew up playing with him until Jack left for Sunrise. Followed him through college. Upside: great initial burst of speed, field vision, maintaining possession, quick feet, strong 1v1 and smart with quick interchanges, soccer IQ. Downside: (I struggle with this as I'm a big fan, to be fair) size, maybe... and fitness (not mls proven fitness, that is). What I have always liked about Jack is his coachability and team mentality. If MA really wants high-press, all action team soccer, he is a perfect candidate for that in any attacking position. And after Saturday, I would love to see him as one of the 8's. Obviously he'll take time, but He has excelled everywhere he has been. I hope that he can continue that out here. Just needs a shot.
Sounds like a perfect replacement for Vako...especially in Vako's current central mid position...I'm dead serious. Hopefully Almeyda will give him a shot there...after Vako flames out there after 4-5 games. Love hearing he has a high Soccer IQ and quick initial movement and team oriented attitude. Need to see how he looks, but if he can retain that same skill set against MLS comp, he is exactly what we need... hopefully Almeyda will give him a chance like he did with Yueill.
Vako needs to move back outside...and play likes he gives a damn. If Judson is okay, then I guess Eriksson takes Yueill’s spot at the 8 and Skahan is his backup? At least I hope Almeyda realizes that Hoesen needs to be at the 9 and not outside...either that or Wondo will get that spot again.
In a perfect world, sure. He will take time, but I’m confident he couldn’t do a ton worse that Vako did in the 8 role. A few times Saturday, Vako and Danny were the furthest back wide defenders. Not ideal. But that’s a system thing, I suppose.
The only time he gives a damn is when he finally gets back on the field after Almeyda parks his ass on the bench for an extended period of time. He's a detriment to the success of the team on so many levels...Really Fioranelli's Folly....Hopefully Almeyda will have much faster hook this season.
Outside of Alanis, I don't think any of our players had a good game. Not happy with Vako's contribution in the middle, but, I would like to know how long they had been using this formation, maybe there was a lack of practice and preparation. Both he and Hoesen rarely saw the ball, and it looked like we were trying to play to Espinoza as much as possible.
It worked before...and yet I’m not sure complacency about the starting spot because of his salary is what it is. Maybe. It can never happen, but my oh my, would I love to read a sports psychologist’s notes after a few sessions with Vako.
I prefaced it with we need to see Skahan…i.e. if Almeyda thinks he has the goods. If he has a blue chip mentality and high soccer IQ...and turns out to be a dialed in attacking version of Yueill...and Vako continues his ghost act. We'll just have to wait and see how funny I truly am...
So I would greatly advise not making assumptions like this unless you talked to him personally or something. What you perceive as a lack of effort is probably not an accurate account of the actual amount of effort given. Players have to make thousands of decisions on when and how to expend their energy. Sometimes they make the wrong choice, but it's very difficult to know, if not impossible, as a fan. Do some players actually fail to put forth their full effort sometimes? Of course. Everyone does. You can't actually do anything 100% all the time. But what I really tire of is people criticizing effort when they risk absolutely nothing by doing so. I'm sure I'm guilty of doing this, and I was wrong to do it. There are plenty of things to criticize with player performances, but basically calling players lazy adds absolutely nothing of value to the conversation since A, you don't have any first-hand information on what's going on with them, and B, actually putting forth 100% effort on every play is actually detrimental to your overall effectiveness as a player. You'd be dead after fifteen or twenty minutes if you tried your hardest every moment of every game.
Have you ever kicked a ball our played a game in your life? Some things are obvious...how hard do you routinely fight to recover the ball, do you give up or truncate your runs into space, how hard do you work to get open and give teammates a passing option...do you constantly trail your mark in transition...there are telltale signs all over the field to distinguish guys that are dialed in and giving effort and those that are going through the motions. To each his own...
This is how I think of it: how would you feel if I just started posting that your criticisms of the team are lazy? I don't know how much actual effort you put into formulating your thoughts. There's really no way for me to know that. I think calling players lazy is extremely lazy criticism, but I can't verify how much you've thought about it.
To bring it back to the title of this thread, the last Quakes pick from Memphis did pretty well. As @jeff_adams points out on Reddit, Richie Mulrooney helped lead SJ to two cups and played (potentially for Jack) a similar role, of similar size, and with a similar playing style. He would need to step up the assists, but the upside is there.