Post-match: San Jose Earthquakes - Inter Miami CF (Wednesday, 8/3) postgame thread [R]

Sure cumulative results are not good. But within the context of that, at a finer grained level, we have bad runs. Every team does. After that great win in LA, I think we’ve lost 3 and tied 1, and what’s worse - 3 of those 4 at home. And it could get worse with upcoming road games. This will be a good challenge for Covelo - can the team recover.

 

See that's the thing - Fish is all about the business stuff. I don't think he's there to evaluate the quality of buildup play. He probably doesn't know the names of most of the players. People have this image that Fish is paying attention to the on-field stuff and is directly involved in evaluating coaching performances, etc. I don't think so. He hires the GM and leaves it up to them.

 

I don't mean "recover" as in make the playoffs or something. I mean "recover" their general PPG under Covelo before going into a slide.

I think every game we've played since Covelo started has been close. I can think of only 2 MLS games out of the 16 where we lost by more than 1 goal. But when you play lots of close games there's a good chance you lose or tie as much as you win, and that's pretty much exactly where we are (5-6-5). And it could get worse. The roster is ridiculously thin right now. We've lost a starting CB and a key attacking player, and now a starting LB (is Lopez gone or was he out due to red card?).

 

Playing Tanner Beason at left back is not the answer.

 

We don’t have a LB on the roster anymore so playing Tanner “not the answer” Beason as a full back or a combo of Marie/TT/Judson is what you will most likely see moving forward. Even if that rumored new guy from LaLiga comes he is a RB as well so just more of the same issues. Worst part is that we don’t even have any homegrown young guys that we could just let play and develop at LB.

 

Salinas has played a fair amount of LB in his career and was in the 18. People say he “looks rusty” but maybe that’s because he’s barely played. I saw him play 60 minute or so(?) with Quakes II and he looked OK. He didn’t look out of place amidst all the 20-year olds, which is pretty impressive for a 37-year old.

 

Salinas also subbed in late and the offense picked up.

 

That is exactly what was on my mind when I was walking to my car last night. I will still comment on individual performance per game but I am not going to blame the current bunch. They are doing what they can. They are just not very good in general. We lack quality as the other teams in the league keep improving the talents. Honestly even the teams we manage to beat seem to have better qualities.

The same can be said on our coach. Covelo has his limitations and his tactics doesn't seem to be effective with the current players. At the same time, the players he can use are limited too. Another coach my try to do low blocks and counter attack or whatever, but it will also only go so far with these players we have. Almeyda was able to get something out of the players for a while and then it went downhill with the crazy tactics. Covelo came in and played more "normal" soccer. We have seen some improvement but it is more about showing the proper level of this team.

 

Anybody know why Marie and Gregus weren't on the bench?

 

I think I saw Gregus on the bench, but not Marie. Also didn't see Remedi.

 

Marie was due to yellow card accumulation, not sure about GG. Remedi was apparently supposed to start over Judson but was a last-minute scratch based on "health & safety protocol" ...maybe covid?

 

Oh right - I even posted in the game thread that Marie was out on yellows and then forgot about. I'm getting old.

I don't expect Gregus to be with us next year so wouldn't be surprised if Leitch tries to sell him too.

 

It is probably true that we have mid-table level quality at best, probably lower-mid level. And right now it's a bit worse because we have two starter-level empty unfilled roster spots. Three if Lopez is being transferred. But OTOH MLS tends to be bunched around the middle and I think coaching / tactics can make a difference. Covelo is doing OK - every game is close, but at the same time he's not really excelling either. I think there was a window where he would be a viable candidate for the permanent position but that window is closing. That's said, CL is making it tough on him, given the roster holes I mentioned.

I also think that CL is building towards something. He is being very careful in how he moves his chess pieces so that he doesn't get "caught out". If you look at our moves this year the themes are:

1) Emphasize youth - both with academy and superdraft signings. And this is paying off already - we are starting to get good minutes already from players like Ågren, Niko, and Bouda.

2) Don't get stuck in bad veteran contracts. Except for Monteiro I think the other veteran signings are one-year. Calvo is already out and I doubt we'll retain Grey Goose at this point. Also I think one of the reasons we are late with midseason acquisitions if that CL wants to make sure it's the right player, i.e. he doesn't want to commit to a bad contract under the gun. There is no viable move that he can make that will propel us to the playoffs this year ((and no Messi is not "viable" ), so it has to be something that is going to help us next year.

3) Accumulate some cash - we transferred Calvo, Lopez may be next.

Next year, with a new coach, and a bunch of new signings, plus starting to get more benefit from our young players, could be much better. I know y'all don't believe me now - it'll be more "wah - woe is us - nothing ever changes!", but we'll see...

 

Marie was out on yellow accumulation I believe. Not sure if Remedi was the same, or he was not well. I think he was originally listed in the starting 11, and there was some confusion as Judson was introduced (like they showed Remedi's picture on the board or something).

 

"very careful"

 

I'm still cool with Beason at LB in certain situations: playing away, playing against a dangerous right winger, protecting a lead/draw; agree that he isn't 'the answer' though

 

He was responding to you saying "Miami is the worst team in the league" which is clearly not true. Also he never said they are "good".

 

That was a frustrating game, so many squandered chances and bad decisions at critical moments in the attack, we left goals on the table, but so did Miami.

Unfortunate that Agren put his clearance to the top of the box…but it happens sometimes…we didn’t have anybody close to that area, no contain…the guy hit a great shot. Overall I was impressed with Agren. He hit some really nice passes and read the game well. He’ll get better and better…a quality defender

Imo, CL isn’t moving too fast picking up players because he knows Covelo isn’t going to be the permanent coach…and he’s known that from the start. Some of the guys he’s brought in are just bandaids. He needs to have a preferred coach in place before swinging significant deals.

CL will put it together…it will be a sound measured approach, something that will be stable. We’re all frustrated as fans, the last thing we want to hear right now is SLOW REBUILD…but that’s what it will take.

Hopefully, we see a lot of minutes for the young guys Agren, Skahan, Niko use the remainder of the season to develop their games.

 

Agree with pretty much all of that. Kind of unfortunate that he’s hanging Alex out to dry a bit but I’m sure they talk about these things. And you have to make the tough calls if they’re the right calls.

 

Opta says Miami had 6 big chances (Emerson Rodriguez with 4) while we had 0. They define big chance as "A situation where a player should reasonably be expected to score, usually in a one on one scenario or from very close range when the ball has a clear path to goal and there is low to moderate pressure on the shooter. Penalties are always considered big chances."

 

I think we eventually went to a modified 3 in the back almost as TT was pushed quite a bit in the attack (and did well). It actually worked reasonably well - we had lots of chances to score in the 2nd half but couldn’t get a bounce or a good finish, and we kept over hitting crosses by a little bit. How many times did we cross and it went just over the attacker at the far post.

 

I like what I've seen when Agren plays. He seems a bit faster than Beason and pretty comfortable with the ball. For that goal last night, could he head the ball out somewhere else? Definitely. However, the whole season (and maybe for years) we have problem picking up second ball outside the box. That's because we basically all stand inside our box as a form of defense. The closest guy to the goal scorer last night was Yueil who is not exactly the most mobile and fast reacting. He also kind of stopped his "challenge" as the shot was being taken.

If the plan was to get a new coach for next season and to not get any panic purchase right now, then please play the young guys. It can't be worse from a result perspective. We won't make the playoff. The only thing to fight for is the wooden spoon. Give the young guys significant minutes and let the supposed starters rest and clear their heads, I would also think that, while having two coach changes sound bad within a season, once we confirm the next coach we should let him start right away. He can evaluate his squad in real matches. That may also light up the behind of some players. You also have better idea what you need in the coming offseason (which I can't wait for it to come).

 

I have never seen a player feeling as down as Emerson after his team winning a game. He was basically face down and slamming the turf after the final whistle. It was hilarious but I also kind of feel bad about the guy (which i should not for someone not scoring on us).