I'm starting to wonder how "much improved" our defense will be. Nathan and Rodrigues didn't necessarily inspire confidence last night, no Aklapo, and I'm not sure defending is Trauco's strong suit in his game. Daniel was not tested much though he did snuff out one breakaway. Gruezo definitely helps though. Munie might factor in at some point.
Don't remember Cowell's but Espinoza did. Was a bit surprised to see Espinoza take that shot. It was a tough angle and he'd usually pass it there, but seems like a nice variable to add to his game. We actually did OK to be fair. Not always easy to find the net when the other team is packed in. But MBU did pretty well considering they've just started training.
Certainly a decent crowd for a preseason game... Nothing but 🫶 for our 8️⃣3️⃣1️⃣ & beyond.This is support. This is passion.This, is the Greatest Union of Land & Sea ⛰️🌊 pic.twitter.com/DsaHr0vx2a— Monterey Bay F.C. (@MontereyBayFC) February 5, 2023 They are in the USL Championship which is the second division, not the third division, in case facts actually matter to you... Well if the defense is going to give up a goal to a lower (second) division team, at least it was a banger that was close to unstoppable... What about this noise? https://t.co/XuzHS8QT5o pic.twitter.com/8uPaNfYRps— Monterey Bay F.C. (@MontereyBayFC) February 5, 2023 Not sure what any defender or goalkeeper could have done about that.
Well, there was little to no pressure on the ball there. IIRC the ball was pinging around and we were trying to clear, but I don't remember the exact scenario. OTOH you're not going to always have great pressure on the ball when it's pinging around, and also I think Daniel was shielded. He didn't react at all I don't think. Probably couldn't have saved it anyway, but normally you'd expect some movement on that.
Interesting camera angles. Looks like they just strapped a GoPro to some random person on the sidelines.
Our 2nd team is not very impressive. Marcinkowski Thompson, Agren, Munie, Beason Judson, Baldisimo Bouda, Tsakiris, Richmond Kikanovic We need to upgrade Thompson and Beason. Studying some of the fan footage of the game I've been able to uncover on Twitter, TikTok, YouTube, Instagram and Facebook they were literally getting scorched. Agren and Munie if progressed correctly could be quite good. Bouda is Bouda, Tsakiris was the best player with that 11 and Kikanovic did what you'd expect. I like him at the 9 as I suggested way way months before I think he'd be a good 9 for the club and I'd like to see him challenge for Jebos job, take the job, score goals and get paid what he needs to get paid. Judson and Baldi are NOT a good combination. Judson was too far up the field a lot and Baldi was caught over covering and they kept getting over run in the midfield. Marcinkowski also punted the ball out of bounds twice, turned it over once and flubbed a goalkick once.
I think they are largely invisible on the campus, but they have done a nice job of building a buzz in the community in the Monterey area. They are still largely invisible/unknown here in Santa Cruz. I live in the Santa Cruz mountains, but have offices both on the westside of Santa Cruz and in Monterey. My son goes to school in Seaside and my wife teaches at CSUMB., So, I am down there almost every day. I have seen more and more kids with MBFC shirts, hats, etc., which is nice to see. They are still a new team, but seem to be building the team and the organization very deliberately and with long-term stability in mind. I hope they are successful. I would like to see more outreach in Santa Cruz County. For folks in Watsonville, they are especially close. From where my house, it is exactly the same time to PayPal as to Cardinale.
Wasn't at the game so I can't say for certain based on that video, but it looked like we were (yet again) too far away while defending.
-Okay but how does that compare to other MLS teams? -The roster would certainly look better with another top winger... -Speaking of wingers, Will Richmond seems to be in limbo where he's too good for MLS Next Pro but not good enough for MLS... one of the problems with having your second team in the third division MLS Next Pro instead of in USL Championship. -This just shows why signing a #9 like Santiago Patiño would've made sense (Benji -> winger) -Same goes for homegrown Viviani at left back -You really must not like Paul Marie lol
Well that was the team that played together in the 2nd half against Monterey. So I'm going off that. I like Marie enough to hope he's a late defender on the field if we need to go defensive. I would prefer Thompson to start over him at any inclination of time at Right Back if I'm honest. They had Thompson at Left Back at one point and he got scortched so they moved him to the right. Against other MLS teams... I'd suspect the same, but guys can be used as chess pieces they excel against some teams and look bad against others. Thats the Soccer Methodology and systematical approach they teach you in the USSF Pro A and USSF Youth A courses now. It's very interesting. Thompson does very well against teams that press which is why he always looks great against LAFC, Seattle and Kansas City, but he's very mediocre or average to a liability against teams that sit in and move the ball left to right rather then north to south. Like the Galaxy, Dallas and Portland. He also does well on a bigger field where he has room to work the flanks and more space with his technical abilities and ball movement rather then tight confines where he is 1 or 2 steps above the majority of the guys on our team with 1-2 touch close confines. I am some what relieved he didnt go to LAFC he would scorch the holy ass out of us, but he would honestly be better with our first team then 2nd team at this point, but he's not better then Akapo, Montiero or Tsakiris. I don't rate Beason at all. He's so below the standard he's probably the one guy I'd rate on our roster as the very bottom. I like Walls, Agren and Munie a lot. I've been studying tape to familiarize myself with Walls quite a bit lately to see if he will receive the wrath of Replikait.. or the mercy of Kaitlyn lmaoooo
And to be clear, the only guy on the roster I really don't like/rate as a player is Beason. I don't think he adds any element to this squad other then over paid filler.
Re: Akapo. What sort of foot injury (supposedly two broken metatarsals) take ten months to heal? WT actual F? Did the vaunted Quakes medical team screw the pooch? Do they not serve bone broth at the training table? Enquiring minds want to know…
Correct lol, but as you know I must throw shade and insults. 2 Personalities, Happy Kaitlyn... angry replikait. I'm in between both at the moment. The meter can flip at any time depending what this team does. Lets hope they do good things this season that I'm hopeful for.
Here's a longer version... The first goal at home in 2022 & the first goal at home in 2023.... @walmermartinez_ 🐈⬛👑 Para nuestra familia... #DefendThe831 pic.twitter.com/Fml1Z9BLOv— Monterey Bay F.C. (@MontereyBayFC) February 5, 2023
Yeah, pretty much as I remember. We were trying to clear the ball. I was thinking - just clear it, it’s almost the half. I guess if I were to lay blame it would be on Yueill(?) for trying the hero tackle there. If you get the ball great but where’s it going, and now you’ve taken yourself out of the play for a moment. He could have just marked the guy, limited his options, and slowed the play down. Trauco could have been tighter on Martinez but had very little time to react.
Luchi Gonzalez on Nathan's status after the knock he picked up during the Preseason match vs Monterey Bay," Nathan is walking around, so that's agood sign. He's a little sore, he took a knock, I don't know what the diagnostic is yet..." (1/2) #Quakes74 #MLS pic.twitter.com/gZswGXXBHw— Favian Renkel (@FavianRenkel) February 5, 2023 "...I'm going to need to get more details, but he's sore. The fact that he walked off the field is a good sign so hopefully something not too serious." (2/2)— Favian Renkel (@FavianRenkel) February 5, 2023 GO SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES!!! -G
Luchi Gonzalez on the status of Carlos Akapo," Carlos took a knock two weeks ago. He just started training two days ago, so he was not going to be cleared for this game. We'll see how he's feeling, he's progressed really well. He could be ready for our next exhibition." pic.twitter.com/gtoxMOQp8z— Favian Renkel (@FavianRenkel) February 5, 2023 GO SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES!!! -G
San Jose Earthquakes Head Coach Luchi Gonzalez on what are the positives and negatives from the Preseason Matchup vs. Monterey Bay F.C.... #Quakes74 #MLS (1/8) pic.twitter.com/Gb03eriBDx— Favian Renkel (@FavianRenkel) February 5, 2023 "...First and foremost want to thank the fans for coming out to support with the conditions of the weather and the commute, so we appreciate that. I'm glad to see the boys show a response to the end and find a way to win..." (2/8)— Favian Renkel (@FavianRenkel) February 5, 2023 "...I think we show that we want to, not just dominate the ball, but break the lines vertically with good synchronization, third man combos positions players in positions with timing..." (3/8)— Favian Renkel (@FavianRenkel) February 5, 2023 "...I like the way that we tried to play with the ball. We created some good attacking situations where balls went across the frame, we didn't get on the end of them. We did score our first goal in that way.I'd like to see us have better timing getting in the box..." (4/8)— Favian Renkel (@FavianRenkel) February 5, 2023 GO SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES!!! -G