Columbus Crew - San Jose Earthquakes (Saturday, 4/26) pre/in/postgame thread [R]

Yellow for time wasting yes, but I think playing their hand is a positive from a negotiating perspective. If the county thinks that the fairgrounds is the Quakes only option, then they hold all the cards. In order for the county to make concessions they have to feel like the opportunity could slip away from them. If they don't think it's an "opportunity" of any merit anyway, then the whole thing is a non-starter and it's best to root that out sooner rather than later.

 

point is, Quakes have made no progress on this in how many years?

 

Well I guess this is better than Bruce standing in the hallway at LAFC. Looks like a zoom call with Bruce's head digitally floating on a Quakes background. His take on the game is basically what I'd expect. We played pretty well - unlucky not to get something out of it, had some good chances to tie it in the 2nd half. Floriani played well in his first start, Jones was fine, Martinez is doing well. Martinez went out at the half due to hamstring tightness.

Note to the Tectonic Takes guy or anyone asking questions. Make sure you're asking a real question - a clear question that has an answer, and not doing your own long-winded analysis and then expecting Bruce to comment on your analysis. I see that happening way too often, and Bruce doesn't have much patience for it. "So what is your question?"

 

Nothing lasting or special has ever been built on the cheap.

 

4 goals yesterday, very impressive. One from Josef Martinez, one from Max Arfsten, two from Diego Luna... pity only one was for the Quakes.

 

C'mon, look at the bright side! Verhoeven didn't score yesterday. (Actually, not on the bench for SD).

Right after the final whistle, Niko went over to Arfsten and said something to him with his hand over his mouth. I'm thinking either it was,

"Man were we dumb not to snap you up."

or

"Man, I wish we had your coach."

 

Yeah I noticed that interaction as well, they had a nice laugh about something...

 

I think it's time to start a "former Quakes academy / draftee player who got away from the Quakes for nothing (or nearly nothing)" all-star team:

------------------------------Musovski--------------------------------
--------------------------------Luna--------------------------------
---Arfsten--------------------------------------------------Barajas
--------------------???--------------------???-----------------------
----???----------???---------------???---------------Verhoeven
------------------------------Callendar----------------------------

Who am I missing? Aren't there one or two former Quakes academy defenders playing in Europe? Just a few more spots to fill.

 

19yo CB Drew Murray: Quakes academy -> Oakland Roots -> SC Freiburg II
19yo CB Ethan Kohler: Quakes academy -> Oakland Roots -> Werder Bremen II
17yo RB/LB Oliver Tan: Quakes academy -> Famalicão Y19 (Portugal)

 

OK, almost there. Just need a couple of center mids. I guess we might as well pencil KK Spivey and Cruz Medina in there .

------------------------------Musovski--------------------------------
--------------------------------Luna-----------------------------------
---Arfsten--------------------------------------------------Barajas
--------------------[Spivey]-------------------[Medina]------------------
----Tan----------Murray--------------Kohler-------------Verhoeven
------------------------------Callendar----------------------------

 

Asking Quakesfans for patience is bullshit.

Our team has been shit for years because our owner doesn’t give a crap how bad we are. I get that it’s going to take time to improve our club, but I want results now. Why should I support a team that hates me?

F#$& Fisher!!

 

It’s shit that you have to think that.

 

I was shocked by the game! I expected us to lose by at least two or three.

 

It may be shit to have to think that but it’s mental health self-preservation.

 

I hear you.
I find that I just care a lot less. If the team is awful, I just don’t get worked up about it. And if the team kicks ass, I just don’t get worked up about it.

It’s just one more thing in my life. I have deprioritized rooting for the Quakes.

Go Quakesfans!!

 

San Jose are now 1W-6L-1D since starting the year with a two-game winning streak.

 

We are rounding into prime 2024 form.

 

Well, I definitely see your points. 3-6-1 has been rough, especially after the hot start I think we all knew couldn't last. I'd say we are playing a bit better and have given up less late goals than last season. There has been a moderate amount of comeback in a handful of our losses in 2025. we were of course, 2-7-1 through ten games, so the results are pretty similar, even if the play has been a little better. I know it's the hope that get you, but last year were were about to go through our last gasp of hope, ended by bad call versus Portland. It might be just me, but I'm feeling a little more hope than last season and definitely having more fun. I can take losses like the one against Columbus. It's watching entire games with no chance that really stick the dagger in. Anyone other that Judd might have tied or won this one for us.

 

Since we are sitting on a 2-game home game surplus, our record flatters us a bit. As our home-road schedule evens out, we may not be much better than last year in terms of points. Let's face it, we almost never win road games. Most MLS teams don't win road games very often.

But I feel like we're primed for a better 2nd half. Hernán coming back, we have Jones added to the left side. We are tied for most goals in the league, and our attack is about to get even better, possibly significantly better. It could be downright nasty. So we'll see. I think Bruce has a handle on it. We may not make the playoffs but I don't think we'll be last again. I'm thinking like something around 10th or 11th, which is not great, but progess. The key is can we build on it in 2026.

 

Not bad for for a road game against a good team, but still not good enough from an overall view. A combination of individual breakdowns (Daniel on the first goal, Floriani on the second goal, Judd and Bouda failing to score, and Arango just having a poor game) and continuing to play poor transition defense (too many give aways).

Any idea why Martinez went off at half? Yes, he had a lot of give aways, but his goal was beautiful and I bet he puts Judd ball in the back of the net. Sure, the Crew hit the "wood work" twice, but we could have gotten away with a tie.

Espinoza had an average game at best and is a defensive liability. Floriani got some good experience and showed better on the ball, along with some better passing than in preseason.

Arena gets the benefit of the doubt, but I feel that there is a little too much tinkering going on. Hope we get some more consistent lineups within a couple of more games and for the remainder of the season.

 

Arena said Josef had some tightness in the hamstring, so as a precautionary measure he subbed out at halftime.