Is it just me but does the start to this season mirror our surprise in 2001...and we all remember how that ended up! But seriously though, are we good enough to win MLS Cup this season? So far we look as if by the time we get our bench back we will be firing on all cylinders.... the next 2 road matches are a test of charicter right now, should we come out of it unscathed, 6pts, or relatively unscathed, 4pts, I think the boys are going to go on a run that is going to be the envy of MLS fans and managers elswhere! Maybe we can actually win our first supporter's shield and second MLS Cup this season...hell, and maybe add more deserved silverwear and incrimintally increase attendance to the 12-1300 region per game.
I was thinking the same thing this morning. So maybe the trip to New England will result in a 5-1 Quakes romp? Only difference right now compared to two years ago is the injuries. But once those players come back, it'll make the team all the much the better. But from over here, it seems that there's a hunger afoot with the new players that was very present in 2001-- can those back home confirm this in their via á vis observations? Can't wait to see the game this weekend, even on tape-delay...
      From what I've been able to see of the three games so far on TV (unfortunately, I haven't been able to see the team in person yet this season), this is definitely the case!       I remember after the 2001 playoff series against Miami, that Ray Hudson had described the Earthquakes players as "an angry swarm of bees" in the way they quickly closed down the opposing players, and how there was always a Quakes player or two behind the one(s) challenging the opposing player with the ball, so it was difficult to get past them.       This "angry bees" hunger wasn't quite as evident in 2002, but I'm seeing it again so far this season... and this with a third of the team currently out with injuries!       It's too soon in the season to tell for certain how things will turn out, but it's nice to see that at least for now, the young guys are displaying the same hunger that they Boys of 2001 did.       GO EARTHQUAKES!!! -G
You know, it's not too far off. Who was universally conceded to be the class of the league this year? The Galaxy. However, watching them through the first 4 games has reconfirmed my impression of them from last year - that they are a very good team, but beyond Ruiz they are pedestrian, more competant than flashy. No way are they the Galaxy of 1998, even if they managed to break through last year. Beyond the Galaxy, who is there? It is all going to come down, in the end, to whichever team is able to peak at the right time. In 2001 we peaked in the playoffs, and last year we peaked early.
Yeah and in 2002, we thought that we would be world-beaters when Agoos and Donovan got back. Landon and Jeff ruined any chance at an MLS Cup in 2002. I hope Eddie, Ronnie and Ian don't come back and ruin our undefeated streak.
No.....the Crew. The Galaxy is a good defense with a mediocre midfield and a guy up top that usually finishes the few chances he has.
I think if Onstad gets a little more confident in goal we will definately make it to the final. The Quakes are playing with same intensity as they did in 2001. Hopefullythe guys on the injured list can come back and get into their form quickly and not disturb what we have going right now.
The Crew was generally considered to be second, primarily because they had yet to realize their potential. Los Angeles brought back the same team as won MLS Cup and added the Bronze Ball winner. Regardless, Los Angeles IS looking more pedestrian, and the Crew were shut down by the Metros of all people in CCS.
Cynic? That's no cynic. That's a crepe hanger. The guy who is rehearsing his funeral speech long before the other guy is dead.
LDB......he was a good man.....an honest man, a man that loved his Quakes and his beer-fetchin wife. We will miss him.....
I think it's a bit premature to think of this year's squad as MLS Cup champions. It's still May folks. This season is going to last for another five months. In between that time, anything can happen. While I think that we're playing well right now, if we can get our team healthy and start connecting our passes more (that is, creating a more fluid transition from offense to defense) then we'll be lingering up top all season. If anyone, like myself, questioned Yallop and his 2003 draft before the season started, they sure don't now. However, if the above doesn't happen, expect some lows this season followed by periodic highs (sounds like a manic depressive.) I expect the other squads to kick into higher gear in the next month, and I hope the Quakes will do the same.
Damn, you're feeling optimistic this morning, aren't you? Way too early to start hanging banners from the rafters yet. The lack of depth will catch up to the Quakes, if not sooner, then when Donovan and/or Mulrooney miss much of June and July for Confed and Gold Cups. There goes the Supporters Shield. Unless they use thier discovery pick/remaining SI on depth at forward...or right back. Also, there's always the goalie situation, which is only 10 days removed from being a calamity. I'm really looking forward to tomorrow's game - classic matchup: Donvoan v. Twellman, etc. Excitement is in the Quakes' air.
While I think that the Earthquakes have the depth at Midfield required to cover for Mulrooney's loss, they don't have that depth up top. It's very likely that unless someone is acquired we'll have Mullan and Ching up top with Alvarez subbing.
Re: Re: Eerily Familiar? Well today is the big day, today is the first day of the rest of the season; boy, I loved that. My thinking is this, if the Quakes are doing better than we expected them to this early on, then our hopes of maintaining, if not continuing, this run of form once our bench get back, significantly increases our chances of being mentally tough by the playoffs. Besides, you gotta think, even the lads themselves didn't think they'd start off this well...Dayak mentioned it in some interview, sorry don't have the link off hand. If the players are exceeding their own expectations then that also bodes well because then it's all a matter of consistency. This year our main consistency issues, on the whole, will be how the team fares on the road...if we beat last season's duck...and face this seasons, injuries, well enough, then there's no doubt we will be semi-finalists hosting Dallas or LA in the Conference match at Spartan.