Quakes: Favourites for MLS Cup 2004?

I see what you're saying, and if winning were only a matter of throwing players out on the field, you'd definitely be right.

One hitch for us - and it's a big one - is that we lost our coach. Now, Dom should keep a high degree of continuity and I think he'll do a great job, but the truth is, we don't know what difference he'll make.

In addition, our players have (deservedly) attracted more attention from the national team. We'll obviously be losing LD for big stretches at a time, and it looks like Mulrooney may be joining him. One or two USNT injuries, and we could see Dunnivant and Walker joining in (probably not, but...), and maybe even Agoos getting a call back.

Imagine if Eke gets hurt. Then LD and Mulrooney get call-ups.

I agree though. Looking at team rosters, I'd say that the Quakes have to be considered favorites.

 

There are still plenty of opportunities for player movement. Too early to tell. We need to see how the draft picks pan out.

 

I've said it before, I'll say it again. 2004 will be our best year ever.

Of course, I think the league as a whole will be stronger so it's not clear our actual record will improve.

If Ekelund returns, team depth is just ridiculous. Corrales, De Rosario, Walker, Faria, Russell, Alvarez, Cochrane, Robinson. It's quite likely that only one of these players will start (left mid), yet any of them could be respectable 2004 MLS starters. Not even counting Cronin, the best youth goalie prospect since Adin Brown.

 

I'm sure our guys will be competitive, as always. You always have to favor the defending champ, no matter what.

However, KC gave us a really good run in the semis last year and with Joe C. in net, I'm leary of Colorado. And then, there's always LA...though I hope they suck, they always seem to find a way to be in the mix. Metro is a good side that will survive the loss of Cletus. Bradley is a fantastic coach--he'll find a way to give them a boost. Columbus is the great MLS enigma this year, IMO.

Yeah, I think we'll be favored...but it'll be by a nose.

 

When you look back over the history of MLS, it's the teams with great coaches that by and large win the cup. Yallop, Arena, Bradley. It's not typically the team that has the best individual talent. Often those two go hand in hand, because a good coach chooses good talent. But if you have to pick one over the other, pick a great coach.

Because of that, the jury is out on the Quakes in '04. Dom will have to prove himself. I think he has the capability to be one of those coaches, but he has yet to prove it on the field where it counts.

That is also the reason that I fear the Fire and Metrostars the most. It is also the reason that I don't fear the Rapids or Columbus.

DC and Dallas are unknowns basically in the same position as the Quakes (albeit with much less to work with as a starting point). The Revs, KC, and LA I put in the decent category and can be capable of putting together a run for the cup (as evidenced by the 2000 KC, and 2002 LA wins).

That being said, I don't see how the Quakes can be thought of as anything other than the front-runner. If Dom was from outside the organization, I wouldn't be so positive. But all he has to do is keep the ship headed in the same direction it's been going. That's a much easier task than having to right a ship, like Colin Clarke has to do.

The off-season looks to result in the loss of Lagos only, with the outside possiblity that Goos goes also. Losing Lagos, as much as I like the guy, and appreciate what he did for the Quakes, is not a big deal. Goos would leave a hole in the leadership of the team, but I think there is enough leaders on this team to work around that. On the field, Jeff at 34, is replaceable.

In addition, the Quakes added Cochrane, Cronin, and whatever other draft picks stick. Levesque is practically a newcomer and having Faria the whole season is a plus. Walker continues to develop, but his starting point this year is magnitudes higher than last year. Alvarez now has a year of pro experience under his belt, as does Dunivant.

We won the cup last year, and no other MLS team can come close to the Quakes as far as maintaining consistency this off-season player-wise. On paper that's are real plus.

 

I don't see player call ups being a problem with the MLS playoff format. All the Quakes have to do is finish 4th in the west, that shouldn't be a problem. As long as everyone is healthy for the playoffs a repeat could very well be in the works.

 

If the Quakes re-sign both Ekelund and Agoos, they're in a good spot. But remember, they finished 2nd in the SS, needed a miracle victory to advance past the quarters, had to win in OT to win their semis, and by their own admission were "thorougly outplayed" in the 1st half of the Cup (albeit while still leading 2-0).

So under no circumstances will it be a cakewalk, favorite or no.

 

While everyone, esp the players, would like to see the salary cap raised, raising it to $3 million while effectively doubling the roster is actually a cut in the average salary ($3mil/35 vs $1.7/18).

Even the Quakes in recent years, with the Champions Cup and US Open Cup, don't need a roster of 30-35 players.

Yes, developmental squads would be nice, but what I'd rather see would be Quakes B playing in the PDL.

Tony

 

Ah Favorites!

That would be nice, but we're still way to early in the pre-season to be able to say anything. And it's not necessarily the big names that will make the difference. Last year, we thought we'd suck having signed such castoffs as Mullan, Ching, Waibel, and rookies like Dunivant.

So the pre-season will have a few more player moves by several teams. Some folks will be cut, some will be traded. I'll be shocked and disappointed if we keep Faria rather than one of our many other forwards.

Other teams will sign a discovery player or two. There will be some trades. Some later round draft picks will shine in pre-season camp. And there will be injuries. We had a ton last pre-season. I sure hope that we avoid the bug this year, but surely, there will be at least one or two important injuries to some team in MLS before the start of the season.

Also, we need to see how the Untied players adjust to Nowak. He could completely change the way they play. He could massively improve that club. Or, they could fail to conform to his coaching and they could suck big time. (The Untied are a squad with a lot of hot-heads. Nowak won't put up with that. Something's got to give.)

Still, I think that our guys should be in the hunt. We've a solid core team. We should have a fair bit of continuity in the coaching realm (Dominic and Hanley) and we have the best team work ethic in the league.

It will interesting to see how the changes the other teams have made work out. Will the Crewless be hugely improved with their veteran acquisitions? Will DallASS continue to suck? Another slow start for the CounterRevs? What major name player will the stinking, evil, rotten, cheating, scum-sucking, water-stealing, smog-breathing, poser galactofilth sign?

Looking forward to 2004!!

GO QUAKES!!

- Mark

 

I think the Quakes should be deemed 2004 favorites based on 2003 result and relative stability (so far) of the roster. But, as FlashMan points out, last season was no cakewalk. I would add the disappointing US Open Cup result to his list.

I think it takes a combination of a good team and some luck to win the MLS Cup. The Quakes '02 team may have been better than the '03 team, but went out in the first round of the playoffs. There's the question of injuries and the good fortune of having a good game at the right time. Despite the '03 MLS Cup result, Chicago may have still had the better team. Their regular season record was a little better, they won the US Open Cup, and they had an easier time in the playoffs (until the Final).

It'd be a big surprise if somehow the Quakes didn't make the playoffs. Then, assuming people like LD and Mulrooney are on the field, they certainly have a good chance. But they'll need some good fortune as well.

 

Funny, the way I remember it the Quakes dominated the entire season from 1st kick-off to the final MLS Cup whistle. You telling me it happened otherwise?

 

The Quakes don't have to cut anyone from last year. Faria's not competing for a spot against LD, Walker, DeRo, or Ching. Faria will be cut only if one of the rookies beat him out. Faria is a proven vet and former Rookie of the Year. It ain't gonna be easy.

 

Actually, it's funny the way that winning the MLS cup can be such a punishment. If you have really successful players, then they win the cup, so they get bonuses, but they also want more money because they're really good, so you have to deal with increased incomes and the cup bonuses, but you don't want to lose the players because obviously they're pretty good.

Why can't MLS make bonuses outside of caps? Has this been answered?

 

My question when someone talks about trading Faria is: "Why?" The two forwards who will, we assume, be with the team for the entire season are Walker and Faria. Landon will be at Olympic qualifying, the Olympics and WC qualifying. Pwamme will be at WC qualifying. And, no one knows for sure when Brian Ching will be fully healed and fit from the achilles tendon injury. Faria and Walker are the base.

 

Well, the Quakes are certainly MY favorite to win it all. And I can't wait to see the Donovan/Walker combination again. That was sweet!

 

I'm so sorry. Don't mean to make anybody sad. It's just that we were runnin' and gunnin' with Donovan/Walker! Fun and exciting!

Actually any combination up top is okay....as long as we're winning!

 

Not too worried here...

I'm not so much worried about Donovan missing several games during the middle part of the season (assuming that he'll be there for the playoffs). I'm more concerned that he gets burned out, similar to what happened in 2002. Granted, he's older and probably learned a lot about how to handle himself and balance his off-field commitments with the game. Hopefully this is the case.

And, just to be contrarian for a moment, other teams will also be dealing with the loss of their players to Olympic and WC qualifiers. As others have mentioned, we have a good strikeforce in place already, but none of them can replace Donovan.

The more I think about it, the more I'm conflicted. We all appreciate the recognition that comes with getting our players called up to the national team(s), but I'm also grateful that more of our guys aren't being called in - does that make sense?

Ah, it's all just speculation at this point, so I'll try not to lose too much sleep over it. Yet.

 

If I may interject, the threat from the East wont be Columbus but it will be the Revs. Like the Earthquakes, the Revs didn't lose any big name players, actually they are gettin some back from injury. They added depth to their midfield, still have a major player allocation, and are looking great for the new year. If the Revs can stay healthy, I think they should be considered favorites to represent the East in MLS Cup 2004.