San Jose Earthquakes - Austin FC (Wednesday, 4/22) pre/in/postgame thread [R]

If the Quakes are able to obtain their 8th win Wednesday, they will equal in April the total win totals of the 2008, 2011 and 2016 Quakes squads. They have already equaled the 2000 and 2009 squads with 7 wins, and surpassed the 2014 and 2024 squads (6 wins), as well as the Stahre-led 2018 squad (4 wins).

 

While it shouldn't be, this is a bit of a watershed game, having come off a big win against a good team (LAFC) taking on FC Austin (a struggling team), we need to bring the intensity and energy and not play down to the level of competition. They need to come to win and win decisively.

Go Quakes!

 

Anybody else smell a Trap Game?

 

They're all trap games.

 

Seems like Austin has some key players out, like Vazquez, Pereira, Wolff and possibly Nelson, Uzuni, and Taylor. But MLS is MLS. Every team / game can be competitive. In the last month they tied Inter Miami in Miami (inaugural stadium game) and tied LAFC at home (but narrow loss to LAG at home).

 

My PPP specific weather report shows clear skies for the game.

 

Definitely has lingered longer than expected, but, we should be fine by game time. Dress warm, though!

 

And for us only Costa and Jones on the MLS Injury list. No Ricketts on it.

 

I don’t trust that Ricketts will be available. Last time he didn’t show up on the report but was unavailable, for 1 or 2 games. And he seemed very upset when he came off against LAFC, like shirt over face kind of thing. Hopefully he is available though.

 

Kind of surprised - Bruce is not rotating the lineup at all, except Benji appears to be out and not on the bench. Jasinski is starting in his place. Also, despite my skepticism, Ricketts is back in. Glad to see that. He's been a bit injury prone.

 

It’s surprising. Maybe light rotation ion the weekend and the full for the Open Cup?

 

Ironically he’s on tonight’s player card handout.

 

He must have picked up a late knock (or illness).

 

Maybe he figures that he wants to go for the easier 3 points at home and take his chances on the road. But it’s only 3 days rest vs. 4 for a Saturday game.