Post-match: Sporting Kansas City - San Jose Earthquakes (Wednesday, 8/19) postgame thread [R]

It's immaterial what kind of win you get when you're on a long winless streak. Lost confidence and the will to win is the biggest casualty. As JazzyJ predicted, a win of any type would galvanize the team's confidence and lead to more success.

 

what are the chances that 4 or 5 SJE players had career nights in the same game?

1) Salinas;
2) Cato;
3) Amarikwa;
4) Godoy;
5) Wondo;

An easy decision for Kinnear in picking the next game starting XI IMO.

 

He had his best game of the season.

 

what the hell happened to Chance Meyers and the back 4 of KC? haven't watched them much this year or last but I always thought Vermes' team played aggressive high pressure team defense.

 

If by high pressure team defense you mean lots of late tackles and ankle kicks, they did not disappoint last night!

 

WOW! you are being very very kind to JazzyJ e.g., cherry picking.

 

I give credit where it's due. Even JazzyJ can occasionally be correct.

 

He might have almost had two goals?

 

Lot if interesting stuff out there last night. First, Amerikwa's work rate is very good. I am liking him much better compared to his previous Quakes stint. Launching his body in the corner to block a clearance is infectious--Goodson and Bernardez both had great diving header clearances, showing an enthusiasm I have not seen at all this year.

Alashe and Godoy are a good pair. They are rangy and athletic and patrolled the middle of the field, really dominated, compared to Wondo and MPG.

Now, MPG has marvelous skills. But, the Quakes are not a possession team, and their best hope is to counter. MPG's extensive dribbling might work well with a possession team but not with his current mates. Nor can he get up into the box to get on the end of the type of cutback crosses that Shea was dishing up last night. But Cato can get there. Man, it was good to see some bodies getting into the box last night.

Wondo missed a sitter or two, but that header will get him going. Confidence is so key.

Did you say playoffs? PLAYOFFS!!

 

If Quincy's work rate is what you like, it is actually less than it was in his first stint with the Quakes :--). So I guess he picks his spots more, but you could see the value that he brought to the team, even then. I didn't see any flying through air laying out to block shots last night like the one in Houston. I guess it wasn't really necessary by the time it was 3-0. But there were a few times in the 2nd half where it looked like he just went to ground - not flying through the air but more gently but quickly lying down. I'm guessing because he was expecting a pass on the ground and he wanted to increase the chance of blocking the pass? The guy just does some really unorthodox stuff out there, which is what I like about him.

I remember in the offseason Dom saying something about the team needing to have multiple ways to play, and not being too one-dimensional. Last night looked like vintage 2012 to me, all the way down to the lopsided score :--). But they do have more possession-oriented players on the team now, so if they want to they can switch it up. Depends on the opponent, the game situation, etc.

 

@Archie Roboostoff are you the real Archie Roboostoff?

 

Not Archie. Just paying homage. I have a Navy cap given to me by a friend and I wore it around. Got thanked for my service too often and now I can't wear it any more. Might have to change my handle here.

 

Great to see quincy and wondo combining up top in an effective partnership. That's the first time I've seen them combine effectively. Hopefully it continues.

Salinas and cato have been pretty poor most of the season hopefully last night was a turning point for them and not a one-off. They played great last night long may it continue.

Same goes for the rest of this team. hopefully that was not a one-off like the home win over chicago last year.

 

Wondo was very (and I believe sincerely) complimentary of Quincy in his post-game interview, which suggests that the supposed rift between the two was much ado about nothing.

 

Yeah -- they've both put aside their antipathy and are focusing all of their disdain on Sam Garza....

 

They were total bro's last night. Hopefully the start of a great strike partnership between them.

 

Wondo played some of his best soccer next to Donovan. High energy work rate guys allow him to find more space in the attack. If Quincy picks out his passing options more often, the Quakes will rip a few teams apart.

 

I posted this last year after we won 2 staight after the Seattle/Levi's game, and we know how that turned out. Well, superstitions be damned, I'm posting it again. Playoffs or bust!

 

Double Pivot 4-4-2 looking good, especially with great CMs like Godoy and Alashe in the middle. Hopefully we can get consistent dynamic play from our wingers, as they are key to the attack. Quincy and Wondo's high work rate is great for high press/counters as well. Kinnear will keep them discipline which is key for this system. Looking at next year: Innocent at RM will be a huge upgrade (Cato as a super sub). Might have to look to sell MPG to free up cap space and bring in a quality 2-way left-back. This team can be lethal if consistent.

 

I think too many people overreacted to the month of July. It was played almost entirely on the road against teams that are, in terms of quality, in the top half of the league, and all without Wondo. Losses pile on one another, players get down. It happens.

We finish the season with some good teams, some not some good teams, and a lot of home games. Because of the unbalanced schedule we will probably end with the toughest strength of schedule in the league, so playoffs arent really garunteed, but we have already eclipsed our point total from last year, and I think we have an opportunity to lay down a good foundation for next year.

 

Where is Honore de balsac?

 

Benny Failharder.

 

I'd move Cato to LB, and Innocent should be at LM starting over Salinas. MPG is fine and should be starting at RM if he was healthy. But it is evident how much his going to the ground really slows up the game and with it, chances. I wouldn't mind an improvement over him next season, but again I don't know who would give us as much money for him to transfer.

 

Im also wondering if MPG is a fit for the system we saw last night. It seems that Quincy can be an effective player maker and also has the speed to partake in counter attacks with the wingers.

Putting MPG on the wing means we lose speed which seems like a crucial element in this system.

Then again, maybe MPG and Godoy would put on a show in the center of the midfield.