QOBC, Vol 4, No 6, August 24, 2024
Photo: @sjearthquakes
Josh: Hope you enjoyed the Olympics and Leagues Cup action, as we took a much-needed break from MLS action. MLS had some good representation out there! From the Bay, we got to cheer on the women’s side - Bay FC had players repping Canada, Zambia, and Nigeria.
Matt: Tsakiris definitely looked good, and made good on his designation as a CONCACAF “player to watch,” scoring goals against Guatemala and Costa Rica. Following that up with his selection as the Best Player of the [CONCACAF] U20 Championship, I’d say he had a good tournament. Not to be outdone, Emi Ochoa manned the sticks in the Championship against his teammate Tsakiris’s USA squad, and held firm, winning the final 2-1. I’d say the Quakes have to feel pretty good about this.
Josh: Seems like the rest of this season is a good opportunity to see them on the MLS pitch! Thanks to you and our readers for being so patient during the breaks. We took a little break from posting here too, because every time I was getting ready to start writing & describe the trend, the roller coaster of the Earthquakes’ Summer took another turn!
Matt: I think it’s fair to say the 2024 summer schedule doesn’t allow for a lot of continuity, what with the Olympics and Leagues Cup. Tracking players who were out due to injury and international duty was harder than usual, but I love the Olympics. It was no surprise that Spain won the gold, but France did their best on their home turf, though they fell short. Regardless, the Quakes continue to have eventful seasons, for both good reasons and the other kind.
Josh: Our previous post ended with a blowout by LAFC, and sadly, that’s where the Boys in Blue & Black find themselves again. Starting with the end of June, six matches under Interim Coach Russel, rotations on positions, and I appreciate the creativity.
Matt: Benji as a Defender was not on my 2024 bingo card.
Josh: It happened! And it was definitely part of the “hmm?” that Quakes fans let join their sights as we turned our eyes to the international field.
Let’s recap that real quick first:
Cali Clasíco heads back to Stanford, huge attendance, historic stadium, and Quakes do not rise to the occasion: 0-3 LAG.
3 July - St Louis City - 0-2, couldn’t score against the 2nd to last team in the West.
7 July - Chicago - 1-0 Quakes in the PayPal Park! Thanks for being offside, Barlow!
13 July - SKC - 1-2 SKC, chance at points in-conference, only goal is an Own Goal (by Shelton).
17 July - Houston - 0-1, held on until the 86th minute.
20 July - Minnesota - 0-2 on the road.
Any comments or thoughts before we go on the emotional journey of League’s Cup?
Matt: Just one: This is a difficult season to watch. I can’t imagine what it must be like on the pitch.
Josh: Fair. And yet, Leagues Cup was almost fun for San Jose fans, starting with shutting down Cade Cowell. Of course he’s still a hometown hero, but to see Benji keep him from crossing and scoring goals kinda felt good.
Matt: … …
Josh: Sorry - I guess New England is playing lights out against Montreal - so I’ll let you enjoy that moment! For more detail on where we were, San Jose hosted Chivas at Levi’s Stadium, and holy cow was that stadium filled with red & white jerseys… and not the 50th kit. But the good guys held on strong to a 1-1 finish, and because it was League’s Cup, were able to celebrate Daniel in the box, and Pellegrino’s PK attempt, to take the rare 2 points.
Then another futile attempt to #BeatLA at home - in a way that’s getting real old - 89th minute drop the match against the team from Carson. But also, we’re back with Yarborough. Did I miss something?
BUT because it was League’s Cup, they live to fight another day and have their first blowout of the season, 5-0 against Nexaca in the first knockout round. Four goals before halftime, including an Ebobisse brace, and Paul Marie comes off the bench to add insult to injury.
We’re running high, right? Oh wait, LAFC. In LA. Neat. Lopéz saves the clean sheet with a fantastic goal before the half. But then Yarborough earns a yellow, and Boanga puts away the PK. The second half was not pretty, and subbing on three Quakes goal-scorers at the 83rd minute to try to recover from 4-1 seems “too little, too late.”
Well, there’s a break in the season, right? Sounds like it’s a trading window - and yes it was! July 18 - August 15th. With how the season has gone, probably the Quakes need to rotate some talent, find some fresh legs, maybe an exciting signing? The San Jose Front Office thought the fans would be really excited to hear that they signed a Homegrown to the Town FC (new name for Quakes ii, if you missed it), and re-signed Emi Ochoa, the GoalKeeper who has not played a minute of 2024, and most recently was our “mid week no consequence tournament Goalie”. I’m genuinely excited that they are bringing Ousseni Bouda back from the loan at Monterey FC, and hope he gets some minutes. I guess the FO wanted to finalize the Head Coach for 2024-25 and let them decide how the team will be structured?
Current status: Nine points below any other team in MLS, nine points from 13th in the West, 19 points from the play-in game, only 9 games left in the season with a finale against LAFC in LA. They are on the brink of joining the list of 10 worst Goal Differentials of all time (currently at -30; 10th worst is 2023 Toronto at -33). Also, the team is likely joining most losses in MLS history (at 19; 2021 Quakes are in the tie for 9th at 21).
What do you say to a Quakes fan who is looking at Fall plans and how to direct their support for the local team? Cheer them on, enjoy the highlights, look forward to a couple months from now when the Active Fault jersey will be on sale on mls.com, and to paraphrase Preston Judd on Earthquakes Insider - let’s watch the current roster demonstrate why they should keep their contract in San Jose, and maybe in MLS.
Two game weekends in August, away at Salt Lake and home facing Minnesota. Let’s give ‘em a chance at 3 points. Maybe Salt Lake is trying out some reserves and resting any potential injuries. And who knows, maybe we get another appearance from Daniel who captains the defense and excites the fans.
We’ll check in again after Labor Day. Perhaps less enthusiastically, but still here in my Black & Blue heart: Vamos SJ!
Quake-o-meter for Matches 4-7 (Richter goes to 9, OURS goes to 10)
Category | Matt | Josh | Average |
Offense | 5 | ||
Midfield | 6 | ||
Defense | 3 | ||
GK | 5 | ||
Strategy/Coaching | 3 | ||
Team Composure | 2 |
Final Score on the Quake-o-meter Richter Scale: 3.333333 / 10 - the struggle is real
Current % chance of a San Jose/New England MLS Cup Final: 1% - because neither team is officially out of contention.
Twitter/X and Instagram: @QuakesCoasts
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