The upcoming game has been overshadowed by transfer rumors, mainly prompted by the ongoing search for help in the offensive department. First, there was the information leaked during last Saturday’s telecast that the Quakes are looking into signing Zinha (currently with Toluca in Mexico). Zinha is a target because he would fill one of the gaps in San Jose’s squad: a bona fide attacking midfielder. While Grabavoy is currently filling that position, and had a good game against Chicago, there is the feeling among fans (and apparently the management team as well), that the Quakes need someone with flair and offensive vision who can help carve out opportunities for the rest of the team. The more pressing need, of course, has been the search for a forward. On Tuesday, the news broke that the Quakes were looking to sign Jean-Philippe Peguero, a Haitian international and former forward with the Rapids and Red Bulls. It was a bit of a surprise, with no word or rumor leaking until the very end of the transfer window (April 15th). The next day it was revealed that the Quakes managed to get a deal done right as the window closed, getting Peguero in on a loan from Brondby in Europe. Yallop had hinted that he was looking at a player whose rights were owned by MLS teams but was not currently in the league. This seems like a good deal. Yallop has been notoriously hesitant this season about signing anyone unless they are a sure bet (or as close to one as it is possible to get) to perform and, more importantly, to adopt the workrate and team ethic pushed by the team. Thus, Yallop’s signing of Peguero should be free from suspicion that it was done out of a panic to acquire a forward, as is sometimes done by other managers, instead it is likely the result of careful deliberation and scouting. Looking back at past Peguero highlights with Colorado and New York, I’m pretty excited at what he can bring to this team.

Peguero will likely be unavailable for Saturday’s game, so for now the team must make do with what they have. Can they replicate Saturday’s form on the road, albeit with a different result? As I said before, this road trip could hurt the team or it could be an opportunity for them to bond together and develop that chip-on-the-shoulder, us-against-the-world mentality that has always benefitted the Quakes. We’ll see what happens.

Quakes/Rapids Pre-Game Analysis 4/18/08

Goalkeepers: Joe Cannon let in two the first game and one last Saturday, is it time for a shutout against his old team? I sure hope so, but unfortunately that is largely in the hands of the defense, as most of those goals were the result of defensive mistakes. Still, look for Cannon to do what is necessary and make the saves he needs to. On the other side, Bouna Coundoul is a rising star, able to make acrobatic saves that keep his side in the game. This isn’t good news for a Quakes team needing some help to score at the moment.

Advantage - Even

Rapids Forwards vs. Quakes Defense: The Quakes defense is improving but still shows vulnerability to through balls and a tendency to make critical mistakes at least once per game. This needs to stop here if the Quakes are going to have any chance of getting a win or draw against Colorado. A shoot-out is not the kind of game that the Quakes can win at this point. Omar Cummings has had a good year so far. He is not so much individually dangerous, as able to work well with the rest of the team, receive good service and turn it into chances, and open space for the dangerous midfield. If the Quakes defense can hold their shape and disrupt chances, then they can neutralize the threat posed by the lone Colorado forward.

Advantage - Even

Quakes Forwards vs. Rapids Defense: A backline of Kimura, Keel, Erpen, and Burciaga does not exactly inspire nightmares in opposing forwards at first glance. The Rapids are still suffering from backline injuries to Petke and Ihemelu. Yet the Rapids have only let in three goals so far this season (all coming in one game), which means they are one of the top defensive teams at the moment. Burciaga is always an offensive danger at his left fullback spot, but he can be exploited defensively. The Quakes should again feed the attack through Ronnie O’Brien, who should be able to find space on Burciaga’s side, and at the least will tie him up and prevent him from getting into attack. Quakes fans may see a familiar face in Kelly Gray at some point. Likely we will see Glinton and Kamara up front once again. The much deprecated duo have to break the spell sooner or later (or at least we Quakes fans hope). Look for Kamara to get one in the net finally in this game. With Peguero coming, one of these two are going to be losing their starting job (probably Glinton) after Saturday’s game. Will this provide an added motivation?

Advantage - Quakes

Midfield: Let’s put it this way, the Rapids midfield is scary, and definitely is their strength. Terry Cooke has been having a great year so far, and is always capable of delivering dangerous balls and setting up chances. Colin Clark is able to inflict damage as well. Christian Gomez is a threat if fully healthy. John DiRaimondo and Nick LaBrocca have emerged from relative obscurity and seized starting positions. If their stellar play continues, they may go down as Clavijo’s best move. Together, they can disrupt opposition attacks and control the midfield. The Quakes midfield showed a marked improvement last week in doing the same, so this game will largely be determined by the battle of the midfields. While the Quakes midfield is still inconsistent, the Rapids midfield is delivering the goods from game to game. Shea Salinas can provide a spark when brought on, will he be determined to make up for last week’s miss? The Quakes haven’t faced a 5 man midfield yet, and it will be hard to dominate the Colorado team in these crowded conditions.

Advantage - Rapids

Coaches: The much-maligned Clavijo is steadily shedding critics as his team sits atop the Western Conference. Yet many teams have held a lofty position to begin the season and fell apart as the season progressed. Clavijo’s teams have always been plagued by inconsistency. Will this continue to be the case? Yallop prizes stability so that his team can continue to develop chemistry, while making small adjustments here and there. I expect to see the same lineup as last week.

Advantage - Quakes

Intangibles: Many have spoken of a Quakes “dry spell” and inability to score yet it has only been two games. Still, is this getting into the heads of San Jose players, especially the forwards, or do they have the determination to rid themselves of their demons? Will the Rapids be lulled into a false sense of security by facing an apparently easy win against the “expansion team”? If so, they will lose. It it up to Clavijo to keep them focused and ready. The strength of this Colorado squad is their team effort and their goal production has been distributed throughout the team. There is not one man that you can take out of the game, you have to disrupt their passing lanes and stay organized. We’ve seen two Quakes squads so far this season, one terrible and the other solid, so which one will show up in Colorado? A key question this season is how well the Quakes will perform on the road. In L.A. they wilted, how will they manage in the high altitude of Colorado?

Advantage - Rapids

Key Man: Ryan Cochrane

Last week I picked Cochrane for this spot, and I’m doing so again this week. Nick Garcia has been pretty solid; Cochrane needs to eliminate his mistakes and lapses in concentration. Only then can the Garcia-Cochrane duo be the feared combo that was touted before the season began. If Cochrane fails to find his groove once again, then the Quakes will leak goals against this Rapids squad. A defense does not live or die by one man, but he is the lynchpin at the moment. Will he be the Achilles heel or foundation? That is the question at hand.

Likely Quakes Lineup:

                Kamara-Glinton

Guerrero-Corrales-Grabavoy-O’Brien

Riley-Garcia-Cochrane-Hernandez

                       Cannon

Yes, indeed, few observers could deny the superiority of the San Jose Earthquakes over the Chicago Fire. The transformation from the week before was so complete that it was almost like watching a different team. The San Jose team on display in L.A. looked nervous, shaky on defense, utterly impotent in attack, and unable to maintain possession for more than a few seconds at a time. By contrast, the team on Saturday looked like the Quakes squads of old. I was surprised and impressed by the way in which they completely dominated possession, creating long series of passes which opened up space and led to numberous scoring opportunities. Substitutes Shea Salinas and Ryan Johnson both showed speed and an offensive spark when brought in on the wings which bodes well for the future. So even though the Quakes were unable to score a goal once again, and suffered another defeat, things look bright for the future if they can maintain that quality of play.

Now for the not so bright. The Quakes still lack the finishing necessary to win games. Several quality scoring chances were wasted, though bad luck also played a part. The team also needs to improve off-the-ball running, especially in the final third. There were several occasions when the team would move the ball forward well, only to have the attack fizzle out by players remaining too static. Kamara, Glinton, and Grabavoy among others need to work on making that incisive run that can create one-on-ones and clear chances. While I mentioned that there were several quality chances, there weren’t the clear ones that Chicago created a couple times throughout the game, including the one which won the match. Speaking of the goal, San Jose still could use some work on the defensive side of things. While light years ahead of the performance against L.A. in terms of confidence and organization, they are still susceptible to breakdowns in concentration, and need to work on their reaction speed as individuals and as a unit.

Still, in only their second game, the Quakes did not look like the typical expansion team. San Jose fans’ dreams of a play-off spot are not as delusional as others might think, especially given the parity displayed in the league so far this season.

Quakes/Chicago Post-Game Analysis 4/14/08

Goalkeepers: Both keepers were on their game and kept the match a low-scoring affair, especially Busch. Joe Cannon did well. He was only forced to make a few saves, but withstood a couple of dangerous situations, limiting the damage inflicted on the Quakes to only one goal (the goal should be blamed on the defense, not the keeper). Busch deserves credit for his team’s victory, withstanding a barrage of shots from San Jose. He made several key saves, including a fingertip deflection of Gavin Glinton’s seemingly goal-bound curling shot. Looks like he is in for a good season with Chicago.

Fire Fowards vs. Quakes Defense: The Quakes defense mostly contained Chicago’s forwards, but they were helped out by the fact that San Jose kept the ball mostly in the Fire’s half throughout the game. While limiting Chicago’s potent attack, the Quakes defense still seems a little too vulnerable to through balls and counter-attacks. They need to continue working on organization, keeping their shape, and concentration.

Quakes Forwards vs. Fire Defense: A much better performance from the Quakes forwards. A lot of people are down about Glinton and his seeming inability to finish chances, but he definitely is better in the forward spot than Salinas. He helped create a lot of chances with his work-rate and speed. I’m not saying he can’t be replaced with someone better, but he doesn’t deserve as much criticism as he has been receiving. Kamara had a pretty good game, helping keep possession in the final third, and maintaining strings of passes which led to shot opportunities. But he needs to get himself into positions by making runs where he can be the finisher. The Fire defense did a good job of staying organized and making San Jose work for all their shots, especially considering how much work they had to do.

Midfield: An area clearly won by San Jose. The Quakes midfield played the possession game that they needed to, and will need to do more of the same in the future in order to win games. Corrales was solid once again, and I am impressed at how his ball control and composure has improved since his stint in Norway. Grabavoy had a solid game, and did not sink into anonymity as he did against L.A. He maintained possession, made some runs, and seems to be developing an understanding with Corrales, which is necessary for a central midfield duo in Yallop’s system. But he needs to work on creating forward-thinking passes in attack. Ronnie O’Brien had a great game, especially compared to the week before, and much of the attack flowed through him. He found space on the right side, picked out good passes, and hustled on defense. His crosses still don’t have the expected accuracy or bite, but I think that will come with time. Blanco was completely contained the whole game, a team effort on the part of the whole squad. Rookie Shea Salinas looks to have a bright future. His pace and willingness to go at defenders creates an offensive explosion of energy that the starters sometimes lack, and he is not intimidated by this larger stage. His ball control has already vastly improved since the pre-season, where he often lost control and possession of the ball when making his darting runs. I won’t mention his miss of a sitter at the end of the game. Next time, kid.

Coaches: Both coaches did a respectable job, doing what they needed to do to win. Yallop used Glinton instead of Salinas up front, definitely a needed change and a good one. He employed substitutes and position changes (Salinas, Ryan Johnson, moving O’Brien to the middle, etc.) that didn’t win him the game, but did give him an idea of how he can tinker with things in the future. Hamlett has his team organized, confident, and patient. But he also benefitted from some luck on the day.

Intangibles: The biggest intagible in this game was luck. Most teams that put on such a performance and create so many opportunities win, or at least draw. Unfortunately, this was not the case, as shots endeavoured to hit the crossbar or barely miss the goal. The heat of the day must have taken a toll on both sides. San Jose’s chemistry and confidence has dramatically improved. Will this hold up or will it wilt in the two road games to come?

Man of the Match: The overall man of the match has to be Busch. But for San Jose I will give the nod to Ronnie O’Brien, who was the focal point of the attack, won balls, hustled in defense, found space, and helped maintain possession.

Verdict: Despite a loss, San Jose should not hang their heads. If they can keep up the level of performance displayed on Saturday, they are bound to win games and earn points. The tough test will now be having to endure two games on the road, first against a vastly improved Colorado team and then against the talented New York Red Bulls squad. If they can emerge with at least a couple of points, they should be ok. If they lose both games, then the confidence built up in this game may dissipate, leading to the long slide that other expansion teams have suffered. I would like to see Salinas get a chance to play a full 90 minutes on the right side, with O’Brien moved into the middle. Given Ryan Johnson’s display on Saturday (and the quality he displayed at the practice I attended on Friday), he might have been a find and will undoubtedly be used more as the season progresses.

Player Ratings:

Joe Cannon - 8 [Made big saves the few times he was called upon to do so.]

James Riley - 7 [Looks better when employed on the left. Got into attack well. Less nervy.]

Jason Hernandez - 7 [Looks better on the right. Showed some attacking ability.]

Nick Garcia - 7 [Continues to be a solid ball-winner. Often single-handedly disrupts attacks.]

Ryan Cochrane - 7 [An improved performance. Still hasn’t fully settled.]

Ivan Guerrero - 7 [Good overlapping play with Riley. Made some runs]

Ronnie O’Brien - 8 [Won balls, countless runs, made space with dribbling, Distributed well.]

Ramiro Corrales - 7 [Disrupted Chicago’s attack at every opportunity. Distributed well.]

Ned Grabavoy - 7 [Worked well with Corrales. Helped disrupt attacks. Held possession well.]

Gavin Glinton - 7 [Chased every ball that went his way. Had a quality chance.]

Kei Kamara - 7 [Helped maintain possession in the final third. Found short passes.]

Substitutes:

Shea Salinas - 8 [A high score, but he brought that much energy and explosiveness.]

Ryan Johnson - 7 [Showed skill on the ball and attacking verve.]

John Cunliffe - N/A [Didn’t have enough time to show anything.]

With that all said, Chicago will surely be a tough test for our unproven Quakes squad. Blanco will definitely be attracting Mexican fans from throughout the Bay Area, making this something in between a home game and road trip. San Jose’s true home opener will be in early May against F.C. Dallas at Buck Shaw in Santa Clara. This means that the Quakes will have to endure three road games (counting the previously played one against L.A.) and one that can’t be considered a true home game to start off their season. It is likely that this will mean a slow start to the season and points will be very hard to come by. However, the key will be if this squad can take this trial by fire and turn it into a unified team spirit, improved chemistry, and valuable experience that can sustain them throughout the rest of the season. A draw against Chicago would not be an unworthy result, all things considered.

Before I go into my pre-game analysis, a few comments are in order. First, congratulations to the fans in Seattle for successfully pushing for the Sounders name. It was an inspiring display of “fan power”, and there is no more worthy name for soccer in Seattle. Choosing a different name would have been a huge mistake, for American soccer should be working to cultivate and perpetuate history, tradition, and a grassroots culture which will be the true basis for the growth of the sport in this country. Second, Michael Ricketts, a former Bolton Wanderers and Middlesbrough stiker was released from trial, his main drawback apparently being work rate. This means that the striker soap opera in San Jose continues, so look for a future column soon where I will try to do my best Sherlock Holmes impression and track down possible strikers wherever they may be hiding. Finally, with almost everyone conceding that Ryan Cochrane’s goal should have stood in last Thursday’s game, Quakes fans are left to ponder what might have been. With the prevalence of questionable calls only two weeks into the season, something must be done to improve the standard of MLS officiating.

Quakes/Chicago Pregame Analysis 04/12/08

Goalkeepers: Jon Busch is Chicago’s net-minder, a solid player with plenty of experience. While not the first to come up in discussions of top MLS goalkeepers, Chicago don’t have to worry about Busch costing them games. A series of injuries slowed him down after performing extremely well for the Columbus Crew. Joe Cannon, despite not having the best of games against L.A. can be relied upon to bounce back. What will be more important than his undeniable goalkeeping skills is his leadership. He needs to help organize and settle down the defense in front of him, providing veteran guidance for a unit that must be solid if the Quakes are to have any chance in this game and season.

Advantage - Quakes

Chicago Forwards vs. Quakes Defense: The most surprising part of last week’s game was the poor play of the San Jose defense, the one area of the team that was supposed to be its unquestionable strength. The skills are there, so this battle will hinge on psychological factors. Can the Quakes defense rebound from last week and show stability and confidence? Can Nick Garcia or Ryan Cochrane step up and organize the defense? The Chicago forwards seem to be firing (no pun intended) on all cylinders, decimating New England 4 - 0 last week. They also have the benefit of receiving stellar service from Blanco. Rolfe (who may be used in midfield), Frankowski, and Barrett are all starting quality forwards who know how to be opportunistic and finish. Chicago seem to have answers in this category while San Jose still have questions.

Advantage - Fire

Quakes Forwards vs. Chicago Defense: The Chicago defense has so far only allowed one goal, yet a unit consisting of players such as Soumare, Segares, and Prideaux still is not convincing, especially without the presence of Conde (the star of Chicago’s defense last season who angered Chicago by asking to follow Osorio to New York). While the jury may still be out on Chicago’s defense, most people are ready to convict San Jose’s forwards and send them to the chair. Salinas seemed lost as a forward, while Kei Kamara was overwhelmed and unable to generate any shots. Glinton has been ineffectual in pre-season and as a sub in last week’s game. Cunliffe has yet to be really utilized. Overall, San Jose’s forwards are doomed to be guilty until proven innocent. I would like to see Kamara and Cunliffe get the start here.

Advantage - Even

Midfield: One word - Blanco. Blanco has been on his game so far, scoring the equalizing goal against Salt Lake and helping to dismantle New England. If the Quakes midfield is as ineffectual in generating pressure and possession as they were last week, this could be a long game. Beyond Blanco, Mapp is able to unlock defenses, as is Rolfe if played in this area of the pitch. Logan Pause fills the vacated boots of Chris Armas, definitely a huge challenge for any player, and he still has work to do in this area. Ronnie O’Brien needs to have a better game than last week if San Jose is to have any chance of creating genuine chances. Grabavoy needs to step up but I fear the opposition may once again be too much for him. Look for Guerrero to put in a committed and top performance against his old team. I would like to see O’Brien moved to the middle, and Salinas allowed to exercise his speed on the right flank, but I don’t see it happening.

Advantage - Fire

Coaches: Yallop’s struggle is a difficult one. The defeat last week was less tactical and one of personnel than a matter of confidence and chemistry. The practices on Thursday and Friday and the mental adjustments he institutes will be where this game can be won. It is a large task to pass on a sense of the Quakes style of soccer, mentality, and history to a newly assembled squad of players (minus Corrales, Cochrane, and Cannon); it is certainly a task which will require more than a couple of weeks. Hamlett has done well so far for the Fire, but is still getting to grips with being fully in charge.

Advantage - Even

Intangibles: Will the Quakes come in with a better sense of themselves and each other, or with rattled confidence and the nerves we saw last week? Will hordes of cheering Blanco fans create an advantage for Chicago, or can Quakes fans help give their team a boost despite having to struggle to make themselves heard? To win, players such as Grabavoy, O’Brien, and Cochrane must rebound from poor showings. More importantly, the whole team must play a possession game which takes the wind out of Chicago’s attack and especially Blanco. Against L.A., the Quakes seemed to be relying on a long-ball game which was ineffectual at best. They need to settle down, learn how to hold the ball, and be patient in building up attacks. Leaders must step up in-game to help the team keep their shape and raise the intensity level of the whole team. Chicago are undefeated after two games, Blanco is on his game, and they are coming off a huge victory. Confidence will not be an issue for them.

Advantage - Fire

Key Man: Ryan Cochrane

San Jose’s strength on paper needs to be their strength on the field. Cochrane’s poor performance last week was not the only or key cause of the Quake’s defensive failure. But Cochrane does need to help work with Nick Garcia to provide a steadying presence in the center of San Jose’s defense. If he plays with calm and confidence, it will spread to the rest of the defense and the rest of the team. Though only 24, as a former Quake, Cochrane must demonstrate leadership. He cannot simply be the solid defender who silently gets the job done.

Midfield: Both teams possess right-sided midfielders with a recent history of injuries and an ability to put in dangerous crosses: David Beckham for the Galaxy and Ronnie O’Brien for the Quakes. Beyond that, the Quakes midfield of Guerrero, Grabavoy, and Corrales matches up well against the Galaxy midfield corps of Allen, Pires, Vagenas, and/or Klein, but until I see this San Jose unit tested in regular season play, I can’t give them the advantage just yet.

Advantage - Even

Coaches: Frank Yallop is a proven winner in MLS, notwithstanding his stint with the Galaxy. The jury is still out on Ruud Gullit. One defeat is not enough to condemn him, but what we can say is that he is still learning this league, and that is a big advantage for Frank, who knows both teams better than Gullit does. Add in the fact that Yallop will have a little extra motivation for this match as he strives to show up his old employers, and that the Galaxy are still trying to learn Gullit’s 4-3-3 system, and the picture is clear.

Advantage - Quakes

Intangibles: Hard to sort out, that’s why they’re intangibles after all. The Galaxy could either be suffering from a lack of confidence after last week’s thrashing or be looking to come back with a vengeance. Home field advantage will clearly be a huge plus in the Galaxy’s favor who traditionally have fared very well against the Quakes at home (though the last time they met at the Home Depot Center in regular season play the Quakes won 3-1, but its a different team now). The most important factor is that this is a rivalry match, and all bets are off under those conditions. Due to homefield advantage, and the fact that I think they will be motivated by the renewal of the rivalry, I have to give this category to the Galaxy.

Advantage - Galaxy

Key Man: Ned Grabavoy

The last time the Quakes saw Grabavoy on the field, he was wearing a Galaxy uniform and nailed shut the coffin on their 2005 play-off run, sending them into oblivion with a defeat. This time around he is aiming to help the Quakes against his old team. Former L.A. players tend to do well for the Quakes, especially against the Galaxy. Grabavoy has struggled to find his attacking groove in pre-season. If the rivalry and added motivation of this match-up spark him to become the attacking threat that he can be, the Quakes will win. If not, the forwards will struggle to find service through the middle of the field, with Corrales likely tied up in defensive duties.

The Quakes will win if…: They can withstand the early attacks of the Galaxy. A solid defense that can frustrate the Galaxy midfield and forwards will be the foundation upon which an attack can be built. The speed advantage that the Quakes forwards possess is just begging to exploit the Galaxy defense. A patient approach and taking advantage of counter-attack opportunities could be all the Quakes need.

Prediction: Not gonna happen. I’m far too superstitious to make any predictions. But one thing is for sure, after this game we will have a lot better idea of what the season holds in store for the Quakes.