Patience, Persistence, Keys to Quakes' Season
SAN JOSE – What goes up comes down. Nothing could be more true for the San Jose Earthquakes during the month of May. Two and a half weeks ago, they were on top of the western conference standings with 9 points. They were momentarily alone, and then in a tie for first place. Now, 17 days and 3 straight losses later, they cling to the seven spot and could be pushed down one more, and below the playoff qualifying line, if Austin prevails over Nashville tonight.
At the other end of the spectrum, the Seattle Sounders, who were responsible for the Earthquakes' first loss, and who then tied them with 9 points on May 6, are now alone in first place with 17 points after a 1-1 tie versus Atlanta today.
For San Jose, the next three matches are on the road. The first match is the LA leg of the Cali Clasico versus the LA Galaxy on May 29. After a much needed pause to regroup, they travel to Austin to compete on June 19. Then they head to Orlando for a match just three days later on June 22. Then they return home to play the LA Galaxy once again, this time at home at PayPal Park. However, by the time they get home, they very well could be licking the wounds of a 6-match skid, and would surely be flirting with last place in the west.
After a cobweb-wiping wake up on the road in Houston, the Quakes turned red hot and won three straight while outscoring their opponents 9-3. That last win came courtesy of MLS's all-time greatest player, Chris Wondolowski, coming off the bench cold for the last 10 minutes of regulation play and finding just the right spot to score two goals in a six minute span. Wondo is the Quakes' most valuable player, their moral leader and their captain. He is priceless.
Since that performance, the Quakes have lost three straight and have been outscored by their opponents 6-1! That's right, the once red hot Earthquakes have only scored one goal in the past three matches. What is going on? Is it talent? Is it fatigue? Is it coaching, management or ownership? Is it just bad luck? To what should the 180 degree reversal of outcomes be attributed?
"When we won, we played fast and hard, we were aggressive and over the top. We played north-south and we made shots on goal," said one north end fan who asked not to be named. "This tiqui-taca does not work," he continued, "our talent doesn't do short passing and possession well. They punch you in the mouth and find the back of the net." Tiqui-taca refers to the classic Spanish style that involves short passing, possession, and precision channel work on the pitch.
Versus Sporting Kansas City last night, Cade Cowell was quiet, Andy Rios was ineffective, and Espinoza worked under caution after an early yellow card. Chofis was hot early, and set the tone with an early goal to send the Quakes up 1-0 (4'), but it was all Sporting KC from there. While the equalizer came soon thereafter (15'), Kansas City didn't go ahead until the second half (60' and 75').
According to another observer, the Quakes looked tired. There were quite a few hands on hips during official pauses. Perhaps it really is that simple and the team was just tired last night, but that may not explain three losses in a row, and it certainly won't explain another three. The Quakes need to turn this around.
What about the GOAT, the moral leader and captain; where's Wondo? He came on late, once again, in an apparent goal-chasing move that left a seemingly ineffective Andy Rios in while taking midfielder Tommy Thompson out. Thompson's exit clearly weakened the Quakes' transition defense, and absolutely contributed to KC's ability to move down field relatively unchallenged.
That raises the question, is there something amiss with coaching? Another north end fan, who also wished to remain nameless, said "(Keeper) JT (Marcinkowski) came off his line again and it cost him." Surely if there's an issue with this, it can be corrected. San Jose has good keepers, and has a solid position coach working the goal.
The general lineup seems to more of a sore spot with many though. Exiting PayPal Park after the match, many fans could be heard asking why Chris Wondolowski and Shea Salinas weren't starting. People asked why Brazilian international defender Judson wasn't in the lineup. Some suggested the short week and three match stretch was to blame, but others perhaps fairly pointed out that these are professional athletes in the best shape and condition of their lives. They can handle it.
It is never easy to lose. It is never easy to sink in the standings. It is never easy to fall below the line. However, fans may be better off demonstrating some patience. The season is young. There's a long way to go. While point deficits are difficult to make up, the opportunity to remain above the line is not at all lost. If the Quakes can split the record on the road by going even 1-1-1, they'' return home with 13 points and enter the second leg of the Clasico with a chance to finish exactly where Seattle is right now.
They say patience is a virtue, and while Quakes fans have been waiting a long time for a solid winning season, let alone a new star on the kit, it's too early to let the frustration and concern over a few losses derail the focus and disrupt the mission. Remember, Earthquakes never say die. When in doubt, look to the GOAT, look to the moral leader; what would Wondo do? Odds favor him doing what he has always done: practice well, be ready, and make a difference if and when the opportunity presents itself. Indeed, patience and persistence will keep the roller coaster on the rails. There's a long season ahead.
San Jose travels to Los Angeles to face the LA Galaxy on Saturday, May 29 at 4:00 PM Pacific, and returns home to face the Galaxy again on June 26 at 7:00 PM Pacific.
Ahsan Awan has been covering sports for over a decade, and has been covering professional soccer, and the San Jose Earthquakes, since 2014. All images taken by Ahsan Awan for American Presswire and ©2021 American Presswire. He can be found on Twitter as @quackarazzi and on Instagram as @quackarazzi.
