Good Times In San Jose

After a game overshadowed by a terrible incident, the Quakes came back and got a professional win. The Quakes took apart the worst team in the league with ease and continued their good form. It’s becoming harder and harder to see any other MLS side that has improved more than Luchi’s side.

Despite being one of the worst teams in the league, this could have been a trap game for the Quakes. Instead, Luchi’s boys took care of business and got another win.

Luchi deserves so much praise for getting everything out of the offense. Ebobisse is developing into a premium striker, while Espinoza has to be the league MVP. The midfield is so balanced that it allows the team to dominate.

This was another game with little negatives for San Jose. With the game pretty much won in the first half, it would have been great to see the subs introduced earlier. Bouda should have been given a good run to see his progression.

Quakes are slowly turning into a legit side, but they must start facing tougher opponents. That said, these wins are crucial to making the playoffs. 

Comparing this year’s team to last year’s is wild. Almost every aspect of this side is better from the back to the front.

Ebobisse works so well in this offense, as he can react to his teammates rather than hunt for his shots. He is every bit the clinical striker that the Quakes needed post-Wondo. Perhaps the most underrated aspect of his game is his willingness to set up his teammates rather than himself.

Espinoza is the most in-form player in the league right now, and it’s not close. The winger has developed a knack for scoring in Luchi’s formation, which gives him more freedom. Defenses are clearly planning around the Argentina, but he has beaten every defensive scheme.

Cade and Marie also deserve some praise, as this was their best game. The winger looked much better in terms of creating for others, while Marie was strong on both sides of the ball.

This was also a great game for both centerbacks, as both Mensah and Rodrigues should now be considered the future backline for the team. Mensah is that veteran that any team needs, and he constantly makes the right defensive plays. While Rodrigues is a more refined version of Nathan, both defensively and in the way he impacts the offense.

The midfield of Gruezo, Monteiro, and Yueill is so beautifully balanced that it plays into the strength of each player. Gruezo is an excellent defensive player who can still pinpoint some incredible passes. Monteiro and Yueill’s partnership gives the team two very different playmakers that strive to open up space for the front three.

Luchi has truly worked wonders with this side and will surely have a shout for the Manager of the Year award. Every player looks so much better in their system than they did under Almeyda or Covelo.

It’s another week that yields few negatives for a Quakes side that is solidifying themselves into a contender for the playoffs. The only real negative was, for another week, the sub-patterns.

When Sporting KC went down a man in the first half, the game was won, so it would have been nice to see Luchi make subs earlier into the game. Bouda should have been given more time just to see how he is developing. It was a chance for the youngster to get more playing time against an MLS side, and it could have really helped.

The introductions of Benji and Thompson were a bit redundant and just made to have the Quakes see out the result. Judson is a fan favorite, but Baldisimo should have been put in just to help ease the player in San Jose. If Jack Skahan is still going to be on this roster, this game should have been an opportunity for Luchi to see what the midfielder has to offer.

Games like these should serve as a way to give playing time to players who wouldn’t normally see it. That’s clearly an area that Luchi needs to grow in, and that should come with more time.

While it’s true that the Quakes have had a relatively easy schedule, these are games that they would have lost last year. It’s refreshing to see the team take these games seriously and put these sides away. The real test will be when they face the league’s best, but these are welcome signs.

Player and Manager Ratings:

GK– Marcinkowski- 7

DF– Akapo- 7

DF– Mensah- 8

DF– Rodrigues- 8

DF– Marie-7

MD– Gruezo- 7

MD– Yueill- 7

MD– Monteiro- 7

FW– Cowell- 7

FW– Ebobisse- 9

FW– Espinoza- 8

Subs:

Bouda- 6

Judson- 6

Kikanović- 5

Beason- N/A

Manager: 

Luchi- 8

Featured image: San Jose Earthquakes