Questions and Answers in Coachella for the Quakes

PHOTO: San Jose Earthquakes

As the Quakes continue their preseason preparations in Coachella, Bruce Arena still has to answer some lingering questions. Despite the best offseason in club history, concerns remain on how to maximize this squad.

With the MLS season starting soon, these next few weeks become crucial to setting this team up for success.

Preseason allows managers to experiment and genuinely understand their squads. Arena built this Quakes but still needs to find a way to bring everything together.

From partnerships in the backline and midfield to those who start at crucial positions, the manager faces some tough challenges. Using these preseason games to trot out different lineups allows Arena to see how players play together. While the games played likely won’t be the most competitive, the purpose of this Coachella retreat is to figure this team out.

An offseason as game-changing as the one the team underwent requires a necessary retooling. Especially with certain issues still coding this team, these next few weeks present a great chance for this team to build an identity. The work done in the valley, famous for the music festival, may determine how the team’s start to the season will go.

By the end of the month, the new MLS season will soon be here.

For a fanbase so desperate for positive soccer, Arena and the team need to fulfill what was a great offseason.

Choices in the Middle

With Gruezo’s departure, Arena’s midfield seems much clearer. The Ecuadorian contract forced the team to shoehorn the player in, but now they have much-needed flexibility.

The addition of Mark Anthony-Kaye gives the team an upgrade on Gruezo, as the Canadian’s game is much more well-rounded. He allows the team to have a more box-to-box player who can push the ball forward. Additionally, being one of the better defenders at his position, Arena doesn’t lose any defensive dimensions.

Playing Anthony-Kaye in the middle also allows the team to give Tsakiris a chance to play a more advanced role. Having another dynamic player alongside the youngster relieves some of the pressure off of him, giving him the freedom to roam. Too often last season, Tsakiris struggled with defenders as they wouldn’t feel threatened by other Quakes’ midfielders.

While Harkes remains a solid option off the bench, his limitations make him better as an impact sub. There will be games where he can make an impact, but rolling out a midfield duo of Anthony-Kaye and Tsakiris gives the team a more dynamic midfield. Where the issue lies is the limited options in the middle after Harkes; the team lacks another midfielder who can be a rotation-level MLS player.

Bringing in the Canadian international was perhaps the second most important acquisition of the winter window. His arrival, coinciding with the departure of Gruezo, finally gives the team a more balanced midfield.

Help on the Wing

Perhaps the only negative from this offseason remains the team’s inability to find an impactful left winger. For a team with plenty of offensive firepower, not having a threat on the left will bring too much defensive pressure on other forwards.

Despite a decent campaign last season, Amahl Pellegrino, as the starter, fails to inspire confidence on the left. As he proved last season, Pellegrino is much more of a threat to score rather than to create for his teammates. While a valuable skillset, given having Arango up top, having a winger that can open up space for the striker may be more helpful.

Last season, Bouda played just about wherever Luchi and Russell needed him to. During his brief MLS career, the youngster struggled to find a role that suited him. He showed last season he could be a threat on goal with his movement, but that was at the striker position.

The only other option remaining for Arena is potentially playing Kikanović or Marie on the left. Having Kikanović on the left gives you a better defender and passer, but defenses may ignore him. Marie always scores one belter every season, but his impact is as an overlapping defender rather than the creator.

Out of all of their issues, the lack of a clear option on the left continues to doom the team. With an open DP spot, a long-term solution may only arrive in the summer. 

Defensive Stability

Since 2012, the Quakes have ranked among the worst defensive teams in the league season after season. Despite some good talent coming in and out of the team, no improvements have been seen.

For a brief moment last year, the team saw the potential in the Rodrigues and Wilson partnership. Before his season-ending injury, Wilson showed an ability to be that stopper that the team lacked. His calmness on the ball matched well with Rodrigues’ frantic nature.

While he continues to be the first name on the teamsheet in the backline, Rodrigues’ role feels threatened. The Brazilian’s best trait remains his ability to transition from defense to attack. However, his defensive struggles, leaving too much space behind, leave him vulnerable to being replaced.

Dave Romney is not the best choice for a team looking to compete, but he gives you enough baseline competency. Couple that with his experience with Arena, and it feels like a safe bet that he will feature at some point this season. Given his limited play, Romney’s fit with either Rodrigues or Wilson makes it hard to build a dynamic backline.

The defensive reinforcements of this window finally brought some hope for the team’s prospects this season.

While none of the players jump off the page, they at least offer the team some much-needed veteran help.

For a fanbase that continues to watch their team struggle every season, this offseason felt like reaching an oasis. The feeling of hope reinforced by the best offseason in club history means that the expectations of Arena are high.

No one can afford to make this oasis into a mirage.

PHOTO: San Jose Earthquakes