No More Smooth Sailing - Bay Area Sports Nation

With only two wins in the past two months, in MLS play, the Quakes have plateaued. Struggling with both inconsistent play and absences, the Quakes continue to fall down the standings.

As the season nears its end, the pressure continues to mount to return this team to a playoff-caliber one.

Against Minnesota United, the Quakes played one of their most embarrassing games of the Arena era. The loss continues the embarrassing trend of only having won two games since the start of May.

Having started the season with the best attack in the league, the front line’s inconsistent play hampers the team’s playoff chances. During this poor stretch, Arango’s scoring has slowed down, mirroring his struggles with RSL last season. Martínez still chips in with the occasional goal, but it’s become clear that he needs to come off the bench.

Absences, be they injuries or suspensions, play their role in the team’s two-month-long slide. The game against Minnesota highlighted this well, given how poor the team looked with a depleted right side. Of course, any team struggles with replacing their creative hubs, but it speaks to a poor roster and lack of creativity from Arena.

If the Quakes hope to make the playoffs, they can’t live with only ties.

Only a few months remain before the real playoff push, and this team isn’t ready for that run.

When the season kicked off, the Quakes scored at will. Yes, the team leaked goals at a frightening rate, but they could score five in one game with ease.

The two players most key to this electrifying play were Arango and Martínez. One of the best strikers last season and a former MLS MVP, the two promised to spearhead the team’s potent attack.

Despite scoring 17 goals last season for a good RSL side, Arango’s production dried up by the second half. This lack of production corresponded with RSL’s struggles as the playoffs neared.

For the Quakes, their offense depends on Arango, be it through his goals or chances created. His numbers still rank among the best in the league, but he’s struggling to get chances. Too often, because of the way teams defend the Quakes’ frontline, he is forced to drop back and play the ten.

Josef Martínez still contributes in the MLS, despite his age and injury history; in fact, he’s been one of the best surprises for the Quakes. The issue remains that the team is asking him to contribute like a starter. During the team’s ongoing two-month struggle, the former MVP scored only two goals, as of the game against Minnesota.

Now in a different stage of his career, Arena asks too much of a player who should be their super sub. Martínez’s statistical profile shows a player who only helps the team when he scores, further showing his need to come off the bench. Given the almost total lack of help from the bench, having a consistent threat would elevate this team.

As their offense continues to slow down, hopes of a quick solution dwindle.

Unless Arena figures out how to get Arango firing again, the malaise looks likely to continue.

The defensive struggles and impact of various absences highlight the poor roster construction outside the starting lineup. Especially as the season goes on, it has become clear that the list of players that Arena trusts is getting shorter.

Coming into the season, the primary goal of Arena and the front office was to build a side that could reach the playoffs. For the most part, the work done this season fulfilled this promise. The emergence of Beau Leroux and the move for Dejuan Jones elevated this side.

One of the big moves of the offseason came from the team’s business with the New England Revolution. Essentially becoming the lite version of the Revs, Arena brought in players he trusted from his time in New England.

Despite Ian Harkes’ revival in the Bay, the trade with the revolution produced little else. Romney remains one of the worst starters in MLS, and Kaye is stuck on the bench, being little more than a rotation player. Getting Nick Lima from the Revs in another move also gave the team next to nothing, as the former Quakes’ academy player barely factors into the team’s plans.

Saturday’s disaster class against Minnesota proved how barebones this roster is on the wings. No team could adequately survive with the absence of Espinoza, but the team lacks any other type of dynamic winger. Being relegated to the striker role, Bouda is no longer an option, and Kikanović fits better as a right back rather than up higher on the pitch.

At least with the left side of the pitch, Arena rotates between Costa and Ricketts, giving the team different looks. Without Espinoza and Jones, the right side suffers, as it becomes either Kikanović or Lima, who are both just bench players. Niko Tsakiris, who continues to struggle for playing time under Arena, doesn’t fit on the wing either, making him a complete non-factor.

Barring moves made during what remains of the summer window, the Quakes will enter this final stretch of the season with the same squad. By far not the worst team in MLS, they still lack the depth needed for the postseason.