After starting the season with a strong defensive record, the Quakes’ defensive fortress has begun to crumble. While the change between the sticks clearly impacted the team, other factors are playing a bigger role.
Before allowing any more of their lead to slip away, a few changes seem likely to help stem the leak.
For the first time in a decade, the team played like a real defensive force to start the season. Able to control the game through their structure, they could then attack.
Since May, opponents seemingly figured out how to beat the Quakes. Opposing teams break down the Quakes in two ways: capitalizing on empty space and pressuring the left side of the backline. In fact, those issues go hand in hand.
Credit: San Jose EarthquakesAs continues to be the case for San Jose, a lack of depth hamstrings Arena’s options, but that doesn’t negate changes. Unlikely to adjust the formation, the only thing remaining is to move starters around. Wholescale changes likely won’t happen, but something needs to change for the Quakes.
With only a few months left in the season, missing the playoffs feels very unlikely.
However, if they want a game at PayPal Park, that defensive spark must return.
During the game against St. Louis last week, the issue of free space bit the Quakes hard. Whenever Ronaldo Vieira stepped up, St. Louis found the necessary room to just attack the backline.
In his worst game for the team, Vieira amplified a midfield imbalance that gives opponents freedom. Deciding almost to play as the number ten, his forward runs forced Tsakris to defend the right side alongside Leroux. Within the first quarter of the game, St. Louis realized the space vacated by Vieira would be their best shot going forward.
Even in the previous matchday against Cincy, midfielders not tracking back hurt them. Unlike St. Louis, Cincy targeted the right side as Leroux left behind too much space for Vieira to properly track.
One reason the midfield duo of Harkes and Leroux worked so well last season was how well they complemented each other. When you play a two-man midfield this way, with a number ten in front and a box-to-box mid, the other player needs to play deeper. Vieira’s addition came with the hopes that he could offer a more defensive presence rather than a deep playmaker.
However, Vieira’s limited passing ability and range, as he’s almost just a defensive midfielder, means that to impact the play, he needs to play further up. Staying as an anchor right in front of the backline gives the team more defensive stability, but forces the frontline into a predicament. Without another creator, teams swarm Leroux or Tsakiris and force the wings to create.
Returning Harkes to the starting lineup, in place of Vieira, offers the team more structure. In Harkes, Arena has a player who can stay near the backline while still being a creator. This move trades some of Vieira’s defensive work for a player who offers relief for the other midfielders.
When the Quakes brought in Vieira, the fit always seemed strange unless they moved to a 4-3-3.
Perhaps that formation change will happen eventually, but for now, bringing Harkes back to the starting lineup helps.
Daniel Munie’s All-Star appearance not only rewarded the defender for the amount of work he put into his development, but also showed how vital he is for the team. After all, their start to the season meant that a defender should have been given the All-Star nod.
Almost every matchday sees Munie given the responsibility of man-marking the opponent’s striker, often necessitating that he vacate his spot on the backline to chase his mark into the midfield. One benefit of this strategy is that it lets Munie join the attack when the team wins the ball.
The team benefits from Munie being such a smart team defender, as he can often return to the backline quickly. However, as St. Louis showed, opponents attack that space with crosses or cuts in. With so much to cover and so many different players, pressure is heaped on Roberts.
Roberts continues to be among the best defensive performers in the league, but he’s still only in his second season. Yes, he overperformed expectations, but more structure can only help.
Every fullback has struggled on both sides of the ball, giving the team little production from the position. Both Orlando City and St. Louis also picked on Ricketts, forcing him to either almost slot into the center-back role or pressure him into a mistake. Arena seems to be considering a change, as Costa has started a game since the MLS restart.
As a potential solution, replacing Roberts with Romney feels like overkill, and Roberts deserves time to develop. Ultimately, the solution may come from fixing the midfield, lifting pressure from the backline. At the left back position, neither Ricketts nor Costa profile as MLS starters, but with no Jones return in sight, they are stuck.
Leaving too much space for opponents is a concerning theme for the Quakes. Unlike the midfield, however, a suitable change seems to be lacking.
For a team that made defense its calling card, their defensive collapse is more concerning than any offensive slide. Different roles and tactics continue to leave the team open to attack, with no fix in sight.
Without addressing their issues stopping opponents, the Quakes risk missing out on hosting the first playoff game at PayPal Park.
