With the season at its midpoint, a clear floor and ceiling emerge for the Quakes. After surpassing almost every expectation, Arena and his squad positioned themselves well for this second half. The only question remaining is whether they will settle for their floor or continue exceeding expectations? Out of the teams settling in the upper echelon of MLS contenders, the …
Approaching the final stretch of the season, the San Jose Earthquakes hover right towards the bottom of the play-in. With other teams closing in on them, every game becomes key to securing that spot. However, as their schedule continues to give them no breathing room, how can the team survive? Having started the season as well as they did, the …
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 …
Going into their match against Kansas City, the Quakes looked to keep their good from going. Despite being down a man for most of the second half, Bruce Arena’s side left with all three points. If the opening match showcased their defensive potential, the offensive flashes came out in Kansas. Arena’s decision to play with a three-man backline finally turned …
For the first in six seasons, the Quakes won their season opener. With a transformed squad, many different players shined in Arena’s system. However, perhaps the most significant improvement came from the change in formation. Over the past few seasons, the Quakes rotated through various formations, but they usually chose a 4-2-3-1. Most expected Arena to stick with a variation …
After missing out on Brandon Vazquez, the Quakes’ offseason drifted towards a disaster. They added some quality depth across the roster, but without a striker, it seemed useless. Out of nowhere, the team pushed themselves into contention for the best offseason with the addition of Chicho Arango. Bruce Arena and the front office deserve immense praise for pulling this transfer …
With their Leagues Cup run over, the Quakes return to MLS with nothing left to play for. Perhaps this means a reckoning with the core of their new project is warranted. Given that player development promised to be the core of the new-look Quakes, can anyone argue for its success? When Leitch launched his project, he aimed to follow the …
Saturday was another tough away match for the Quakes. Despite having some good chances, they were torn apart by a hungrier RSL side. Luchi will need to leave this match, having learned his lesson. The Quakes’ third loss of the season was another struggle fest on the road. It also laid bare some of the issues with the roster. As …
