SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES v. SEATTLE SOUNDERS FC

Greetings to my brothers and sisters in Green. Time for a trip down to the South Bay and the Coleman Avenue football ground. The opponents this Saturday, the legacy club with the massive identity crisis, San Jose Clash– I mean, San Jose Earthquakes– I mean Houston Dynamo– I mean, San Jose Earthquakes. That which is old is new again.

What: MLS league match, San Jose Earthquakes v. Seattle Sounders FC.

Where: Coleman Avenue, San Jose, California.

When: 7:30 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time, Saturday 23 March 2024 CE.

At Stake: The questions are the same as it was against Colorado last week. Can we score goals? Can we score enough goals to defeat the lower tier clubs in the league? Can we get positive results with so many players out due to injury? In more concrete terms: A scenario where San Jose defeats us, Orlando defeats Austin, and New England bests Chicago would see the Sounders drop to 29th place in the league. The bottom of the MLS table.

Where to Watch: MLS Season Pass via Apple TV.

Where to Listen: KJR 950 AM and El Rey 1360 AM.

The lads have got to be hurting. Not just the ones getting treatment on the trainer’s table during the week. The Sounders need our support more than ever.

Now is the chance to show your mettle, and for the Sounders FC to show theirs. A massive chunk of the squad injured. Chips are down. Backs to the wall. And several other desperation cliches as well.

If you can make it down to the Bay for the match, definitely do that. If not. You lot know what to do. Pubs, dwellings, houses, flats, boats, and ships. All hands to action stations. This is not a drill. This is not a drill. Sound collision. Brace for impact. It’s Sounders football, under the lights in the South Bay. C’MON YOU SOUNDERS! GET IN!

Before kick-off, please join me in the auld toast: “TO THE SEATTLE SOUNDERS FOOTBALL CLUB…AND VICTORY!!!

When you’re goalkeeping, 24’ x 8’ feels like the size of a two-car garage.

When you’re attempting to score a goal, it feels like the size of a postage stamp.

The Good News

United States international forward, Cade Cowell, who had been one of the Quakes’ most dangerous attacking players transferred to CD Guadalajara (a/k/a Chivas) for €3.65M. So that’s one less thing to worry about.

Morris, Cristian, Ruidiaz, Frei and the entire defence, who are amongst the best eight clubs in the league in goals conceded, are healthy and good to go. There is a lot of quality there.

San Jose are missing Daniel and Marcinkowski, their arguably two best goalkeepers. Several others in their team are unavailable due to national team commitments including Baldisimo, Bouda, and Gruezo. Maybe this makes the match even, considering the Sounders’ injury woes.

You’d think at this point our quality would shine through. Even by the law of averages, we should be doing far better than we are. Within this narrative, we have learnt from our mistakes and also how to better deputise for injured players in this week’s training sessions, and can expect better come Saturday.

San Jose have lost all four league matches, and have yet to manage more than one goal in a match. In three of those contests, San Jose conceded two goals, and LA Galaxy managed three against them. If this form is their true level of quality, we have a decent chance to get a result.

The Bad News

We are currently tied for last in the league in goal scoring (with LAFC and Orlando), managing only two goals, and both of those penalty kicks. This point needs no further analysis.

In the Colorado match our support play was extremely spotty, and that’s a difficult way to maintain possession and generate quality chances at goal. Our build-up play was again, predictable and agonisingly slow. It has to get better. Soon.

We were generating more chances in our first two matches, but even that tailed off in the match against Colorado as we only managed three shots on frame. This is an extremely worrisome statistic against a re-building side like Colorado.

Assuming that Leo Chu and Rusnak are unavailable, we have 20 players for 18 slots, and three of those 20 are goalkeepers. Emergency call-ups from the Reserves, anyone?

Although Daniel and Marcinkowski are out for San Jose, they still have Yarbrough, and he’s a better than average goalkeeper. In addition, Rodrigues, Thompson, Skahan, Yueill, Ebobisse, Espinoza, and Pellegrino are all available for them. That’s bad news for us. Espinoza has sunk us with goals in the past, and Pellegrino is a proven finisher having won the Norwegian Eliteserien Golden Boot twice.

With Atencio suspended, Rusnak questionable at best, Vargas, Joao Paulo, Rodrigues, Baker-Whiting, and de la Vega out, this leaves only Kitahara and Leyva in midfield. Cristian can also play in a holding role, but the Gaffer likes him at right-forward. Alex’ natural position is midfield, but the Gaffer prefers him at right-back. We are extremely thin at midfield right now. This is relevant because our holding midfielders aid the back four in defence. The quality in our midfield is how we manage to, mostly, keep the ball out of the net.

Our league is using scab refs, MLS and PRO Referees are attempting to squelch any live reporting on it, and no one seems to care. That’s probably not good from a labour perspective. There is power in a union, true…just not in MLS apparently. How absolutely contemptible and sad for us all.

The Side I Would Select

Right. I’d select the best players that are actually healthy at every position. Back to the old 4-2-3-1 for me. I favour Baker at right-back because he’s a better two-way player than Alex. This gives me the chance to move Alex to the #10 position to take advantage of his passing skills. Alex was originally a midfield player. He converted to defence to find a place in the team. Cristian moves back into a holding role with Atencio suspended with Joao Paulo and Vargas out injured. With Leo Chu nursing a knee problem, it’s well past time to give Rothrock a run-out as Paul is capable and scored some timely goals for us last season. I list Ruidiaz to play on the right-inside, but you’d expect him to push up into something resembling what will likely be the Gaffer’s 4-4-2.

GK     Frei

LB     Nouhou

LCH    Ragen

RCH    Gomez Andrade

RB     Baker

LDM    Leyva

RDM    Cristian

LF     Rothrock

CAM    Alex

RF     Ruidiaz

CF     Morris

The Side I Think The Gaffer Will Select

Likely will be that 4-4-2 shape again, although I wouldn’t rule out a 5-3-2 given that four first-choice midfielders are injured. Only question I can see is whether Rusnak is fit enough to play. If Rusnak can go, and the medics clear him, the Gaffer will play him. If Rusnak can’t get medical clearance, Kitahara has only one substitute appearance in the league for the Sounders despite being a professional with the club for six years. Kitahara has gotta be bursting at the seams to prove himself. If only he could get in the team. I charitably penciled in Rothrock at left-midfield so don’t be surprised if the Gaffer chooses to go to a back-five instead.

GK     Frei

LB     Nouhou

LCH    Ragen

RCH    Arreaga

RB     Alex

LM     Rothrock

LCM    Leyva

RCM    Rusnak (if he passes a late fitness test)

RM     Cristian

LCF     Ruidiaz

RCF    Morris

Intangibles

Scab refs.

Seemingly the worst luck with finishing in the league.

General notes on personnel

San Jose transfers IN:

Judd (Los Angeles Galaxy) €182,000

Morales (New York City FC) free

Thompson - re-signed

Skahan - re-signed

Yarbrough (Colorado Rapids) free

Vitor Costa (CS Maritimo) unknown fee

Wilson (Vizela) free

Bieganski (Wisla Krakow) loan

Pellegrino (Bodo Glimt) €260,000

Ricketts - draft

San Jose transfers OUT:

Agren (IK Brage) free

Cilley (St. Louis City SC2) free

Judson (Avai FC) free

Monteiro (Gaziantep FK) free

Nathan (Seattle Sounders FC)

Tingey (Loudoun United) free

Trauco (Criciuma EC) free

Mensah (New England Revolution) free

Akinola (Toronto FC) end of loan

Hoppe (Middlesbrough FC) end of loan

Cowell (CD Guadalajara) €3.65M

Comparison against common opponents

Granted it’s pre-season results, so take this with a tonne of salt, but both clubs played against Sacramento Republic FC.

SJ1:1 SAC

SEA 0:1 SAC

SEA 4:0 SAC

Know Thine Enemy

The Quakes as they lined up in their 2:1 loss to Kansas City at State Avenue on 16 March.

GOALKEEPER

Daniel, 29

Brazil

Notable Clubs: Internacional (68/0), San Jose Earthquakes (26/0)

Estimated Transfer Value: €1.5M

Notes: Full name: Daniel de Sousa Britto. Developed by Uniao Rondonopolis and Internacional.

DEFENCE

Vitor Costa, 29

Brazil

Notable Clubs: Bahia (17/2), Avai (20/0), Arouca (55/0), Aves (30/1), Lens (5/0), Maritimo (72/2), San Jose Earthquakes (4/1)

Estimated Transfer Value: €350,000

Notes: Full Name: Vitor Costa de Brito.

Rodrigues, 26

Brazil

Notable Clubs: ABC (40/2), Gremio (54/0), San Jose Earthquakes (45/1)

Estimated Transfer Value: €1.8M

Notes: Full name: Antonio Josenildo Rodrigues de Oliveira. Developed by ABC and Cruzeiro.

Bruno Wilson, 27

Portugal

Notable Clubs: Braga (7/1), Tondela (15/2), Tenerife (19/1), Vizela (57/1), San Jose Earthquakes (3/0)

Estimated Transfer Value: €900,000

Notes: Full Name: Bruno Ricardo Valdez Wilson. Developed by Oeiras and Sporting Lisbon.

Paul Marie, 28

France

Notable Clubs: San Jose Earthquakes (112/4)

Estimated Transfer Value: €1.2M

Notes: Developed by UA Saint-Sever, GRF Severin, Grab Sourdin, Avranches, and Caen. Played his university football for Newberry (16/4, NCAA II) and Florida International (52/14).

MIDFIELD

Amahl Pellegrino, 33

Norway

Notable Clubs: Baerum (68/33), Lillestrom (20/0), Mjondalen (70/28), Stromsgodset (39/4), Kristiansund (39/33), Damac (12/2), Bodo/Glimt (71/55), San Jose Earthquakes (4/0)

Estimated Transfer Value: €1M

Notes: Developed by Drammen. Won two Norwegian Eliteserien titles with Bodo/Glimt. Won two Eliteserien Golden Boots 2021 (25 goals) and 2023 (24 goals). Named Eliteserien Player of the Year 2023.

Jackson Yueill, 27

United States (16/0)

Notable Clubs: San Jose Earthquakes (182/12)

Estimated Transfer Value: €4M

Notes: Played his university football for UCLA (40/9). Developed by Minnesota Thunder. Won CONCACAF Gold Cup and CONCACAF Nations League with United States.

Carlos Gruezo, 28

Ecuador (55/1)

Notable Clubs: Independiente DV (4/0), Barcelona SC (77/3), VfB Stuttgart (18/1), FC Dallas (98/3), FC Augsburg (69/0), San Jose Earthquakes (32/0)

Estimated Transfer Value: €3M

Notes: Developed by Union Deportiva Juvenil, LDU Quito, Defensor Sporting, and Independiente DV.  Won a Ecuadoran league title with Barcelona SC. Won an MLS league title and US Open Cup double with FC Dallas.

Cristian Espinoza, 28

Argentina

Notable Clubs: Huracan (90/9), Alaves (6/0), Valladolid (10/0), Boca Juniors (15/2), San Jose Earthquakes (157/28)

Estimated Transfer Value: €5M

Notes: Developed by Huracan. Won an Argentine league title with Boca Juniors. Won an Argentinian Cup with Huracan.

FORWARD

Jeremy Ebobisse, 27

United States (1/0)

Notable Clubs: Charleston Battery (5/2), Portland Timbers (88/26), San Jose Earthquakes (83/28)

Estimated Transfer Value: €4M

Notes: Produced by Bethesda SC. Played his university football for Duke (37/9).

Preston Judd, 24

United States

Notable Clubs: Los Angeles Galaxy (17/3), San Jose Earthquakes (4/1)

Estimated Transfer Value: €300,000

Notes: Developed by Las Vegas Academy. Played his university football for California Baptist (39/22), and Denver (19/7).

Familiar Faces

None.

Squads

San Jose from:

Yarbrough, Bieganski, Beason, Vitor Costa, Marie, Munie, Ricketts, Rodrigues, Thompson, Verhoeven, Walls, Wilson, Mendoza, Morales, Skahan, Tsakiris, Yueill, Cowell, Ebobisse, Espinoza, Judd, Kikanovic, Pellegrino, Richmond.

Note: Baldisimo (Philippines), Bouda (Burkina Faso), Gruezo (Ecuador), Medina (United States U19s), and Ochoa (Mexico U20s) are all unavailable for selection. They have been called in to their respective national teams.

Sounders FC from:

Frei, Thomas, Castro, Arreaga, Baker, Bell, Gomez Andrade, Hawkins, Nathan, Nouhou, Ragen, Alex, Kitahara, Leyva, Rusnak, Chu, Morris, Musovski, Cristian, Rothrock, Ruidiaz, Teves.

Injury List

San Jose -

OUT: Akapo (foot), Marcinkowski (knee), Daniel (lower body, right, we’ll go ahead and speculate: chafed bollocks).

MATCHDAY DECISION: none.

Sounders FC -

OUT: Baker-Whiting (hamstring), de la Vega (hamstring), Frei (hamstring), Joao Paulo (hip), Rodrigues (hamstring), Vargas (head).

MATCHDAY DECISION: Chu (knee), Rusnak (ankle).

Discipline

(as listed on mlssoccer.com at press time)

San Jose: No players suspended.

Sounders FC: Atencio will serve a one-match ban for being booked twice in the same match last week.

Fun Fact

Sounders FC Reserves have gotten off on the good foot this season. Avenging their MLS Next Pro Cup Semi-Final ousting, by stuffing Austin FC II 1:3 on 15 March at Parmer Field. Revenge is a dish best served cold. Goals for the Reserves were scored by Stuart Hawkins, Faysal Bettache, and Enrique Katsaros. Well done, lads!

The Reserves will face Colorado Rapids 2 at Starfire on Sunday 24 March. Live-stream is set for 7 p.m. PDT and should be available through Apple TV and YouTube.