BY ADAM SERRANO
After failing to be competitive for the second straight year, change is the name of the game for Frank Yallop's San Jose Earthquakes.
The roster that finished at the bottom of the Western Conference has seen changes across the field from the inclusions of midfielder Javier Robles, forward Eduardo and winger Joey Gjertsen. These new additions will called upon to help an offense that struggled mightily in 2009.
The Earthquakes will continue to boast a strong defense due to the rapid maturation of Jason Hernandez and the stable presence of goalkeeper Joe Cannon. The defense will also be bolstered by the addition of first round draft pick, Ike Opara. During his limited time with the club this preseason, the defender has impressed the coaching staff and his teammates a great deal and will likely be named Hernandez's partner in central defense.
However, for the Earthquakes to be successful the club will need to generate offense in a big way in order to contend for a playoff spot. Leading goal scorer Ryan Johnson will once again be counted on to provide the goals up top and with his improving technical skills, looks to blossom into a true goal scoring threat.
Here's a look at the 2010 San Jose Earthquakes:
San Jose Earthquakes
Players to Watch– Ryan Johnson, Andre Luiz, Bobby Convey, Arturo Alvarez, Jason Hernandez
Key Arrivals– Ike Opara, Jaiver Robles, Brad Ring, Joey Gjertsen, Eduardo
Key Departures– Darren Huckerby, Shea Salinas, Simon Elliott, Antonio Ribeiro, Mike Zaher
Projected Lineup (New starters in bold):
———————Ryan Johnson———Eduardo————————
Bobby Convey——Javier Robles——-Andre Luiz——Arturo Alvarez
Ramiro Corrales—-Ike Opara——Jason Hernandez—–Chris Leitch
——————————–Joe Cannon——————————
Biggest Question - How big of an impact will the new faces make?
The success of the Earthquakes in 2010 depends on success of the club's latest string of new additions. The acquisition of Javier Robles in the midfield will be critical as the Argentine will provide the midfield bite necessary to allow Andre Luiz to create offensive opportunities. The Argentine is also a threat out wide due to his impressive speed and may see some time at the wing with Ramon Sanchez taking over for him in the center of the field.
The signing of former FC Basel forward Eduardo is one that GM John Doyle has long coveted. A strong presence who can knock down balls for the speedier Earthquakes strikers, the Brazilian looks to be a focal point in the Quakes attack. The forward remains a question mark due to visa issues that have kept him in Brazil for the past week and may seriously threaten his availability for the start of the season.
X-Factor - Bobby Convey
In 2009, Bobby Convey was the epitome of inconsistency. The midfielder was placed at a variety of positions from left back to forward as Frank Yallop struggled to find where he would be most effective. Convey finally settled into the left wing spot vacated by Darren Huckerby, but often struggled to provide effective service to the Quakes attackers. Convey will be expected to improve greatly in 2009 for the Earthquakes to create scoring opportunities.
During the preseason, Bobby Convey has looked sharp for the Earthquakes, providing the type of service that was expected after his move from Reading. For the Quakes to have success in 2010, Convey will need to find the consistency that has eluded him during his time in the Bay Area.
and if he doesn’t build the stadium soon, we won’t have them again.
You lost me at:”The Earthquakes will continue to boast a strong defense”…..
The defense sucked last year. We have made some additions that should help. Let’s all stay healthy now, okay. Jess!
The question is offensively can our midfield control the ball and put in good service. I will agree with one thing Convey better come up big.
I am still bitter about keeping Corrales over Salinas. Please prove me wrong?!!
you guys are not grateful at all. If it werent for Wolff, we’d have no quakes team to argue about.
sorry, but it’s been 3 years. the stadium was supposed to be ready this year. first Wolff tried to buy it with a real estate venture, now he’s trying to get sponsors to buy it. He and Fisher aren’t actually spending any of their own cash on this stadium or it’d be built right now.
Hope blooms eternal, right?
On top of that, he kinda dismissed questions last year on his need to develop his right foot.
That being said, if he had a comparable right foot, it’s a good chance he’d be playing somewhere besides MLS.
Thanks mate. Missed this last week.
Adam S. as well, saw your updates. Appreciated.
Supsam-
I spoke with Opara and he told me that although is finishing up his minor at Wake (that involves an internship and other responsibilities), Yallop is working with his professors to balance both of the responsibilities. All signs are that Ike will be playing a considerable role much earlier than anticipated.
thats unfair to say of Wolff. He is privately paying for our stadium and he is interested in using the DP when the time is right. Last thing we want is to pull a Denilson.
The Quakes are starting with a much better back line. Hernandez is fit (knock on wood) and you’ve got good competition for the center spot beside him (will Ike be a big deal? I hope so) and we’ve taken one of the team’s more gifted players, Corrales, and put him in the back line. Ironically I’d say Leitch is the weakest link, as we saw him get stranded forward last year, but he made some nice contributions especially with his long balls.
A little more talent going forward — maybe! We lost Shea & Huckerby, we’ll see if the new talent can fill their shoes. The midfield looks stronger though, especially compared to the beginning of last year.
For me Convey never seemed happy last year. Hmmm, was Convey unhappy or subtly injured?It is hard to forget some of his runs where he just skipped through the opposing team. If he could do that more consistently, and if the rest of the team could keep pace with him, that might make a difference.
No DP for San Jose, but then it is hard to have a squad that can keep pace with a worthy DP, unless he is old and slow like Becks.
It should be an exciting year
i was under the impression that Ike would finish his wake forest undergrad year before joining the quakes. Anyone clarify please.
not a san jose fan but Lew Wolf seems cheap as hell. He’s cheap with the A’s too. Why don’t they go after a DP?
Key points for the Quakes: bench quality better than years past — this will let the 5 rookies ease into the team over the course of the season. The defense is healthy to start the year — they will need consistency in that group to rebound from last year’s horrid performances. Versatility from new signings — Yallop and Doyle building roster with players that can play multiple positions whether as cover for injures or changes in tactical formation. Overall, best the team has looked coming out of preseason since their return to MLS. Now, will it be enough…?
BTW, latest news has Cornell Glen starting at forward instead of Eduardo. The Brazilian is still not back in San Jose, so is unlikely to make the team ahead of Saturday’s match with RSL.
yeah, too bad, he’s our own little (big?) messi – some memorable dribbles from the right touchline resulting in SOG’s… on the other hand, in the 8 or so years I’ve seen him, he hasn’t really matured very much as a player, still too inconsistent, and his quality is not international-caliber (esp. with the present US team – there is no way he’ll replace Dempsey or even DMB)… this is what happens to a player when he joins a club at age 17 and then unfortunately gets bounced around…
b-mac can’t hit a 10-yard pass accurately – i’ll walk out of the stadium if he starts a game
McDonald will likely play more at Defensive Midfield this season.Look for Bobby Burling to start if Opara isn’t available. Opara has really impressed the coaches and his teammates during his limited time in the preseason so he’ll get the call.
yallop mentioned it last wk. that opara was taking some quick exams and was expected to be w/ the team on saturday. also mentioned that if he’s w/ the quakes, he’d put him in the game.
I have been watching Convey since his DC United days and think he is an exciting player that could really help San Jose. I think this year is a defining one for him – either he steps it up or he stays as a journeyman MLS player that is not impactful. Last year, he came directly from Reading with no break which meant he went from August of 2008 to October of 2009 with no break. Let’s see what he can do when he is fresh and once and for all, find out if he was able to come back from his serious injury.
Are you sure Opara is starting over B-Mac? Ives?
Is big Ike going to start the season?
I thought I heard he’s not coming in until after he finishes up with school.
haha, well played.
I think dallas will have a very rough time against San Jose, i’d like to see them make the playoffs… especially over the the over rated Galaxy.
Outsider’s take:
I think the Quakes are getting considerably better. Like Ne-Dub said — guys who have been starting are now solid bench players.
And unlike other years, the team isn’t waiting until June to bring in all of its players. I still can’t understand that former mode of operation.
The West is tougher than the East, with RSL, Seattle, LA and Houston all quality sides. But I don’t see any reason why the Quakes can’t move up and ahead of teams like Colorado and Dallas and try to get themselves into a playoff spot.
I’m also still kind of sad that we will never get the chance to see Alvarez in a USA jersey. I thought the Gold Cup would have been his time.
I agree. Convey is one of the few players who had the close control, fluency, creativity, agressivity, and deceptivity that Landon had in his on the ball skills. I always loved watching him go on this long dribbles where he would weave in and out of players like he was making a patchwork quilt. Him getting into form is about as likely as my getting the winning lotto ticket, but just like getting the winning lotto ticket, everybody wants it.
No, you are wrong. The 2.Bundesliga is so much better than the MLS that back-up 2.Bundesliga goalies slide seemlessly into MLS central midfields.
It’s an exciting roster because of our depth compared to last year. We have McDonald, Burling, Sanchez, Gerstjen, Glen and Amarikwa that can come off the bench and gives us options in our lineup.
i like to see Convey again this season. The comeback of DMB really sparks the question some guys need a year and more to recover from injuries. If Convey can recover from Reading’s form, he and SJ will be exciting to watch.
I think you mean Javier Robles.