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MLS 2009 TEAM PREVIEW: San Jose Earthquakes
With their expansion year, and a last placed finish in MLS, behind them, the San Jose Earthquakes will look to a better sophomore year. Goal.com's Gonzalo Cortez-Ruiz breaks down the upcoming season for Darren Huckerby and co.
Mar 20, 2009 6:15:34 PM
By Gonzalo Cortez-Ruiz
Entering their second season after returning as a 2008 expansion team, the San Jose Earthquakes have set their goal to just one thing: the playoffs.
Expansion teams in Major League Soccer traditionally have a tough first year, but with that behind them, the Quakes look forward to a good run at this year's MLS Cup.
The team said goodbye to some solid players, but covered those holes with a good batch of off-season signings. Midseason acquisitions in 2008 added an offensive bite to San Jose, and further improvements to the attack should make the California team even more dangerous.
Last Season: Expansion teams have it tough for their first season, and the Quakes were no different, sharing the very last place in the Western Conference by season's end.
Not everything went exactly wrong. The Quakes had a seven game unbeaten streak and poked their heads into the playoff mix, but reality eventually struck back at the Earthquakes.
The first half of the season the Quakes struggles were on offense. Midseason reinforcement Darren Huckerby helped change that. Arturo Alvarez and Scott Sealy also contributed and sparked the Quakes to their unbeaten streak.
Huckerby, with six goals and four assists, was San Jose’s best player, and was named MLS's best new arrival for 2008. Huckerby has an excellent touch on the ball, and his pace causes defenses problems.
Last season his excellent performance was curtailed by teams quickly taking out Huckerby out of the Quakes' strategy. A few good acquisitions to the lineup should help Huckerby move more freely and divert some of the attention of other teams off the Englishman.
Dearly Departed: Francisco Lima left to play with Taranto of Italy. Scott Sealy joined Israel's top-flight side Maccabi Tel Aviv. James Riley joined the 2009 expansion team Seattle Sounders. Jovan Kirovski went off to in-state rival Los Angeles Galaxy. Ned Grabavoy joined Real Salt Lake. One other departure was that of Ronnie O'Brien, who could not settle a contract dispute.
New Faces: Clearly the most recognizable new face is that of Bobby Convey. Convey joins the Quakes from England Championship side Reading FC. Convey's major role will be in the central attacking midfield, but he also has experience on the left wing.
Also vital will be the performance of Cam Weaver, a forward coming in from Fotballklubben Haugesund of Norway. He is being brought in to fulfill the role of the target striker. It's a similar part to the one Brian Ching once played for the team, at least in the eyes of San Jose’s fans.
Lastly, MLS veteran Simon Elliott has been brought into the team to provide depth off the bench in the central midfield.
Other notable newcomers are Quincy Amarikwa, a third round draft pick from UC Davis, Pablo Campos, who joins the Quakes from GAIS Göteborg of Sweden, and Andrew Weber, who comes from the Montreal Impact of the USL.
Projected Starters:
Veteran keeper Joe Cannon (GK) has surely earned himself the starting position at goal.
Chris Leitch (D), an acquisition from New York, should dominate the right side of the defense.
Jason Hernandez (D) will man the central defense well, as a sign of his success was a recent January call to the USMNT camp.
Nick Garcia (D) is a ten year veteran who will bring leadership to the pitch.
Eric Denton (D)will play at the left side of the defense.
Darren Huckerby (M) is clearly the heart and brain of this Quakes team.
Ramiro Corrales (M) has battled back from injury and now his presence will be notable in the pitch.
Bobby Convey (M) probably won't make an instant impact, but surely will help as he accommodates himself to the position.
Arturo Alvarez (M) is the team's wildcard - look for his intelligent bursts from the wing.
Cam Weaver (F) will likely become the primary scoring option for the Quakes; his presence should be notable in the first matches.
Ryan Johnson (F) should have more freedom to make an offensive impact with the addition of Weaver.
Predicted Placement: The Quakes should make the playoffs in the last spot in the Western Conference. They might finish even higher, after acquiring some great additions to the squad that should help produce better results. If this team is healthy enough during most of the season, things will look bright in San Jose's playoff quest.
Did You Know? The San Jose Earthquakes will host only two games in 2009 on their secondary home field, Oakland Alameda County Coliseum. Both are against in-state rival Los Angeles Galaxy.
Gonzalo Cortez-Ruiz is a contributor to Goal.com
Entering their second season after returning as a 2008 expansion team, the San Jose Earthquakes have set their goal to just one thing: the playoffs.
Expansion teams in Major League Soccer traditionally have a tough first year, but with that behind them, the Quakes look forward to a good run at this year's MLS Cup.
The team said goodbye to some solid players, but covered those holes with a good batch of off-season signings. Midseason acquisitions in 2008 added an offensive bite to San Jose, and further improvements to the attack should make the California team even more dangerous.
Last Season: Expansion teams have it tough for their first season, and the Quakes were no different, sharing the very last place in the Western Conference by season's end.
Not everything went exactly wrong. The Quakes had a seven game unbeaten streak and poked their heads into the playoff mix, but reality eventually struck back at the Earthquakes.
The first half of the season the Quakes struggles were on offense. Midseason reinforcement Darren Huckerby helped change that. Arturo Alvarez and Scott Sealy also contributed and sparked the Quakes to their unbeaten streak.
Huckerby, with six goals and four assists, was San Jose’s best player, and was named MLS's best new arrival for 2008. Huckerby has an excellent touch on the ball, and his pace causes defenses problems.
Last season his excellent performance was curtailed by teams quickly taking out Huckerby out of the Quakes' strategy. A few good acquisitions to the lineup should help Huckerby move more freely and divert some of the attention of other teams off the Englishman.
Dearly Departed: Francisco Lima left to play with Taranto of Italy. Scott Sealy joined Israel's top-flight side Maccabi Tel Aviv. James Riley joined the 2009 expansion team Seattle Sounders. Jovan Kirovski went off to in-state rival Los Angeles Galaxy. Ned Grabavoy joined Real Salt Lake. One other departure was that of Ronnie O'Brien, who could not settle a contract dispute.
New Faces: Clearly the most recognizable new face is that of Bobby Convey. Convey joins the Quakes from England Championship side Reading FC. Convey's major role will be in the central attacking midfield, but he also has experience on the left wing.
Also vital will be the performance of Cam Weaver, a forward coming in from Fotballklubben Haugesund of Norway. He is being brought in to fulfill the role of the target striker. It's a similar part to the one Brian Ching once played for the team, at least in the eyes of San Jose’s fans.
Lastly, MLS veteran Simon Elliott has been brought into the team to provide depth off the bench in the central midfield.
Other notable newcomers are Quincy Amarikwa, a third round draft pick from UC Davis, Pablo Campos, who joins the Quakes from GAIS Göteborg of Sweden, and Andrew Weber, who comes from the Montreal Impact of the USL.
Projected Starters:
Veteran keeper Joe Cannon (GK) has surely earned himself the starting position at goal.
Chris Leitch (D), an acquisition from New York, should dominate the right side of the defense.
Jason Hernandez (D) will man the central defense well, as a sign of his success was a recent January call to the USMNT camp.
Nick Garcia (D) is a ten year veteran who will bring leadership to the pitch.
Eric Denton (D)will play at the left side of the defense.
Darren Huckerby (M) is clearly the heart and brain of this Quakes team.
Ramiro Corrales (M) has battled back from injury and now his presence will be notable in the pitch.
Bobby Convey (M) probably won't make an instant impact, but surely will help as he accommodates himself to the position.
Arturo Alvarez (M) is the team's wildcard - look for his intelligent bursts from the wing.
Cam Weaver (F) will likely become the primary scoring option for the Quakes; his presence should be notable in the first matches.
Ryan Johnson (F) should have more freedom to make an offensive impact with the addition of Weaver.
Predicted Placement: The Quakes should make the playoffs in the last spot in the Western Conference. They might finish even higher, after acquiring some great additions to the squad that should help produce better results. If this team is healthy enough during most of the season, things will look bright in San Jose's playoff quest.
Did You Know? The San Jose Earthquakes will host only two games in 2009 on their secondary home field, Oakland Alameda County Coliseum. Both are against in-state rival Los Angeles Galaxy.
Gonzalo Cortez-Ruiz is a contributor to Goal.com
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