Magnus Eriksson and Chris Wondolowski celebrate during a preseason game against Reno 1868 FC at Avaya Stadium. Photo by Lyndsay Radnedge.
2017 Record: 13-7-14, Sixth in the Western Conference
Coach: Mikael Stahre
Key Additions: MF/FWD Magnus Eriksson (Djurgården IF), DEF Yeferson Quintana (Peñarol), DEF Joel Qwiberg (IF Brommapojkarna), GK J.T. Marcinkowski (Georgetown), DEF Jimmy Ockford (Reno 1868), MF Luis Felipe (Reno 1868), MF Chris Wehan (Reno 1868), MF Eric Calvillo (New York Cosmos),
Key Departures: FWD Marco Urena (Los Angeles FC), Simon Dawkins (Minnesota United) Darwin Ceren (Houston Dynamo), DEF Victor Bernardez (Out of Contract), DEF Kip Colvey (Colorado Rapids), MF Cordell Cato (LA Galaxy), MF Marc Pelosi (Out of Contract), GK David Bingham (LA Galaxy), DEF Andres Imperiale (Club Guaraní),
The Big Question: How Will the Backline Hold Up?
The Quakes did not make the the Playoffs last season on the strength of their backline. After giving up 60 goals last season (Fourth worst in MLS), GM Jesse Fioranelli went to work by letting longtime Center Back Victor Bernardez go along with Andres Imperiale. New Coach Mikael Stahre has used Flo Jungwirth almost exclusively in the midfield during the preseason, while riding the pairing of Harold Cummings and Yeferson Quintana in the center of the defense. Cummings will FINALLY be making his Earthquakes debut after a broken leg kept him out all of last season while Quintana is an exciting young prospect who comes to San Jose on loan for Uruguayan League Champions Peñarol. On the outside, Nick Lima looked very impressive in the preseason in getting involved in the attack during the friendly win over Reno 1868, while stalwart Shea Salinas figures to be the Opening Night starter on the left side.
Area to keep an eye on: Road Games
If you picture Charles Barkley shaking his head and muttering “turrible turrible turrible,” then you have a picture of what the Earthquakes looked like on the road last season. Punctuated by a 5-0 loss at Vancouver during the MLS Cup Playoffs, the Quakes gave up three or more goals in seven of their final nine road games. It shouldn’t be as bad this season as the team builds a stronger chemistry with the veteran leadership of Magnus Eriksson coming on board as well as having a full season of Vako Qazaishvili. Goalkeeper Andrew Tarbell seems to be firmly entrenched as the Number 1. It seems like there is no way they can possibly be worse than last season away from Avaya Stadium, but how much they can clean up their road woes will go a long way to determine if they can move up the ladder in the Western Conference.
Outcome: 4th-6th in the Western Conference
The Earthquakes attack looked very impressive in the preseason, scoring four goals in wins over Reno 1868 and the LA Galaxy, and with Chris Wondolowski expected to break Landon Donovan’s record for career MLS goals, the goals should be coming in bunches from an exciting quartet of Wondo, Danny Hoesen, Vako, and Magnus Eriksson. If the backline can come together, the Quakes should be able to make some real noise in the West. The Quakes should be able to make a return to the Playoffs, but they’re still a player or two away from making that leap into the top echelon of the West.
San Jose Earthquakes
MLS Western
