The short answer… Maybe. Personally, I don’t think so. We’ll go over their offseason moves. But they really didn’t do shit. 4 moves so far? You can’t be serious. After finishing last season 4 points from the playoffs, this should have been the off-season to get significantly better. Going after a dangerous striker/Wondo’s replacement, or after an elite goalkeeper, or literally, anything that’ll improve the team. Oswaldo Alanis is not that.
I want Almeyda to win, I really do. I once deemed myself vice president of the Matias Almeyda fan club. A man worthy of getting all the resources he needs to win. That hair. Those precious, precious locks. I love that man. I just don’t think he has enough on-field talent to make the playoffs.
A story of mixed results
The Good: This team played with heart. Almeyda squeezed a lot of juice out of them. A team not really that talented actually was a top 5 team in the league towards the end of the summer. And 10 home wins is a really nice thing to see.
The Bad: March and August through the end of the season. 33 goals given up in away games. Not great.
SJ’s Spongebob GIF
Is this finally the year? Like I mentioned there is a chance. Almeyda gets another year under his belt and gets to work with the roster he is well aware of. Literally. The new player Alanis brought in played under Almeyda in Chivas. Well, playing is a bit of a loose term. Alanis actually lost some playing time in Guadalajara, though it was because he sucked tbh. Wondo is up there in age and his production should really not do much. So depending on if his backups Housen and Rios can pick up the pace when he’s out. But Wondo might be better as a mascot than as a player.
So @ChrisWondo – who is missing tonight's @sjearthquakes match serving his first-ever red card suspension – is spending the match w/San Jose's ultras. Look at this man celebrate this Quakes goal. I'm dying. Truly remarkable. pic.twitter.com/Gm6cHPsRhh
— Pablo Iglesias Maurer (@MLSist) September 26, 2019
Offseason Moves
Crickets. Man is this sad. I hate to see this transaction box so short. It would have been great had some major moves had been made. But they haven’t. Maybe the complete transfer of Christian Espinoza from Spain. Yes, that was a big move. Securing their offensive player of the year was huge. And bringing in a different CB was important for them. I’m just worried that my old hate for Alanis will comeback. I don’t know if that is the move…chief.
Starting XI
I think the attacking front is set, if and only IF, Wondo can have another 15 goal campaign. Eriksson is one of the leagues most efficient attacking mids, and Espinoza will compete for a spot in the Allstar team this season. But maybe the lack of change is what makes me reluctant to give this team a playoff spot. It’s literally their team last year with Alanis. The saying is, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” Newsflash, this team didn’t clinch a playoff spot, do something.
Betting Odds
Another +3300. Bovada has San Jose, Columbus, Miami, Philly, Kansas City, and Portland all at +3300. Of those teams, I think Kansas City has the least chance to win the championship, followed closely by San Jose. Is there value? Only if San Jose go out in the Summer and drop some serious cash on either a defender or a striker. But currently, I do not see the value.
Best Watches
San Jose landed themselves 8 nationally televised games. The end of the Quake’s schedule isn’t as grueling as last season was, finishing 4 of their last 6 away. In fact, I think it super easy. Because while they technically will be away, they won’t have to leave the west coast in their last 7 games.
The April 11 game with DC is the 25th year anniversary of the MLS’ first-ever game. How far it’s come. I guess me and the MLS in 1996 weren’t that different. We got introduced into the world in 1996. Neither of us knew what were doing. And most importantly, neither of us understood the concept of penalties. Two peas in a pod I guess.
San Jose closes out the season vs a Colorado team has the potential to be scary. A team that also will be fighting for a playoff spot meaning, the matchup the week prior might be the more important game. A win vs LAFC would probably put the Quakes in the driver seat, with a chance to decide their own journey. That is of course if they don’t lose every game in September again.
Predictions
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mFOracFClBg?start=19]
San Jose’s 2020 will be the defining moment on if Matias Almeyda will stay in the MLS. A playoff run would all but certainly lock him in for another year. But missing out again? I don’t know what the future would hold for him. Chivas is looking like they’ll fire their coach come the fall. And depending on how Argentina does in this summers Copa America, he might be a candidate for that job.
If San Jose would like Matias Almeyda to be their coach in 2021, they have to play in the playoffs this year. I think Wondo has a down year in 2020. This backline will not be able to keep them in close games. I think they do come close but fall short of the playoffs again.
Hey! If you hated this blog! You’re gonna hate the next 25 blogs! Be sure to check them out as I count down each MLS team from worst to first for 2020.