If there is any truth behind the old adage that you can’t tell the players without a program, than the program vendor at Avaya Stadium will probably be more popular than the beer vendor when the San Jose Earthquakes open their 2018 MLS Season on March 3rd against Minnesota United.
San Jose Earthquakes Manager Mikael Stahre meets with the media at the club’s annual media day on January 24th, 2018. Photo by Lyndsay Radnedge.
The Quakes went with some Swedish flare in the offseason (no, they didn’t sign Zlatan), hiring Mikael Stahre to be the new manager. Stahre is veteran of the Swedish Allsvenskan, where he most recently managed Häcken to a fourth place finish in the 2017 Allsvenskan season. Stahre has also managed in China and Greece, in addition to Swedish clubs Vasby United and AIK, where he won a Allsvenskan championship in 2009.
Besides Stahre, the club went out and made a big Swedish DP splash (still not Zlatan) when they signed the co-leading scorer from the Allsvenskan last season in Magnus Erikson. Entering the prime of his career at 27, Erikson is expected to find time as both a forward and in the midfield. After a half season where Vako Qazaishvili and Chris Wondolowski showed flashes of brilliance playing off each other, the addition of Erikson gives San Jose another versatile weapon to throw at opposing defenses.
The Quakes were also able to make the transfer of forward Danny Hoesen permanent this offseason. The Dutch forward impressed late in the season and should be in the mix to start up top alongside Wondoloski.
The midfield was an ever fluid area of the field last season, with the Quakes experimenting with several different options. Adding Erikson should solidify the wings, but the center of the park remains in question. Darwin Ceren was traded to Houston in the offseason, but Anibal Godoy and Fatai Alashe return, along with Jamir Hyka and Shea Salinas. Tommy Thompson is back in the fold as well in what feels like a make or break season for the US Youth International.
Defensively the Quakes lost a big piece of their club, literally and figuratively, when Victor Bernardez’s contract option was not picked up. The fan favorite was widely expected to retire with the Quakes following the 2018 season. With Bernardez out of the fold, its widely expected that Florian Jungwirth will spend more time anchoring the backline after being used as a holding midfielder at points last season. Harold Cummings is also back in the mix and the Quakes were able to solidify the position by adding 21 year old Yeferson Quintana on a loan from Uruguayan champions Peñarol. Left Back looks to be solidified once again by Nick Lima with another Swedish signing (definitely not Zlatan) Joel Qwiberg brought in as reinforcement after helping his club IF Brommapojkarna achieve a promotion to the Allsvenskan.
Goalkeepers (from left) Matt Bersano, JT Marcinkowski, and Andrew Tarbell during the San Jose Earthquakes media day on January 24th, 2018. Photo by Lyndsay Radnedge.
Between the sticks, Andrew Tarbell returns as the incumbent, but perhaps the most underrated signing the Quakes had was inking U-20 Goalkeeper JT Marcinowski as a Homegrown Player. The former Georgetown Hoya has 11 Youth International Caps to his name at the U-20 level, including starting in last summers U-20 World Cup. After it was widely expected that David Bingham would end up with expansion side Los Angeles FC, the former Quake shocked us all and instead ended up across town with the LA Galaxy.
In addition to Marcinowski, the Earthquakes Academy has produced more signings in the offseason, with 16 year old defender Jacob Akanyirige and 15 year old Gilbert Fuentes to Homegrown Contracts. While neither is expected to contribute this season, it has to be exciting for Quakes fans to see the results of the Academy coming to fruition.
While the MLS Regular Season doesn’t kick off until March 3rd, the Quakes will hit the field on Wednesday Morning at 10am PST against the Portland Timbers in the first of two preseason games in Tucson. The Quakes will be home for one preseason game on February 10th when they host their USL affiliate Reno 1868 FC.
San Jose Earthquakes
