After last season’s last-day heartache, the Quakes will need no extra motivation when they return to Dallas this weekend. But for one of the traveling party the trip to Texas cannot come soon enough.
Simon Dawkins sat out Saturday’s dramatic 1-1 draw with DC United after he picked up the first red card of his career in the 3-1 defeat at LA Galaxy. And the Jamaica international, suspended for the visit of the men from the capital, admitted he did not enjoy watching his teammates from the Avaya Stadium stands.
“It was very frustrating,” said Dawkins. “But I guess that’s life. It was great to sit among the fans but I don’t want to make it a habit!”
Dawkins added that his presence in the seats was met with some puzzled looks.
"I think some of our fans didn’t realize I wasn’t playing and were shocked when they saw me in the seats,” he said. "I had some explaining to do."
While sitting out games is never a good thing, Dawkins does feel there may be one benefit.
“I had a week off so I should be fresh,” he said. “We had a good performance so hopefully I can get back in the side."
Dawkins, 28, is in his second spell in San Jose after playing more than 50 times on loan from former club Tottenham Hotspur in 2011-12.He believes MLS and the Quakes have made great strides since he was last in Northern California.
"The league is better, the players are better,” he explained. “But I think everyone knows that. Here, the stadium and the turnout is amazing. I couldn’t have imagined that four or five years ago when we were at Buck Shaw."
