Still not clicking
Although I am not privy to the game plan put forth by Mikael Stahre and his staff, I'm pretty sure chasing a game in Orlando for 89 minutes was not the 1st or 18th key to a win on that night. Going down that quickly in a match is brutal, especially on the road, and especially when it's still early in the year and you're struggling to find your identity. All those things came to light for San Jose this past Saturday night as San Jose fell behind 1-0, 2-0, and 3-0, before mounting a "too little, too late" comeback.
It's interesting to watch the Earthquakes right now, because they should be better than they are. I don't say that as an indictment of Stahre, or of any of the players, but right now, the individual parts are greater than the whole. The team is better than it was last year, but isn't playing like it. With a schedule that doesn't favor the Quakes in the early goings of the season, they are digging themselves quite a hole to get out of, but it is a long, long season. Every year, teams jump out to fast starts, and then fade through the slog of summer. Other teams will come charging back from the bottom of the table (Seattle, TFC anyone?). There will be massively influential player acquisitions, injuries, departures, rifts, any number of things can and will go down from this point on. It's easy to be discouraged at this point, but the resolve shown by the team to make it interesting after falling behind 3-0 was encouraging. Last year's team might have lost 4-0, or 5-0. The Earthquakes also had a number of bright spots on offense during the game where they looked creative, in control, and like a team that could definitely shake things up. I'm concerned, obviously, but I'm not freaking out.
Flo-motion
Everything about Flo makes you laugh, but only with him, never at him. His unique usage of the English language, his bouncing mop of hair, his unbridled enthusiasm, he makes you smile and laugh and enjoy his game. Also, in the postgame, when talking about Orlando rookie Chris Mueller, he made me crack up with a very honest question, and I'm paraphrasing "...he is an American, right? This name, it is German." All things Jungwirth make you very happy that he had a big night. He makes huge defensive plays that go unrewarded by the masses week in week out, so it was great to see him get more highlight reel by way of two goals (and props to Wondo for making the first goal happen, he won't get the stat sheet mark he deserves). Florian is unapologetic about completely embodying the spirit of the San Jose Earthquakes, and that's why he's so quickly been hailed as a fan favorite in San Jose.
For whom the Tarbell tolls
Andrew Tarbell is freaky. Maybe you can argue that he could've stopped the first goal (I don't think so) that Orlando scored, but the guy is rarely the reason a ball finds the back of the net. What he is, is usually the reason the ball isn't there more often. He made some incredible saves as usual, and is showing himself to be pretty good at stopping the ball on a penalty. In his MLS career, he's stopped two of four, and he almost got to the penalty goal he let in from SKC by way of Illie Sanchez in match two of the season. His instincts, reactions, and shot stopping abilities are as good as anyone's in Major League Soccer, and once the backline gets settled in, or sorted out, you'll start to see Tarbs add on to the two shutouts he's posted in his career.
You know nothing, Ted Ramey
"... I dunno man, they went into Atlanta and got a draw. I think NYCFC can beat Portland at home right now." (Portland beat NYCFC 3-0, btw)
This statement, made Saturday night from yours truly, brought about some wisdom from our communications manager, Jake Pisani "There are two things I'll never do: One, is think that Seattle is out of it because they're off to a slow start, and the other is pick against Portland at home."
You win this round, Pisani.
And now, Columbus
Columbus scares me a bit. This team:
Upset Atlanta in the knock out round last year
Seriously challenged Toronto FC in the Eastern finals
Has Gyasi Zardes reborn with five goals through eight games
Has a tremendous play maker in Frederico Higuain
*Is coached by Greg Berhalter, one of the best coaches in the league
This is another tough road test for San Jose, who needs to get at least a point out of this. Columbus is a very good team, and that sometimes gets overlooked amongst the many other story lines surrounding this team. One aspect I do like is that the Quakes have stayed back east in between the Orlando and Columbus matches. The team will be on the east coast clock, and when you're searching for any type of help in a rough road environment, sometimes something as simple as getting your circadian rhythm locked in with your time zone can be (part of) the difference.
Ted Ramey - PXP SJ Earthquakes - @tedrameymedia
