With the San Jose Earthquakes’ home opener under a week away, the team’s main storylines have revealed themselves after an intriguing preseason. One big storyline for San Jose’s offense this season is certain to be Chris Wondolowski’s chase for Major League Soccer’s all-time scoring record, a tantalizing twelve goals away.
The real revelation, however, could be the roster that has been assembled around Wondolowski. For five consecutive seasons, Wondolowski was the only Quakes player to score double-digits; in fact, no other Quakes player scored more than ten goals in that entire stretch. However, eight goals from five sources in two convincing preseason performances against Reno 1868 and the LA Galaxy offer promising signs that San Jose’s goalscoring threats will be more evenly distributed in 2018.
General Manager Jesse Fioranelli has assembled the promising pieces of a dynamic front-line with the signings of Vako, Magnus Eriksson, and Danny Hoesen, and coach Mikael Stahre’s tactical nous has already started to mold them into a well-functioning unit. Hoesen and Eriksson each bagged a brace against Reno in a friendly at Avaya Stadium and the Quakes also netted four against the LA Galaxy last weekend.
Their high-pressing system has been effective, recovering the balls in dangerous positions and overwhelming LA’s defense during their friendly. The system rests upon the team’s capacity to break quickly, with the wide men acting as the playmakers as the fullbacks launch down the wings and the forwards make runs in behind. The tactic leverages Vako’s ingenuity to break the first line, as well as the pace of Shea Salinas and Nick Lima out wide. These counter-attacks can also offer Wondolowski ample service and space to exploit, a promising setup for the forward.
“[Stahre] keeps stressing to me to stay in the box and I’ll continue to do that,” the captain said after the Reno victory. “I’ll definitely find myself on some chances.”
Hoesen has impressed as a more direct option in preseason and his hold-up play has also shown significant improvement. The Dutchman orchestrated two of the team’s goals against the Galaxy and is poised for a breakout season after having discovered his MLS form at the end of last year with three goals in his last six regular-season games. Wondolowski, for one, is confident that his striking partner will continue to build on his tally.
“Danny is going to have a big year,” Wondo told Quakes Talk. “I think he is going to be in the race for the golden boot, honestly. I think that he is so talented and is really finding his form, so I’m excited for that.”
Stahre concurred. “He’s a really humble guy, he works really hard,” the manager said of Hoesen. “When you combine good skills and work ethic, it’s perfect, and he has both. He’s fast, he’s good to hold the ball and he’s good to combine with the other strikers and wingers. I think he’s doing really, really well and his preseason so far has been absolutely fantastic.”
Eriksson, who joined over the offseason as the club’s third Designated Player, is the biggest wildcard. His brace versus Reno showcased clinical finishing but he otherwise struggled to fit into Stahre’s system and was unimaginative on the ball. The Swede was dropped for San Jose’s victory over the Galaxy, replaced by Jahmir Hyka and halftime substitute Tommy Thompson in the lineup. The pair, along with forward Quincy Amarikwa, offers solid depth up top.
That said, Eriksson is expected to return to the starting eleven on opening day against Minnesota United next weekend. Saturday’s eleven is, in all likelihood, settled. The Earthquakes quietly capped their preseason schedule with a closed-door scrimmage against Reno 1868 on Thursday, Stahre’s final opportunity to test his squad against competitive opposition.
“I think we are ready, for sure,” Stahre told Quakes Talk. “We have played now five different games and I am happy with the preseason in general. We are prepared.”
“It will be a tight game, for sure. The league here is really good so we have to be focused for two-times-forty-five minutes plus stoppage time. We are looking forward to play home, of course, and we must be focused and humble. We’ve prepared for the game and will talk about the opponent and so on but the most important thing is to focus on our own game.”
