The San Jose Earthquakes slipped up a bit last weekend against the Columbus Crew, but they still got the point at home. Now they head out to Colorado to play in a stadium that sits over 5,000 feet above sea-level. I get into those topics and also talk about Anibal Godoy's trade to Nashville FC for a sizeable amount of General Allocation Money.
This week the MLS All-Star game went down in Orlando, so not much has happened in Quakes land. I talk about the all-star game and the fascinating skills competition and why I would prefer a weekend of skills competitions instead of a 90-minute match. I also talk about the Quakes upcoming match against Columbus Crew and how dangerous that team is even though they are in 10th place in the East.
In this episode, I talk about the meteoric rise of the San Jose Earthquakes up the MLS table and why I am done trying to predict their eventual slowdown. I also wonder how Matias Almeyda is doing this with basically the same roster as last season. Finally, I talk about this being a legitimate playoff team and what we can expect with the new MLS playoff format.
Football, Without Hesitation, is back and now we have a studio! After a couple of months searching for a spot to put a studio in one has been located and now I can bring you episodes more frequently. In this episode I talk about the Quakes resurgence and if I believe they can keep this up. I also make fun of LA Galaxy because I can and talk about the upcoming match with Western Conference bottom dwellers Vancouver Whitecaps.
The San Jose Earthquakes continue to get better under new manager Matias Almeyda's new system and are now undefeated in their last four matches after beating FC Cincinnati at Avaya. They are now barely above the playoff line but can they keep this success going all summer? I also talk about this weekends match against another struggling team, New England Revolution, who fired their manager after giving up 15 goals in three matches!
After eight weeks of the 2019 MLS season, the San Jose Earthquakes are finally showing what the future can look like in Matias Almeyda's system. Now the question becomes can the Quakes maintain this form or will the league figure out Almeyda's system and find ways to beat it week after week? I think the Quakes are going to continue to surprise people and next up is FC Dallas.
This week Nacho is back to talk about the Earthquakes finally getting a win in this young MLS season. Is this a fluke against a team that is struggling or is this the beginning of the new Quakes style. Danny Hoesen gets a start and scores, and the defense gets a clean sheet. We also discuss the Quakes upcoming trip to Houston to take on the Dynamo.
This week I talk about the disastrous game against LAFC and try to find the positive in a bad season so far. I also talk about Portland Timbers coming to Avaya and how they represent the best chance for the Quakes to get some points in this young season.
This week the Quakes we're away from MLS action because of the international break but I still talk about the latest loss in New York and what's coming up against LAFC.
In this episode, I bring on my old friend and soccer guru Nacho to discuss the first three weeks of the San Jose Earthquakes MLS season. We are more optimistic than other people that have been following this team, but we wonder whether this roster can find the stamina to keep up Matias Almeyda's aggressive system.
Football, Without Hesitation is back! After a long hiatus Oz is back to talk all things San Jose Earthquakes. This episode I talk about the lack of success to start off the 2019 season and why we as fans should be more patient. If Rome wasn't built in a day it sure isn't going to take the Quakes two matches to build themselves up to a decent soccer team. I also talk about the upcoming match against New York Red Bulls a team new manager Matias Almeyda is familiar with.
In this episode, I talk about the growing trend of frugal ownership across MLS and what it could mean for the league in the future. As a supporter of a team with a frugal owner, this trend is concerning. I also break down an interview Anibal Godoy did with a Spanish newspaper and what it says about this years "unforgettable season".
Well, I guess the way this year has gone any ankle twitch could be considered a groove but the backline is looking better the last three games. I also talk about the All-Star Game, the growing popularity of soccer according to Nielsen, and the end of the transfer window.
In this episode, I talk about how the Quakes newest signings performed during their first two matches with the team. I also get into a breakdown of the standings and shoutout the Quakes for making it easy for new fans to follow along by hanging out at the bottom of the table. Finally, I tell a story about getting a beer at Avaya and being told to stand closer by another fan because I was not in an immigration line which I thought was an interesting choice of words.
In this episode, I talk about the Quakes venture to Canada that went not as bad as it could have gone. I ventured north myself from Salinas over to the Quakes viewing party at Jacks Bar and joined a full crowd of fellow supporters. Luckily the drinks were cheap and strong because we needed a lot to deal with another week of the rollercoasters that is the San Jose Earthquakes.
In this episode, I do something the Earthquakes can't seem to be able to do, change things that are not working. In order to get back to the goal of introducing people to MLS and the Quakes, I am making the structure of the show much more rigid. The stream of conscious will still flow but it will stick to a couple of points per episode. Welcome to the new Football, Without Hesitation!
In this episode, I talk about the NFL's new rule that will fine teams whose players demonstrate during the national anthem and what I think it means for MLS. Will MLS capitalize on the alienation of fans from another league? Probably not seeing that even the biggest MLS matchups can't even get half the TV audience of the great American pastime that is corn-hole.
It has been a while since I last released an episode so I decided to do this one a little different. This episode was recorded at XL Publichouse in Oldtown Salinas as the Quakes were taking on Vancouver Whitecaps so if I sound a little distracted I apologize it is rare for the Quakes to not lose on the road.
Last week the Quakes played a friendly which meant the Quakes have only played 180 minutes of MLS soccer in the first month of the season so there isn't much to talk about. However, I did come across an ESPN article about NCAA soccer that lead me down a rabbit hole about soccer and minorities in this country.
I wish I could say I am concerned by the Quakes loss in Kansas City but I am not. After a complete restructuring of the team, it will take a while to gain the on-field chemistry. Or at least that's what years of playing FIFA have taught me.
As the title of the episode suggests, the Quakes had the second week of the new season free which feels, weird. Luckily, MLS is having one of their hottest runs in CONCACAF Champions League in history so there is plenty to talk about. At one point I also ask the question, "How do partnerships with foreign associations and clubs help the domestic game?"
The first week of the season doesn't create too many headlines but the new look Quakes definitely turned some heads. This episode, I talk about the new seating set up at Avaya and why you should spend more time there. Also, I get into the CONCACAF quarterfinal first leg which has a lot of American soccer fans glowing with some even thinking that the power balance is finally shifting north.
After my own offseason, I am back with more episodes of Football, Without Hesitation. The Quakes come into 2018 almost unrecognizable from a year ago. A new GM, new coach and a stable of new players have me as excited for the season to begin as ever. While this team is still in "rebuild" mode the product on the pitch should be much improved from years past.
A long off-season gives you a lot of time to think and in this episode, I think about how difficult it is to get news from the Quakes. It may not all be bad news though, that leaves an opportunity for anyone that wants answers to questions no one is asking.... Is it March yet?