As much as I'd like to throw Munie in the deep water at CB, I don't think we see it now post Lopez signing...the team is now starting to find their footing defensively and with the addition of Lopez, we don't absolutely suck, so this being MLS, we're never far from the underbelly of the blob...basically we'll ebb towards the blob...and the brain trust won't risk playing Munie at CB. Verhoeven is an interesting player, right now I think he runs a bit hot and undisciplined...a bit rash... he can be prone to overplay things....imo, bigger learning curve for him at MLS level...but I think he'll come through fine...for me, more likely next season. But I wouldn't mind seeing Skahan as a starting right side attacker with Espinoza on the left.. Pelle up top and Lopez underneath. Given our situation on the left side, I've always wanted to see Espinoza get a run for a few games on the left...and I think with Skahan on his natural right foot and good pace on the right it would look pretty good. I'm just a big fan of getting Skahan way more minutes with Lopez also on the field. Espinoza and Skahan on the flanks is a solid combo either way they line up.
You said it best somewhere else, Luchi is in fight for his job mode, no way he embraces a youth movement at this time.
Also, things may come into better focus in the next month or two. So far in the Hernán era we are 2-2-2, and probably should have another win or tie against Portland. But even that 2-2-2 rate is probably not a good enough clip to get into the playoffs. Let's say we're at say 20 games played and still 9 points out of the playoffs with about 100 teams between us and the playoff line. Then the case becomes even stronger. Start working in some new guys. It'll make us better in 2025.
Right, that's why I said that in order for it to happen, CL needs to tell Luchi - hey look, I want you to start working in some new guys. I'm going to judge you on how well you do that more than W's from here on out. Our playoff probability right now is 4% to make it to the 1st round. When do we decide to start thinking about the future? 2%? 1%?
I'm on record as saying the season was effectively over after the third game. In the ensuing dozen games, the Quakes have gone 3 wins, 7 losses and 2 draws. They're not going to be able to recover.
Yeah, and I hear people (like Ted Ramey on The Soccer Hour) say - hey, we're only 6 points back, like if we just won 2 in a row we'd be back at the playoff line, but it's not that simple. Teams ahead of us (technically we're still last in PPG in the west) are playing each other, there's strength of opponent and whatever else they factor in. I would guess those 2 things at the least on that "Playoff Status" site but I don't see their methodology listed anywhere. They have us at 4% right now which feels intuitively in the right ballpark. http://www.playoffstatus.com/mls/mlspostseasonprob.html
And of course most of those playoff odds include what is really the "playoff play in game" for the teams that barely make the playoffs... I think if there's any group that should see that as fool's gold it's Quakes fans who know better than anyone that it means "one game on the road where you get crushed 5-0 or lose to Tim Melia on PKs"... the goal should be a top 4-5 finish. If that is not possible, start preparing to increase the odds of turning it into a reality for next season. If Luchi is unwilling to think like that and will continue to play his usual guys with a focus on winning now even though winning now is not only irrelevant but actively hurts the chances of future success, fire his @** and bring in a coach who is willing to take a long term view and develop players.
On a more serious note, I saw Ayo play a few sub minutes for Toronto this year but his contract was "mutually terminated" a few weeks ago. I wonder if he's reached the end of his rope in pro soccer? Maybe he can play catch on with a Canadian Premier League team? USL? Just seems like he struggled to get fit. Also had an ACL tear in 2021. This is what he looked like in 2021(?) before his injury.
At this point Id rather wait to see what kinds of Europe-free agents are available this summer. And Boupendza if he isn't a great deal I would rather use the slot on another DP because hell, we could use someone like Arango right now. Also for Akinola, not in the universe of an expert on body type for a soccer forward, but he did not look even close to what he used to be.
I was of course not serious about us picking up Ayo. I think we can forget about any significant moves this summer. After Hernán I doubt we have the budget for it - either in FishBucks or in cap space.
Luchi ain’t it, not e turkey his fault, but he ain’t it. If Caleb porter or El Bruce were options, round you take them ? Arena has been known to squeeze out max capacity from MLS journeymen. I guess it’d hsve to do with circumstances of his random termination, but it’s New England……. Who have shown themselves to be San Jose east. Very dysfunctional org. Feels like the kind of coaching moves last place yeahs make
Please no retreads like Caleb Porter or Bruce Arena <pukeemoji>. If we get a new coach I’d want it to be someone with fresh ideas - a Wilfried Nancy type. Maybe it could be Ian but regardless I hope it’s someone who’s dedicated to playing an attacking style like we did in 2017 with CL as coach. That’s the odd thing. CL showed a distinct philosophy of play in 2017. I would have expected that he’d hire someone with a similar philosophy.
Most coaches in the game are retreads. Porter will get New England right. Theyre getting healthy, they have some moves coming this summer, and a betting person may be smart to put the house that the Revs make it to MLS Cup before us. Nancy is a retread too.
Yeah, he took Montreal from 10th to 2nd in his first full season with the team, then went to Columbus, took them from 8th to 3rd and to an MLS Cup championship, and then this year, CONCACAF final. If he's a retread, sign me up for a retread like that!
Once you leave your first job your officially a retread. But he's a good retread. To be fair, Caleb Porter went 14-5-15 his first year with the Timbers and took them from 8th place to first place 2 points behind the Suppoters Shield. He won coach of the year his firs tyear too. Won MLS Cup in 2015 after taking over in 2013. He Won MLS Cup in 2020 1 year after taking over the Crew. So leads me to believe will likely strike again with the Revolution or get them to at least contendership. He's 144 wins, 98 Ties and 118 losses with a +66 goal differential. Not too shabby. I would take him over Luchi Gonzalez at any given time. He is a former Quake, he is an asshole, he's still forever one of us. He will forever be Caleb 'Red Card' Porter. Below in the video, he takes out the legs of another former Quake and SJ native Vicente Figueroa.