San Jose Earthquakes
Buck Shaw Stadium (MLS Capacity: 10,500); McAfee Coliseum in Oakland (three games, MLS Capacity: 47,416)
2007 Record: Expansion team
Head Coach: Frank Yallop
Key Additions: Joe Cannon (LA Galaxy), Ryan Cochrane (Houston Dynamo), Nick Garcia (Kansas City Wizards), Ivan Guerrero (Chicago Fire), Ned Grabavoy (Columbus Crew), Gavin Glinton (LA Galaxy), Ronnie O'Brien (Toronto FC), Ramiro Corrales
PROJECTED STARTING LINEUP
GOALKEEPER
Joe Cannon: A two-time league Goalkeeper of the Year, Cannon returns to the team with whom he began his MLS career, following stops with French club Lens, as well as Colorado and Los Angeles. A terrific shot-stopper, Cannon is the kind of 'keeper who can win games by himself, and given San Jose's expansion status, he might be asked to do just that.
DEFENDERS
Jason Hernandez: A versatile defender who could never quite make one position his own while with New York and Chivas USA, Hernandez now looks set to grab the left back position, although he may see time in the middle before the year is out.
Nick Garcia: Eyebrows were raised when the Quakes parted with the No. 1 overall pick in his year's SuperDraft to acquire Garcia, but Yallop is betting that the defender's rugged tackling and leadership will give him more than any rookie could have.
Ryan Cochrane: A former Quakes center back and a solid contributor to Houston's championship winning sides of the last two years, Cochrane is a steady defender who is adept at winning balls both on the ground and in the air. The occasional killer mistake kept Cochrane from being a consistent starter early in his career, but he now looks to have smoothed out the rough parts of his game.
James Riley: Yallop loves his fullbacks to get into the attack, and with Riley's pace and crossing ability, he more than fits the bill. Riley is another player who can also play in midfield or even in the center of defense, making him a valued member of Yallop's squad.
MIDFIELDERS
Ivan Guerrero: A pacy, left-sided player, the Honduran international is tidy on the ball and can whip in a good cross. Injuries limited his playing time with Chicago in 2007, but he has looked healthy in preseason. Guerrero has never been much of a goalscorer, with only five goals in three MLS campaigns, but his nine assists in 2006 showed his ability to deliver the killer pass.
Ramiro Corrales: Corrales returns to the Quakes after a three-year stint in Norway, and while his previous time in MLS was spent as either a left midfielder or left back, he'll be asked to play a holding role in San Jose's midfield. Yallop believes that Corrales' time abroad served him well and that he's a better player now than when he left in 2005.
Ned Grabavoy: Blessed with quick feet and attacking guile, Grabavoy will be given first crack at quarterbacking the Quakes attack, although he could see time on the left side of midfield. After playing bit part roles during his first three MLS seasons, Grabavoy set a career high in Columbus last year with 24 starts.
Ronnie O'Brien: With his pinpoint crosses and free kicks, the Irishman will be one of the focal points of San Jose's offense. O'Brien endured an injury-hit 2007 season, suffering repeated right knee injuries, and questions about his durability remain as a result. For San Jose to have any hope of success this season, it is paramount that O'Brien stays healthy.
FORWARDS
Kei Kamara: The Quakes are thin up top, meaning that much of the goalscoring responsibility will fall on Kamara who struggled for playing time during his first two seasons in Columbus. Kamara certainly has the size and pace to be an effective forward, but the other aspects of his game, including his touch, are still raw.
Gavin Glinton: Glinton excelled in a super-sub role last season in L.A., scoring four times, including three down the stretch during the Galaxy's late-season surge. Now he'll be counted on to continue that pace as a starter. Glinton was actually retired from the game for two years before resurrecting his career in 2006 with the USL's Charleston Battery.
OUTLOOK
Expansion sides have struggled in recent years, and were it not for the lack of proven forwards on their roster, the Quakes would be in contention to buck that trend. Yallop has built a hardworking side that will be very tough to break down, but unless Kamara, Glinton, or some other forward not yet on the roster can deliver the goals, a season outside of the playoff places is the most likely scenario.
GRADING THE SEASON
Simply staying in contention for a playoff spot deep into the season will amount to a victory of sorts. And more importantly, such a performance will allow the team to reconnect with a fan base that still has some residual bitterness from the club's gut-wrenching departure in 2005.
NEWCOMER(S) WITH THE BIGGEST IMPACT
Kei Kamara could not have found himself in a better situation heading into the season. He has a player's coach in Yallop, a solid defense, as well as some midfield elements that should be capable of getting him the ball in good positions. Topping it all off is the fact that there are few other forward options currently on the team, meaning that Kamara will be given plenty of opportunities to prove that he belongs in the lineup.
-- Jeff Carlisle
