Football, Without Hesitation

The San Jose Earthquakes suffered a tough 3-2 loss to LAFC, but Jeremy Ebobisse cannot stop scoring! Jebo's brace puts him at nine goals for the season, the second-highest total of his career. Monterey Bay F.C. kept its hot streak alive by trouncing the Colorado Springs Switchbacks 4-2 at Cardinale Stadium. Chase Boone scored an absolute golazo while Adrian Rebollar continues to impress in his rookie campaign. Next up is a re-match with Oakland Roots on Saturday.

With the Matias Almeyda experiment quickly fading in the rear-view mirror the San Jose Earthquakes are playing a more mechanical but successful system under Alex Covelo. The Quakes are out of the basement but they still have a way to go if they want to find themselves in a playoff spot at the end of the season. Monterey Bay F.C. went to Kentucky to face Eastern Conference-leading Louisville City FC and earned a shocking 2-0 victory. This historic win sets the Canners up nicely for an upcoming three-game homestand at beautiful Cardinale Stadium

Monterey Bay FC is on a bye week and it comes at the perfect time as the team is struggling with a number of injuries. The biggest news of the week was the final act of the Matias Almeyda saga in San Jose. After a 2-2 draw against Nashville SC, the team announced that they had parted ways with the charismatic manager. Monterey Bay FC has one match left before their much-anticipated opening home match on May 7. San Antonio FC is looking for another clean sheet against a Monterey side that has struggled to get the ball in the net.

After a year of waiting, Monterey Bay FC began to play in USL Championship. The result did not go our way, but we finally got to see how Frank Yallop had prepared the boys. Mayra Gomez joins me in the studio to break down the first match. We also talk about the first-ever watch party at XL Publichouse hosted by our own supporter's group, Fuerza Union. We made it out to practice this week and talked to some of the players about their first match experience. Walmer Martinez talks about what it's like to play professional soccer at the college where he got his degree. Adrian Rebollar breaks down his goal, scored 24 hours after Monterey Bay announced his signing. We ask the newest signing, Simon Dawkins, about his expectations and how his extensive experience can help the young players in the locker room. Head Coach Frank Yallop talks about this weekend's opponent Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC, and how he thinks Monterey Bay can get its first win ever. 

A little over a year after announcing Monterey Bay FC as the newest member of the USL Championship, they are ready to play actual soccer. This week I go over the midfielders and forwards and talk about who may start in what position. I also talk about their first opponent, Phoenix FC, and what a challenge they pose for them on week 1. The San Jose Earthquakes pulled off an improbable comeback down a man against the Columbus Crew. They continue their Eastern Conference play with a visit to Philadelphia Union on Saturday.

The San Jose Earthquakes got the 2022 MLS season underway by getting steamrolled at home by New York Red Bulls. Matias Almeyda deployed an experimental lineup with Judson on the bench and Jackson Yuiell starting at center back. So far, the experiment hasn't worked out, but luckily the Quakes have an in-form Columbus Crew team visiting Pay Pay Park this Saturday. That gives them one more chance to prove that they plan on playing competitive soccer the rest of the season. We are one week away from the start of the USL Championship season, and our intro into Monterey Bay FC continues. This week we dig into the defensive side of the ball, and we talk about the signings so far and where they may line up against Phoenix Rising.

It's late February but the 2022 Major League Soccer season is about to kick off. The San Jose Earthquakes start the season against the New York Red Bulls at Pay Pal Park. This might be Matias Almeyda's last season as the leader of the Quakes but there are still several questions to answer. I also talk some news from Monterey Bay FC who announced another exciting partnership. I also give a crash course on the USL Championship and how Monterey Bay fits into this exciting league.

One of the USL Championships' newest teams, Monterey Bay FC, will be playing 15 minutes away from our studios in downtown Salinas. That means the show will be slightly different going forward but with even more soccer talk. The San Jose Earthquakes are still the main topic, but with so many professional teams in Northern California, some growth was neccesary. This week I talk about the Quakes season, which is coming up quicker than ever, and I also talk about Monterey Bay FC and what the season is looking like for them!

With less than ten matches left in the season, the San Jose Earthquakes have some work to do if they want to keep up with the pack in the Western Conference. I look around at the teams around them in the standings to see who they play in the next month. Up first for the Quakes is an LAFC team that has been Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde all season long.

Going into the All-Star break the San Jose Earthquakes are one of the hottest teams in MLS. On top of that, they beat the LA Galaxy in a lopsided Cali Clasico in Carson. They aren't the only Bay Area soccer team charging up the table, Oakland Roots are on an unbeaten run of their own and are looking to find a way to sneak into the USL Championship playoffs but have a tough task ahead of them against Tampa Bay Rowdies.

The San Jose Earthquakes signed Nathan to shore up their leaky defense, and it has paid dividends so far. Unfortunately, their inability to score goals has prevented them from moving up the Western Conference table. One of the most difficult parts of the schedule is coming up. What might it look like in September?

The San Jose Earthquakes are still dealing with a winless streak that dates back to early May but a glimmer of hope has showed up in the form of a 6'2" Brazilian named Nathan. He was recently named to his first MLS Team of the Week in just his third MLS start. I look deeper into his performance in his first three matches to show that he has been one of the best defenders in MLS since his debut.

The San Jose Earthquakes have lost their last four matches and are looking to change their fortunes in Texas this weekend. In front of them are 11 determined players and a whole city ready to show off to a national audience. It seems like a daunting task but the Quakes under Almeyda have thrived in these kind of tension filled matchups. Also I finally get into the Oakland Roots and how their first season in the USL Championship is going. That Oakland vs. Sacramento rivalry is getting spicy!!

The strong start the San Jose Earthquakes enjoyed the first month of the season has come to a screeching halt as the quality of opponents has gone up. They have a chance to get things back on track this weekend when they face the Galaxy in the first Cali Clasico of the year. Galaxy has relied on Chicharito for their offense and nothing else while their defense has given up 11 goals. How do I think they can leave Los Angeles with three points? Listen and find out!

The San Jose Earthquakes took the lead in the first minute when Eduardo "Chofis" Lopez scored his first Major League Soccer goal and never looked back against D.C United. For the second week, they overwhelmed their opponent, with 17-year-old Cade Cowell taking the lead. His 1 goal 2 assist performance earned him Player of the Week Honors and sent a buzz across the nation. Next up for the Quakes is a Real Salt Lake team that sprinted out of the gate and has won both matches they have played this season.

The San Jose Earthquakes had one of their better performances in the Matias Almeyda era beating FC Dallas 3-1 in the first match at PayPal Park in over a year. 17-year-old Cade Cowell was a one man wrecking crew scoring a goal and dishing up one of the cleanest assists you will ever see. Next up for San Jose is a D.C. United team that got its first victory last week in sloppy fashion. 

The San Jose Earthquakes kicked off the 2021 Major League Soccer season on a stormy Texas evening against Houston Dynamo. The team came in slightly unprepared as many factors prevented them from having a normal offseason, and it showed on the pitch. Now the team must regroup and face a stronger opponent from Texas in FC Dallas. What can Almeyda do to get his team the first points of the season?

The Major League Soccer offseason is almost over, and we are finally going to get to see what Matias Almeyda can do with a roster of his choice. I decided to pull out my crystal ball and see what I think the Western Conference will look like at the end of the season. I also break down the Earthquake's week 1 opponent Houston Dynamo and go through their depth chart to see what Wondo and the boys might be up against on Saturday.

We are a couple of weeks away from the start of the 2021 Major League Soccer season, and now we know the full schedule that lies ahead for the San Jose Earthquakes. Matias Almeyda has been building his roster for the last three seasons, and now it may be his last chance to show the people of San Jose how far he can take this squad. Will the jam-packed schedule of this year help or hurt the Quakes? We will start finding out in 10 days.

Matias Almeyda loves to take his teams to sunny Mexican beaches for pre-season training. The current travel restrictions prevented him from doing that this season so the ho-hum beach town of Santa Barbara will have to this season. Also, what insight could a potential sale of Orlando City give us into the current value of MLS squads. 

The 2021 MLS  season inches closer, and I dig deep to try to find some Quakes news to talk about. Luckily a year packed with soccer all over the world is about to begin. Up first for Jackson Yueill, JT Marcinkowski, Cade Cowell, and the rest of the U-23 men's national team is the Olympic qualifying tournament in Guadalajara, Mexico. Continuing the USMNT talk, I speak on a tap of a finger by a member of the senior team that made me realize, again, how much of an outsider I am in the country I was born in.

The San Jose Earthquakes continue to build their roster for the 2021 season by adding three players to their roster. Eric Remedi comes over from Atlanta United and adds much-needed depth on the defensive side of the midfield. The Quakes also found a replacement for Nick Lima, who Austin FC signed. Luciano Abecasis comes from Paraguay's Club Libertidad with a tough task ahead of him. Finally, the Quakes stayed local while looking for offensive help with the signing of 21-year-old forward Benji Kikanovic. Will these moves make the Quakes competitive in 2021? These are my thoughts.

Just when we thought we could focus on the upcoming start of the MLS preseason, Chile enters the mix and seems to be interested in Matias Almeyda's services. As is standard in San Jose, nobody knows much about anything, but we, the supporters, hope for at least one more season of the Argentinian on the sidelines. Also, a new USL team is coming to the Monterey Bay area, giving us one more option to watch live professional soccer.

The San Jose Earthquakes selected Cal forward Thomas Williamson and North Carolina State midfielder George Asomani last week in the Superdraft. Both players will add some depth to a squad known for their high-intensity play that can sometimes hit a physical wall. The big signing news of the week was the addition of midfielder Eduardo "Chofis" Lopez, who will fill the hole in the lineup left by Magnus Eriksson's departure. Matias Almeyda is hoping to use more of his magic ability to revive players' careers and take the Quakes farther than the first round of the playoffs. That is if he is here next season.

The Superdraft is upon us! It has never been the major event Major League Soccer would like it to be but there are some good players ready to make the jump and teams like the Earthquakes can find some key pieces. Oz think they can bolster their defense here leaving more money available to sign a goal scoring threat. Can a player like Ben Di Rosa or Justin Malou come in and fill in the gap left by Nick Lima?

As the Major League Soccer offseason grinds on, not much news is coming out of Coleman Avenue. We still don't know if we will be allowed to see our Quakes in person this season, but the players can look forward to an updated pitch at the stadium. After struggling to keep their playing surface together last season, the team upgrades to one of the most sophisticated in North America. The yearly Almeyda rumors are quickly quieted, but the Quakes remain silent on the new signing front.

The expansion draft for Austin FC started saw a couple of familiar faces leave San Jose as Nick Lima and Danny Hoesen were selected by the new team. Now the San Jose Earthquakes front office has a lot of money to throw around and build on this season that ended in the first round of the playoffs. What will they do? Also, the Columbus Crew are the 2020 MLS Champions after a dominating performance over Seattle Sounders. 

After almost losing its beloved soccer team to a Texas move, the Columbus Crew face the Seattle Sounders in the MLS Final this Saturday. At this point, the Sounders seem like an unstoppable machine, but I think Columbus can ride the emotional high to win their second cup. The Earthquakes also announced a slew of offseason moves that see some beloved names leave the South Bay.

The San Jose Earthquakes almost defied the American soccer community by taking Sunday 1st round playoff match into penalties. Nobody outside of Northern California thought the Quakes even had a chance. After a 4th-minute goal from Sportings Roger Espinoza, it looked like most people would be proven correct. But this is 2020, and these are the Matias Almeyda Quakes. Here are my thoughts recorded a couple of hours after the end of the match.

The San Jose Earthquakes are back in the playoffs for only the third time since 2012. Exciting for the supporters, but does this team have any chance of beating a Sporting Kansas City squad that went from 11th place in the West last season to 1st this year? If they do, it will not be easy against a team that hasn't given up a goal in three matches. But I still think there is hope, and I break down how I think they can win on Sunday in Kansas City.

After a couple of the most grueling season, a soccer supporter can deal with the Matias Almeyda experiment made some progress now that the San Jose Earthquakes are headed back to the MLS playoffs. The 3-2 win against LAFC gave them a playoff spot. It also made the Quakes the Kings of California soccer in 2020. The final cherry on top was that win also knocked the LA Galaxy out of the playoffs. Here are my thoughts.

The Quakes late-season rally made a stop in Carson and ended with a 4-0 smashing of the LA Galaxy, who are in terrible shape. Womp womp. They followed that effort with a home draw against Western Conference-leading Seattle Sounders, which saw the Quakes get the better scoring chances. You know it was bad when all Sounders fans could do was complain about the pitch even though their stadium boasts one of the most dangerous fields in the league.

The San Jose Earthquakes three-game winning streak faces its biggest challenge when they head to Oregon to face Portland Timbers. Giovanni Savarese has his team playing some of the best soccer in MLS, while Matias Almeyda is looking for revenge after an embarrassing 6-1 loss at home to this same team.

Just when I think the San Jose Earthquakes can't get any worse, they beat LAFC for the first time and completely redeemed themselves. Well, actually, they have a long way to go before we talk about redemption, but that last-minute win felt bigger than a regular season match. Up next are a couple of teams struggling to find their rhythm back in San Jose, which is a chance for the Quakes to find their own groove.

The San Jose Earthquakes lost 6-1 to Portland, which wasn't even the worst loss of the month. It's tough to be a Quakes fan right now, but I cannot help but tune in for every match. Will you ever give up?

The Quakes have never beat LAFC, and last week in Los Angeles, they were humbled again by the pesky newcomers. The Quakes then followed that with a dull draw at home against a Colorado Rapids team, they should have dispatched easily. Unfortunately, this is what Quakes fans can continue to expect, with the current ownership group being as uninterested in winning as they are. But I find a local guy that I believe can regain the past glory of this organization. 

Last week MLS players joined other athletes across the country and refused to play after the unrest that was going in Kenosha after the police there killed another black man. I support the players and their actions, and I am proud that they used their platform to raise awareness. It is not easy, especially in one of the lowest-paying leagues in the country. Once the season resumed on Saturday, the Quakes faced-off against their bitter rival LA Galaxy.

The Earthquakes made it a lot farther than I expected them to in Orlando. Their usual high paced style was the talk of the tournament and had teams scrambling to come up with a solution. Now that the shortened regular season is going to get back in action Matias Almeyda finds his squad in a playoff spot after a disastrous start to the season. That is if the playoffs even happen in this most interesting year of living on planet earth. 

The Earthquakes pulled off a stunning comeback victory against the Vancouver Whitecaps, and now they find themselves in the lead of their group in the MLS is Back tournament. Four different players scored for the Quakes, who are currently in an excellent position to move on to the next round. Next up is a Chicago Fire squad that has already beaten the defending champion Seattle Sounders and is looking to stay unbeaten in the tournament.

It is starting to look like there will be some version of a soccer tournament in Orlando, so I thought it was an excellent time for a refresher on Quakes history. Electro and Banno from the Movie Power Hour Podcast are my students, and I cover everything from the MLS cups to the best place to drink at Earthquakes Stadium. 

As we approach the (possible) restart of the Major League Soccer season the league has released the opponents and dates of the much-anticipated tournament in Orlando. Up first for the Earthquakes is a match-up with a common foe, Seattle Sounders. Can the Quakes who sputtered into the 2020 season make a run in this tournament. Ehhhh

MLS is coming back, which means the Earthquakes are also on their way back. The excitement was too much for me to talk alone in the studio, so I brought on an old friend. Electro from the Electro and Banno Movie Power Hour Podcast steps down from his director chair and put on his cleats and does his best to keep up. 

The countries Rice-A-Roni stock is under serious threat after health officials essentially shut down most of the Bay Area. Major League Soccer had already announced that it would postpone its season after only two matches to help contain the spread of Coronavirus, and now the world is left without any sports. The Quakes could use the break after putting in their worst performance in the Matias Almeyda era and getting spanked 5-2 by Minnesota United.

The MLS offseason is way too long. We are still over a month away from the kickoff of the 2020 season even though the last match was in November of last year. The Earthquakes roster looks like it is almost complete as they head down to train in Cancun? Can Matias Almeyda get enough out of his squad to make them playoff contenders next season?

Well, I guess most of the squad is similar to last season, but Cristian Espinoza and Matias Almeyda are both staying! This offseason has not been very eventful for the Quakes, which is a relief after years of wondering what the plan for next season would be. We know the plan, but is this roster enough to compete in a more crowded Western Conference.

The end of the San Jose Earthquakes regular season was a bitter end to a sweet season by the Bay. But since that tough loss in Portland Quakes fans have been treated with several weeks of positive news. First, the ringleader of the turnaround, Matias Almeyda, announced that he plans to honor his multi-year contract. Then Chris Wondolowski announced he would be around for at least one more season in black-and-blue, and Florian Jungwirth signed a multi-year deal.

The San Jose Earthquakes rollercoaster makes a final stop in Portland in a must-win situation. If the Quakes find a win to beat the Timbers, they are back in the MLS playoffs if they lose it was still a successful season. The Timbers have struggled at home and are missing a couple of crucial pieces. The Quakes have all their firepower, can they figure it out in Oregon?

The San Jose Earthquakes are in a battle for their playoff lives, and the task doesn't get any easier as they head down south to face Atlanta United. The black-and-blue have lost their last two matches against tough opponents in Utah and New York, and now they must find a way to get some points or else they may be watching the 2019 playoffs from home. 

The San Jose Earthquakes probably have the hardest road to the 2019 MLS playoffs as they face six teams currently in playoff contention in their final six matches. The US Men's National Team was embarrassed in New Jersey but new manager Gregg Berhalter felt that the team actually improved. Watching the Quakes transform this season I have to say I agree with him.

I talk about the Quakes slowdown in the last couple of weeks. By slowdown, I mean a draw at home and a 2-1 loss in Colorado which would have been a decent couple of weeks last season. The Western Conference playoff race is getting more interesting by the week so I talk about what the teams around the Quakes are doing and who they face next week. Can the Quakes make it through this patch of road games in the heat of the summer after an exciting season? I don't know but that won't stop me from telling my opinion.

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.