PHOTO: SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES
The San Jose Earthquakes first of four away matches in the next month saw the Black and Blue draw to the Philadelphia Union 1-1 at Talen Energy Stadium, with 39 percent possession and nine total shots (five on target) to the Union’s 22 (eight on target).
More often than not, the performance on the pitch was far from ideal for Mikael Stahre’s side, but a point on the road is a point on the road.
Here are three lessons we learned:
1. Florian Jungwirth can help the Quakes reap more benefits as a center back
It would be easy to make a point here on how Florian Jungwirth has time and time again claimed that he prefers playing a midfield role. But the German’s abilities to command the backline did earn him team Defensive Player of the Year accolades in 2017. And during the final 32 minutes against the Union, when Stahre chose to morph to a five-man backline, he showcased this defensive talent.
The 29-year-old looked brilliant, winning tackles and making crucial clearances in the dire moments when Jim Curtin’s men swarmed the final third looking for a late winner.
Stahre has praised Harold Cummings and Yeferson Quintana as “fighters”, and it’s no secret that the Swede leans on playing strong center backs, but Jungwirth proved to be the leading answer.
2. Harold Cummings’ unnecessary red card may pave the way for Jungwirth
Who saw it coming? Cummings arguably had his best game with San Jose, but instead spoiled it by earning a red card moments after the final whistle via video assistant referee. The Panamanian will at the very least miss Saturday’s match against the Houston Dynamo at Avaya for his unnecessary “violent conduct” against Austin Trusty.
The dilemma now is if Stahre pairs Quintana with Francois Affolter — like he did in the friendly against Club Leon — if he gives Jimmy Ockford the nod, or goes with Jungwirth as one of the center backs in a four-man backline, the German’s natural position in San Jose under Dominic Kinnear and Chris Leitch.
Stahre, though, can also tinker his side’s overall defensive structure before next weekend’s bout to include three center backs in a five-man backline as he did against the Union.
3. Wondolowski is starting to go missing within the current tactical system
It’s certainly not the time to bench the captain, but there are running concerns regarding whether Wondolowski can be Wondolowski under Stahre’s current system.
Before Saturday, MLS’ second all-time leading goalscorer had one shot on frame. That didn’t change. The forward failed to register a shot on target against the youngest backline in the league, backing the notion that Stahre’s tactical system is failing to extract the best of the forward. (Yes, Vako had him wide open twice.)
As the games go by and the productivity declines, the debate thickens: should the 35-year-old come off the bench or continue to start? Starhe, who has praised the captain’s fitness, leadership and skill, will eventually have to ponder the thought. But the answer, most likely, doesn’t rest too deep; a simple formation change might do the trick.
