PHOTO: Lyndsay Radnedge/Center Line Soccer
By Nerdy Gales
Who would have predicted that the 2018 Earthquakes win-pin collection might consist of just a single button?
Another home defeat, this time against the Vancouver Whitecaps, has me reflecting that this club has not been the same since Chris Wondolowski first fell out of favor with Mikael Stahre back in late April. What right do I have to tell Stahre what to do?
Everyone realizes that this Earthquakes season is over, and now there’s a burgeoning grass roots movement on social media to entreat the club’s management to give Wondolowski ample opportunity to surpass Landon Donovan’s MLS career scoring record – Avaya Stadium has been echoing lately with chants of “Put In Wondo”.
Why does Wondolowski deserve the opportunity?
- First and foremost, he’s earned the right through his passion and leadership as captain of the club. That’s not even taking into account his 141 goals and the fact he’s scored goals with a stomach flu.
- Secondly, the fans have earned the right to see Wondolowski break the record. It sure would bring some interest back to the stands as this dire season draws to a close. The fans are forking over their hard earned dollars to watch a team with a 3-8-14 record: 17 points and a minus 11-goal difference. And that solitary win pin.
- Thirdly, Stahre wants to “emphasize the improvements in team play for the rest of this season”. Allowing Wondolowski more minutes is not mutually exclusive of that game plan. Wondolowski, himself, states in the same article that he shouldn’t have chances “at the expense of a different, perhaps better, scoring opportunity for someone else”. Evidence that he still values the team’s performance ahead of his own record.
Why has Wondolowski been riding the pine?
- Firstly, there’s a huge disconnection – few of the current Earthquakes technical staff have a sense of Wondolowski’s history in San Jose. Not Fioranelli, not Stahre, not Fox. While John Doyle came in for a lot of criticism over the years, the ex-Quakes defender and GM knows the local soccer landscape, and he understands what Wondolowski means to the Earthquakes – fans and players alike. The Doyle era is over. And with this year’s departure of Alashe and Amarikwa, there have been ramifications for Wondolowski’s status at the club.
- Secondly, at thirty-five years old, it could be argued that he’s past his prime. But remember he came third in this pre-season’s ‘beep test’ for fitness (behind Salinas and Yueill), quite literally proving he is fitter than players half his age. Wondolowski’s best-by-date has still not expired.
To the stalwart fans, it appears that Chris Wondolowski’s legendary stature at the San Jose Earthquakes has been severely underestimated by Mikael Stahre. his year’s team has been diminished without him; in his absence it’s hard to ascertain where the leadership on the field is coming from. At this late point in the season, there’s nothing else left to lose, and Wondolowski’s going to need the captain’s armband and more than twenty minutes a game to make a difference. And just maybe pass Landon Donovan’s record.
So, “put Wondo in” coach – he’s ready to play.
