Photo credit: ISI Photos
Although the San Jose Earthquakes have already begun their preseason training camp in Santa Barbara, that does not mean that they are done in the transfer market. In an exclusive interview with Quakes Epicenter, General Manager Chris Leitch said that the club is actively looking for signings because he wants them to have a “full arsenal” before the Major League Soccer season starts next month.
“We want to get the team into a place where we are firing on all cylinders and we have plenty of ammunition so that we can start [immediately] winning games,” he said. “That’s our goal.”
In order to achieve that goal, he said that they are targeting experienced players in a few key positions. “We are looking at some veterans to add to a good group of veterans that we already have,” he said. “We’d like to continue to evaluate all the targets that we have.”
Leitch, who took over as General Manager last November, has plenty of roster space to work with after clearing nearly $4 million of salary off the club’s books earlier this winter. He said their new transfer strategy is built around the team’s young players, including Jackson Yueill, JT Marcinkowski, Tanner Beason, Cade Cowell, Benji Kikanovic, Jeremy Ebobisse, and Marcos Lopez.
San Jose, CA – Wednesday June 28, 2017: Chris Leitch during a U.S. Open Cup Round of 16 match between the San Jose Earthquakes and the Seattle Sounders FC at Avaya Stadium. Photo credit: ISI Photos
In order to secure the future of that young core, he made it a priority to resign Beason and Marcinowski to new long-term deals earlier this winter.
Next, he signed veteran players Francisco Calvo and Jan Greguš in the free-agency process and re-entry draft. “We really wanted to utilize each mechanism at our disposal for acquisition,” he said.
“With Jan in the re-entry, it was a fantastic opportunity to get a player that we liked for a multitude of different reasons in a way that would make possible for us to acquire. Otherwise, it would have been really hard.
“And then with Calvo and free agency, that addressed a position along the backline, especially at the center back position, that we wanted to add some experience in. Obviously, with Calvo, you have a guy that has good experience in the league. He has been a captain at pretty much every team he’s been on, and you saw him, play last night for his national team.”
Although Leitch said that he’s excited about the group of players they already have, he said that outside-back and attacking midfield are two places in which they are still looking to reinforce the team.
“We are looking to see what kind of optionality we can have, especially from a depth perspective at those outside back positions, “he said. “That is an area that we will continue to look at.”
However, he also hinted that head coach Matias Almeyda could switch to a three-at-the-back system, which would diminish the need for another outside-back. “I think Matias has the flexibility to play in some different ways as well, which I know he’s been experimenting with and thinking about,” Leitch said.
In regards to the attacking midfield position, he said: “It’s definitely one of the most important positions on the field for any team. We are looking at that position for some potential targets.”
He also stressed that head coach Matias Almeyda is “very involved” in all those decisions after the Argentinian expressed some frustration with the club’s transfer business on Argentine radio earlier those month.
“From a decisions point of view, we have sat since July—or whenever else I was kinda in this role—and have made these decisions collectively,” he said “We have a very good relationship built on trust, and I have a ton of respect for Matias Almeyda and what he adds to our organization.”
Last winter, the Quakes failed to deliver on the expectations they set for themselves in the transfer window, which left Almeyda unsatisfied. This year, Leitch wants to ensure that he has enough team to compete from day one.
“It’s always kind of a dangerous game to play with trying to hold some money for the summer and risk maybe not starting the year off with your full arsenal at the coach’s disposal,” he said.
“I think everyone understands and desires to start this season at full capacity, ready to go and to start this successful campaign.”
In order to achieve “full capacity,” it seems necessary for the club to fill one of its open DP positions. However, Leitch didn’t commit to filling them during this transfer window when asked by Quakes Epicenter.
Another unknown is what will happen with Chofis’s loan situation. The Mexican player is under contract with the Quakes for the first half of the season, at which point his loan from Chivas will expire.
“Our hope is that he continues to progress in Major League Soccer and with Earthquakes here in the first six months while he is currently on loan with us, and we will continue to discuss with Chivas what that next plan is,” Leitch said. “Chofis really showed his quality in the back half of last year, so I’m really looking forward to him starting this year kind of like how he finished last year.”
Heading into 2022, Leitch is raising expectations for the whole club.
“My talk to the team at the beginning of preseason was: ‘you guys are going to get into setting goals and expectations, and my only ask is that you set your expectations or goals as high as possible.’ I know Matias has done a great job of that in the preseason. A great job. He’s been extremely engaging, getting these players excited, and making sure that there’s not a wasted moment in a day.”
