“Can Bruce Arena work his magic? Bold transformation awaits San Jose Earthquakes” (MLS Multiplex - Thursday, 11/14/24) The San Jose Earthquakes Press Conference (John Todd/ISI Photos/GettyImages) GO SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES!!! -G
"No more improvisations or quick fixes; he is determined to define a kind of specific style of play that will allow the Earthquakes to define a long-term strategy." Um, no, I don't think his comments implied that at all. He said he had no idea what the style would be - depends on his assessment of what the team has and what he thinks can be added. Nothing about defining a specific style that would define a long-term strategy. BTW, the body language I got from CL in that press conference was kind of "wings clipped". He was passive and noncommittal. I guess he's just deferring to Bruce but I wonder if he thinks he's a goner (my guess is that he stays).
Lots more platitudes, not much in specifics. We need help. We need better organization of the guys we have and we need a bunch of new guys. I'm encouraged that Bruce said that he plans to work with the guys that he has and see what he can make of the squad. That's really the right approach. Don't try to force the guys to play a system for which they are not suited. I'm OK with his lack of specifics so far. My fear is that Fisher is NOT going to spend the necessary cash on the roster or even the facilities. We'll get some modest improvements, while the rest of the league is busy making major upgrades. More brandy! Go Quakesfans!!
I think the facilities changes are in the works. As for the roster, I don't know. Fish seems to have Bruce convinced that he'll get what he needs but at the same time Bruce is saying that "we're not in position to sign an elite international player". Of course then, "define elite". Sounds like we're going to try to get guys off the MLS scrap heap, like in 2015 when we picked up Marvell Wynne, Sanna Nyassi, Shawn Francis, and Mark Sherrod from the MLS scrap heap. Forecast calls for pain.