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San Jose Earthquakes 2024 Season Preview

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Armchair Analyst's Breakdown

  • Strength: The structure was good last year, and the pieces fit together well on paper. That includes Amahl Pellegrino, Vitor Costa and Bruno Wilson, all of whom should be upgrades.
  • Weakness: The defense has to come together better than last year’s group – Daniel, who I’ve predicted to be this year’s Goalkeeper of the Year, worked miracles – and that goes triple for the attack. The Quakes just didn’t generate enough going forward, and with an unfilled DP slot and a big, fat question mark at the No. 10, I’m not wagering on that improving right away.

Key Departures

  • Cade Cowell: Now at a Liga MX "Big Four" club, Cowell joined Chivas for a reported club-record $4 million fee (plus add-ons and a sell-on percentage). The homegrown forward and US international had 10g/15a in 104 regular-season games.
  • Jonathan Mensah: Mensah, acquired from the Columbus Crew before the 2023 season, was a dependable center back last year. He's since signed with the New England Revolution in free agency.
  • Jamiro Monteiro: You'll now find Monteiro at Turkish Süper Lig club Gaziantep. The Cape Verde international and No. 10 was a DP.
  • Miguel Trauco: The Peruvian international left back is now at Brazilian top-flight side Criciúma. We'll always have this golazo, though.

Key Signings

  • Vítor Costa: The Brazil native is San Jose's new left back, arriving from Portuguese second-division side CS Marítimo.
  • Amahl Pellegrino: Pellegrino, signed from Norwegian top-flight side Bodø/Glimt, joins an attack that's led by Jeremy Ebobisse and Cristian Espinoza. The winger won back-to-back Eliteserien Golden Boots and was named 2023 Eliteserien Player of the Year.
  • Bruno Wilson: Rodrigues' likely center-back partner is Wilson, who last played for Portuguese top-flight side FC Vizela.
  • Full roster

Projected Starting XI

24MLS_Lineups_San Jose

Predictions

  • Marcelo Balboa: 11th in Western Conference
  • Kyndra de St. Aubin: 12th in Western Conference
  • Matt Doyle: 13th in Western Conference
  • Brian Dunseth: 12th in Western Conference
  • Miguel Gallardo: 13th in Western Conference
  • Antonella Gonzalez: 13th in Western Conference
  • J. Sam Jones: 13th in Western Conference
  • Sacha Kljestan: 8th in Western Conference
  • Kaylyn Kyle: 12th in Western Conference
  • Lori Lindsey: 12th in Western Conference
  • Frédéric Lord: 13th in Western Conference
  • Joseph Lowery: 12th in Western Conference
  • Sammy Sadovnik: 11th in Western Conference
  • Andrew Wiebe: 10th in Western Conference
  • Bradley Wright-Phillips: 10th in Western Conference
  • Diego Valeri: 12th in Western Conference
  • Jake Zivin: 12th in Western Conference

Odds & Ends

  • Head coach: Luchi Gonzalez
  • Stadium: PayPal Park
  • Last year: 10W-10L-14T, 44 points, 9th in Western Conference
  • Audi 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs: Western Conference Wild Card