Quakes 2009: Under Construction

By: Ian | February 5th, 2009

Despite feeling a bit down about some aspects of the Quakes offseason in the past few blogs, lately I have been hit with the optimism bug about this upcoming season. Blame it on the unseasonable warmth of the past few days, or the fact that opening day is inching ever closer, but things are beginning to look up. The most promising sign is that clearly Doyle and Yallop are not sitting around waiting for a better squad to fall in their lap. So far two new forwards are on their way, Cam Weaver and Pete Byers. Not well-known names by any stretch of the imagination, but both with potential worth taking a risk on. I would much rather Yallop take a gamble on a few prospects than bring in a cap-draining forward who would leave the rest of our team weak. Then there is the matter of the, by all accounts, imminent arrival of Bobby Convey. It seems like many Quakes fans are a bit lukewarm on the acquisition, given his recent injury history and the fact that probably his best position is already filled by Huckerby. Word is that he will be slotted in at attacking midfield. Again, another gamble, but Convey may provide the kind of vision and passing that was sorely lacking at times last season from the middle of the park.

If that’s not enough, Centerline Soccer is reporting that Doyle is working on bringing in another forward and a midfielder, one from Latin America, the other from Europe. Clearly there will be plenty of raw material for Yallop to fashion a squad capable of serious cup contention. I still miss O’Brien, and I still think it was a mistake to let him go, but I’ll put my faith in Yallop’s squad-building abilities until proven otherwise.

There are still some major questions as the season approaches however:

- Can Alvarez fill Ronnie’s shoes at right mid? He is much more the run-at-defenders, make cutbacks type of wide player a la Huckerby, and less the well positioned crosser of the ball. Time will tell whether this will provide a double threat on both wings, or simply prove redundant.

- Will the Quakes find Ramiro’s partner in the midfield? Is it Convey? Is it Ring? Is it another player who will be brought in?

- Who will partner Garcia in the middle? Hernandez was so solid in the middle it would be a shame to move him out right, yet Riley’s departure renders this necessary, unless the Quakes pick up someone who can play that position. Or will Yallop choose to place his faith in Cochrane once again in the center of the park?

- Will the Quakes move to upgrade the left back position? Will Convey fill that slot? Denton had a solid season, with a few glaring mistakes along the way. The consensus seems to be that the Quakes can do better here, but with other, more glaring holes to fill, will Denton get another season?

Stay tuned, cause this roster will continue to be shaken up in the weeks ahead. I know, I know, bad joke…