Toronto FC vs San Jose
By: Chris | August 27th, 2011
San Jose are in a “win or go home” mentality at this point in the season in regards to the playoffs. As most people know the Quakes are on a 12 game winless streak, a new club record. Toronto FC are facing their own troubles. Head coach Aron Winter has gutted his roster this season in an attempt to get an effective offensive system running. San Jose currently sits in 8th place in the West with 25 points and Toronto are 9th in the East with 23 points. While neither team is mathematically out of the playoffs, each faces a steep climb to reach one of the 4 Wild Card spots.
San Jose has been having personnel issues all season, and newly acquired striker Edmundo Zura did not impress when he arrived in San Jose before the Los Angeles game. The Quakes have had to deal with numerous injuries, suspensions, fitness issues and family leave absences. The Quakes will field a patched up team against Toronto as preferred right back Steven Beitashour is suspended for the game. Scott Sealy has been dealing with a nagging hamstring injury all season so there’s no telling who will partner with Chris Wondolowski up top today, but it will likely be Khari Stephenson. My predicted lineup looks something like this:
Yallop said after the last game that he thought Baca played well, so I’m guessing he’s going to start over Simon Dawkins. Bobby Convey has been electric the last couple games, popping up all over the field, so he’s the top of the diamond in a 4-4-2 formation. Cronin will hold onto his defensive midfielder position. The problem with putting Stephenson up with Wondo as forwards is that both of them like to get back into the midfield to defend. This is problematic as it negates any sort of long ball passes.
The Quakes are facing a Toronto FC team that has started to figure out what they’re doing offensively. They have played well in their CONCACAF Champions League playoffs and first two rounds, going 3-1-0. They haven’t fared as well in MLS play but they have won a game recently, which the Quakes can’t take credit for. Former Quake Ryan Johnson has been playing well for Toronto recently, something Quakes fans feel bitter about. Toronto has also scored more goals in their last 5 games than the Quakes have in their last 12. On the flip side, Toronto’s defense is a lot leakier than the Quakes’.
This is a must win game for the Quakes if they expect to make the playoffs this season. San Jose played well against Los Angeles last week, they just got burned on a quick restart on Robbie Keane’s goal. My concern is that Beitashour is the team leader in assists and he’s suspended for the game. Hopefully someone can pick up where he left off, maybe Gjertsen or Convey.
GO QUAKES!
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