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MLS Week 1: First impressions of all 24 teams

By Christopher Dodson

LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 3: Los Angeles FC's head coach Bob Bradley prior to Los Angeles FC's MLS match against Sporting Kansas City at the Banc of California Stadium on March 3, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. Los Angeles FC won the match 2-1 (Photo by Shaun Clark/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 3: Los Angeles FC's head coach Bob Bradley prior to Los Angeles FC's MLS match against Sporting Kansas City at the Banc of California Stadium on March 3, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. Los Angeles FC won the match 2-1 (Photo by Shaun Clark/Getty Images) /
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SAN JOSE, CA – MARCH 02: San Jose Earthquakes midfielder Anibal Godoy (20) interacts with fans after the MLS match between the Montreal Impact and the San Jose Earthquakes at Avaya Stadium on March 2, 2019 in San Jose, CA. (Photo by Cody Glenn/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
SAN JOSE, CA – MARCH 02: San Jose Earthquakes midfielder Anibal Godoy (20) interacts with fans after the MLS match between the Montreal Impact and the San Jose Earthquakes at Avaya Stadium on March 2, 2019 in San Jose, CA. (Photo by Cody Glenn/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

San Jose Earthquakes

Matias Almeyda was never going to change the losing culture at Avaya Stadium in one preseason. However, this loss looked a lot like the uninspired Quakes of the past. Sure, the Quakes had more possession (66%), but only because the Impact conceded the ball. San Jose took the lead, but still went into halftime needing to chase the game. Fouling 17 times created a sloppy game with no rhythm and allowed Montreal to remain organized. Four shots on target, from 14 taken, just added to the wasteful moments and minutes strung throughout the match.

Chris Wondolowski scoring a record goal was so last year. Quakes fans need to live in the present, and Wondolowski is most assuredly in the past. If Wondolowski does not deserve the starting role, perhaps he does not deserve the record goal. Magnus Eriksson also needs a spell on the bench. After a preseason under a new coach, Eriksson looks even more replaceable. These two cannot lead a successful MLS attack and have proven as much over the last two dozen games together.

San Jose is again a Wooden Spoon contender. The attack still has problems locating the goal while the defense bends too often to not break multiple times a game. Nick Lima and Marco Lopez had little options going forward, and that constant pressure is too much for Almeyda’s plans. This roster has too much dead weight holding back the new direction. Until some new players are brought in to match Almeyda’s new ideas, the world’s longest bar will drink to soothe the pain from the same old results.

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