San Jose Earthquakes: Post-Draft Blues In The Bay Area

Credit to the San Jose Earthquakes’ brain-trust of manager Frank Yallop, and general manager John Doyle, they did secure the services (provided they are able to sign him) of defender Ike Opara with their first round pick. The United States and Wake Forest standout will serve the Quakes very well at the Buck Shaw in the coming months ahead.

There was a puzzling turn of events in the second round though. San Jose selected 3rd in the third round, 19th overall. They had a chance to select standout forward Andrew Wiedeman, who in his three years at the University of California scored 30 goals in 59 matches - a strike rate of roughly a goal every other game. These numbers come in one of the most competitive conferences in the NCAA, the Pac-10. Not only could they have signed a talented, true goal poacher of a forward, they would also have signed a talented local player.

Instead the Quakes selected a midfield player, Michael Thomas, from Notre Dame. A fine enough player, perhaps, but outside of collegiate footballing circles virtually unknown.

The selection of Opara was a much needed boost for the league’s worst defense in 2009 conceding 50 goals. In goal scoring the Quakes hit 36 goals. Nine out of the fifteen MLS clubs scored more.

Going strictly by the numbers the scoring was mediocre and the defense deplorable. With this in mind, the second round might have been a good time to choose a ruthless goal poacher such as Wiedeman.

I believe that the management firm of Doyle & Yallop has made a rather serious error in judgement in not selecting Wiedeman. Thanks for exiling him to Texas gentlemen. Perhaps it is time for new leadership at the Buck Shaw. If this coming season produces results that are as comprehensively poor as the last two, I believe that it becomes very clear that John Doyle and Frank Yallop must be thanked for their time of service with the club, and then should graciously step aside in favor of their successors.