The metamorphosis of MLS from a domestic league to an international league has wreaked havoc on San Jose. The Quakes correctly looked to international players to save the team after the 2013 & 2014 disaster seasons, but failed to understand the impact internationals would have on the league going forward. While the Quakes signed players from overseas in the misguided belief that by virtue of their international status they would be difference-makers in the league, other teams saw the future and signed internationals that would succeed in MLS based upon their ability rather than residency. The Quakes signed bad internationals, and paid the price. Unfortunately little has changed in 2019.

What other teams realized, and what the Quakes management is still learning, is that there are talent tiers for international players, and the teams that invest in tier one and tier two players are the teams that are vying for championships each season.

Tier one players are the international super-stars that played with the top teams in the world and still have some gas in the tank. Zlatan (22 goals in 27 appearances last season, a 0.81 goals/appearances ratio), David Villa (80 goals in 124 appearances, 0.65), Seba Giovinco (68 goals in 114 appearances, 0.60), Wayne Rooney (12 goals in 20 appearances, 0.60), Thierry Henry (51 goals in 122 appearances, 0.42), etc. Defensive-oriented players such as Steven Gerrard, Schweinstagger, Frank Lampard and others would also fall under this category.

Tier two players are the international players that could be on a team’s roster in some of the top leagues, but may not be superstars. Miguel Almiron, Josef Martinez, Bradley Wright-Phillips, Fanendo Adi, Dom Dwyer (before he received his Green Card), Tim Cahill, Jelle Van Damme, Jordan Stewart, and others.

Tier three players are the international players that fail to produce in a significant manner yet take up space in MLS at the expense of American players that could probably do the same work. These are the players that do not compete in the top European leagues or Liga MX, but find work with the Swiss, Dutch, and other non-leagues in Europe. The list is abundant for the Quakes alone.

MLS is no longer about who is finding the best domestic talent, but who is signing the best international talent, and the Quakes are stuck on tier three players.

John Doyle began the ill-fated experiment/gamble on third tier internationals, signing players like Simon Dawkins, Innocent Emeghara, Harold Cummings, Yannick Djalo, Geovanni, Henok Goitom, Jean Baptiste Perazzi, Cordell Cato, Shaun Francis, Marco Urena, and others. The team continued to finish at the bottom half of the table.

Jesse Fioranelli perpetuated Doyle’s false philosophy that international players automatically equal success. It began with an investment on European players: Vako, Magnus Eriksson, Joel Qwiberg, Danny Hoesen, Hyka, Francois Affolter, Flo Jungwirth, Guram Kashia, Paul Marie, etc. Most failed to materialized as top MLS players, and their minutes on the pitch robbed domestic players of playing time. This also took its toll on the fans as most domestic fans of soccer are not going to pay for the privilege to see a team of international players lose each week. The team finished in last place in 2018, and Avaya’s attendance was noticeably sparse.

Fioranelli set his sites on Latin players this off-season, probably in concert with new Quakes head-coach Matias Almeyda, but the focus on tier three players remained. Judson, Daniel Vega, and Marcos Lopez all featured in the Quakes 3-0 loss to Reno 1868 FC with the goals being generated from Cummings and Lopez’s side of the pitch. Unfortunately the game versus LAFC was not telecast, so only those present can assess how well those players played, and time will certainly tell in the coming months. The only player for whom I have hope is Cristian Espinoza, who might be a second tier international in the making.

Since MLS is now a bona fide international league, the Quakes cannot rely on third tier internationals for MLS success. The team must be willing to look to first-tier talent, even if those players last just a season or two.

This is especially true for a league with a salary cap, which ensures that no three or four teams will dominate the league every year by hoarding all the best players. There is no key to long-term success in MLS; no team will dominate forever. Instead, the teams that are the most successful in MLS are the teams that aim for short-term success and being opportunistic in their turnover as they look to coming seasons; Sporting KC is probably the best example of this model. The Quakes should not look to reinvent the wheel of MLS success by emulating European success and trying to build a dynasty; the league is not built that way. Instead, the team must come to grips with what so many MLS fans already know: the best players create the best teams, and the Quakes should not be afraid to sign the best tier one internationals for short-term success. Fans have already seen the alternative: long-term failure since 2012. Until the Quakes start signing great players, don’t expect great finishes.

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