After 15 games, the Quakes find themselves in familiar territory: the lower half of the Western Conference table. The Quakes currently sit in 7th after tie-breaks with Seattle, although both teams have identical 5-6-4 records, and an identical -4 goal differential. Seattle has scored more overall goals than San Jose to give them the sixth spot for now.

What should be concerning for San Jose, and head coach Dom Kinnear, is the lack of improvement since Kinnear’s arrival. (Special thanks to reddit user Quakes-JD for pointing this out) According to season stats after 15 games, the Quakes have failed to improve since 2015, Kinnear’s first year as head coach.

Here are the stats for each season under Dom Kinnear after the first 15 games:

Stat 2017 2016 2015 Wins 5 5 6 Losses 6 4 5 Draws 4 6 4 Points 19 21 22 Goals For 16 18 16 Goals Against 20 18 15 Goal Differential -4 0 1 Points per Game 1.27 1.4 1.46 Home PPG 1.71 2.43 1.83 Away PPG 0.875 0.5 1.22

The Quakes have shown regression or stagnation in every major category. This season, the Quakes have five wins and four draws for 19 points, leaving the team with a 1.27 points-per-game average. This is fewer than 2016’s points-per-game average of 1.40, which is fewer than 2015’s points-per-game average of 1.46.

The Quakes have scored 16 goals, two fewer than last season’s total of 18 (a season which saw the Quakes set a record for fewest goals per game by the end of the season), and the same as 2015.

The Quakes have allowed 20 goals thus far in 2017. In 2016, the Quakes gave up 18 goals by this point in the season, and just 15 in 2015.

The Quakes have also seen their goal differential drop from +1 to 0 to -4 since 2015.

Some amazing stats to consider. The Quakes’ 2015 away points-per-game average (1.22) is nearly identical to 2017’s overall points-per-game average (1.27). The Quakes also played nine of their first 15 games on the road in 2015, which means that the 2017 team has had even more of a home-field advantage, and little to show for it.

Clearly the team is in need of an overhaul despite the additions of Jahmir Hyka and Florian Jungwirth. Marco Urena’s production has been USL quality (one goal, two assists in 15 games). His Danish counterpart Danny Hoesen hasn’t been reliable, either: 15 games, seven starts, one goal.

History is not on the Quakes’ side as the team failed to make the playoffs in 2015 and 2016, and these numbers could be a harbinger for 2017 if the trend continues: San Jose is getting worse, and won’t be a playoff team.

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