THE BASICS: San Jose Earthquakes

Western Conference

Home: Avaya Stadium HONORS: MLS CUP: 2001, 2003

Supporters' Shield: 2005, 2012 SJEARTHQUAKES.COM: Tickets

Schedule

Jerseys/Gear

As MLS' only two-time entrant, the San Jose fan base has a bit of a chip on its shoulder after the Quakes left town in 2005. Never the flashiest team, San Jose have embraced their history of outworking opponents -- the kind of attitude that brought the original Quakes MLS titles in 2001 and 2003. The return of former coach Dominic Kinnear represents a link to the Quakes' past, but the club is also ushering in a new era with the opening of Avaya Stadium.

Rivals

With Chivas USA gone, the Quakes and LA Galaxy are MLS' only two remaining California clubs, which should only heighten an already contentious relationship. (As is the case for Bay Area-L.A. showdowns in many sports, this rivalry seems to burn a little hotter for Northern California fans.) The Quakes have also developed a chippy history with Seattle, and they have a potential instant rival as the Dynamo -- the franchise that spirited Kinnear and the Quakes from San Jose in 2005 -- join the Western Conference.

2014 Recap

In a word: dreadful. The Quakes removed the interim tag from coach Mark Watson's title after an 11-5-3 run to finish 2013, but things fell apart in his first full season. Injuries wreaked havoc on an often moribund offense, dogging talented winger Yannick Djalo and knocking out new DP Matias Perez Garcia after just six appearances. Chris Wondolowski sandwiched 14 goals around his World Cup stint, but the Quakes' slide nevertheless culminated in a franchise-record 15-match winless streak and Watson's dismissal.

TRANSACTIONS IN: F Kris Tyrpak (Dispersal Draft)

M Leandro Barrera (Waiver Draft)

F Mark Sherrod (trade from Orlando City)

GK Andy Gruenebaum (Re-Entry Stage 1 Draft)

D Marvell Wynne (Re-Entry Stage 2 Draft)

M Sanna Nyassi (Re-Entry Stage 2 Draft)

M Fatai Alashe (SuperDraft)

F Innocent Emeghara (free)

D Paulo Renato (free) TRANSACTIONS OUT: D Jason Hernandez (Expansion Draft to NYCFC)

GK Jon Busch (out of contract)

D Andreas Gorlitz (option declined)

GK Billy Knutsen (option declined)

D Tommy Muller (option declined)

F Billy Schuler (option declined)

M Atiba Harris (Re-Entry Stage 2 Draft)

M Yannick Djalo (loan expired)

M Sam Cronin (traded to Colorado)

GK Andy Gruenebaum (retired)

F Kris Tyrpak (2/26/15 - waived)

2015 Prospectus

Kinnear has made significant roster changes since coming over from Houston at the end of last season. Gone are long-time MLS veterans such as Jon Busch, Sam Cronin, Atiba Harris and Jason Hernandez. In terms of replacements, Kinnear and general manager John Doyle focused on speed, nabbing defender Marvell Wynne, midfielders Leandro Barrera and Sanna Nyassi and, perhaps most importantly, forward Innocent Emeghara, a Swiss international who is expected to stretch defenses, creating pockets for Wondolowski to get free. Key questions include whether the center-back pairing of Victor Bernardez and Clarence Goodson can return to form and what playmaker Perez Garcia can do in a full MLS campaign.

CLUB SOURCE: "I don't expect a very wide field in San Jose, even though they have a new stadium. It's going to be a rugged game, in which they're very good on set pieces."

CLUB SOURCE: "In our league, you have to have a couple midfielders who are gonna do the dirty work, but also possess and be clean with the ball, and I'm not sure they have that."

PROJECTED LINEUP: 4-4-2 Bingham; Wynne, Bernardez, Goodson, Stewart; Barrera, Pierazzi, Perez Garcia, Salinas; Wondolowski, Emeghara Complete roster [sjearthquakes.com]

FANTASY SOCCER SLEEPER PICKS: Leandro Barrera

Cordell Cato

JJ Koval Looking for an inexpensive starting goalkeeper? David Bingham ($5m) will finally get his chance between the posts. The back line in front of him is priced to move, but also somewhat injury prone and still settling in under Kinnear. At wide midfield, there are four players for two spots, with only Shea Salinas ($8.5) a safe bet to start. Plus, how will the lineup change when Innocent Emeghara ($9m) is healthy? Who knows, but you can bet on Wondo ($10.5) being in the picture.

Armchair Analyst's Best Case Scenario

New coach, new 'keeper, new DP, maybe an entirely reconstructed midfield... that's a lot of questions for any team heading into any season. Kinnear's track record (and the hope that Goodson and Bernardez stay healthy) should give this team a solid defensive foundation. It's just a matter of putting the pieces together beyond that.

And, well, the pieces don't really seem to fit all that well. Getting Wondo, Emeghara and one of the target forwards all on the field together - remember, Kinnear made re-signing Lenhart a priority and traded for Sherrod - will take a bit of wizardry, as will constructing a central midfield that can balance each other on defense while finding a way to add a bit more in attack. There are a lot of square pegs and round holes to sort through.

Add in the age factor, and just how loaded the Western Conference is, and it feels like a stretch to say this team will compete for a playoff spot.