With as deep and talented a midfield as you'll find in all of MLS, Frank Yallop has made San Jose one of the most attractive sides in the league early this season. Here's a few things to look for from the Earthquakes when they play host to D.C. United at 10:30 Wednesday night in a game that will be televised live on Comcast SportsNet Plus.
IN ATTACK
A year ago San Jose played as direct a style asany team in Major League Soccer, but the 2012 Earthquakes have a surprisinglyversatile attack. While they canstill pump balls up to a bevy of physically gifted forwards, San Jose'smidfield has quickly developed into a skillful unit capable of picking apartdefenses with one-touch passing. Key to this is Colombian Tressor Moreno, whose precise long balls caninstantly change the point of attack and often leave the opposition scramblingfor cover. The midfield is alsovery fluid; making concentrated marking a must as San Jose's players drift inand out of position.
Unlike many teams in MLS, San Jose has a truethree-layer attack. Because FrankYallop's outside midfielders often drift centrally, the 'Quakes outside backsare encouraged to push forward and fill the space left behind. With four assists to his credit, right back Steven Beitashour is certainlycompetent in attack but it's the speedy Justin Morrow that could really be a challenging matchupfor D.C.'s unsettled right back position. Morrow hasalso played in central defense this season, a spot where he is far less likely tocause problems going forward.
Up top, Chris Wondolowski is the scorer butboth Steven Lenhart and Khari Stephenson are dangerous partners for MajorLeague Soccer's second-leading marksman. Lenhart and Stephenson are each exceptionally strong on the ball and -with Emiliano Dudar still recovering from a hamstring injury - either could bea particularly difficult match-up for United's central back pairing.
IN DEFENSE
Allowing less than a goal a game this season,San Jose's defense has been downright stingy in 2012. But the Earthquakes have had to shuffle pieces around oflate, using three different defensive combinations over their four most recentcontests. There have been some dangerous moments of hesitation during these matches, most of which are likely byproducts of the lack of continuity.
If D.C. is to find a soft spot in the San Josedefense, it might be up the middle. Central midfielders Dax McCarty, Kyle Beckerman and Gabriel Gomez haveall scored in recent weeks against the Earthquakes and Dwayne De Rosario may bethe perfect guy to continue that trend.
Outside of Seattle, the 'Quakes may have the best pressing midfieldin the league. They pressureeffectively with numbers, and even get help from the forwards in creatingturnovers. One-touch passing isthe way to break them down, but that is much easier said than done. Real Salt Lake had some successdoing so during a recent match, but both Philly and New York struggled tobuild out of their respective midfields.
