Doyle out! John Doyle is now the former General Manager of the San Jose Earthquakes. This might be step one in a long reorganization process.
John Doyle Out as San Jose Earthquakes General Manager
Doyle has had an uninspiring history with San Jose. Doyle took over as GM when the Quakes returned as an expansion team prior to the 2008 season. The Quakes made the playoffs in 2010 and 2012, but have been struggling to find their identity since finishing last place in 2013.
Some notable and questionable Doyle moves:
- Forward Geovanni. Geovanni was the Earthquakes first DP signing. He had one goal in 14 appearances (12 regular season, two playoff games) Fortunately it was a short contract and he wasn’t renewed for 2011.
- Forward Innocent: $1.3 million, and one goal in 13 appearances. (I wonder if he got a disabled placard for his Ferrari?)
- Midfielder Matias Perez Garcia: finally started producing in 2016, but found himself traded to Orlando City SC. He just helped the Lions beat first-place NYCFC on Sunday.
- Forward Steven Lenhart: “Lenny” signed a lucrative deal at the end of 2014 while still injured, and never played again. Rumor was that he was travelling the world while collecting his paychecks.
- Defenders Justin Morrow and Steven Beitashour. Two Quakes fullbacks which were part of the 2012 Supporters’ Shield squad found themselves on other teams because of poor offers from the Quakes. The problems at fullback continued to haunt the team.
- Midfielder Sam Garza. Garza was a player that was extremely overrated, and the Quakes bought into the hype. He was drafted on a Generation Adidas contract in the 2012 MLS SuperDraft. He’s now playing USL, and has played for three different teams (San Antonio, Seattle, Arizona twice)
- ____________ (Insert “Big Name” here) While most MLS teams can boast “big name” signings as a reason for their success, the Quakes have never been able to land the contract of a player that has been a game-changer. Failure to land a big name haunted the former GM, and fans are tired of excuses for the team’s poor performance.
If the Quakes don’t make the playoffs, and as of now they won’t, expect Head Coach Dom Kinnear to be next on the chopping block. This season, Kinnear’s team has lost to three last-place-at-the-time teams: Houston, Chicago, and Columbus. The results do not bode well for a coach who just lost the man who signed him in 2014.
Earthquakes Technical Director Chris Leitch was named interim General Manager in Doyle’s place. Only time will tell if Leitch will be appointed the permanent position, or if Earthquakes President Dave Kaval elects to go in a different direction.
