Quakes look to hit the ground running in 2010

For the San Jose Earthquakes, 2009 was a season to forget. The club's slow start to the season and injuries down the stretch culminated in a finish at the foot of the Western Conference table.

In their preparation for 2010 however, the club looks to burst out of the gate.

"I think that the preseason is a time when you put a focus to getting your base. During our (training camp), the instructions are clear and specific with each of the guys working very hard," said Quakes midfielder Simon Elliott. "What we are working for is developing consistency for everyone."

As the club looks to develop this consistency, manager Frank Yallop has placed an emphasis in building the club through physical training during the team's training camp in Oakland, California. Yallop's intense regiment of running drills and fitness tests look to put the Earthquakes in peak condition as the club sits more than a month from opening the season at home against defending champion Real Salt Lake on March 27th.

"Opposed to other years with Frank, there's a much larger emphasis on the fitness side of things, in the past week there hasn't been a ball in sight. Everything has been a lot more physically demanding on the players this year," said Earthquakes goalkeeper Joe Cannon. "If we can add a fitness part and a blue collar element (to our game) we'll be that much better."

As one of the Earthquakes most vocal leader, Cannon is looking to become instrumental in helping the Earthquakes reach the playoffs in year three of their existence.

"I think the best thing that I can do at this point is get my game going by getting to a rhythm in goal and start making big saves. Being someone on the field is what this team needs," said Cannon. "I think the first thing you have to do as a leader is produce on the field and make sure that we're inclusive as a group."

San Jose earned its first victory of the year today with a 3-0 victory over local club Real San Jose. Lastly, the Quakes are continuing their training camp in Arizona next week with a pair of friendly matches against Western Conference rival, Kansas City Wizards.