Sporting KC
OPINION: Cade Cowell – The Player that Sporting KC Needs
Sporting Kansas City still needs to add plenty of players. One reader thinks Cade Cowell could be the answer for KC.
The following is a fan post, written by a reader of the KC Soccer Journal, D.D. Scroggins. The views and opinions that follow are his.
With news coming that Sporting Kansas City is close to signing a DP #10, you would expect fans to be able to take in a sigh of relief. Unfortunately, that isn’t the soccer world that that we are living. While the potential signing of Manu Garcia provides relief, saying that SKC still needs players would be a drastic understatement as there are still eight other open roster spots.
Fans can debate the greatest remaining position of need but in everything that I have read or heard this offseason, there is one trait that I am concerned we will be in short supply of based on Sporting KC’s current roster that I don’t think has been focused on enough: physicality.
Last year, in Sporting KC’s first season without Roger Espinoza, his presence on the pitch was missed. Even as Roger neared retirement and his minutes were reduced, he was a player that would always give everything that he had while playing physical and fearless.
Johnny Russell embodied a lot of the same traits but last year he was on an island as this type of player, and when he was out, physicality was missing all together. Enter Cade Cowell. The first time that I saw Cowell play it was like watching a linebacker play soccer. Perhaps it was because he was wearing #44 or because he literally ran through people to get the ball, but he played the game differently. He was fast, aggressive and there was no quit in him. Even though he was playing for the San Jose Earthquakes, I knew he was a player to watch, and he played with a passion that made him easy to root for.
Last year he was purchased from San Jose by Liga MX giant Chivas de Guadalajara.
After adjusting to life in Mexico, Cade took off at Chivas. In July, Cowell was named the Liga MX Player of the Month and was on a roll until returning from a September callup with the USMNT. He picked up a muscle injury that kept him out until Mid-October. Cade finished the Liga MX Apertura season, which runs from July to December, with five goals and two assists in 14 games. Cowell can play as a winger on either side or as a striker so below is a comparison between Cade, Johnny Russell and Brandon Vazquez, another player who went to Liga MX at the same time as Cowell and just returned to MLS with Austin FC.
|
Cade Cowell |
|||
|
Games |
Goals |
Assists |
|
|
2024 CONCACAF Champions Cup |
4 |
3 |
1 |
|
2024 Leagues Cup |
2 |
1 |
0 |
|
2024 Liga MX Apertura |
14 |
5 |
2 |
|
Totals |
20 |
9 |
3 |
|
Johnny Russell |
|||
|
Games |
Goals |
Assists |
|
|
2024 U.S. Open Cup |
5 |
1 |
1 |
|
2024 Leagues Cup |
2 |
0 |
1 |
|
2024 Liga MX Apertura |
29 |
4 |
3 |
|
Totals |
36 |
5 |
5 |
|
Brandon Vazquez |
|||
|
Games |
Goals |
Assists |
|
|
2024 CONCACAF Champions Cup |
8 |
4 |
0 |
|
2024 Leagues Cup |
2 |
0 |
0 |
|
2024 Liga MX Apertura |
21 |
4 |
1 |
|
Totals |
31 |
8 |
1 |
Other stats (from the 24’ Apertura season for Cowell and Vazquez and from the 24’ season for Russell)
|
Cade Cowell |
Johnny Russell |
Brandon Vazquez |
|
|
Pass Accuracy |
78.8% |
78.2% |
77.0% |
|
Long Ball Accuracy |
70% |
55.6% |
71.4% |
|
Chances Created per 90 min |
1.49 |
1.45 |
1.05 |
|
Successful Crosses per 90 min |
0.85 |
1.19 |
0.39 |
|
Successful Dribbles per 90 min |
2.03 |
1.4 |
0.92 |
|
Touches per 90 min |
42.87 |
57.98 |
33.28 |
|
Touches in opposition box per 90 min |
5.55 |
4.83 |
5.63 |
These stats show that Cowell, despite playing fewer games due to injury, was more productive and effective than both Russell and Vazquez in addition to the physicality and speed that he brings to the table.
At this point, you might be asking yourself a few questions.
1. How could SKC manage to convince Chivas to let Cade Cowell leave?
Cade was a regular for Chivas, but they went through a Coaching change. In early December, Oscar Garcia was hired to coach Chivas and replace Fernando Gago. Chivas has played two games in the Clausura season, which runs from January to May. In the first game, on January 11th, Cade came on in the 63rdminute and in the second game on January 17th he was an unused sub. This gives the appearance that he may not be in Garcia’s plans. Additionally, Chivas caught a lot of flack from their fans when they first brought in Cowell, who was the first US international to play for Chivas, so they may be willing to let him go.
2. For SKC to get Cowell, would he have to be a DP?
No. While it seems like Cade has been around forever, and he had over 100 appearances with San Jose before going to Chivas, he just turned 21 in October. Cade was also listed as #13 in Ryan O’Hanior’s ESPN Article “Ranking 2025’s top 15 USMNT prospects.” That means that he can be a U22 Initiative player for Sporting KC.
The chance for SKC to bring in a USMNT player who is experienced but still young, harbors several of the traits that the team needs, can play all of the forward positions and only count as a U22 seems like an opportunity Sporting can’t afford to pass up. This is one fan hoping that SKC can get this done.
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Meh.
Eh, I kinda disagree. I think it would be a good addition and exciting because of his youth, place on the National Team (not a solid always in, but an up and comer) and his pace and phyiscality on the field. He wouldn’t be the final, DP game changer, but I think he’d be a great piece.
I also proposed on another thread maybe taking a flyer on Matko Miljevic. He’s had issues, but is probably looking for redemption. He looked pretty good in the friendlies and Vermes, by reputation, should be able to handle and focus him. Again, not the game changer, but possibly an interesting piece.
No way Vermes puts up with Miljevic. And his defensive work rate is really bad.
I couldn’t get behind a Cade Cowell signing. Right now he’s a player with a lot of physical tools but is just a one-speed player. I don’t see enough in his game that shows he can play in possession or help break down teams who bunker in. More than that, we don’t need another right-footed winger whose best position is on the left. We already have three wingers who fall under that category.
I have offered this player as a suggestion for the past few years, but SKC should really look at him now that his contract is expiring: Danny Armstrong of Kilmarnock in the Scottish Premier League. The past few seasons he was at the top of the charts in the league in chances created. He’s left-footed with a lot of the same technical ability as Johnny Russell and his set-piece delivery is by far the best in that league. He plays in a league that’s just as physical as the MLS and he’s overall a gamer. He’ll track back and defend and is willing to take on players. SKC should be looking at him.
Opinions are like arseholes, every one’s got one. Is this what we’re coming to? We’re that bored we’re saying who we think they should sign rather than speculating on actual targets?
Yep
I reader/podcast listener reached out with the idea, and I asked him if he was passionate about it to write it up.
We’re all doing this for fun. No one is making money here (the ads pay for hosting).
It’s fine to disagree. I wasn’t a Cade Cowell fan. But it was something to write/talk about.
FWIW – I liked it Chad. I thought it was a fun article and thought game. When SKC doesn’t give us news, we need to do something to keep ourselves actively thinking about SKC and how to improve it. Thanks for posting the article Chad.
More just a comment to the state of our ownership and team right now, that there seems to be a general lack of direction especially involving transfers. There’s that little activity or speculation, that we’re instead suggesting who would be a good fit. Extremely frustrating when you look at teams like Austin/Charlotte, whilst our investment is a bag of chips and a hot dog. The only thing we know is they won’t be spending, and it’s concerning looking at how many transfers haven’t worked out.
Are you new to sports offseasons?
Woah, that is a lot of good info. But I think overall I wouldn’t want him on the team. There is just something about his playing style I’m not a huge fan of.
but again, I don’t know much or what goes into getting a player. Again good write up!
I’ve watch Cowell in multiple games from his youth days to some recent games. My initial thought when reading the title was, this is the wrong player to help our scoring troubles considering his weaknesses. But, in reading the article, these are extremely valid points. Maybe having a true replacement type of player (I would rather see that person as our 8 or 6) for Roger in the PV lineup, might open things up for the skillsets of the other players.