Will Messi Play and Where do Sporting KC Need to Add Players?

For the Glory KC is back with the 119th episode of the show!

This weeks’ episode ventured into the “a little bit more in depth” as we break down Sporting Kansas City’s media day and how all the information we learned impacts the roster. The team has said they are still looking to make a big signing.

My KC Soccer Journal colleague, Josh Wallace helps breakdown the roster and we both weigh in where we think the team needs to add players. From there, we basically work through a potential starting lineup as we talk through most of the players on the team and where they fit best. Including why Jake Davis should be in the midfield, and not at right back. Despite that, right back is where we suspect we’ll see him Tuesday against Inter Miami.

Mike Burns gave tons of info on Friday, and we break down the international roster spots on the team. Those spots may impact Jan Jurcec earning a contract and have a domino effect on the aforementioned Davis. We make projections about future player sales (based on a rumored offer Burns told the Shades of Blue Soccer Show). Josh and I also talk staffing and get an injury update on Logan Ndenbe.

Not to be left out, the discussion turns to Jansen Miller’s signing and his impact to the team, Sebastian Cruz not signing and what we could take away from the 0-0 draw against the Las Vegas Lights in the final preseason tune-up. Plus, thoughts on the new kit!

If you sat out the offseason and need a quick catch-up, we go through all the incoming and outgoing moves and how that’ll impact Sporting KC. We look specifically at the defense, which is mostly unchanged. The late arrival of Joaquin Fernandez and the return of Logan Ndenbe could be look at as “additions.”

Then the big question comes up. Is Messi going to play against Sporting KC on Tuesday? And will there be a game at all in that brutal cold (there will be!). We also talk realistic expectations for the season and what will be different to watch for tactically from SKC.

Sporting KC v Inter Miami Preview: Can Messi do it in the Cold?

Finally, the KC Current had another quiet week but had one piece of big news. Claire Hutton and Michelle Cooper earned call-ups to the USWNT for the SheBelieves Cup!

In the Digital Crawl, we touch on a few more topics, including:

• Marinos Tzionis already finds another new home
• USL announced a new first division league
• CPKC Stadium get its first international friendly
• Kansas City’s USL2 teams, Sunflower State and SantaFe Wanderers are in the same division

Here is a rundown of topics (and approximate start times):

• SKC’s roster, Media Day quotes and team needs – 1:42
• Sporting KC story round-up – 41:01
• Sporting Kansas City Season Preview – 1:08:43
• Will the game against Miami go forward on Tuesday? – 1:25:07
• Hutton and Cooper get the call – 1:46:14
• Digital Crawl – 1:49:13

As a special gift to For the Glory KC listeners and KC Soccer Journal readers, Backheeled dot com is giving away 30 days of their amazing, independent American soccer coverage for free. If you decide you want to turn that into a paid membership, they’ll give you 10 percent off too. Just follow this link!

Big thanks to Splitter Conspiracy (listen to them here) for our theme music made with the permission of the KC Cauldron.

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