Deftones on 2025 Sporting Kansas City after five matches

Odds are that most readers know the telling statistics on Sporting Kansas City in 2025:

• 11^th (out of 30 clubs) most corners in Major League Soccer
• 5^th most crosses per game
• 4^th most possession rate (calculated as % of passes attempted)
• 4^th most progressive passes
• 4^th most long balls pg
• 2^nd most tackles won

And odds are those are not the stats one was expecting to see rattled off. Because they sound positive. Some are, kind of. Hey, they say Sporting is adept at forcing the ball over the… endline. And at being hopeful that someone (anyone, please?) will knock a cross into the opponent’s net. More kindly, Sporting Kansas City is adept at keeping possession and connecting on long passes that switch the point of attack and likely isolate a player or players in a numbers even or numbers up situation. And Sporting can tackle to win the ball back.

However, after an 0-4-1 (1 point, and a 10-5 goal scoring deficit) beginning to the 2025 season, it is indeed clear that Sporting Kansas City is veering into a “dark truths” type of rebuild season. Not a “hope abounds” type of rebuild season.

Yet, it has been only five matches. And only five matches to integrate high-profile new additions such as striker Dejan Joveljic, winger Shapi Suleymanov, and midfielder Manu Garcia and to move on from a bevy of significant offseason jettisons.

Here are some observations and questions from this voice after a disappointing start:

The defense still isn’t fixed

Let’s begin with a quote from Matt Doyle at mlssoccer.com in the latest Armchair Analyst entry:

“[Sporting Kansas City’s] offseason plan of investing heavily in the attack has somehow not fixed the defense (or, you know, the midfield, or the attack).

“There are a lot of things going wrong, but a big one that’s jumped out at me is how easy it is to complete progressive passes against them. More than 38% of opponent passes against KC are forward, which is the highest mark in the league. That speaks to an inability to get immediate pressure on the ball.

“As such, they allow the third-highest direct speed of opposing attacks, which speaks to an inability to close down space in midfield. And when you combine those two, you get a team without much athleticism that’s spending a lot of time behind the play, chasing the game.”

Doyle’s conclusions are not revelations. There are, sadly, simple affirmation of a continuous truth since… 2017? 2018? Take your pick. Thus, such ideas were large in my three-part analysis of 2017-2023 written back in early 2023 (we switched from thebluetestament.com since then, thus the versions below are from other sources who “borrowed” the material.):

See related: Trends in Time: Sporting Kansas City 2017-2022, Part I – Soccer – Are You Watching This?!

Part II, Trends in Time: Sporting Kansas City 2017-2022 – Kansas City Sports Today

In 2023… Part III, Trends in Time: Sporting Kansas City 2017-2022 – Kansas City Sports Today

Other spots are being manned new as well. Academy product Jacob Bartlett has spent time in at the holding mid spot and 2024 late-season acquisition Joaquin Fernandez is getting his first heavy load of minutes at right center back, while rookie Jansen Miller has spot-started there as well. In goal, John Pulskamp is building on his 28 previous MLS matches started in his si

xth season with the club, taking over for long-time stalwart Tim Melia.

Further indication of defensive woes comes here: SKC has allowed five goals from set pieces, top in MLS according to whoscored.com, a clear indication of players learning each other.

Defense is an 11-man effort. A lack of familiarity can wreck it. But, as stated above, the problems have been a terminal disease for this club over and over (Yes, that actually does make logical sense).

Take a look at this from the 18th minute in last Saturday’s 2-0 home loss to LAFC:

Credit: Apple TV

The gaps between Sporting’s players and between Sporting’s lines are a grander invitation to exploitation than the display case at Lamar’s donuts. Amazingly, when #27 Nathan Ordaz receives the ball with time and space at the top of Sporting’s box, his shot is blocked by Miller. Yet, Miller fails to clear, Jake Davis turns the wrong way defending the wide threat in David Martinez (and gets no cover), and after receiving out wide, Martinez buries his shot near post for a lead LAFC would never relinquish.

The most urgent roster needs are clear

Sporting has announced they are going forward with two designated players/four U-22 initiative players roster construction, although that could change. Kansas City currently sits at two DPs and two U-22 signees. Furthermore, one international roster spot and five roster slots are available.

The defense must be fixed. The most-needed areas to cut the current two goals against average down are defensive/holding midfielder and center back.

None of defensive midfielders Nemanja Radoja, Jacob Bartlett, or Zorhan Bassong have the required range to cover swaths of the pitch combined with the vision and tactical acumen needed to not only snuff out counterattacks, but to predict them. And that player is not found in the bargain nor the recycle bin. If Sporting can identify that player and are able to bring him in, big gains can be made.

Just as many gains can be made by adding a prime center back. I scoff at the idea that big money, even designated player money, should not be spent on a center back.

In modern football, a team cannot high press without a pacey center back as he can often be left to defend attackers built to win one-on-one battles or be given the responsibility to chase back for those who beat the high line. With wide backs pushing high up the pitch, a center back needs to provide cover in wide areas. He needs to be comfortable stepping into midfield to short circuit counters and to squeeze the pitch so the opposition can’t get out of their own half. A team cannot bunker without a center back who is dominant in the air. A team cannot possess and break down opposing defenses without a center back who can not only reliably beat a high press from his own third but also step into the midfield to ignite the attack with passes laced with precision and discretion.

A high-quality center back with superior tactical intelligence and physical tools lifts everyone else on your team, providing the base for what a team can do.

“There’s a 10-point checklist for [center back] recruiters,” says former center back Nedum Onuoha, who made 188 Premier League appearances for Manchester City, Sunderland, and Queens Park Rangers and is now an ESPN analyst. “And No. 1 isn’t the ability to defend, which shows how much the fundamentals have changed.”

The inconsistency shown by Robert Voloder and Danny Rosero (and the naivety of Jansen Miller) and the statistics and results that backup the eye test are more than enough indication of need at center back.

Acquiring a high quality defensive midfielder or center back is imperative in creating a hopeful rebuild.

Garcia: Is he or isn’t he

Sporting Kansas City’s newest Designated Player Manu Garcia – Spanish born and a product of the Manchester City Academy – was signed to orchestrate the attack at the #10 playmaking position. Both his pedigree and his roster spot speak to the expectation of being a difference maker.

Five matches in, the jury is out on whether Garcia is fulfilling that role. Against LAFC, Garcia spent a significant part of the match playing more like a #6, a deep lying distributor, instead of a final third attacker. Garcia received 65 passes in that match, yet only three were progressive passes, meaning he was not receiving in an advanced position where he could then score or dish off assists. For comparison, Lucho Acosta has received 43 progressive passes in the five MLS matches this season as the 2023 MLS MVP adjusts after joining FC Dallas in the offseason, while Garcia has received sixteen. A harsh comparison, but the point is made. In addition, Garcia has received only 10 passes in the eighteen compared to Acosta’s twenty-five according to fbref.com.

Overall, Sporting’s attack is 20th in shot creating actions per 90 in MLS and has taken shots from the 6th most average distance from goal: 18.8 yards. Lastly, Kansas City is still reliant on crosses from the wing instead of penetrations through the middle, having crossed 55 times in their five matches compared to only 22 for their opponents.

However, Garcia and company are making progress and have shown flashes of quick, fluid play throughout the pitch. Yet, of Sporting’s five goals, one was from a PK, one from an own goal, and one came off a fortuitous bounce.

Will Garcia spearhead a more diverse Sporting attack that strikes fear into each team they battle? Only time will tell. There is no doubt he is a dynamic player who has the tools. As the Spaniard grows more comfortable, he may become more aggressive towards goal than he has shown. Then, he will be the difference maker Sporting needs.

The Best Lineup is…

According to the Apple TV announcers at the last match versus LAFC, Sporting Kansas City has used 41 different lineups in the last 41 matches. Assuming that is accurate, it is not ideal for building cohesiveness. Injuries happen, and when a club is searching for an identity and, well, wins, experimenting is inevitable. Much of the maneuvering has been at the center back and midfield areas due to the issues addressed above. And SKC Manager Peter Vermes has been mostly forced to play Jake Davis at right back thus far in 2025 instead of at his ideal spot as a #8 in midfield.

Another lineup issue has been Erik Thommy at left winger. Thommy’s propensity for dribbling into defensive numbers and the restrictions placed on his freedom at left wing have impacted his effectiveness. When Daniel Salloi has subbed in at left wing, he has been a more active presence seeking out space and combinations with others more frequently.

Cumulatively, the issues in attack have not only seen Garcia coming back to receive the ball farther from goal they have also prodded Joveljic to come back for the ball as he has often been on an island up top surrounded by the opponent’s center backs.

But Vermes has adjusted, sometimes employing a 4-2-4 setup in possession to get more numbers into the attack. But the results thus far have not been fluid, indicated by both results and the fact that the number of interceptions by the opposition are the fourth most in MLS.

If a 4-3-3 formation is the plan, it seems that a lineup of (from left to right) Logan Ndenbe, Miller, Fernandez, Khiry Shelton/Andrew Brody; Davis, Bassong (#6), Garcia; Salloi, Joveljic, and Thommy is ideal. Discuss…

The choice of Miller may surprise some. Miller has shown, in limited minutes, to be an able-to-strong distributor, and I feel that a right-footed left center back is more able to play passes that find central players in more dangerous positions.

But, here is a modest proposal: A 4-4-2 with a diamond midfield – Ndenbe, Miller, Fernandez, Shelton/Brody; Radoja, Bassong, Davis, Garcia; Thommy, Joveljic.

Having Bassong and Davis pinched in at the width of the diamond would give the midfield a stronger defensive presence while allowing Garcia and Thommy (both playing under Joveljic) more of a free role in the center of the attack.

Tone deaf

Deftones is a band name created by combining the hip hop slang term “def” with the suffix “-tones”. The name is also a pun on the term “tone deaf”. The meaning of the given name Deftones represents seriousness, thought, intuition, intent and wisdom

What most triggers resentment and eventual dismissal in one’s mind and in one’s actions is feeling ignored in any relationship. Years of underperformance by Sporting Kansas City and a perception of management and owners doing lots of nothing to change things have Sporting Kansas City fans more than skeptical. And the number of fans showing up on game nights is dwindling.

In short, the fans feel Sporting Kansas City and its ownership are tone deaf.

Ownership and management are listening… with discretion. A roster overhaul is happening. Vermes’ role has been lessened. But a growing number of fans want Vermes gone; seventeen years is a long time to be at the helm. Season ticket members have been unsatisfied with the product and the treatment they have received for years. Even the most visible fanbase – The Cauldron – is hemorrhaging members and enthusiasm. And rightfully so.  Now more than ever, fans are letting their frustration and disillusionment be known.

Not showing up to matches. Not buying merchandise. Being vocal on social media, etc. will all have a bleed on effect. Do not be surprised if St. Louis City fans outnumber Sporting Kansas City fans come Saturday, April 5, at Children’s Mercy Park.

Patience – enacted by the club in the rebuild and in their faith in the coaching staff – is a good thing. But patience in the fanbase is making the turn towards resentment and dismissal. Only decisive action on the field and in the things that impact on-field performance can stem the tide.

Is five games more enough? (Twelve matches on a row since September of 2024 without a win in all competitions.) Is waiting until the summer transfer window to see what the club does too long to wait? If results don’t come, the most interesting about this season may be the ticking bomb.

Fans may respond: Haven’t we been hearing that for a while now?