Sporting KC
One big mistake and another loss for Sporting KC
Diego Rubio (of course) scores against his former team and Sporting Kansas City fall to the basement of the Western Conference.
Another beautiful day in Kansas City meant another day for the beautiful game. Sporting Kansas City took on the Colorado Rapids Saturday night. The first half was quiet on the goals and the two best chances came from Sporting KC.
The first chance was a drive from Thommy when he was stuck between two choices on passing to a teammate and shooting. He ultimately decided to shoot the ball, but it was too late anyway and it was blocked. The second chance came from center back Rosero who also picked up his first yellow for the club in the 35th minute.
The game was halted in the 40th minute after a free kick was taken and Rosero and Colorado Rapids’ new DP Maxso clashed heads. Rosero came out fine but Maxso looked like he lost consciousness and was down for a while. He was moving, thankfully, before he was stretchered off the field. Nothing came of the eight minutes of stoppage time.
After halftime Sporting came out as the stronger side getting shots off right away. The game started getting really chippy as three Colorado players were booked, and two Sporting players (Voloder and Thommy) saw yellow in the second half. Colorado’s Diego Rubio scored off a Remi Walter giveaway as he slipped in an effort to stop a counterattack from a set piece. Sporting pressed for the remaining minutes of the game, but never really got anything going.
The only mild controversy were a couple of penalty shouts but the VAR decided against them and referee Dickerson whistled for play to continue.
Man of the Match
Before the goal, and this totally isn’t all on him, Rosero was my man of the match he was just an absolute dog in the air winning everything.
Key take aways
- SKC were the better team yet again and still lost.
- Our attack is broken and just second guessing everything when getting into the final third.
- Crosses don’t work for the team when Pulido isn’t on because no one is really tall enough or good in the air other than Rosero.
What we need to see next weekend.
Goals. That’s it. The team just needs to put that ball into the net a couple times and get the three points because this is horrible.
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Everything is awful and we cannot have nice things.
And for the 2nd straight home game, the fans are booing SKC off the field.
Booing? I heard something far worse.
Silence.
No energy, no passion, nothing. The sounds of apathy.
I don’t know exactly what was said last year that caused JFR to head towards the stands, but at least people cared enough to say something (and no – I don’t condone provoking such reactions, if that’s indeed what occurred).
There’s a major disconnect somewhere within the squad, but it’s trivial compared to the fissure that’s developing between the team and its fan base.
A corner kick in the 87’ with your team down one, and fans are heading for the exits in droves?
Be afraid SKC, be very afraid.
Winning fixes everything. I think most fans will be fine if they can just win. Feels like a big if, right now.
Let’s not forget that we sucked last year too.
My read on the booing was it was aimed at the ref tonight. People around me actually seemed pleased that despite the loss the team played fairly well.
Did we though? Because that’s the story of 90% of our games with anything other than a win – “we played well though”, we were the better team”, we had more insert Stat that means nothing without a result here.
It’s not enough. This season is a bust. I’d put money on it right now that we don’t make the playoffs and finish within the bottom 5 of the league. Vermes is stubborn and doesn’t know how to adapt and change things up. I say we have him for an absolute minimum of 3 more years before the idea of cutting his contract is even entertained by the organization – and I think that will only be brought about because we’ll jeep having similar seasons – and I hope by that point they’re digging through their pockets to find any cent they can, because the fans won’t keep supporting this and will take any revenue away.
Right after I finish the above, I took a look at Facebook and this first thing that thing that pops up is the Sporting page posting
“Some-bunny loves you, KC 🐣
It’s us. We love you.”
The disconnect is so real. The time for cutesy posts after a 2nd consecutive loss to a team that hadn’t won a game yet is pong gone. I understand they need to keep the page engaged, but sometimes you just have to stop and re-analyze.
I agree with you that the messaging is WAAAAY off. Whether it’s Reid, Peter, or random club SM posts (granted that bunny post was likely pre-scheduled) it’s coming across as tone deaf and highlighting how disengaged the club is from the fan base. I’ve said this before, but the club has to meet the fans where they are, which currently is pissed off and frustrated. Offering half-off nuts and saying the only must-win game is a final isn’t going to cut it.
“Half off nuts” was my nickname in high school.
Now that’s a social media post!
No, that’s your new screen-name.
I try to give social media a break because it’s their job to keep up engagement online. But I know a few weeks ago whoever runs the Twitter page posted something about “every opposing keeper has the game of their lives against” after the back to back penalty misses. And then followed it by saying “don’t @ us” after we got scored on. I also can’t stand how the sporting kc show tries to make all these cutesy headlines for their shows that downplays how fucking awful we’ve been. To their credit, I believe they had a long leash to count on. But, it’s incredibly mind blowing how some within the organization are oblivious how that leash is getting shorter and shorter game after game.
To me, the real kicker is not so much that Peter is oblivious to it because I think he’s fully aware how much of a pariah he is in most fans views. It’s that he knows, and actively puts a metaphorical middle finger to fans with his comments. There’s last years comments when he was asked bout how he felt about job security and making a sarcastic comment about being his own boss. There’s the whole back and forth about games being called must win in the middle of a winless start of a season that lead to Daniel having to more or less say he was wrong about viewing a game where we played against a c squad at home. And then the answer about what needs to be fixed on the team being, “I’d like to score more goals.” Maybe it’s making more of it than needs be, but all of that is spoken from someone who knows he could do whatever he wanted without fearing being forced to accept any accountability. And we are all supposed to still be supportive and shocked that things aren’t working while being fed the same bs season after season, week after week
Yeah, I don’t know how this gets painted as “played well.” SKC may have controlled possession. But, as usual, it was possession without purpose. Proving you can horseshoe the ball around the back 5 doesn’t make you a good team. When the best chances of the night were a header in a crowd on a corner and a snapped chance on a turn by a squad player midfielder, that’s not good enough.
My impression was that they were booing because the ref stopped the game while they were still attacking. But, yeah, I didn’t like that game at all.
I was told pulido, Russell were the fix. Why did we lose?
Not trying to justify this, but technically, they are still recovering from their injuries. I think it will take time for them to be great again. Right now, they are subpar.
We lost because we couldn’t get the ball into the goal. The offense lacks confidence, and I’m not sure at what point they gain it. They are a crappy team right now. I’m not sure how they can turn the season around. They aren’t clicking.
I wouldn’t call Johnny subpar. He was up for every ball, made some good runs at defenders, pushed the ball up the byline putting the ball in dangerous spots, and was occasionally the first man back to stop an attack. He progressed the ball well, and took about 329 fouls for his trouble. Maybe we still need to see him do a magical take 5 guys on across the top of the box, and nailing one with his left foot again, to say he’s back to JFR status, but I wouldn’t say he’s subpar. Nor would I advise anyone say it to his face.
Least ye find thyself without the shadow of his countenance
What Sheena said. It’s one game of them starting together. There are absolutely problems, but blaming those two when Pulido hasn’t started since the 2021 playoffs feels harsh.
I’m not blaming them, I think pulido looked good for being gone so long. I’m mostly saying that the storyline was wait for until these came back and we’d be back. And it’s proving to not be the case. Sure, it’ll take time for them tl work fully back. But I think most were expecting them to be the answer and it’s proving that there’s more going on than meets the eye
In my mind the storyline wasn’t “wait until they’re back”, it was “wait until they’re FULLY back”, i.e. not just on the field but settled in and at full strength. I don’t blame anyone for losing patience because it shouldn’t be this bad around them. Those two can’t be the saviors of everything; the rest of the lineup should be performing better than this. Just see the end of last year. Nobody saw Agada and Thommy being way worse, and that’s something the staff needs to answer for somehow.
I guess I have trouble with “it’s proving there is more going on…”
They haven’t had much of a chance to change things. I’m with you that lots of stuff is broken, but I’m not ready to say it’s Pulido or Johnny. Peter always says it takes 10 games to know what the team is. I imagine if we asked him he’d say he needs more because so many guys were gone.
But we all see other teams getting results without their stars. Someone has to step up. Hopefully those two could be the answers.
I spent the day doing a nice hike of the Grand Canyon. I was fully ready to tune it on my phone on the way back to the hotel. I did so. I was disappointed.
This is embarrassing, and like a lot of people are saying, I’m starting to get some fatigue of supporting this week after week.
I’m no fan of Vermes. I don’t believe he deserves his position any longer. If he’s as good as his press releases then we should be winning. We are not and didn’t last year. We have play uninspiring football for a while. We play like we are throwing stuff against the wall in order to see what sticks.
We are being fleeced year after year with mediocre ball and excuses. Zusi looks like his heart is not in it. His corners were not thought out. He just booted it into the scrum and hoped for the best.
It’s time Vermes left and took some folks with him. We need a lot more than run and gun. Having 18 shots and no goals is pathetic. That isn’t action it’s a sickness infecting losers.
How much of our silverware was due to Jimmy being the greatest keeper we’ve had? Most of it.
I didn’t even remember Zusi taking any corners.
And Melia does have a couple trophies, IIRC.
Being honest, there was more than one mistake… They got gifted a giveaway in the box and STILL couldn’t do anything and then almost IMMEDIATELY then committed the mistake that was called out and gave away the goal.
That’s my bad on the title. There wasn’t one on it when it was submitted and I was rushing. One really bad defensive mistake all night.
So…. When’s the #FireVermes train pull in?
In all seriousness, the team lacks creativity. There’s no movement off the ball and constant crossing is ineffective. Two goals in seven games. That’s atrocious. The players and coaching staff should be embarrassed.
I didn’t know #VermesOut had departed in the 1st place.
But realistically, there’s no way management will eat the buyout of an entire 5yr contract. So he’s not going anywhere. Probably not even next year, unless he chooses to step down. Which I’ll file under, “Things that will never happen for 1000, Alex.”
I saw I got at halftime with a Vermes Out sign. They may start to get more prevalent if they don’t win before the next home match.
This is rock bottom. I can’t recall feeling more depressed/disgusted with this team/franchise than after last night.
And because I’m a contrary-minded addict I still feel like there’s hope to turn this around. I’m actually really grateful I won’t be able to watch next week (taking visiting family down to the Ozarks) so I’ll get a forced break.
Rock bottom? Fuckle your seat belts we have 5 more years of this.
“I don’t believe in rock bottoms. I’ve had a lot of what I thought were rock bottoms, only to discover another rockier bottom underneath.”
– BoJack Horseman
Yeah, but I’m a geologist. I know rock bottom.
Let’s see what you think after the next match. (I’m a bit jealous you can’t watch. This is the first time in 9 years of Sporting coming to town where I’m not pumped.)
Haha, I love both of these quotes Kat and (it feels weird not to say Farmhand) KCoutsider.
I also will not watch live next weekend. Going to UFC (but you know I’ll forgo sleep and watch in the middle of the night or wake up early).
multiple mistakes on the play…
* With Rosero pressing forward, 6 should rotate back to cover
* With 6 rotating back, 8 should rotate back to cover for 6
* Walter should realize Rosero is caught upfield and neither 8 has rotated back to help and send the ball into the stands rather than risk an attempt to shield the ball out of bounds
The goal by Colorado was was an example of the off ball movement that SKC needs. With Caste and Voloder left alone to cover, the Colorado right wing makes a run off the ball from right to left across the box. Voloder does not follow, so when Caste steps to cut off the passing lane it gives Rubio the whole goal to shoot at. Melia was shaded to far post because before the half step, Caste had the near post covered. That run off ball creates the shooting lane to near post and Rubio did not miss.
When SKC got the turnover in the box, all the SKC players were standing showing for a pass. I did not see any runners pulling defenders to open lanes. One Colorado defender steps into shooting lane, another steps into passing lane. SKC is stumped.
Good, deep comment. If you see this response, were you on The Blue Testament by another username?
Either way, welcome to KCSJ!
I just struggle to understand what the game plan changes are week to week besides “I’m gonna swap out guys and hope for the best”. Teams are just clogging the middle of the field and forcing the wingers to pull defenders out, which they’re not. Forcing us to cross the ball in to get contact towards goal, which they’re not. We want to build out of the back and that’s been hit and miss. The mid field isn’t disrupting anyone, the backline can’t put two solid games together back to back. I just don’t understand what the changes that are supposed to be happening besides just showing up and hoping something finally happens. I don’t know if it was dany trying to make something happen out of frustration or Peter pushing him up, but there was zero reason to push him that far up. Towards the end he was making runs in the box as if he was an 8 while Rubio and barrios are on the field who can feast on the counter and the remaining guys are not athletic enough to cover a counter. I just don’t even understand one thing this team looks to be doing right.
I mean i guess this was the first time when we needed a goal we didn’t turn to Khiry or Roger. So guess there’s the progress report for this game
I was happy about the subs that were not used, too. And I mostly thought the new defenders did well. I also liked when Felipe started getting more involved in the attack. He used to do it all the time at Swope.
Yeah he looked more like the role he supposed to be doing here, which is the energy guy who disrupts the midfield. He’s still not consistently doing it, but I think there’s enough promise to merit more game time and should (hypothetically) take away any lingering thoughts that there’s a huge drop off between him and Roger. His pressure that led to a counter opportunity in the first half was pretty exciting to see. Especially since rog hasn’t offered much in his mins……really no one has but you catch my drift
Yes, hopefully we see a lot more Felipe. I’m not tactically smart enough to know if he was doing what he was supposed to, but he was ALL over the place and made some key plays. It’s not there offensively yet, but he did have a decent half-chance of a shot and sometimes energy can just make something happen.
Plus, the lack of offense is across the team, so he’s hardly to blame as he’s gotten very little time to get involved (I would have taken Thommy off before him in that Tzionis move too).
was skc really “the better team yet again” ???
“Okay, just go out there and run around by the net and try to score a goal tonight ”
-Peter Vermes, probably
Real talk, does this team even have offensive tactics? (No) – it’s akin to pickup American football. “Just get open” – what does this team even practice? We need a manager that will find ways to win games. PV has never been that. He’s the “yell at a squad and scare them into winning” opposed to a Brian Schmetzer, who actually coaches (and adjusts) gameplans/tactics on the fly.
How long will ownership tolerate the product on the field?
There’s actually been quite a few times this year where I’ve thought “man, that looks like the team I play on”.
My recreational team isn’t exactly scaring other teams with our scoring abilities, so what do we default to unless we actually make a purposeful change of tactics? Swinging out to the wings, with random, hopeless, pointless balls into the box. We play disjointed as well a fair amount. Why? Because we’re recreational players seeing each other MAYBE twice a week for 90 minutes. What excuse does Sporting have for the lack of any flowing cohesion on the field?
I’m trying to hang on, but there are so many issues with the club from top to bottom, front to back that it’s starting to not only feel overwhelming but insurmountable this season.
I have tickets for next weekend, and that might be my breaking point depending on how things go. This isn’t fun anymore.
It’s depressing, but I’m a glutton for punishment. I’ll be here no matter what. Maybe write less. Or podcast less. But I’ll be here.
But I get not wanting to pay to watch this. MLS Season Pass is a sunk cost, I’ve already paid it. But I’d have trouble buying tickets to these games right now (but I’ll punish myself and watch on TV no matter what — besides that aforementioned trip to watch UFC this weekend, but I’ll still avoid my phone and watch a replay).
I’ll be at ufc this weekend too, let me know if your free for a quick hello
Definitely. If you have Twitter, DM me on there and I’ll give you my cell. I’m trying to figure out how to build an ‘about’ page for this site, but I’m not savvy at WP quite yet.
I’m souring on MLS Season Pass. I was worried about this when they announced it, but 7 weeks in I can officially say that I really hate how nearly all matches are played in a tight 5 hour window each week. I don’t want to watch 360 or replays; I want to watch all my teams play live. For me, Season Pass is starting to look like a bad deal because I’m paying $14 a month to essentially only watch one team. Before, everything was included in services I already had (espn+ and Hulu) and the schedule was far superior with minimal game overlaps.
Hopefully the schedule will be better next season, I’m sure there will be many changes from this inaugural run on Apple.
I’ve seen this overlapping complaint elsewhere. I only have one MLS team, so it hasn’t been an issue for me and I was looking forward to MLS 360 but discovering it’s not behind the paywall is interesting. It makes sense to bring in new fans (and why there are freakin’ commercials), but I need a premium version of it without commercials to help justify cost.
Also, spreading them out over more hours seems like a win for me. 7:30 local start seems fine until you realize that’s 9:30 PST a lot of the time for SKC.
Also, if I’m at the stadium, I basically don’t use 360 that week other than for the bit in the press box before the games, but I’m mostly talking/prepping.
It’s actually 5:30 pst for most Sporting matches, which I like because we can still go out to dinner or whatever after and not lose every Saturday night.
Oh, I worded that badly. PST games are 9:30 CST. But yes, I could see the appeal to an early game for the chunk of west coast fans watching EST and CST home teams.
I saw a bunch of other comments like this on The Athletic, including from one of their writers. That stacking the games is hurting interest, not growing it. Especially for season ticket holders because they functionally lose access to the entire league for fully half the season.
I initially thought it was a good idea but am coming around to your view. I’m really noticing the lack of afternoon games as an option because the constant “need” to keep Saturday night open isn’t fair to my wife or my other interests.
I’ve enjoyed MLS360 because I don’t closely follow any other team, and I can see how spreading out the schedule (multiple afternoon games, games on Sunday, etc.) would dilute the show’s value. It’s most fun in the first hour when lots of games are going on; I imagine it’s duller in the late window when there’s only a few West Coast games happening (but I never stay up that late).
I do think (hope?) Apple and MLS will be responsive to feedback in the long-term. I’ve always felt we needed to be patient as they worked out the kinks in this unique, forward-thinking idea. I still feel that the universal platform is a major benefit for me that’s worth the price; it’s been very, very nice to not go hunting for Twitter or an antenna or be annoyed at a cable game beyond reach. And the value will really become apparent when we get to playoffs and games aren’t scattered all over the place.