Sporting KC
Sporting Kansas City lose their way in San Jose
Poor defense, a still-stalled attack, and a red card at San Jose Earthquakes keep Sporting Kansas City reeling.
A San Jose Earthquakes’ goal, an overzealous piece of defense, and a high-flying host posed an early challenge for Sporting Kansas City Saturday night. They were challenges that the struggling side surely did not embrace. But Sporting has never begun a season like this one.
The match, like every 90 minutes for a struggling side with a bristling fan base, was critical for winless Sporting Kansas City (0-4-3). An away win against a San Jose Earthquakes (3-2-2) side on the way up was unlikely; however, progress in the form of goals and players coming back to form was on the table. Yet, possibility is why games are played, why athletes strive, and why fans tune in.
A goal and a win at PayPal Park would put a merciful end to a 265-minute scoreless streak, a 10-match away winless streak, and an eight-match regular season winless streak for Sporting Kansas City. Kansas City manager Peter Vermes put out the following lineup for the challenge:
The #SJvSKC XI#SportingKC | @BlueKC pic.twitter.com/7PhauG3nvM
— Sporting Kansas City (@SportingKC) April 16, 2023
The lineup was unchanged from last week’s 1-0 home loss to Colorado Rapids. Eighteen shots, eight corners, but only two shots on goal were the numbers produced by the attack then. Would the story be different in Northern California?
Sporting swarmed the Earthquakes’ goal in the first four minutes, looking eager to put the recent past quickly behind them.
However, recent US National Team callup Cade Cowell received just outside the left side of Sporting’s box in the 9th minute. Sporting Right Center Back Dany Rosero was pulled out to Cowell who then played for Cristian Espinoza at Melia’s back post. The ball barely beat a stabbing Robert Castellanos and then the ball and the man beat left back Robert Voloder, giving Espinoza a tap-in for his third goal in as many matches.
Johnny Russell gave Sporting fans further heart palpitations in the 30th minute. The captain played an errant pass back for Rosero that San Jose’s Jeremy Ebobisse latched onto just inside Sporting’s half and flighted an attempt on goal. Melia, rushing back, saw the ball fly just over his crossbar and out to safety.
Five minutes later, Zusi laid into a poor ‘Quakes’ clearance from 26 yards only to see San Jose ‘keeper JT Marcinkowski save the swerving shot.
A season of frustrating moments added another moment in the 38th minute via left center back Robert Castellanos. Catching up to Ebobisse, who had ran in behind, Castellanos harassed the attacker with pulls on the shoulder. Ebobisse took to the turf inside the box, compelling referee Timothy Ford to not only point to the spot, but also to pull out the red card. Ebobisse baited Melia for an easy penalty tally to make it a 2-0 lead for the hosts.
Vermes put on center back Andreu Fontas for striker Alan Pulido in the aftermath. After the half mercifully arrived, Vermes subbed on striker Willy Agada for midfielder Felipe Hernandez.
Injury turned to insult six minutes into the 2nd half. The ‘Quakes’ Paul Marie penetrated deep on the left side of Sporting’s box off a feed from Cowell Looking for the diagonal drop pass, Marie found Ebobisse sneaking behind Fontas and Rosero. The capped US attacker found the net under Melia for the 3-0 lead.
All that was left for Kansas City after a typical attacking display and a relatively atypical defensive performance was to salvage some positives.
Agada, played in by a dynamite long ball by Zusi, failed to get a shot off in the ensuing minutes. Moments later, though, Russell hit the woodwork from close range.
Marinos Tzionis, Khiry Shelton, and Cam Duke were the last substitutes for Sporting, removing Russell, Salloi, and Zusi in the 70th minute.
No significant steps towards progress were made in the last 20 minutes of the 3-0 loss and Jeremy Ebobisse had joined Jordan Morris as opposing attackers who had bagged two or more goals against Kansas City in the last four games.
Looking forward, Sporting will travel to Gillette Stadium to take on a top MLS Eastern Conference side in New England Revolution (5-1-2) next Saturday.
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We’ve now officially beaten our own record of least amount of goals scored up till this point in a season. The previous record – held by the then Wizards – saw them end the season with 8(?) wins believe.
This is a joke. I’d wholeheartedly support some type of fan walkout at the next home game. I’ve been mentioning these faults for the past few years and this has been a longtime coming, and the faults of the system that Vermes and Co built are finally coming to the surface. I’d happily see the collapse that the faults create if it means there’s a rebuild, because right now, there’s no other way the organization turns this around until there’s a massive staffing overhaul.
In all seriousness, is Vermes truly the only one who can fire himself? I’m genuinely curious, even though I know it won’t happen even if that’s not the case. I’ve just heard so much about what his powered is, who he is/isn’t accountable to, etc, and plenty of people have said that when it comes down to it, he’s the only one the can truly sag “Vermes, you’re fired”.
Vermes stated in the press conference that they were playing well up until the penalty – WHAT?! His absolute lack of honesty, glossed over with his vauge and blank statements that fail to show any ability to be introspective and accountable drive me crazy.
Vermes “broke” the team in the off season, by forcing his outdated play and tactics on the players, instead of letting the players he has determine the play and system. You can’t look at how we finished last year after Thommy and Agada arrived, look at where we’re at now, and not say that Vermes doesn’t play a huge role in that.
Even though I get worked up during these games, I’m typically able to reestablish myself relatively quickly after a game. Last night, there was not an ounce of rationality left in me because I was so frustrated by this team and season. I have never completely absolved PV of guilt, but have also not hopped on the Vermes out train, but I think I’m going to book my ticket. This is absolutely atrocious and he can’t seem to see it. Even if this season is turned around in some way, you cannot look past this first part and say it was just due to injuries. There are some real structural issues going on with our play, and that falls squarely on PV’s shoulders. He is given too much grace every single year because of things he did 8-10 years ago. He has been instrumental in making this club into what it is–both the good parts and now the bad parts. It’s time to part ways, five year contract be damned.
PV’s style of play clearly does not work with this roster of players. We going up the outside has proven fruitless and the number of uncompleted crosses and blocked shots for the season is absurdly high. I am not tactically smart enough to know exactly what they need to do, but I think the players should have a meeting by themselves where they come up with their tactics moving forward. It is actually anger-inducing for me to watch them slowly build out of the back, go up and down the wing until the lose it in the midfield or make a bad cross, and take so many of their first touches without opening up and looking up field. It’s insanity to continue doing these things and expecting them to magically work because they have in the past.
It probably takes all of 5 minutes for our opponents to do film study on us. The attacking patterns are so painfully predictable and ineffective. It’s as easy as sitting back and letting us dribble into dead ends, constantly back pass to the CBs, put crosses into nowhere-land, and take low percentage shots.
It is mind numbingly boring. I feel like I’ve wanted to say that for years but didn’t want to say I disliked my favorite team’s style of play, but it’s so true.
What you said about PV coasting on results from 8-10 years ago is exactly right. The last 5 or so years have not been good.
Castellanos didn’t just tug on the shoulders. It was a panicked attempt at a NFL tackle. The only way that wouldn’t have seen red is if the ref had some sympathy on the Double Jeopardy question for the PK.
Both Zusi and Voloder failed on the 1st goal.
“We played well until the penalty.” No, we played well for 5mins. Then we conceded, and San Jose had the ball in more dangerous positions until the penalty. Which was preceded once again by a Sporting player choking on a golden opportunity to score. This time Pulido turning a breakaway into a bumbling run for the corner flag. Gets dispossessed, 1 quick pass, an out ball, and it’s a 1v1 the other way, which we’ve already talked about the results of.
It’s all too easy. Teams aren’t afraid of Sporting in the attack, because we’re toothless. They simply wait for the fullbacks to vacate space, counter into those gaps, and pull the entire defense apart. Repeatedly. Has Vermes adapted even once to this ploy? Nope. Have our flank attacks generated nearly enough to justify leaving ourselves open this way? Nope.
Will anything change? Nope. The entire coaching staff should be gone today. We already know Vermes is going nowhere. But it’s clear this team needs new ideas and new voices. Because if Vermes is trying to make any changes, they’re not getting through.
A question on the PK: would the calls have been different had Castellanos tackled Ebobisse outside the box? It was still an awful, panicked challenge, but might double jeopardy have been avoided?
#WeDeserveBetter
He should have finished the tackle outside the box. Dogso red card but not a PK.
He still would’ve received the red. But it wouldn’t have been a PK. The only question is the Double Jeopardy. Technically, the referee did not HAVE to issue a red for DOGSO when it also results in a PK. He can. But it no longer is a requirement to issue it. Whereas if DOGSO is outside the box, it mandates a red card.
Thanks David & Shawn. My thought in real time was that it could’ve been a yellow and PK, and Castellanos could’ve avoided the penalty by taking him down outside the box.
#WeDeserveBetter
I think the key is he didn’t play the ball, as the announcer said.
It was amateur hour for sure from Castellanos, playing grab ass like he’s the high school c-team player that got invited to scrimmage with varsity. Embarrasing.
Yuck
I’m increasingly finding my apathy turn cynical: I’d rather see SKC go winless this entire year if it means changes come quicker. Rip off the bandaid—and the many bandaids beneath it.
Many will disagree, especially podcast hosts, but more and more it seems Vermes’ stubbornness— a lot to unpack there should you want to — is confining players more than helping them grow. I have no doubt a lot of SKC’s players would be successful elsewhere, and even less doubt the reverse is true.
A change at leadership is becoming more important to me than the risk of hiring the wrong leadership. It’s not quite yet the heavier side, but worrying about who the next coach will be is not a reason to not start looking. In a few weeks I’ll be happy with any interim coach. At least that news would show someone somewhere cares enough to do more than unwrap and stick another bandaid onto an ailing but far from hopeless organization.
Oh, I’m absolutely on Vermes Out at this point. But the reality of the matter is there is no way the organization is going to eat a 5 year deal less than 1 year in. So that’s why I’m saying Ownership should be telling Vermes to clear out the staff. Bliss, Coaching, all of it. It’s all a bunch of Yes Men telling Vermes what he wants to hear. And he is too stubborn to hear anything else. And the only people who are going to change that are the ones signing his paycheck.
I always sort of thought PV would get an extension if he earned it this year. Getting it before he did anything off missing the playoffs was bizarre.
Now they’ve painted themselves into a corner where if they fire him they owe him 5 years more that he never started. He’s still on his old contract essentially right now with the extension having not kicked in.
I would think your point is true though, if they feel like they can’t or won’t fire PV, others have to be on the table.
What are the Vegas odds Vermes simply… resigns. Ha, ha.
But – who in ownership is going to stand up to Vermes to demand that? Even if someone does, so what? With that five year extension he can give them a middle finger and dare them to fire him.
#WeDeserveBetter
Vermes is the classic example of someone who has been in power for far too long with 0 checks and balances. I wouldn’t be as upset if we were at least trying different things on the field. But nope, somehow Vermes has determined that we should continue to play the same lineup and tactics every single week, despite the fact we’re dead last in the West. What’s that saying about the definition of insanity?…
What’s most alarming to me is it feels like the talent disparity between our team and the
rest of the league has never been wider. I would love to have a round-table
discussion with Vermes and the scouting staff to understand what the hell
they’ve been doing for the past few years. I look at all the clubs that are
bringing in young, promising talent from South America and Europe and wonder
why most of our international signings are no-name players from obscure leagues
or guys on the tail end of their careers. That was the standard recruitment
model for most MLS teams 10-15 years ago, but it’s freaking 2023 now.
It’s inexcusable that Zusi, Espinoza, and Fontas are still being used as key
players. Then you’ve got guys like Russell and Melia who are still playing well
but are both well into their 30s and yet expected to carry the load. Another
trend I don’t understand is using players that are below MLS’s standards. Sweat
was one of them, thank gosh we cut him. Then you’ve got Shelton…don’t need to
say anything more there. Castellanos – did you know he had a grand total of 1
MLS appearance before joining SKC? He’s played most of his career in the
USL…if he’s a USL-level player, why is he starting for us?
There’s some deep-rooted issues here, and it’s hard to see how we start to dig ourselves out of this ever-deeper hole.
I agree with most of what you’ve said here – this franchise needs a fresh approach in every area of operation.
I’d push back on the idea that recruitment in obscure leagues is a negative, though. Talent can be found in many places, not just the higher-profile leagues. I’d suggest Kinda and Agada were both good signings.
Some of the signings do come across as Vermes trying to show he’s the smartest guy in the room, though. Unfortunately, I don’t see the kinds of changes needed occurring as long as Vermes is in charge.
#WeDeserveBetter
In re-reading my post, my phrasing was a bit off. I didn’t mean to suggest it’s a negative to scout the obscure leagues, there are plenty of hidden gems and as you said Kinda and Agada are good examples of that. The larger point I was trying to make is that the MLS used to struggle to attract young talent, so teams resorted to signing retirement-bound veterans or players from small leagues abroad. But MLS is at the point now where we’re seeing many promising youngsters make moves from football hotspots in South America, Europe, etc. and I’m just wondering why SKC hasn’t jumped on that train by now.
Concur 100%. What SKC are doing now is what worked 10 years ago. A fresh approach is needed, one that’s in tune with what MLS has become.
#WeDeserveBetter
Vermes won’t want to overpay for someone from Brazil or Argentina. That’s why he scouts the way he does. But it’s a mistake.
For sure. And I don’t expect us to just be throwing around money carelessly. But knowing how closely we pursued Ronaldo makes me believe the club is willing to spend money. I’d just like to see it go towards young talent. I’ve always thought Atlanta is good at this. They paid a decent sum to sign Almiron and ended up selling him for about 3 times what they paid. So it’s a win-win for the business and football side. Now they’re on that same trajectory with Almada. I think that’s the type of model we need to be looking at unless we want to get left behind.
Does anyone else find “we almost signed Ronaldo” impossible to believe? I don’t believe Ronaldo could point to Kansas City on a map, and he walked out on Man Utd last year because he only wants to play Champions League. Was he really going to fly Southwest to play Tulsa in the USOC? Plus the money he wanted/got is staggering. The guy would have turned down Patrick Mahomes’ contract.
If it really was Sporting’s big plan to go after him, the whole organization has no idea what it needs to do to succeed in MLS.
Yeah it’s hard to believe, and I totally agree with your last sentence. In my mind it would have been nothing more than a flash-in-the-pan marketing move if we signed him. He obviously would have made the team better, but that’s not the type of move that breeds long-term success, and it would have been a lot of money for a player who was pretty much guaranteed to not stick around for very long.
I do believe that KC believes the Ronaldo talks were real and that they had them. But I thought the Shades of Blue did a good job of breaking down why he was never coming here. The soccer stuff sure, but because of some of the trouble he’s been in over the years. He would be scrutinized in America like he won’t be in Saudi Arabia with their policy towards women.
As for Atlanta, I admire their willingness to spend endlessly. I still don’t understand how they flipped Pity Martinez for a profit since he was so bad. They are eating it on Barco, but they’ll make money again on Thiago Almada. They made money on Almiron, as you pointed out. And they got good value out of Josef for years, even if they didn’t sell him on. I hope KC ownership don’t sour on spending with Pulido being somewhat of a flop (if only he were healthy…) and Ronaldo would have cost so much and obviously the only return is marketing, no re-sale value.
I will say, the Tulsa game is at home and they do fly private now.
The thing about the Tulsa game wasn’t my comment, but I’m tracking with you here. And when I said it’s hard to believe, I meant that in the sense of it’s a wild story, not that I don’t believe it – you guys had excellent coverage on that story 🙂 Yep Pulido hasn’t worked out, but as you say hopefully it doesn’t deter ownership from making other big moves – I think you’ve gotta be willing to take a big swing from time to time.
Thanks. I constantly hear we’re signing the wrong guys from people who in the same article say Rosero was the best player on the pitch (for us). Watched the Revs game yesterday and damn if Blessing isn’t a good player. That was another obscure league signing that was a win. I mean if you attract one obscure player that starts a year that’s a recruitment win. It’s not enough to win games — you’ve got to find players that fit your system that under perform other places (Benny) and you’ve got to pay to bring in big players too. But the obscure leagues are important and were just not doing that badly there.
Letting Blessing go may be the moment Vermes’ clock stuck midnight. Struggling to find good moves since then. Especially since we let Blessing go to keep Feilhaber, then let him go anyway. Let Ilie go the next year. Two of those three were starters for LAFC in MLS Cup. And Blessing is exactly the kind of 8 this team has looked for since Roger went to England.
Selling Busio was good money. But the club did nothing to bring in comparable talent for the Academy. And has failed to take advantage of the U22 Initiative, which is something a club like SKC should be eating up. Instead, the league is getting younger, while SKC gets older. And it shows every week.
Blessing is doing great. He was young when he was here and didn’t get any play in the midfield, where he mainly plays now. Bob Bradley took him at LAFC and helped transition him into a central midfielder. If he had stayed, would have PV had the patience to let him develop as a central mid? If he were still on this team, i bet he would be the 2nd option at both wing positions. And he would have not developed here like he did at LAFC. Maybe it would have solved our Khiry problem, but young guys don’t get many opportunities under PV to reach their ceiling while they’re here.
I 100% agree with you; I’ve been dying on the Blessing-leaving-was-the-best-move-for-him-hill for years. LAFC has been my #2 since they joined the league, and watching Blessing breakout and truly blossom in that setting was really exciting (I have not seen him at all with the Revs so can’t comment on that). Sporting is not a team you come to looking to grow into your own style and flourish. Sporting is where you come to pull a hammy and be a cog in a machine.
In a malfunctioning machine…
#WeDeserveBetter
Peter sure doesn’t think we deserve better.
Agree with the lafc as your #2. I don’t actively keep up with them, but I mostly check in for Illie and Vela. Carlos is my 2nd favorite Mexican international even if he hates play for the national team. Always make it a point to go when they come to town
This is the first season I haven’t been able to keep up with them as much as I like because they overlap so much with Sporting (thanks, Apple). Talk about a club with a clear identity and winning mentality that isn’t afraid to make changes. Always a contender, and doesn’t just talk the talk.
Losing Latif still stings (but I agree he’s unlikely to have turned into a midfielder in SKC’s system).
Slight correction, LAFC’s first year was 2018 and Ilie’s first season for them was last year (2022).
I will say on the “struggling to make moves since then,” that feels a little off. We all thought Thommy and Agada were good moves last year and despite their early struggles I’m not throwing them out just yet. Remi still feels like a good signing. The jury is out on the U22 guys as no one has played consistently. Voloder is playing out of position at LB, but at CB, after some struggles, he seemed to be settling in. I’d like him at lot more at LCB than RCB. Ndenbe seemed to start strong then injuries derailed 2022 (and so far 2023). The guy I’m least sure on is Marinos Tzionis, who has a ton of sub appearances, but has yet to do much.
As far as other moves since 2018, that’s nearly the entire roster. Just Zusi, Melia, Espinoza and Salloi were here before 2018. Of course, there are misses, but Johnny Russell came after that. Pulido and Kinda (though obviously the injuries hurt those). Pulskamp may be the keeper of the future and he signed to the first team in 2020. Pierre in 2021. I’m a blind optimist and hopeful for Radoja and Leibold, the “big” signings of this offseason. Rosero seems promising so far.
There are plenty of guys I obviously skipped, but no one will be 100% at their signings and as Witty said on SOB today, the team doesn’t look lost out there. They don’t look like they’ve given up. Something just isn’t clicking. And it needs to real soon.
“…despite the fact we’re dead last in the West.”
Not that it matters, but we’re actually last jn the league. Montreal has a win, and wins are the first tiebreaker.
I think LAG are now last in the West, since we have better GD, and neither side has a win. So…yay?!
Nah, they have a -7 and we have a – 9, but at least their management has addressed the fans, while SKC is doing absolutely nothing to warrant another dollar of my money going to them.
We’re truly dead last in the entire league.
The Galaxy have a game in hand too.
But Sporting are, in fact, dead last. I keep seeing people say Montreal is behind them (and I may have repeated it), but as kcrews points out, wins are tiebreaker #1.
I took this week off since ufc was in town and attended that instead…..seems like I chose right
I meant to connect with you at that! Well, at least the fights were a good time!
Yeah I completely forgot until I was to the main card that I meant to meet up. Agreed! Crazy how many knockouts came from knees!
It was a good night of fights for sure. I think (as I said briefly on the pod), the crowd was running out of energy on the main card. They had been there so long, going wild on the undercard. People were booing parts of the main event and the Munhoz/Gutierrez match, but I think it’s just because those fights were more technical. They weren’t bad fights. They just weren’t wild brawls.
And the crowd was probably more drunk. Definitely a few drunks in our area yelling at each other.
Oh I agree, I watched a dude in a completely different section yell at another guy for using his vape inside. I thought we’d be treated to multiple fights at the same time then
That vape yelling was in my section! The guy yelling was a couple rows behind me and the giant man he was yelling at was a couple rows ahead of me.
I wouldn’t have yelled at that guy. But I’m not a yeller in general. Just privately, in my home, at the television.
Was my post removed?
Weird moderation thing where it needed to be approved – all should be fixed now
My apologies for being hasty!
You guys need to get out of the bitter barn and play in the hay! Though my positive outlook may be in part due to being at the match last night.
Personally, I appreciated that they decisively blew it in the first half so planning to leave early in the second was a no brainer. I saved approximately $3k in overpriced stadium cocktails that way! And even though we left after the third—and shockingly final—SJ goal, my hotel was right next to the stadium and thanks to my recent tympanostomy I could hear the incessant cacophony of the victory drums in my room! Like I’d never left! It was awesome.
Can’t wait to see what’s in store when I come to KC in May! I’m with Peter. This group is totally gonna get their shit together and blow us all away, why else would he say the same thing week after week after week??! Any day now. It’s happening. Ignorance is bliss and practically everyone makes the playoffs!
🙂
You’re really missing the sarcasm font aren’t you? 😉
No. I am perfectly content. I don’t need my team to win and I don’t rely on .gifs or fancy fonts to properly convey emotion. Everything is fine.
Bitter Kat makes me sad.
Although last night was a “free” game starting to regret MLS pass. I should have realized this was gonna be another down year
This is a sentiment I’ve seen over and over. It’ll be interesting to see how fans of bad teams handle this in the future. Pay for a month at a time? Sure, a whole year is cheaper if you need the whole year, but if your team collapses this early? Likely not so much.
I’m a glutton. I’m watching it all anyways (I guess I sort of have to, but that’s how my fandom generally works). My NFL team is terrible, but I watch every year, hoping for different results (though it often feels like they never really have a chance).
If Apple sells discounted packages for “the rest of the season” (at some point later in the year), it could make the month to month wager to start the season a benefit to some.
I watched the LA vs LAFC game on Sunday. Thanks to apple for separating that one. Anyway, I really enjoyed the game. It was interesting to see the Galaxy playing such good soccer considering they are in the exact same position as SKC. They moved the ball well, combined and hustled. They played well enough to win but they just couldn’t finish. Anyway, I would be excited about SKC if they were losing but playing like the Galaxy. Oh man, if SKC had a player like Puig…holy crap that kid is good. He was making passes that no one on SKC even sees.
I really like Ilie’s long locks too. Dude needs to rock a pony tail.
OK, so I’ve been down in the Ozarks off-grid since the weekend and missed all of this. It’s making me sad and angry just trying to read through all the coverage comments. I’m mad at this franchise for taking away what used to be something that picked me up. Now it’s something that drags me down. I can handle one sad-sack team in my life (the Royals). Two are too much. Good thing NHL playoffs are starting, I need to follow something else for a while.
And as one of the optimists/boosters who legitimately believed things were on a different/better track, I feel pretty betrayed. I don’t think I ever shat on anyone for saying otherwise, though I’m sorry if I ever made someone feel that way. But some of you were certainly right that there were/are deeper problems than a few injuries.
Just take a break from SKC until June. I really, really believe that SKC will break out and start playing good soccer. I do think it will require some changes. Once the LB & RB become Liebold and Pierre, things will get better. Once the 6 is Rajoda, things will start to look solid. Move Thommy to the LW and run Kinda and Walter as the dual 8s…things start to look real good. By June, Kinda and Pulido will have the rust removed and SKC should be at full strength.
I’m sorry you are bummed out. I’ve taken to riding my onewheel on MTB singletrack…it makes me happy. If hockey makes you happy, go get it!
There’s still part of me that thinks that, too. I just see too much decent talent on the roster. The core problem I see is they’re not playing well together, and that seems possible to fix. Which is part of why I can’t let go and why I’ll probably keep watching every game because I want to be there when it does click and not have given up. Isn’t that the point when you’re supposed to find a relationship counselor or something?
So I guess you didn’t get a kick out of Sporting KC Night at the K 🙃
I’m sorry you’re sad and angry; I’m bummed out, too, and not very optimistic (we even looked into cancelling our KC trip… thank goodness we have lots of great recommendations on other things to do there!). But, they have to win at some point, and how much worse can it get? Don’t answer that.
I really hope you have a good visit here. And especially that you’re lucky enough to be here if/when something does click on this team. Because if that happens it’s going to be a pretty cool experience.