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Sporting KC

SKC winless in seven after 3-2 loss at Austin FC

Beautiful goals from Russell & Davis weren’t enough as Sporting KC fall to Austin FC and extend the winless streak to seven matches.

Published

2 years ago

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Credit: Thad Bell

The winless streak has reached seven games after Sporting KC fell 3-2 at a rabid Q2 Stadium against Austin FC. Johnny Russell opened the scoring but The Trees (or whatever they are?) quickly regained control and never let go.

But hey, at least Jake Davis gave us another absolute banger we can hold onto.

Peter Vermes didn’t shakeup the starting lineup as much as expected after his intense criticism of the team all week. Robert Castellanos and Zorhan Bassong were starting on the backline, but it was largely the same squad.

They got off to a hot start with Russell sniffing the goal in the opening moments. In the 18th minute, it was a very clever combination with Alan Pulido which led to the breakthrough.

Getting the first goal is just what you wanted to see. After the past week, we might have expected SKC to come out of the gates foaming at the mouth. But the lead didn’t even last ten minutes.

The entire sequence was a disaster. The first pass from Fontas was a mistake. The second pass from Castellanos was even worse. Tim Melia was in a terrible spot but made another terrible choice for an easy goal.

Austin FC just had too much firepower for the Sporting KC defense. Jader Obrian doubled the lead to bag a birthday brace in the 38th minute.

Things went from bad to worse just seconds into the second half. Andreu Fontas was beat badly on the wing and it was a simple header from the talisman Sebastian Driussi.

After the stunner from Davis, Sporting KC sensed the tide turning. It felt like they could still get a result. Vermes brought in Tzionis and Agada for Salloi and Pulido, respectively, during the restart.

The home side was able to weather that storm for several minutes and got the crowd back into the match.

Austin were awarded a penalty kick in the 82nd minute after a wild play in the box. Tim Melia was called for the foul on Driussi, and then did what he does best.

He saved another PK.

It was a big save that kept his team in the match, but even though Erik Thommy hit the post in stoppage time, they never found the equalizer.

Sporting are now in 13th place with just 11 points through 13 matches. Next Saturday, they travel to Providence Park to take on the Portland Timbers for a late 9:30pm kickoff.

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Kcwookie

Hell of a job Peter. You’re on track for manager of the year. You’re doing a fine job showing the world why Kansas City is the soccer capital. Since the ownership won’t fire you, why don’t you consider having some decency and just resign?

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A&W

Peter definitely has blame but I’m just curious what do you think a different manager could’ve done differently to get a better result? It’s not like they don’t prepare during the week. The things you hear him yelling to players are usually right, they just can’t execute. Over the last 3 strains they’ve tried different formations, tactics, lineups etc and more often than not it’s been bad. Peter is a problem with late-in-game management and I wish he’d move on from some of these old heads but we’ve seen these young guys too and they’re not any better and they wouldn’t have made a difference yesterday.

I’m just curious what you think a different manager could possibly get out of this garbage roster that Peter didn’t get last year.

And saying “who picked the roster” is a dodge that doesn’t answer the question.

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jdkus11

Saying “who picked the roster” is kind of the crux of the issue and a huge part of the reason that it’s time to move on. Even though he no longer fills that role, PV is the reason why we’re playing with these players and, as a manager, even he doesn’t know how to coach them in a way that gets the best out of them. I don’t fully support this, but a lot of people have said that this is the most talented squad we have and we have the ability to be very good. If that’s true, PV has shown that he is not the manager that can wring that goodness out of them. Peter the Sporting Director handcuffed Peter the Manager and you cannot uncouple the two. For a long time, he was very good at handling both jobs, but he’s fallen off over the last 5 years. You hate to see it happen, especially to someone who has meant so much to this team over the years, but in the end, you have to know when it’s time to cut ties. Even Nashville knows that it was time for Gary Smith to go despite him winning his 100th game. They’re looking forward to the long-term success of their team, we just care about performing to the bare minimum so we make the playoffs and can say that the season was a success.

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A&W

The problem with the “who picked the roster” argument and the reason I get frustrated by it is because Peter Vermes isn’t picking the roster anymore. Dozens of interviews, many on this very site, have painted a picture of how things work and “Peter Vermes does all the things” isn’t how and hasn’t been for years. He’s a rubber stamp. The next thing folks usually say is “well then why doesn’t he fire the guy who does?” And we got that answer this last off-season as well and that answer is “he’s trying to.”

According to those interviews the SD hire was done at the urging of Peter himself. He said they tried to bring in Wilkinson so he could take roster duty from Bliss. As to why Bliss still has a job at all, the other duties of technical directors are to develop coaches and operate the clubhouse. Things SKC is pretty decent at by all accounts. So it seems the thinking was to hire someone to take the things Bliss isn’t great at so he can focus on what he is good at.

So the reality seems to be that Peter isn’t getting the most out of Bliss’s roster and that he tried to remedy that and that he and the owners botched that first attempt.

Again, my point of Vermes has problems is valid but I content that so is the standalone question of “what would another manager do better?

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skcfanipromise

‘what would another manager do better?’

what’s the point of this question? that it’s not just vermes to blame? no shit, sherlock? no one is claiming ‘vermesout’ to be a panacea, but just the first wall to climb. a shame it’s a tall one, but the view will be good at the top.

maybe i misunderstand it.

*no shit, sherlock is meant light-heartedly and not mean-spiritedly, but i know that doesn’t come through via text! appreciate your comments in this and other threads.

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KCOutsider

Well, for one, he could have been rotating in younger subs a lot more regularly throughout the season (and past seasons) so they get some actual game experience to the point that maybe they would be more effective when they’re truly needed? And maybe the old dudes wouldn’t be so tired at the end of every game when they cough up points?

For another, he could have recognized earlier that Salloi and Russell just aren’t productive anymore and started balancing their spots with other players. He’s way too loyal to his favorite veterans (see Shelton, Khiry) in a way that at best handcuffs the team and at worst cripples its future. We don’t know how many of our young players could develop because he never gives them a fair chance on the field. For example, he brought in Tzionis with great fanfare and then either buried him on the bench or played him out of position.

Focusing on just one game in isolation is not a very accurate way to look at the situation.

And “who picked the roster” is NOT a dodge, it’s an integral part of the problem. PV doesn’t have the moral high ground to throw his players under the bus when he’s the one who chose them in the first place. And his whining about recruitment troubles doesn’t impress me; Columbus is even more internationally obscure than Kansas City, but they somehow convince non-scrubs to play there.

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GV dude

PV is trash. Hilarious to see a team who is playing their third game in 8 days kick our teeth in. See the power of an early sub Pete? Zardes set a goal up on fresh legs. PV only subbed as much as he did because he’s going to roll out the starters against Tulsa. He should, he barely got by Omaha and they played the entire second half. What the actual F is ownership watching?

Awesome for Josh Wolfe to own PV everytime we play Austin. Must be because they are an MLS 3.0 team and we are an original. The excuses with the same mf in charge the entire time is just lame. I’m going to take a few games off. All I will miss is the frustration of going ahead, then getting smacked. No signings will fix this because they aren’t bringing in 7 or 8 players. That is what it will take at the point. New coach and a roster overhaul.

Why didn’t 750k Shelton come in and save the day? We all know the answer. He couldn’t score in ten games if he played every minute. I had to delete a lot of 4 letter words to post. Grrr

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Dag

SuFFeRiNg

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Mister Murse

Just watch their offensive play versus ours. We are so static for most of the game.

Positives are Memo. I think if we tried that 4231 again or whatever, it only works with memo, thommy, Walter and radaja on the field. Memo’s set pieces are dangerous as well.

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A&W

I don’t think any manager could win consistently with these guys. Last year for the last 2/3 they got blood from a stone and they actually looked competitive after that first 10 but I think this season is showing the true colors. Too many players with low football IQ and/or insufficient skills and/or limited athletic ability. It doesn’t help that the coach refuses to bite the bullet and play younger guys who are at least moldable.

This off-season everyone who can go, must. Compete rebuild time

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KCOutsider

I’d like to run that experiment before assuming PV is the best and only option.

It’s a bit bizarre to me that you’re burying the lede here and elsewhere: “It doesn’t help that the coach refuses to bite the bullet and play younger guys who are at least moldable” while still insisting that no other coach could do anything different or better.

Uh, yeah, another coach might go full or even partial youth movement. If we’re going to be bottom of the table anyway, I’d rather do it while assessing and developing potential assets.

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Mister Murse

I 100% believe the talent is there. I think creativity is coached out of them.

I also think they don’t make runs because they know the pass won’t come. We refuse to pass into space and lead players to where they NEED to be instead of where they are.

They used to, memo still does. That’s why he is the only playmaker currently. Everyone has had it coached out of them.

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Howlie2

Pulido used to have a good first touch, decent field vision and pass progression, solid hold up play and pretty darn good finishing. He doesn’t have any of that this year…what the heck happened?

At least Agada is getting into dangerous spots and can hold up the ball. Those alone should make him a choice over Pulido. Honestly, I’m ready for a couple game run out of Afrifa at the 9.

Also, I’m not sure the blame for the Houston loss lays at the feet of Voloder and Liebold. Pete is an odd dude.

5
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Shawn

I fully agree with Pulido. I also feel Tim M. might have something to do with it too. It doesnt seem he communicates with the team much at all with the team. But ya… Pulido is slow and cant seem to get around anyone.

1
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Mister Murse

Has he had any successful dribbles this year?

0
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Shawn

Man,

It is rough. I did feel there was more effort put into this match by the players. But it does boggle my mind. PV obviously needs to change. But also some of the these players are struggling. Like Alan P. He is so slow. He is being out run by everyone. He is not the game changer he use to be by any means. Also, Tim M. Ya he got the PK save… which was great But holy cow… stop playing the Goal kicks to your back line… Just clear it forward… That was all on him. I also feel he isnt communicating with his back line great.

It was nice to see JR score and Jake D. had an amazing shot from outside the box… that thing was money. It was good to see Thommy back too. JR seemed to play better this match too. But boy does the group need to get their head on straight.

Anyway, thank you again KC Soccer journal for actually reporting on SKC. No on else does.

-Shawn

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KCOutsider

Next home tifo needs to be a giant image looking down on smoldering CMP from a helicopter with the caption “heckuva job, Vermesie”

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skcfanipromise

idea for tifo

“we are suffering.”

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skcfanipromise

signs you might be vermes/bliss out

…’what could a different manager do differently?’
…you sense every set piece goal conceded beforehand
…you’re out of individual players to blame
…JFR deserves better has crossed your mind repeatedly
…central to your pro-vermes opinions is the word ‘leash’
…a belief that a summer signing will fix everything
…SKC down a goal almost had you turning the game off
…you applaud Vermes for using subs
…SKC games require stoic determination to watch
…defeating st.louis in the playoffs last year was worth it
…’there’s a lot of soccer left in the season.’
…’who will replace him’ is your argument for not firing him
…the 60th to 80th minutes terrify you

1
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Howlie2

…you wish the young players on the team would be traded to other teams so they can develop into their potential

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WonderfulWizHeWas

Maybe I am a bad talent evaluator, but I don’t agree with people who say, “The talent is there, why can’t Vermes make them successful?”

This is not a defense of Vermes because I’ve wanted him gone for several years. He played a role is the roster creation and cannot figure out how to get the most out of the average collection of players he has at his disposal.

Centerbacks: below average. Slow speed, slow to anticipate. Poor communication. Bad decision-making.

Fullbacks: below average. Not particularly athletic or fast, poor at tracking runs, add little to the offense other than the occasional miracle shot from distance by the average midfielder posing as a right back.

Midfield: average to below average with below average speed and offensive creativity. Holding mid is the strongest of a very ho-hum bunch. Rarely control the other team’s midfield. The occasional distance strike doesn’t overcome the general lack of attacking ability. Memo is the one potential bright spot.

Wings: below average. The left side is weak mentally and physically, the right side is weak at playing both ways and lacks stamina. Neither side creates enough chaos. Too satisfied with recycling balls and crossing to nobody instead of attacking the box.

Center forwards: below average. Very poor work rate defensively. One wants to be a central midfielder, the other holds up play well and could score goals if he had players around him that took chances to attack the box.

In my opinion, this isn’t a squad that can successfully play an attacking, possession-based 4-3-3.

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