We are now eight games in to the 2023 MLS campaign and Sporting Kansas City are in last place in the league, have not won a game, and have scored two goals. They're coming off of a 3-0 loss in which they had control for exactly 0% of the game. After the Quakes scored in the 9th minute everyone who has spent anytime watching this team knew it was over. Then when Robert Castellanos was given a red card and San Jose were awarded a penalty kick, it was just a matter of running through the motions for 60 minutes before Sporting went home still searching for their first win.
Designated player Ghadi Kinda hasn't taken the pitch since 2021, and Alan Pulido and Johnny Russell still aren't in full form and fitness and the team lost Kortney Ford right before the season began. So it's to be expected that SKC would be off to a slow start, but no one envisioned this. Late last season's saviors Willie Agada and Erik Thommy have just seemed off. I think it's safe to say that SKC has hit rock bottom. The supporters have stayed with the team thus far, but we're not far away from seeing attendance and interest in one of MLS's legacy club. So what needs to change?
If I'm Chairman/whoever the hell makes decisions at the club OTHER than Peter Vermes, I would remove Vermes as Sporting Director effective immediately. SKC has gotten 0 contribution from two of their three designated players for two seasons now. Add to that the U22 initiative signings have made minimal roster impact (Voloder, Ndembe, and Tzionis) and that they entered the season with three center backs on their roster. Two of which aren't proven MLS starters and one is on the wrong side of 30. Kayden Pierre and Cam Duke are the only homegrown players who have sniffed the field since Gianluca Busio left.
It appears to be a massive Sporting problem I refer to as "The Busio Model" where they only want to sign top end players with the aim of moving them to Europe for seven figure sums. There is more than enough talent in the SKC footprint of the Midwest to develop a reliable and consistent crop of MLS talent: Nico Giocchini, Lucas Bartlett, and Erik Palmer-Brown are three KC natives off the top of my head, and I won't bore you all with the dozens of names of professional soccer players from within a five hour drive of Kansas City. You need to want to sign these players, and have a clear plan to convince them to sign with you. If a kid has an opportunity to go to the Philadelphia Union or FC Dallas they know there is a path to first team minutes and an opportunity to move on to Europe if they excel. Seattle has also shown a clear path for first team minutes for guys like Josh Atencio and Obed Vargas who are still with the club. Clubs like Orlando City, the Columbus Crew, and even the Chicago Fire are developing these pathways and building within. It's economic, it's a steady flow of players, and it fires up your fanbase to see their guys out on the pitch. Ignoring this is both financially and sporting-ly irresponsible.
When Peter Vermes took over in Kansas City MLS was a different league. There are owners that want to invest big in building their clubs. When Vermes took over in 2009 the Sounders expansion fee was $30 million. The league would still have a club fold (Chivas). Now owners are buying clubs and paying expansion fees of $300 million. It's a different game now.
The biggest offseason move this winter wasn't even a move. It was a rumor that Sporting had almost signed Ronaldo. So Plan A was Ronaldo and Plan B was starting the season with three center backs? That is short sighted and I promise you clubs like Seattle, Philadelphia, and Orlando City weren't just checking in on Ronaldo. Hell Inter Miami is still trying to sign Messi and they had time to get Josef Martinez and just pulled off the steal of the century for Kamal Miller. I don't think I would have said no to Montreal if they asked for anyone on SKC's roster (except the Captain) in exchange for Kamal Miller and $1.3 million in Allocation Money.
So yes, if I were in charge I would relieve Peter Vermes of his Sporting Director duties effective immediately. I would look to someone well connected in European soccer that has experience and connections across Europe and South America. Lutz Pfannenstiel broke the "you have to have a Sporting Director that understands MLS roster rules and there's nothing more valuable than someone with strong MLS connections." Lutz has built a wagon at St. Louis CITY, and I believe there's staying power with what he is doing. The keys need to be handed over to someone else to make roster and big picture decisions, and to guide Vermes along and keep him accountable.
You could very easily convince me that tactically and motivationally that Vermes should be released as manager, but I do hold some stock in the fact he is the longest tenured manager in MLS. Allow someone else to sign the players, set up the Academy pool, and nudge Peter when he needs to make lineup changes. If it doesn't turn around, you move on.
Lastly, bring back the Wizards in some variety. I would prefer some kind of awesome third jersey every season.
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