Sporting KC: Who is their most important player?
By Nathan Dunn
2. Roger Espinoza
Roger Espinoza and Benny Feilhaber are two of the most hated players to wear a Sporting uniform. They never shy away from confrontations. But Espinoza’s long-term injury has really taken its toll on Sporting KC. The bulldog of a midfielder isn’t the best technical player, but it is obvious that his presence is dearly missed.
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The former Ohio State Buckeye has won three Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup titles but missed out on Sporting KC’s 2013 MLS Cup triumph because he signed for Wigan Athletic, where he won the 2012-13 FA Cup over Manchester City.
The Honduran’s last appearance for Sporting KC came on April 14 in a 2-2 draw with New York Red Bulls, where he exited in the 66th minute. He suffered a PCL sprain, which is expected to keep him out for 2-3 months. Since then, he’s been irreplaceable. Gianluca Busio, Kelyn Rowe, Yohan Croizet, and several others have plugged in to replace Espinoza. The midfield, though, has lost its bite.
His presence is immense due to his leadership from the midfield and intense style of play. It os something that Sporting are going to have to learn to deal with as he gets older, but something that will be difficult to transition away from.