Sporting KC: From Bad to Worse
By Mike Gambill
When you start the MLS season with a dismal 0-7-3 record and just three measly points to your team name, you have to think – “things can get only better.” Well, soccer fans, Sporting Kansas City is a team that’s on the verge of digging a sports hole they can’t possibly dig themselves out so yes, things can go from bad to worse.
Sporting Kansas City is underperforming-thank you Captain Obvious.
It doesn’t take a soccer genius or even someone who knows much about this sport to realize that Sporting KC is on the brink of collapse and we are only ten matches into the MLS season. When you are the only team that hasn’t won a single match in a season that’s now two months old, you are probably in a very lonely, dark cellar by yourself in the MLS basement.
It’s not even fair to compare Sporting KC to other soccer clubs right now because every other team in MLS has won at least one match except for the aforementioned squad. This is a soccer team that hasn’t even discovered that it helps to be on the attack every once in a while and maybe putting the round ball into the big iron box defended by the other team helps you win matches.
Through ten matches, Sporting Kansas City’s attacking side has taken 90 total shots with 50 shots on target, and guess what? Only three of those shots on frame have found their way into their opponents’ nets. For those of you who really love analytics, that’s a 3.3% conversion rate or 300 minutes of playing time for each goal.
In terms of underperformance (that’s really putting it lightly), international midfielder Erik Thommy’s performance so far this season is indicative of how bad things are with Sporting KC. Thommy has 18 total shots, three on frame, and exactly zero goals (oh, and I forgot he missed a PK as well.) Yes, Sporting is missing top 2022 scorer Willy Agada to a fractured leg and he won’t be back until the summer. They’ve picked up Alan Pulido again but it will be a while before he hits full stride and maybe could be a contributor down the road-but make it a really short road for Sporting KC’s sake.
The Sporting KC coach’s hot seat is now a full BBQ grill.
Sporting KC head coach Peter Vermes is probably getting used to the verbal and written barrage against him and his leadership (or lack thereof) of this squad so far in the 2023 season. And why not? When you are O for the season and every other MLS team has passed you by, you probably have some explaining to do to fans and pundits alike.
Ironically, Peter Vermes just signed a five-year contract extension that will keep him with Sporting through 2028. That is if he makes it that far. Starting out slowly and showing some improvement week after week until a team hits its stride is one thing; Sporting KC hasn’t even shown improvement after ten matches but actually digressing as a squad. Even team captain Johnny Russell was quoted as saying “I don’t know how you fix it.”
Could Sporting Kansas City go from bad to worse?
Well, somebody within the Sporting Kansas City organization needs to step up and fix this team’s multiple problems quickly. Otherwise, this will be a long, very long season in Kansas City, and with the MLS Season Pass broadcast last week picking up the fans’, well, “displeasure”, supporters of this franchise are getting very restless.