A Look at a Week Off

While reading some post game thoughts on the Montreal game, someone made the comment that Kansas City was poor when coming off a bye week, it got me thinking about KC getting time off and how they've done.  So what I did is I took a look at all games KC has played since Peter Vermes took over as coach of Sporting KC where KC has had at least 10 days off from their previous game.  Here's a look at those games.  Scroll down further for more.

8/16/2009 vs Chicago - Days since last game 15.  Days since Chicago's last game 7. 2-0 loss.  In his first game in charge after the firing of Curt Onalfo after the team's 6-0 thrashing at Dallas, Vermes and KC came out and lost 2-0 at home to the Chicago Fire.

4/10/2010 vs Colorado - Days since last game 14.  Days since Colorado's last game 7.  1-0 win.  In the second game of the 2010 season, KC road a header goal by Kei Kamara to a 1-0 win Colorado 2 weeks after a 4-0 win over DC.

5/15/2010 vs Chicago - Days since last game 10.  Days since Chicago's last game 7.  2-2 draw.  KC came back from a 2-1 loss in DC on Cinco de Mayo to draw with Chicago.  KC came from 2 goals down to tie the Fire at the death on a goal by Kamara.

6/26/2010 vs New York - Days since last game 16. Days since New York's last game 21.   0-3 loss.  New York had a longer break, but KC went into the World Cup break on the back of a 2-0 win over Philadelphia, but were throughly beaten by the Red Bulls on their return from the break.  The game was the last in a Wizards uniform for Aaron Hohlbein as he was beat bad for two of the goals, including twice by Juan Pablo Angel. 

7/31/2010 vs Toronto - Days since last game 14.  Days since Toronto's last game 4 (7 in league play).  1-0 win.  KC tied Colorado in Colorado on 7/17, then came home and defeated Toronto 1-0 thanks to a headed goal by Teal Bunbury.  Toronto had played a CONCACAF Champion's League game on Tuesday, but had a league game the Saturday before.

9/19/2010 at Chivas USA - Days since last game 15.  Days since Chivas' last game 9.  2-0 win.  KC had a weekend off after their 1-1 draw in Philadelphia.  Out of the break they traveled to LA and pulled out a comprehensive 2-0 win over Chivas at the Home Depot Center.  Chivas had a friendly vs Guadalajara, but their last league game had been the Friday before.

4/16/2011 at Columbus - Days since last game 10 (14 in league play).  Days since Columbus' last game 7.  1-0 loss.  After the disappointing 3-3 draw in Vancouver, KC had the next weekend off in league play, but had an away Open Cup qualifier against the Houston Dynamo that KC won 1-0.  They came out of that break and played in Columbus against the Crew.  A red card to Juilo Cesar (remember when everyone wanted him to never start again?) later and KC lost 1-0 to the Crew.

5/14/2011 at Los Angeles - Days since last game 14.  Days since LA's last game 3.  4-1 loss.  Still on the extended road trip, KC traveled to Los Angeles after losing to the Red Bulls 1-0 in their previous outing.  KC took an early lead through an own goal, but then gave up 4 unanswered to lose 4-1.  LA on the other hand had played in Philadelphia against the Union only 3 days before.

8/17/2011 vs Portland - Days since last game 11.  Days since Portland's last game 3.  3-1 win.  After suffering their first league loss at Livestrong Sporting Park, KC had 11 days to stew before playing the Portland Timbers.  KC came out and beat the Timbers 3-1 fairly easily.  Portland had played the Sunday before in Houston against the Dynamo.

10/15/2011 vs New York - Days since last game 14.  Days since New York's last game 11 days.  2-0 win.  Coming back from an international break, KC took care of business and clinched themselves a playoff spot.  The last game had seen KC pull out a 1-1 draw with San Jose.  New York's break got started late due to a rescheduled game against the Galaxy.

5/5/2012 vs Montreal - Days since last game 14.  Days since Montreal's last game 3 days (7 in league play).  2-0 loss.  A disappointing performance coming off of the team's first loss of the season.  Little fire in the team as they fell to the expansion Impact, KC's first loss to an expansion team in their first meeting.  Montreal had played at home against Toronto in the Canadian Championship only a few days before coming to KC.

So KC is 5-5-1 under Vermes once they've had more than 10 days off.  Not a great record, but it does match up with KC's overall record in MLS play more or less, where they're also .500.  In all but 1 of those situations KC has had more rest than their opponents.  What's probably the more interesting stat is KC's 2-2 record when the team they're playing comes in with 4 or few days rest in all competitions.  An area that Vermes appears to struggle with is the extended break.  Is it that Vermes over thinks things with the extended break?  Or is it that the level of training isn't the same when you have the extended break?  Or could it be a player issue with staying up with the time off?  Whatever way, wanted to get this out for people to see.

OTHER NEWS

Seth Sinovic is back in training this week for the first time since breaking his left hand in the team's 1-0 loss to Portland a few weeks ago.  Vermes doesn't seem set to rush back Sinovic, but it'll be interesting come Saturday if Sinovic is out there in place of Michael Harrington. 

WIBW to broadcast KC away games.  Good news for those KC fans in the Topeka and more central Kansas area.  WIBW out of Topeka has picked up Sporting KC away broadcasts for the rest of the season.  A great move by the club to get this worked out, expanded their fan foot print by getting games shown in a market nearby that wouldn't get a great chance to see the games otherwise.  Love this move.

Athletics game location changed.  The KC Athletics first round US Open Cup game has had the location of the game moved.  The game was originally scheduled to take place at Shea Stadium in Littleton, CO.  The game now will take place at the Colorado School of Mines Soccer Stadium in Golden.