It's that time of year when MLS teams that are no longer in the playoffs announce their roster news for the offseason, the players that they have under contract for next season, those out of contract, those with options picked up and those with options declined. There's a lot of players on their way out. A number of former players though have had their options picked up, including three for the Swope Park Rangers. For the Rangers, Amer Didic, Christian Duke, and Nansel Selbol were just three of six players who were on last year's team that will return for the 2017 season. In terms of MLS players, Teal Bunbury had his option picked up by the New England Revolution while Jalil Anibaba and Mikey Lopez both signed new deals with Houston and New York City respectively.
In other news this week, on loan Erik Palmer-Brown made the bench for Porto for the first time. After spending most of his loan so far with Porto B, Palmer-Brown was on the bench for Porto's 0-0 cup draw with Belenenses.
Here's the rest of this week's update.
Active without a club or unknown
Vicente Arze
Pablo Escobar
Brian Fekete
Jeferson
Neven Markovic
Victor Munoz
Jordi Quintilla
Brendan Ruiz
MLS
Jalil Anibaba - Houston - Offseason.
Teal Bunbury - New England - Offseason.
Servando Carrasco - Orlando City - Offseason.
Aurelien Collin - New York - Offseason.
Marcel de Jong - Vancouver - Offseason.
Amadou Dia - Montreal - Did not dress in Montreal's 5-2 loss to Toronto.
Herculez Gomez - Seattle - Dressed but did not play in Seattle's 1-0 win over Colorado.
Michael Harrington - Chicago - Offseason.
Jack Jewsbury - Portland - Offseason.
Kei Kamara - New England - Offseason.
Chris Konopka - Portland - Offseason.
Eric Kronberg - Montreal - Dressed but did not play in Montreal's 5-2 loss to Toronto.
Mikey Lopez - NYCFC - Offseason.
Yura Movsisyan - Salt Lake - Offseason.
Amobi Okugo - Portland - Offseason.
Tony Rocha - Orlando - Offseason.
CJ Sapong - Philadelphia - Offseason.
Sal Zizzo - New York - Offseason.
NASL
Bernardo Anor - Minnesota (loan) - Offseason.
Omar Bravo - Carolina - Offseason.
Mechack Jerome - Jacksonville - Offseason.
Michael Kafari - Puerto Rico - Offseason.
James Marcelin - Carolina - Offseason.
Rauwshan McKenzie - Oklahoma City - Offseason.
USL
Stefan Antonijevic - Tampa Bay - Offseason.
Amer Didic - Swope Park - Offseason.
Christian Duke - Swope Park - Offseason.
Tomas Granitto - Swope Park - Offseason.
Cyprian Hedrick - San Antonio- Offseason.
Ryan James - Rochester - Offseason.
Alex Martinez - Charlotte - Offseason.
Alex Molano - Swope Park - Offseason.
Tyler Pasher - Swope Park - Offseason.
Nansel Selbol - Swope Park - Offseason.
Michael Thomas - Oklahoma City - Offseason.
Kris Tyrpak - Swope Park - Offseason.
Ualefi - Swope Park - Offseason.
Yomby William - Richmond - Offseason.
PDL
Adnan Gabeljic - San Francisco - Offseason.
Faik Hajderovic - St. Louis U23 - Offseason.
Indoor
Jamar Beasley - Cedar Rapids - Did not play in the Rampage's 7-5 win over Milwaukee.
Mike Jones - Dallas - No game this week.
Boris Pardo - San Diego - Playd in San Diego's 12-6 win over El Paso.
International
Korede Aiyegbusi - AFC United- Sweden - Offseason.
Scott Angevine - YPA - Finland - Offseason.
Claudio Bieler - Belgrano - Argentina -Started and played 90 minutes in Belgrano's 0-0 draw with Atletico Tucuman.
Reinaldo Brenes - Belen Siglo XXI - Fall season over.
Sunil Chhetri - Mumbai City - India - Started and played 85 minutes in Mumbai's 2-0 win over Chennaiyin.
Jorge Claros - Alajuelense - Costa Rica - Started and played 70 minutes in Alajuelense's 0-0 draw with Herediano.
Daneil Cyrus - W Connection - Trinidad - Defeate4d San Juan Jabloteh 3-0.
Toni Dovale - CD Leganes - Spain - Dressed but did not play in either of Leganes' games.
Luis Gil - Queretaro - Mexico - Fall season over.
Will John - RoPS - Finland - Offseason.
Igor Juliao - Fluminense - Brazil - Started and played 90 minutes in Fluminense's 1-0 loss to Figueirense.
Igor Kostrov - Slavia-Mozyr - Belarus - Started and played 90 minutes in Slavia's 1-0 win over Dinamo Minsk.
Luis Marin - CD Temuco - Chile - Started and played 90 minutes in Temuco's 1-0 loss to Huachipato.
Michal Mravec - RoPS - Finland - Offseason.
Krisztian Nemeth - Al-Gharafa - Qatar - Started and played 62 minutes in Al Gharafa's 2-1 win over Al Khor.
Erik Palmer-Brown - Porto (loan) - Portugal - Dressed but did not play in Porto's 0-0 cup draw with Belenenses.
Akeem Priestley - Metapan - El Salvador - Did not play in Metapan's 2-1 loss to Santa Tecla.
Pablo Punyed - IBV - Iceland - Offseason.
Oriol Rosell - Belenenses (Sporting Club de Portugal)(loan) - Portugal - Started and played 90 minutes in Belenenses' 0-0 league draw with Porto. Did not dress in Belenenses' 0-0 cup draw with Porto.
Soony Saad - Pattaya United (BEC Tero Sasana) - Offseason.
Daniel Salloi - Gyirmot FC Gyor (loan) - Hungary - Started and played 79 minutes in Gyirmot's 2-0 loss to Ferencvaros.
Peter Schmetz - Wuppertaler SV - Germany - Started and played 90 minutes in Wuppertaler's 5-1 loss to FC Viktoria Koln.
Yann Songo'o - Plymouth Argyle - England - Started and played 90 minutes in Plymouth's 2-1 loss to Morecambe.
Kevin Souter - Deveronvale FC - Scotland - Did not play in Deveronvale's 2-2 draw with Nairn County.
Martin Steuble - Ceres-La Salle - Philippines - Offseason.
Milos Stojcev - Atromitos - Greece - Did not dress in Atromitos' 4-3 win over PAOK.
Matt Taylor - Kickers Offenbach - Came off the bench and played 45 minutes in Kickers' 3-2 loss to Saarbrucken.
Wednesday, November 30, 2016
Silly Season Rumors: Besler is Bradley's Birnbaum Back Up Plan at Swansea
We're just over a month from the winter transfer window opening in Europe, and that means that it's time for some silly season rumors to start cropping up. With former US coach, Bob Bradley now the head coach at Swansea City in the Premier League it has started a number of rumors about the club being interested in different American players.
Besler is coming off what he would probably call his toughest season as a pro, appearing in just 18 games, the fewest since his second season in the league in 2010, just 18 games part of that was because of a concussion he suffered on international duty, part was because of a dip in form. He also was stripped of the captain's armband by Peter Vermes, who handed the captaincy to Roger Espinoza. Off the field it was a good year for the KC native as he welcomed his first child, a daughter, and shortly after scored his first international goal for the United States.
If indeed Swansea is actually interested, it would require a transfer fee for them to get Besler as he currently has two years left on the Designated Player contract that he signed with the club after the 2014 World Cup (even if he's not a DP any more). On the KC side of things, it'd be hard to part with a player who is one of the faces of the franchise, and a local product who has spent his entire professional career with the club. On the other side of things though it would open up quite a bit of salary cap space for Sporting KC to utilize on top of the space they've already cleared with offseason moves so far.
I'm not one to put much stock in this rumor as a whole, but if it is true, it's something that Peter Vermes at least needs to hear how much Swansea is offering for Besler before saying no.
Tuesday, November 29, 2016
Vermes Signs Extension with Sporting KC
Sporting KC's major announcement today wasn't especially sexy, or really overly surprising, but that doesn't mean it wasn't a major announcement for the club. Sporting today announced that they had extended the contract of head coach and technical director, Peter Vermes through the 2019 season. Vermes' contract was set to expire after this upcoming 2017 season and with rumored interest from clubs and countries both within the US and reportedly internationally, KC sought to lock Vermes up to a longer deal.
After Bruce Arena's departure from LA a few weeks ago and Sigi Schmid's firing by Seattle earlier this year, Vermes is now the longest serving head coach in MLS and became the club's longest serving head coach this past year, having taken over as head coach on an interim basis back in 2009 after the firing of Curt Onalfo. Since then he coached the most games in club history, the most wins, both in league (103) and in all competitions (128). He's also tied with Sporting Legend, Bob Gansler for the most silverware in club history, having helped bring two US Open Cups and one MLS Cup (compared to one MLS Cup, one Supporters' Shield, and one US Open Cup by Gansler) to Kansas City. If Vermes is with Kansas City through the end of the deal he would become the longest tenured manager with one team in the short history of MLS, with over 10 years at one club.
As I said last night, the extension was the likely outcome of today's announcement, and while it's not a fancy announcement it was one that should be seen as a major announcement. Vermes staying in Kansas City is the best thing for the club at this point in time. His record speaks for itself with the wins and trophies in MLS. While the last two years have been rougher than the few before that, he's still managed to bring in trophies. To twist a quote that Vermes used today on the radio about managers some times thinking the grass is greener on the other side of things when talking about other job opportunities, the same is true for coaches, just because there's a section of fans that may not be happy with this move, that think KC would be better off with a new manager, but what's to say that the next manager is going to do any better? What's to say it doesn't actually get worse? If you look at every team in MLS they all go through struggles during each and every season pretty much. Very rarely do you see a team not go through major ups and downs in the same season, usually when those teams are always up they're usually at the top of the conference winning the Supporters' Shield.
In the end I still maintain that this is a good move for Kansas City, now comes the time where Vermes really earns his technical director money along with Mike Jacobs and Brian Bliss on filling the existing holes in the roster.
After Bruce Arena's departure from LA a few weeks ago and Sigi Schmid's firing by Seattle earlier this year, Vermes is now the longest serving head coach in MLS and became the club's longest serving head coach this past year, having taken over as head coach on an interim basis back in 2009 after the firing of Curt Onalfo. Since then he coached the most games in club history, the most wins, both in league (103) and in all competitions (128). He's also tied with Sporting Legend, Bob Gansler for the most silverware in club history, having helped bring two US Open Cups and one MLS Cup (compared to one MLS Cup, one Supporters' Shield, and one US Open Cup by Gansler) to Kansas City. If Vermes is with Kansas City through the end of the deal he would become the longest tenured manager with one team in the short history of MLS, with over 10 years at one club.
As I said last night, the extension was the likely outcome of today's announcement, and while it's not a fancy announcement it was one that should be seen as a major announcement. Vermes staying in Kansas City is the best thing for the club at this point in time. His record speaks for itself with the wins and trophies in MLS. While the last two years have been rougher than the few before that, he's still managed to bring in trophies. To twist a quote that Vermes used today on the radio about managers some times thinking the grass is greener on the other side of things when talking about other job opportunities, the same is true for coaches, just because there's a section of fans that may not be happy with this move, that think KC would be better off with a new manager, but what's to say that the next manager is going to do any better? What's to say it doesn't actually get worse? If you look at every team in MLS they all go through struggles during each and every season pretty much. Very rarely do you see a team not go through major ups and downs in the same season, usually when those teams are always up they're usually at the top of the conference winning the Supporters' Shield.
In the end I still maintain that this is a good move for Kansas City, now comes the time where Vermes really earns his technical director money along with Mike Jacobs and Brian Bliss on filling the existing holes in the roster.
Monday, November 28, 2016
Two Schools with Academy Players Still Alive - Sporting Academy in College
The college soccer season continues to move towards its conclusion this year as the NCAA D1 third round was this past weekend. Of the two schools with Sporting KC academy players on them playing this past weekend, only one, UNC advanced to the quarterfinals. UNC defeated Syrcause 1-0 to advance to host Providence in next weekend. Meanwhile Notre Dame lost 3-1 to Louisville to end their season.
That now leaves UNC and Rockhurst alive. Rockhurst will be playing in Kansas City this coming weekend in the NCAA D2 final at the Swope Soccer Village.
Class of 2012
Derek Schrick (Rockhurst) - M - RSr - No game this week.
Class of 2013
Joe Amico (Jacksonville) - D - Sr - Season over.
Matt Bernard (Cal Baptist) - MF - RJr - Season over.
Paul Dean (Rockhurst University) - D - Sr - No game this week.
Seo-In Kim (UCSB) - MF - Sr - Season over.
Adam Lightner (Northern Illinois University) - D - Sr - Season over.
Clay Stewart - (University of Missouri Kansas City) - MF/D - Sr - Season over.
Wes White (Coastal Carolina) - F - RJr - Season over.
Drew Wilson (Fort Hays State University) - D - Sr - Season over.
Class of 2014
Darby Cronin (Missouri State)- MF - Jr - Season over.
Heath Honold (West Virginia) - F - Jr - Season over.
Mason Leonard (Drake) - D - Jr - Season over.
Blake Levine (Baker) - F - Jr - Season over.
Matthew Lewis (Fordham) - D - Jr - Season over.
Andy Lopez (North Carolina) - MF - RSo - Came on as a substitute in UNC's 1-0 win over Syracuse.
Noah Mudd (Trevecca) - D - Jr - Season over.
Joey Piatczyc (West Virginia) - MF - Jr - Season over.
Cole Stevenson (Fordham) - F - Jr - Season over.
Zach Wright (North Carolina) - F - Jr - Started UNC's 1-0 win over Syracuse.
2015
Andrew Blalock (Drake) - GK - RFr - Season over.
Robert DeWitt III (Xavier) - MF - So - Season over.
Jack Freeman (Furman) - D - RFr - Season over.
Bryce Gibson (Creighton) - D - So - Did not play in Creighton's 2-1 loss to Providence.
Nic Jaimes (Drake) - MF - So - Season over.
Ryan Krutz (Notre Dame) - GK - So - Did not play in Notre Dame's 3-1 loss to Louisville.
Zane Moxley (Air Force) - D - So - Season over.
Alexis Quevedo (UNLV) - MF - So - Season over.
Hector Solorio (Niagara) - MF - So - Season over.
Tucker Stephenson (West Virginia) - F - So - Season over.
Andy Velez (JCCC) - MF - So - Season over.
Bailey Weeks (Northeastern State University) - D - So - Season over.
2016
Dakota Karns (Missouri State) - MF - Fr - Season over.
Ryan Kellogg (West Virginia) - D - Fr - Season over.
John Leisman (Yale) - F - Fr - Season over.
Logan Lucas (West Virginia) - D - Fr - Season over.
Andrew McLeod (Northwestern) - D - Fr - Season over.
Absalom Solorio (Niagara) - MF - Fr - Season over.
Paul Whitener (Marshall) - MF - Fr - Season over.
That now leaves UNC and Rockhurst alive. Rockhurst will be playing in Kansas City this coming weekend in the NCAA D2 final at the Swope Soccer Village.
Class of 2012
Derek Schrick (Rockhurst) - M - RSr - No game this week.
Class of 2013
Joe Amico (Jacksonville) - D - Sr - Season over.
Matt Bernard (Cal Baptist) - MF - RJr - Season over.
Paul Dean (Rockhurst University) - D - Sr - No game this week.
Seo-In Kim (UCSB) - MF - Sr - Season over.
Adam Lightner (Northern Illinois University) - D - Sr - Season over.
Clay Stewart - (University of Missouri Kansas City) - MF/D - Sr - Season over.
Wes White (Coastal Carolina) - F - RJr - Season over.
Drew Wilson (Fort Hays State University) - D - Sr - Season over.
Class of 2014
Darby Cronin (Missouri State)- MF - Jr - Season over.
Heath Honold (West Virginia) - F - Jr - Season over.
Mason Leonard (Drake) - D - Jr - Season over.
Blake Levine (Baker) - F - Jr - Season over.
Matthew Lewis (Fordham) - D - Jr - Season over.
Andy Lopez (North Carolina) - MF - RSo - Came on as a substitute in UNC's 1-0 win over Syracuse.
Noah Mudd (Trevecca) - D - Jr - Season over.
Joey Piatczyc (West Virginia) - MF - Jr - Season over.
Cole Stevenson (Fordham) - F - Jr - Season over.
Zach Wright (North Carolina) - F - Jr - Started UNC's 1-0 win over Syracuse.
2015
Andrew Blalock (Drake) - GK - RFr - Season over.
Robert DeWitt III (Xavier) - MF - So - Season over.
Jack Freeman (Furman) - D - RFr - Season over.
Bryce Gibson (Creighton) - D - So - Did not play in Creighton's 2-1 loss to Providence.
Nic Jaimes (Drake) - MF - So - Season over.
Ryan Krutz (Notre Dame) - GK - So - Did not play in Notre Dame's 3-1 loss to Louisville.
Zane Moxley (Air Force) - D - So - Season over.
Alexis Quevedo (UNLV) - MF - So - Season over.
Hector Solorio (Niagara) - MF - So - Season over.
Tucker Stephenson (West Virginia) - F - So - Season over.
Andy Velez (JCCC) - MF - So - Season over.
Bailey Weeks (Northeastern State University) - D - So - Season over.
2016
Dakota Karns (Missouri State) - MF - Fr - Season over.
Ryan Kellogg (West Virginia) - D - Fr - Season over.
John Leisman (Yale) - F - Fr - Season over.
Logan Lucas (West Virginia) - D - Fr - Season over.
Andrew McLeod (Northwestern) - D - Fr - Season over.
Absalom Solorio (Niagara) - MF - Fr - Season over.
Paul Whitener (Marshall) - MF - Fr - Season over.
Sporting to Have Major Club Announcement Tomorrow
Tomorrow morning, Sporting KC will be making a major club announcement at their downtown offices. Included at the announcement will be the club's coach and technical director, Peter Vermes, club president Jake Reid, and Mike Illig, representing the Sporting Club ownership group. Since it was announced around 3:30 this afternoon, plenty of speculation has taken place about what the announcement is going to be, is it a new player signing, is it a contract extension for Vermes, is Vermes leaving, is there a change in ownership coming? There are plenty of guesses being made about what the announcement is going to be about.
Here's my take on a few of the potential ideas.
Peter Vermes Contract Extension
If there was betting line for what the announcement was going to be tomorrow, this would be the odds on favorite and is my guess for the announcement tomorrow. Vermes last signed a contract extension over the summer in 2013 that extended his stay with Kansas City through the end of the 2017 season. With this coming season being the last in that contract and rumors of US Soccer interest, LA Galaxy interest, and foreign interest, both club and national team, locking Vermes up long term is certainly something that would have to be on at the top of the KC priority list. Vermes has virtually every single coaching record in KC's history and with the departure of Bruce Arena from the LA Galaxy, Vermes is now the longest tenured manager in MLS.
Vermes is Leaving Kansas City
This one isn't completely far-fetched, because of the reasons I listed in the last section, Vermes' profile as a coach continues to rise, he was named as one of the primary candidates to replace Jurgen Klinsmann as national team boss, is about to be out of contract, and has reportedly had interest abroad. Where this idea falls apart though is the timing of the announcement. If Vermes was leaving Kansas City for another position, standard practice is to let the other team that the manager is going to be the one that makes the announcement first, then the team the coach is leaving releases a statement, they don't generally have a press conference with the coach announcing his departure.
Player Signing/Departure
The first problem with this idea is the fact that the release called it a "major club announcement," if this was going to be a player signing or departure, the team would have announced it as a "major player announcement" or something similar. If it was a signing, you would expect the player to also be available at least for a brief statement with the club, but the announcement makes no mention of a player (not that it would give away the player's name, but would say that the player would be available for comment). If it was a departure, like with a coach departure, Sporting would probably wait until the club the player was going to to announce the move before making the announcement themselves.
Front Office Shake Up
Ever since OnGoal LLC bought the Kansas City Wizards, Sporting Club CEO, Robb Heineman has been the public face of the ownership group when it comes to dealing with the media and at announcements. So with tomorrow's announcement including Mike Illig, son of Cliff Illig, as the representative of Sporting Club, it certainly raised some eyebrows among fans. There have been rumblings about Heineman's role with the club lately and the fact that he's not part of this announcement will certainly do nothing to quell those rumors, but any sort of announcement like that doesn't make a ton of sense tomorrow. That sort of announcement isn't something that you feel would need to involve Vermes being at the press conference, and especially not something that the club would make Vermes available for interviews about after the meeting.
There are other ideas that have been thrown out on Twitter tonight, things like buying FC Kansas City or expanding Children's Mercy Park, but those and others are reaching much more than even some of the above ideas. As I said near the beginning, the odds on favorite for tomorrow's announcement would be a contract extension for Vermes that will keep him in KC long term, or at least raise the release clause that US Soccer or any club team would have to pay the club if they really wanted him.
Here's my take on a few of the potential ideas.
Peter Vermes Contract Extension
If there was betting line for what the announcement was going to be tomorrow, this would be the odds on favorite and is my guess for the announcement tomorrow. Vermes last signed a contract extension over the summer in 2013 that extended his stay with Kansas City through the end of the 2017 season. With this coming season being the last in that contract and rumors of US Soccer interest, LA Galaxy interest, and foreign interest, both club and national team, locking Vermes up long term is certainly something that would have to be on at the top of the KC priority list. Vermes has virtually every single coaching record in KC's history and with the departure of Bruce Arena from the LA Galaxy, Vermes is now the longest tenured manager in MLS.
Vermes is Leaving Kansas City
This one isn't completely far-fetched, because of the reasons I listed in the last section, Vermes' profile as a coach continues to rise, he was named as one of the primary candidates to replace Jurgen Klinsmann as national team boss, is about to be out of contract, and has reportedly had interest abroad. Where this idea falls apart though is the timing of the announcement. If Vermes was leaving Kansas City for another position, standard practice is to let the other team that the manager is going to be the one that makes the announcement first, then the team the coach is leaving releases a statement, they don't generally have a press conference with the coach announcing his departure.
Player Signing/Departure
The first problem with this idea is the fact that the release called it a "major club announcement," if this was going to be a player signing or departure, the team would have announced it as a "major player announcement" or something similar. If it was a signing, you would expect the player to also be available at least for a brief statement with the club, but the announcement makes no mention of a player (not that it would give away the player's name, but would say that the player would be available for comment). If it was a departure, like with a coach departure, Sporting would probably wait until the club the player was going to to announce the move before making the announcement themselves.
Front Office Shake Up
Ever since OnGoal LLC bought the Kansas City Wizards, Sporting Club CEO, Robb Heineman has been the public face of the ownership group when it comes to dealing with the media and at announcements. So with tomorrow's announcement including Mike Illig, son of Cliff Illig, as the representative of Sporting Club, it certainly raised some eyebrows among fans. There have been rumblings about Heineman's role with the club lately and the fact that he's not part of this announcement will certainly do nothing to quell those rumors, but any sort of announcement like that doesn't make a ton of sense tomorrow. That sort of announcement isn't something that you feel would need to involve Vermes being at the press conference, and especially not something that the club would make Vermes available for interviews about after the meeting.
There are other ideas that have been thrown out on Twitter tonight, things like buying FC Kansas City or expanding Children's Mercy Park, but those and others are reaching much more than even some of the above ideas. As I said near the beginning, the odds on favorite for tomorrow's announcement would be a contract extension for Vermes that will keep him in KC long term, or at least raise the release clause that US Soccer or any club team would have to pay the club if they really wanted him.
Wednesday, November 23, 2016
Former Player List Set to Grow - Former SKC Wizards Update
With the roster moves today by Kansas City, the list of former players looks set to grow this offseason. I think a couple of the players that didn't have their options picked up will find their way back onto an MLS team come 2017, but for the majority of them, I think the lower leagues in the US or potentially abroad is the place where most of them will end up if they want to continue to play.
Also this week, Erik Palmer-Brown's chances of returning took a hit, at least in my mind. With his performance recently with Porto B, Palmer-Brown was called up to train with the Porto first team. He wasn't on the club's Champions League roster so he couldn't have dressed for that, but the call up is certainly a good sign for the young American.
Here is the rest of this week's update.
Active without a club or unknown
Vicente Arze
Pablo Escobar
Brian Fekete
Jeferson
Neven Markovic
Victor Munoz
Jordi Quintilla
Brendan Ruiz
MLS
Jalil Anibaba - Houston - Offseason.
Teal Bunbury - New England - Offseason.
Servando Carrasco - Orlando City - Offseason.
Aurelien Collin - New York - Offseason.
Marcel de Jong - Vancouver - Offseason.
Amadou Dia - Montreal - Did not dress in Montreal's 3-2 win over Toronto.
Herculez Gomez - Seattle - Dressed but did not play in Seattle's 2-1 win over Colorado.
Michael Harrington - Chicago - Offseason.
Jack Jewsbury - Portland - Offseason.
Kei Kamara - New England - Offseason.
Chris Konopka - Portland - Offseason.
Eric Kronberg - Montreal - Dressed but did not play in Montreal's 3-2 win over Toronto.
Mikey Lopez - NYCFC - Offseason.
Yura Movsisyan - Salt Lake - Offseason.
Amobi Okugo - Portland - Offseason.
Tony Rocha - Orlando - Offseason.
CJ Sapong - Philadelphia - Offseason.
Sal Zizzo - New York - Offseason.
NASL
Bernardo Anor - Minnesota (loan) - Offseason.
Omar Bravo - Carolina - Offseason.
Mechack Jerome - Jacksonville - Offseason.
Michael Kafari - Puerto Rico - Offseason.
James Marcelin - Carolina - Offseason.
Rauwshan McKenzie - Oklahoma City - Offseason.
USL
Stefan Antonijevic - Tampa Bay - Offseason.
Amer Didic - Swope Park - Offseason.
Christian Duke - Swope Park - Offseason.
Tomas Granitto - Swope Park - Offseason.
Cyprian Hedrick - Oklahoma City - Offseason.
Ryan James - Rochester - Offseason.
Alex Martinez - Charlotte - Offseason.
Alex Molano - Swope Park - Offseason.
Tyler Pasher - Swope Park - Offseason.
Nansel Selbol - Swope Park - Offseason.
Michael Thomas - Oklahoma City - Offseason.
Kris Tyrpak - Swope Park - Offseason.
Ualefi - Swope Park - Offseason.
Yomby William - Richmond - Offseason.
PDL
Adnan Gabeljic - San Francisco - Offseason.
Faik Hajderovic - St. Louis U23 - Offseason.
Indoor
Jamar Beasley - Cedar Rapids - Did not play in Cedar Rapids' 5-4 OT win over Milwaukee.
Mike Jones - Dallas - Played in Dallas' 6-5 shootout loss to Tacoma.
Boris Pardo - San Diego - Did not play in San Diego's 6-4 loss to Turlock.
International
Korede Aiyegbusi - AFC United- Sweden - Offseason.
Scott Angevine - YPA - Finland - Offseason.
Claudio Bieler - Belgrano - Argentina - Started and played 90 minutes, scoring a goal in Belgrano's 2-1 loss to Sarmiento.
Reinaldo Brenes - Belen Siglo XXI - No game this week.
Sunil Chhetri - Mumbai City - India - Started and played 90 minutes in Mumbai's 0-0 draw with Goa. Started and played 90 minutes in Mumbai's 5-0 win over Kerala Blasters.
Jorge Claros - Alajuelense - Costa Rica - No game this week.
Daneil Cyrus - W Connection - Trinidad - Defeated Morvant Caledonia United 3-1.
Toni Dovale - CD Leganes - Spain - Did not dress in Leganes' 2-0 win over Osasuna.
Luis Gil - Queretaro - Mexico - Did not dress in Queretaro's 2-1 win over Tigres.
Will John - RoPS - Finland - Offseason.
Igor Juliao - Fluminense - Brazil - Dressed but did not play in Fluminense's 1-0 loss to Ponte Preta.
Igor Kostrov - Slavia-Mozyr - Belarus - Started and played 90 minutes in Slavia's 5-1 loss to Shakhtyor.
Luis Marin - CD Temuco - Chile - Started and played 90 minutes in Temuco's 3-2 loss to Santiago Wanderers.
Michal Mravec - RoPS - Finland - Offseason.
Krisztian Nemeth - Al-Gharafa - Qatar - Started and played 90 minutes, scoring a goal in Al Gharafa's 4-2 win over Al Arabi.
Erik Palmer-Brown - Porto (loan) - Portugal - No game this week.
Akeem Priestley - Metapan - El Salvador - Did not play in Metapan's 2-1 win over FAS.
Pablo Punyed - IBV - Iceland - Offseason.
Oriol Rosell - Belenenses (Sporting Club de Portugal)(loan) - Portugal - No game this week.
Soony Saad - Pattaya United (BEC Tero Sasana) - Offseason.
Daniel Salloi - Gyirmot FC Gyor (loan) - Hungary - Started and played 89 minutes in Gyirmot's 2-1 loss to Ujpest.
Peter Schmetz - Wuppertaler SV - Germany - Started and played 90 minutes in Wuppertaler's 2-0 cup win over SC Dusseldorf-West.
Yann Songo'o - Plymouth Argyle - England - Started and played 90 minutes in Plymouth's 3-0 loss to Grimsby Town. Started and played 45 minutes in Plymouth's 2-0 loss to Barnet.
Kevin Souter - Deveronvale FC - Scotland - Did not play in Deveronvale's 3-2 loss to Formartine United.
Martin Steuble - Ceres-La Salle - Philippines - Offseason.
Milos Stojcev - Atromitos - Greece - Game this week postponed.
Matt Taylor - Kickers Offenbach - Came off the bench and played 23 minutes in Kickers' 4-2 loss to Astoria Walldorf.
Also this week, Erik Palmer-Brown's chances of returning took a hit, at least in my mind. With his performance recently with Porto B, Palmer-Brown was called up to train with the Porto first team. He wasn't on the club's Champions League roster so he couldn't have dressed for that, but the call up is certainly a good sign for the young American.
Here is the rest of this week's update.
Active without a club or unknown
Vicente Arze
Pablo Escobar
Brian Fekete
Jeferson
Neven Markovic
Victor Munoz
Jordi Quintilla
Brendan Ruiz
MLS
Jalil Anibaba - Houston - Offseason.
Teal Bunbury - New England - Offseason.
Servando Carrasco - Orlando City - Offseason.
Aurelien Collin - New York - Offseason.
Marcel de Jong - Vancouver - Offseason.
Amadou Dia - Montreal - Did not dress in Montreal's 3-2 win over Toronto.
Herculez Gomez - Seattle - Dressed but did not play in Seattle's 2-1 win over Colorado.
Michael Harrington - Chicago - Offseason.
Jack Jewsbury - Portland - Offseason.
Kei Kamara - New England - Offseason.
Chris Konopka - Portland - Offseason.
Eric Kronberg - Montreal - Dressed but did not play in Montreal's 3-2 win over Toronto.
Mikey Lopez - NYCFC - Offseason.
Yura Movsisyan - Salt Lake - Offseason.
Amobi Okugo - Portland - Offseason.
Tony Rocha - Orlando - Offseason.
CJ Sapong - Philadelphia - Offseason.
Sal Zizzo - New York - Offseason.
NASL
Bernardo Anor - Minnesota (loan) - Offseason.
Omar Bravo - Carolina - Offseason.
Mechack Jerome - Jacksonville - Offseason.
Michael Kafari - Puerto Rico - Offseason.
James Marcelin - Carolina - Offseason.
Rauwshan McKenzie - Oklahoma City - Offseason.
USL
Stefan Antonijevic - Tampa Bay - Offseason.
Amer Didic - Swope Park - Offseason.
Christian Duke - Swope Park - Offseason.
Tomas Granitto - Swope Park - Offseason.
Cyprian Hedrick - Oklahoma City - Offseason.
Ryan James - Rochester - Offseason.
Alex Martinez - Charlotte - Offseason.
Alex Molano - Swope Park - Offseason.
Tyler Pasher - Swope Park - Offseason.
Nansel Selbol - Swope Park - Offseason.
Michael Thomas - Oklahoma City - Offseason.
Kris Tyrpak - Swope Park - Offseason.
Ualefi - Swope Park - Offseason.
Yomby William - Richmond - Offseason.
PDL
Adnan Gabeljic - San Francisco - Offseason.
Faik Hajderovic - St. Louis U23 - Offseason.
Indoor
Jamar Beasley - Cedar Rapids - Did not play in Cedar Rapids' 5-4 OT win over Milwaukee.
Mike Jones - Dallas - Played in Dallas' 6-5 shootout loss to Tacoma.
Boris Pardo - San Diego - Did not play in San Diego's 6-4 loss to Turlock.
International
Korede Aiyegbusi - AFC United- Sweden - Offseason.
Scott Angevine - YPA - Finland - Offseason.
Claudio Bieler - Belgrano - Argentina - Started and played 90 minutes, scoring a goal in Belgrano's 2-1 loss to Sarmiento.
Reinaldo Brenes - Belen Siglo XXI - No game this week.
Sunil Chhetri - Mumbai City - India - Started and played 90 minutes in Mumbai's 0-0 draw with Goa. Started and played 90 minutes in Mumbai's 5-0 win over Kerala Blasters.
Jorge Claros - Alajuelense - Costa Rica - No game this week.
Daneil Cyrus - W Connection - Trinidad - Defeated Morvant Caledonia United 3-1.
Toni Dovale - CD Leganes - Spain - Did not dress in Leganes' 2-0 win over Osasuna.
Luis Gil - Queretaro - Mexico - Did not dress in Queretaro's 2-1 win over Tigres.
Will John - RoPS - Finland - Offseason.
Igor Juliao - Fluminense - Brazil - Dressed but did not play in Fluminense's 1-0 loss to Ponte Preta.
Igor Kostrov - Slavia-Mozyr - Belarus - Started and played 90 minutes in Slavia's 5-1 loss to Shakhtyor.
Luis Marin - CD Temuco - Chile - Started and played 90 minutes in Temuco's 3-2 loss to Santiago Wanderers.
Michal Mravec - RoPS - Finland - Offseason.
Krisztian Nemeth - Al-Gharafa - Qatar - Started and played 90 minutes, scoring a goal in Al Gharafa's 4-2 win over Al Arabi.
Erik Palmer-Brown - Porto (loan) - Portugal - No game this week.
Akeem Priestley - Metapan - El Salvador - Did not play in Metapan's 2-1 win over FAS.
Pablo Punyed - IBV - Iceland - Offseason.
Oriol Rosell - Belenenses (Sporting Club de Portugal)(loan) - Portugal - No game this week.
Soony Saad - Pattaya United (BEC Tero Sasana) - Offseason.
Daniel Salloi - Gyirmot FC Gyor (loan) - Hungary - Started and played 89 minutes in Gyirmot's 2-1 loss to Ujpest.
Peter Schmetz - Wuppertaler SV - Germany - Started and played 90 minutes in Wuppertaler's 2-0 cup win over SC Dusseldorf-West.
Yann Songo'o - Plymouth Argyle - England - Started and played 90 minutes in Plymouth's 3-0 loss to Grimsby Town. Started and played 45 minutes in Plymouth's 2-0 loss to Barnet.
Kevin Souter - Deveronvale FC - Scotland - Did not play in Deveronvale's 3-2 loss to Formartine United.
Martin Steuble - Ceres-La Salle - Philippines - Offseason.
Milos Stojcev - Atromitos - Greece - Game this week postponed.
Matt Taylor - Kickers Offenbach - Came off the bench and played 23 minutes in Kickers' 4-2 loss to Astoria Walldorf.
Sporting Make More Roster Moves
Sporting Kansas City today got things moving on what appears to be a busy offseason for the club, announcing they'd picked up options for five players, declined options on five players, and that another six were out of contract.
The club announced that they had picked up options on Saad Abdul-Salaam, Benji Joya, Jimmy Medranda, Lawrence Olum, and Seth Sinovic. Abdul-Salaam established himself as the starting right back in front of Chance Myers, his return was always expected after his performance in 2017. Joya made only a single appearance for KC in 2016, in the CCL against Central FC, after joining the club at the roster freeze, but based off his history with the US youth national team and in Mexico, giving him some more time with the club is something the club is obviously interested in. Medranda, like Abdul-Salaam was an obvious choice to retain after his break out year in 2016 at left back. While the team has mentioned they see his spot eventually further up the field, keeping him around for 2017 is the first step in that process.
The final two that had options picked up are a little bit of a surprise. With Medranda's emergence this season I thought Sinovic might have been slowly making his way out, but his performance over the last month or so of the season showed that he's still able to contribute to the team and may still be the best left back when paired with Matt Besler at the left center back position. As for Olum, he is a bit of a surprise considering he missed much of the later half of the season due to injury. Still though he was able to contributor at center back for Sporting throughout the season when he was healthy. Having an emergency center back and emergence defensive midfielder that knows KC's system isn't a bad thing as long as the price is right (made $105,000 this past season).
Of the five who had their options declined for 2017, it's a list of players that most fans won't be surprised about with Ever Alvarado, Emmanuel Appiah, Connor Hallisey, Jon Kempin, and Justin Mapp, all being declined. Alvarado and Appiah were brought in during the summer transfer window but both spent the majority of their time in Kansas City with the Swope Park Rangers. Alvarado a victim of the emergence of Medranda, and Appiah, a first round pick for Colorado wasn't able to push his way into the midfield and was pushed down the depth chart by Joya.
Hallisey's career in KC has been less than stellar, I was one of those last year that felt that Hallisey needed to have another year to prove himself, unfortunately he didn't do that in 2016, struggling offensively with his ability to finish. At times he looked like he was a step slow on the field and this was compounded by the fact that most teams would try to force KC to play to his side of the field when he was on, exposing the flaws in his game more so than he probably deserved. With Kempin, KC looks set to part ways with their first homegrown player, and while some fans are disappointed by this, I think many would also say that it's a move for the best for him. His struggles to get time when loaned to USL affiliates has been noted over the past couple years, and haven't been helped by KC's starters not being able to stay healthy (or not stick around in Luis Marin's case). But when given the chance both with KC and with their USL affiliates, Kempin hasn't been able to take charge, the writing was most certainly on the wall when Adrian Zendejas made the Rangers starting goalkeeping spot is own while Kempin was recalled with the first team. Kempin, having been in the league since he was 16 is eligible for the re-entry draft this year.
The final declined option is probably the least surprising of the moves, Mapp. The first free agent signing in MLS history was an abject failure on the field for KC. He probably had more public appearances for the club than he had appearances on the field (6) so his name appearing on the list as not having his option not picked up isn't surprising at all. Mapp is able to go into free agency again or he can go through the re-entry draft.
Six more players are now out of contract, Nuno Coelho, Kevin Ellis, Alec Kann, Chance Myers, Paulo Nagamura, and Jacob Peterson. Coelho appears to be the only one that doesn't have an immediate available option within MLS. Coelho had a strong start to the season, but injuries (something that's hampered him throughout his playing career) limited him to just one 90 minute appearance after 5/21. As a central defender that really isn't something that KC can afford, so his departure isn't a surprise, especially one that is making $375,000 in guaranteed compensation.
The other five players all have options to stay in MLS, Sporting in their release states that the club will extend offers to both Ellis and Kann in the hopes of having both return. By the end of the 2016 season Ellis had again become the preferred partner of Besler at center back, and though he continues to have his detractors, is still a good enough player to be a reserve in the league. Kann beat out Kempin for the number two spot and proved to be a capable back up for Tim Melia when Melia went down with injury.
The other three, Myers, Nagamura, and Peterson can all join Mapp in MLS free agency because of their age and experience in the league. Myers is coming off another injury plagued season, something that has cut his season short the last few years. Depending on his salary demands he's someone that could certainly find a job elsewhere in MLS. As for Nagamura, the midfielder turns 34 early in 2017, and played the fewest games and minutes of his MLS career in 2016. When he's on the field he's been a solid addition to the team, but the problem is that he always seems to miss a good portion of the season with injuries now. For a player making over $200,000 in 2016, that's just not something that KC can afford, even though he provides a ton of experience to KC. The last of those three is probably the most surprising to Sporting KC fans as Peterson had himself a career year for KC, hitting career highs in games started and goals. At 30 he became almost invaluable as a secondary option to take pressure off of Dom Dwyer offensively. Even at 31 most fans would have thought that KC could have found a place for him with his versatility on the field. As Sam McDowell put, KC allowing Peterson to test free agency would seem to be a big indication of KC's intentions to make changes on the wings in the offseason. At the same time, his entrance into free agency doesn't mean he won't be returning to KC, for example, Nagamura didn't re-sign with Kansas City this year until January 11th, after testing the free agent market in MLS. The same could certainly happen here.
One name not mentioned was Bernardo Anor, one of the club's touted signings before the 2015 season is on loan with Minnesota United until the end of 2016. The club made no mention of him in their release about the roster moves, but after asked responded by saying that he will not be on the roster come January 1st of 2017 reportedly with the expansion side in Minnesota picking up his salary.
After the dust settles, KC has 17 players currently under contract for 2017, a little over half the roster maximum of 30, with the likelihood of one of those 17 (Erik Palmer-Brown) being gone in 2017 still high.
The club announced that they had picked up options on Saad Abdul-Salaam, Benji Joya, Jimmy Medranda, Lawrence Olum, and Seth Sinovic. Abdul-Salaam established himself as the starting right back in front of Chance Myers, his return was always expected after his performance in 2017. Joya made only a single appearance for KC in 2016, in the CCL against Central FC, after joining the club at the roster freeze, but based off his history with the US youth national team and in Mexico, giving him some more time with the club is something the club is obviously interested in. Medranda, like Abdul-Salaam was an obvious choice to retain after his break out year in 2016 at left back. While the team has mentioned they see his spot eventually further up the field, keeping him around for 2017 is the first step in that process.
The final two that had options picked up are a little bit of a surprise. With Medranda's emergence this season I thought Sinovic might have been slowly making his way out, but his performance over the last month or so of the season showed that he's still able to contribute to the team and may still be the best left back when paired with Matt Besler at the left center back position. As for Olum, he is a bit of a surprise considering he missed much of the later half of the season due to injury. Still though he was able to contributor at center back for Sporting throughout the season when he was healthy. Having an emergency center back and emergence defensive midfielder that knows KC's system isn't a bad thing as long as the price is right (made $105,000 this past season).
Of the five who had their options declined for 2017, it's a list of players that most fans won't be surprised about with Ever Alvarado, Emmanuel Appiah, Connor Hallisey, Jon Kempin, and Justin Mapp, all being declined. Alvarado and Appiah were brought in during the summer transfer window but both spent the majority of their time in Kansas City with the Swope Park Rangers. Alvarado a victim of the emergence of Medranda, and Appiah, a first round pick for Colorado wasn't able to push his way into the midfield and was pushed down the depth chart by Joya.
Hallisey's career in KC has been less than stellar, I was one of those last year that felt that Hallisey needed to have another year to prove himself, unfortunately he didn't do that in 2016, struggling offensively with his ability to finish. At times he looked like he was a step slow on the field and this was compounded by the fact that most teams would try to force KC to play to his side of the field when he was on, exposing the flaws in his game more so than he probably deserved. With Kempin, KC looks set to part ways with their first homegrown player, and while some fans are disappointed by this, I think many would also say that it's a move for the best for him. His struggles to get time when loaned to USL affiliates has been noted over the past couple years, and haven't been helped by KC's starters not being able to stay healthy (or not stick around in Luis Marin's case). But when given the chance both with KC and with their USL affiliates, Kempin hasn't been able to take charge, the writing was most certainly on the wall when Adrian Zendejas made the Rangers starting goalkeeping spot is own while Kempin was recalled with the first team. Kempin, having been in the league since he was 16 is eligible for the re-entry draft this year.
The final declined option is probably the least surprising of the moves, Mapp. The first free agent signing in MLS history was an abject failure on the field for KC. He probably had more public appearances for the club than he had appearances on the field (6) so his name appearing on the list as not having his option not picked up isn't surprising at all. Mapp is able to go into free agency again or he can go through the re-entry draft.
Six more players are now out of contract, Nuno Coelho, Kevin Ellis, Alec Kann, Chance Myers, Paulo Nagamura, and Jacob Peterson. Coelho appears to be the only one that doesn't have an immediate available option within MLS. Coelho had a strong start to the season, but injuries (something that's hampered him throughout his playing career) limited him to just one 90 minute appearance after 5/21. As a central defender that really isn't something that KC can afford, so his departure isn't a surprise, especially one that is making $375,000 in guaranteed compensation.
The other five players all have options to stay in MLS, Sporting in their release states that the club will extend offers to both Ellis and Kann in the hopes of having both return. By the end of the 2016 season Ellis had again become the preferred partner of Besler at center back, and though he continues to have his detractors, is still a good enough player to be a reserve in the league. Kann beat out Kempin for the number two spot and proved to be a capable back up for Tim Melia when Melia went down with injury.
The other three, Myers, Nagamura, and Peterson can all join Mapp in MLS free agency because of their age and experience in the league. Myers is coming off another injury plagued season, something that has cut his season short the last few years. Depending on his salary demands he's someone that could certainly find a job elsewhere in MLS. As for Nagamura, the midfielder turns 34 early in 2017, and played the fewest games and minutes of his MLS career in 2016. When he's on the field he's been a solid addition to the team, but the problem is that he always seems to miss a good portion of the season with injuries now. For a player making over $200,000 in 2016, that's just not something that KC can afford, even though he provides a ton of experience to KC. The last of those three is probably the most surprising to Sporting KC fans as Peterson had himself a career year for KC, hitting career highs in games started and goals. At 30 he became almost invaluable as a secondary option to take pressure off of Dom Dwyer offensively. Even at 31 most fans would have thought that KC could have found a place for him with his versatility on the field. As Sam McDowell put, KC allowing Peterson to test free agency would seem to be a big indication of KC's intentions to make changes on the wings in the offseason. At the same time, his entrance into free agency doesn't mean he won't be returning to KC, for example, Nagamura didn't re-sign with Kansas City this year until January 11th, after testing the free agent market in MLS. The same could certainly happen here.
One name not mentioned was Bernardo Anor, one of the club's touted signings before the 2015 season is on loan with Minnesota United until the end of 2016. The club made no mention of him in their release about the roster moves, but after asked responded by saying that he will not be on the roster come January 1st of 2017 reportedly with the expansion side in Minnesota picking up his salary.
After the dust settles, KC has 17 players currently under contract for 2017, a little over half the roster maximum of 30, with the likelihood of one of those 17 (Erik Palmer-Brown) being gone in 2017 still high.
Monday, November 21, 2016
Rockhurst Into Final 4 - Sporting Academy Players in College
Swope Soccer Village is hosting this year's NCAA Division 2 final four, and there will be some local flavor in the tournament as Rockhurst qualified for the final four with a win over Fort Hays State. Two former Sporting KC academy players, Derek Schrick and Paul Dean play for Rockhurst, although Dean has not played much for the Hawks this season. Rockhurst will now play Charleston on December 1st for a spot in the finals.
Class of 2012
Derek Schrick (Rockhurst) - M - RSr - Started Rockhurst's 1-1 (5-4) shootout win over Drury and their 1-0 win over Fort Hays State.
Class of 2013
Joe Amico (Jacksonville) - D - Sr - Season over.
Matt Bernard (Cal Baptist) - MF - RJr - Season over.
Paul Dean (Rockhurst University) - D - Sr - Did not play in either of Rockhurst's games.
Seo-In Kim (UCSB) - MF - Sr - Season over.
Adam Lightner (Northern Illinois University) - D - Sr - Season over.
Clay Stewart - (University of Missouri Kansas City) - MF/D - Sr - Season over.
Wes White (Coastal Carolina) - F - RJr - Suspended for Coastal Carolina's 2-1 win over Radford. Started their 2-0 loss to Wake Forest.
Drew Wilson (Fort Hays State University) - D - Sr - Started in both Fort Hays' 1-0 win over Lindenwood and their 1-0 loss to Rockhurst.
Class of 2014
Darby Cronin (Missouri State)- MF - Jr - Season over.
Heath Honold (West Virginia) - F - Jr - Season over.
Mason Leonard (Drake) - D - Jr - Season over.
Blake Levine (Baker) - F - Jr - Started Baker's 2-0 loss to Midland Lurtheran.
Matthew Lewis (Fordham) - D - Jr - Started Fordham's 1-0 loss to Boston College.
Andy Lopez (North Carolina) - MF - RSo - Did not play in UNC's 3-2 win over Florida Gulf Coast.
Noah Mudd (Trevecca) - D - Jr - Season over.
Joey Piatczyc (West Virginia) - MF - Jr - Season over.
Cole Stevenson (Fordham) - F - Jr - Started Fordham's 1-0 loss to Boston College.
Zach Wright (North Carolina) - F - Jr - Started and had an assist in UNC's 3-2 win over Florida Gulf Coast.
2015
Andrew Blalock (Drake) - GK - RFr - Season over.
Robert DeWitt III (Xavier) - MF - So - Season over.
Jack Freeman (Furman) - D - RFr - Season over.
Bryce Gibson (Creighton) - D - So - Came on as a substitute in Creighton's 3-0 win over Tulsa, did not play in their 3-2 win over Kentucky.
Nic Jaimes (Drake) - MF - So - Season over.
Ryan Krutz (Notre Dame) - GK - So - Did not pay in Notre Dame's 1-0 win over Loyola.
Zane Moxley (Air Force) - D - So - Season over.
Alexis Quevedo (UNLV) - MF - So - Did not play in UNLV's 1-1 (6-5) shoot out win over San Diego St. Came on as a substitute in UNLV's 3-0 loss to Denver.
Hector Solorio (Niagara) - MF - So - Season over.
Tucker Stephenson (West Virginia) - F - So - Season over.
Andy Velez (JCCC) - MF - So - Season over.
Bailey Weeks (Northeastern State University) - D - So - Season over.
2016
Dakota Karns (Missouri State) - MF - Fr - Season over.
Ryan Kellogg (West Virginia) - D - Fr - Season over.
John Leisman (Yale) - F - Fr - Season over.
Logan Lucas (West Virginia) - D - Fr - Season over.
Andrew McLeod (Northwestern) - D - Fr - Season over.
Absalom Solorio (Niagara) - MF - Fr - Season over.
Paul Whitener (Marshall) - MF - Fr - Season over.
Class of 2012
Derek Schrick (Rockhurst) - M - RSr - Started Rockhurst's 1-1 (5-4) shootout win over Drury and their 1-0 win over Fort Hays State.
Class of 2013
Joe Amico (Jacksonville) - D - Sr - Season over.
Matt Bernard (Cal Baptist) - MF - RJr - Season over.
Paul Dean (Rockhurst University) - D - Sr - Did not play in either of Rockhurst's games.
Seo-In Kim (UCSB) - MF - Sr - Season over.
Adam Lightner (Northern Illinois University) - D - Sr - Season over.
Clay Stewart - (University of Missouri Kansas City) - MF/D - Sr - Season over.
Wes White (Coastal Carolina) - F - RJr - Suspended for Coastal Carolina's 2-1 win over Radford. Started their 2-0 loss to Wake Forest.
Drew Wilson (Fort Hays State University) - D - Sr - Started in both Fort Hays' 1-0 win over Lindenwood and their 1-0 loss to Rockhurst.
Class of 2014
Darby Cronin (Missouri State)- MF - Jr - Season over.
Heath Honold (West Virginia) - F - Jr - Season over.
Mason Leonard (Drake) - D - Jr - Season over.
Blake Levine (Baker) - F - Jr - Started Baker's 2-0 loss to Midland Lurtheran.
Matthew Lewis (Fordham) - D - Jr - Started Fordham's 1-0 loss to Boston College.
Andy Lopez (North Carolina) - MF - RSo - Did not play in UNC's 3-2 win over Florida Gulf Coast.
Noah Mudd (Trevecca) - D - Jr - Season over.
Joey Piatczyc (West Virginia) - MF - Jr - Season over.
Cole Stevenson (Fordham) - F - Jr - Started Fordham's 1-0 loss to Boston College.
Zach Wright (North Carolina) - F - Jr - Started and had an assist in UNC's 3-2 win over Florida Gulf Coast.
2015
Andrew Blalock (Drake) - GK - RFr - Season over.
Robert DeWitt III (Xavier) - MF - So - Season over.
Jack Freeman (Furman) - D - RFr - Season over.
Bryce Gibson (Creighton) - D - So - Came on as a substitute in Creighton's 3-0 win over Tulsa, did not play in their 3-2 win over Kentucky.
Nic Jaimes (Drake) - MF - So - Season over.
Ryan Krutz (Notre Dame) - GK - So - Did not pay in Notre Dame's 1-0 win over Loyola.
Zane Moxley (Air Force) - D - So - Season over.
Alexis Quevedo (UNLV) - MF - So - Did not play in UNLV's 1-1 (6-5) shoot out win over San Diego St. Came on as a substitute in UNLV's 3-0 loss to Denver.
Hector Solorio (Niagara) - MF - So - Season over.
Tucker Stephenson (West Virginia) - F - So - Season over.
Andy Velez (JCCC) - MF - So - Season over.
Bailey Weeks (Northeastern State University) - D - So - Season over.
2016
Dakota Karns (Missouri State) - MF - Fr - Season over.
Ryan Kellogg (West Virginia) - D - Fr - Season over.
John Leisman (Yale) - F - Fr - Season over.
Logan Lucas (West Virginia) - D - Fr - Season over.
Andrew McLeod (Northwestern) - D - Fr - Season over.
Absalom Solorio (Niagara) - MF - Fr - Season over.
Paul Whitener (Marshall) - MF - Fr - Season over.
Sunday, November 20, 2016
Who Should KC Protect in the Expansion Draft
The MLS playoffs kick back off this coming week after two weekends off, but for Kansas City the next thing their eyes are on is the expansion draft. The draft will take place on Tuesday, December 13th, welcoming Atlanta United and Minnesota United into the league. For me, this is a subject that I don't touch until Sporting KC is out of the playoffs, so now that KC's season is done, let's take a look.
The good news for Kansas City fans is that some of the rules regarding the expansion draft have changed since a couple years ago when New York City FC and Orlando City came into the league. Unlike that expansion draft, and everyone prior to this one, Atlanta and Minnesota will ech only have five picks, instead of the 10 teams have had in previous years. Along with that, Kansas City can only lose one player, with only 10 players being selected once a player is selected, that team cannot lose any more player.
As with prior years, Kansas City will be allowed to protect 11 players that cannot be selected in the expansion draft, those can be players that are currently under contract or not, if the player is out of contract it could be for Sporting to just retain the player's MLS rights. That part is a little less important now that Sporting has locked down Benny Feilhaber to a new contract.
To get things out of the way ahead of time, KC has four players that MLS currently acknowledge as homegrown players. Part of the draft rules are that all homegrown players are automatically protected and do not count against their 11 player count. Those four players, Kevin Ellis, Jon Kempin, Erik Palmer-Brown, and Daniel Salloi will all be automatically protected in the expansion draft.
With that out of the way, the question is who KC should protect, let's take a look at my thoughts.
First, players with no trade clauses have to be one of the protected players. Reports a few years ago were that when Matt Besler signed his designated player contract he also got himself a no trade clause in his contract. While he's not classified as a designated player any more, he's still technically under that contract, so I would assume that Besler still has his no trade clause, meaning he's on the list.
1. Matt Besler
After getting that out of the way I think you look at some of the key members of Sporting's team over the last couple seasons. With that I think you can add three more players to the list easily. First is the recently re-signed Benny Feilhaber, with his performance for KC, there's no reason at all that Kansas City would leave Feilhaber exposed. After him there's the team's second leading scorer all time, Dom Dwyer, like Feilhaber I just can't see a reasonable reason why Sporting would leave the Englishman exposed in the draft. Finally there's the club's captain, Roger Espinoza, one of the more underrated players in the league because he doesn't do a lot on the offensive side of the ball he does so much defensively in the midfield that he's another that has to be protected.
2. Benny Feilhaber
3. Dom Dwyer
4. Roger Espinoza
For the next three players you have look at international players. According to the expansion draft rules teams can only make available their number of internationals minus three. So teams will be required to protect at least three, unless they have three or fewer internationals. Kansas City has six internationals on their team, although one, Salloi, is already automatically protected due to his homegrown player status. The assumption is that he wouldn't be allowed to count as one of the three players KC has to protect. So of the five remaining internationals, Ever Alvarado, Nuno Coelho, Jimmy Medranda, Soni Mustivar, and Diego Rubio, KC have to protect at least three of them. I think the easiest of those three is Medranda who enjoyed a breakout year at left back and is still just 22 years old. Protecting Medranda makes complete sense. From there things get a little bit murkier as none of the other four internationals really were great this year. With Alvarado having spent almost his entire time with the club on loan to Swope Park, I think the chances he gets protected are very minimal. That leaves Coelho, Mustivar, and Rubio, for two more required protection spots for internationals. While Coelho was good early on for KC, his inability to stay healthy came back up over the second half of the season which hurt Kansas City, he's also the highest paid player of the three, with a base salary of $275,000. While Atlanta and Minnesota do have the ability to renegotiate with any player they select, the price tag of the player is certainly something the teams will look at, and in this case with Coelho I think keeping him exposed wouldn't be that big of a risk. That means by process of elimination, Mustivar and Rubio become the other two protected foreign players.
5. Jimmy Medranda
6. Soni Mustivar
7. Diego Rubio
With seven players selected and another four automatically protected, that leaves 17 players left and only four spots left. From here part of the process becomes players that the club can expose and not have any worry about losing, or have no interest in the player returning. For example, Brad Davis has announced his retirement from soccer, so keeping him on the protected list is fairly worthless for KC. Elsewhere, I think Bernardo Anor's time in KC can also be classified as being done, having spent 2016 with Minnesota in the NASL, the hope for KC had to be that he'd impress and KC could work out a trade with the expansion side that would include a handshake deal to not take any Sporting players in the draft. Unfortunately Anor didn't have a very good season, and missed most of the fall season with an injury. I am not sure we're going to see a trade there, and I don't see KC protecting him. Then there's the disaster of the league's first free agent signing, Justin Mapp, making six appearances totally only 43 minutes. Protecting him would possibly be the most surprising move ever if it were to happen, and probably something that many fans would call a fireable offense for Peter Vermes if he were to do it.
Other players that aren't going to be protected are those end of the roster players who are likely not going to be back with the team next year due to new signings and drafted players coming in. They may be invited to preseason next year but they'll have to earn their spots again. Players like Emmanuel Appiah, Connor Hallisey, Benji Joya, Alec Kann, Lawrence Olum, and Cameron Porter may be back with Kansas City next year, but I can't see them being protected come expansion draft time.
So with those players off the list you're left with eight players for the final four spots; Saad Abdul-Salaam, Tim Melia, Chance Myers, Paulo Nagamura, Ike Opara, Jacob Peterson, Seth Sinovic, and Graham Zusi. I think Abdul-Salaam has established himself as the starter at right back now for Kansas City, through his play and through Myers' injury issues starting to come back I think Abdul-Salaam is one of those final four players, and at the same time I don't think you protect Myers, who made $200,000 last season if you're going to protect Abdul-Salaam. KC has stuck with Myers through his injury issues early in his career, but SAS looks to have pasted him now.
8. Saad Abdul-Salaam
With the final six I think there are two more names that fall into a similar category of aging and injuries, those are Nagamura and Sinovic. Nagamura has stepped up big for KC the last two years late in the season when KC has needed him, but that's been in part because he's played almost no part in the early half of the season. Getting half a season out of a player making over $200,000 and is 33 isn't someone that I see Kansas City protecting, nor really someone that I think will be taken. Sinovic is an interesting case because he displaced Medranda late in the season when the Colombian was suspended and never gave up his spot. Sinovic is also relatively inexpensive, making just over $100,000, but he like Nagamura and Myers struggled with injuries, then there was Sinovic threatening retirement back in the 2011 expansion draft after he was selected by the Montreal Impact. I think that's something that will likely turn off both Minnesota and Atlanta from selecting the KC natvie.
So we're now down to Melia, Opara, Peterson, and Zusi for the final three spots. And with those three left I think we can cut that list down one more to get our number. While Peterson had a career year and was a good weapon for Kansas City, the wing that was Peterson's starting position for a good portion of the year has to be looked upon as being the key upgrade position for Kansas City over the winter. While Peterson would be a good option off the bench, he's another one of those who could probably be replaced with another veteran. At the same time he'd probably be someone that would interest both Atlanta and Minnesota as a veteran presence and a team player. That said I am not sure at 32 next season if he's someone KC would use a spot on.
9. Graham Zusi
10. Ike Opara
11. Tim Melia
So my final list of KC's 11 protected players is:
1. Matt Besler
2. Benny Feilhaber
3. Dom Dwyer
4. Roger Espinoza
5. Jimmy Medranda
6. Soni Mustivar
7. Diego Rubio
8. Saad Abdul-Salaam
9. Graham Zusi
10. Ike Opara
11. Tim Melia
The good news for Kansas City fans is that some of the rules regarding the expansion draft have changed since a couple years ago when New York City FC and Orlando City came into the league. Unlike that expansion draft, and everyone prior to this one, Atlanta and Minnesota will ech only have five picks, instead of the 10 teams have had in previous years. Along with that, Kansas City can only lose one player, with only 10 players being selected once a player is selected, that team cannot lose any more player.
As with prior years, Kansas City will be allowed to protect 11 players that cannot be selected in the expansion draft, those can be players that are currently under contract or not, if the player is out of contract it could be for Sporting to just retain the player's MLS rights. That part is a little less important now that Sporting has locked down Benny Feilhaber to a new contract.
To get things out of the way ahead of time, KC has four players that MLS currently acknowledge as homegrown players. Part of the draft rules are that all homegrown players are automatically protected and do not count against their 11 player count. Those four players, Kevin Ellis, Jon Kempin, Erik Palmer-Brown, and Daniel Salloi will all be automatically protected in the expansion draft.
With that out of the way, the question is who KC should protect, let's take a look at my thoughts.
First, players with no trade clauses have to be one of the protected players. Reports a few years ago were that when Matt Besler signed his designated player contract he also got himself a no trade clause in his contract. While he's not classified as a designated player any more, he's still technically under that contract, so I would assume that Besler still has his no trade clause, meaning he's on the list.
1. Matt Besler
After getting that out of the way I think you look at some of the key members of Sporting's team over the last couple seasons. With that I think you can add three more players to the list easily. First is the recently re-signed Benny Feilhaber, with his performance for KC, there's no reason at all that Kansas City would leave Feilhaber exposed. After him there's the team's second leading scorer all time, Dom Dwyer, like Feilhaber I just can't see a reasonable reason why Sporting would leave the Englishman exposed in the draft. Finally there's the club's captain, Roger Espinoza, one of the more underrated players in the league because he doesn't do a lot on the offensive side of the ball he does so much defensively in the midfield that he's another that has to be protected.
2. Benny Feilhaber
3. Dom Dwyer
4. Roger Espinoza
For the next three players you have look at international players. According to the expansion draft rules teams can only make available their number of internationals minus three. So teams will be required to protect at least three, unless they have three or fewer internationals. Kansas City has six internationals on their team, although one, Salloi, is already automatically protected due to his homegrown player status. The assumption is that he wouldn't be allowed to count as one of the three players KC has to protect. So of the five remaining internationals, Ever Alvarado, Nuno Coelho, Jimmy Medranda, Soni Mustivar, and Diego Rubio, KC have to protect at least three of them. I think the easiest of those three is Medranda who enjoyed a breakout year at left back and is still just 22 years old. Protecting Medranda makes complete sense. From there things get a little bit murkier as none of the other four internationals really were great this year. With Alvarado having spent almost his entire time with the club on loan to Swope Park, I think the chances he gets protected are very minimal. That leaves Coelho, Mustivar, and Rubio, for two more required protection spots for internationals. While Coelho was good early on for KC, his inability to stay healthy came back up over the second half of the season which hurt Kansas City, he's also the highest paid player of the three, with a base salary of $275,000. While Atlanta and Minnesota do have the ability to renegotiate with any player they select, the price tag of the player is certainly something the teams will look at, and in this case with Coelho I think keeping him exposed wouldn't be that big of a risk. That means by process of elimination, Mustivar and Rubio become the other two protected foreign players.
5. Jimmy Medranda
6. Soni Mustivar
7. Diego Rubio
With seven players selected and another four automatically protected, that leaves 17 players left and only four spots left. From here part of the process becomes players that the club can expose and not have any worry about losing, or have no interest in the player returning. For example, Brad Davis has announced his retirement from soccer, so keeping him on the protected list is fairly worthless for KC. Elsewhere, I think Bernardo Anor's time in KC can also be classified as being done, having spent 2016 with Minnesota in the NASL, the hope for KC had to be that he'd impress and KC could work out a trade with the expansion side that would include a handshake deal to not take any Sporting players in the draft. Unfortunately Anor didn't have a very good season, and missed most of the fall season with an injury. I am not sure we're going to see a trade there, and I don't see KC protecting him. Then there's the disaster of the league's first free agent signing, Justin Mapp, making six appearances totally only 43 minutes. Protecting him would possibly be the most surprising move ever if it were to happen, and probably something that many fans would call a fireable offense for Peter Vermes if he were to do it.
Other players that aren't going to be protected are those end of the roster players who are likely not going to be back with the team next year due to new signings and drafted players coming in. They may be invited to preseason next year but they'll have to earn their spots again. Players like Emmanuel Appiah, Connor Hallisey, Benji Joya, Alec Kann, Lawrence Olum, and Cameron Porter may be back with Kansas City next year, but I can't see them being protected come expansion draft time.
So with those players off the list you're left with eight players for the final four spots; Saad Abdul-Salaam, Tim Melia, Chance Myers, Paulo Nagamura, Ike Opara, Jacob Peterson, Seth Sinovic, and Graham Zusi. I think Abdul-Salaam has established himself as the starter at right back now for Kansas City, through his play and through Myers' injury issues starting to come back I think Abdul-Salaam is one of those final four players, and at the same time I don't think you protect Myers, who made $200,000 last season if you're going to protect Abdul-Salaam. KC has stuck with Myers through his injury issues early in his career, but SAS looks to have pasted him now.
8. Saad Abdul-Salaam
With the final six I think there are two more names that fall into a similar category of aging and injuries, those are Nagamura and Sinovic. Nagamura has stepped up big for KC the last two years late in the season when KC has needed him, but that's been in part because he's played almost no part in the early half of the season. Getting half a season out of a player making over $200,000 and is 33 isn't someone that I see Kansas City protecting, nor really someone that I think will be taken. Sinovic is an interesting case because he displaced Medranda late in the season when the Colombian was suspended and never gave up his spot. Sinovic is also relatively inexpensive, making just over $100,000, but he like Nagamura and Myers struggled with injuries, then there was Sinovic threatening retirement back in the 2011 expansion draft after he was selected by the Montreal Impact. I think that's something that will likely turn off both Minnesota and Atlanta from selecting the KC natvie.
So we're now down to Melia, Opara, Peterson, and Zusi for the final three spots. And with those three left I think we can cut that list down one more to get our number. While Peterson had a career year and was a good weapon for Kansas City, the wing that was Peterson's starting position for a good portion of the year has to be looked upon as being the key upgrade position for Kansas City over the winter. While Peterson would be a good option off the bench, he's another one of those who could probably be replaced with another veteran. At the same time he'd probably be someone that would interest both Atlanta and Minnesota as a veteran presence and a team player. That said I am not sure at 32 next season if he's someone KC would use a spot on.
9. Graham Zusi
10. Ike Opara
11. Tim Melia
So my final list of KC's 11 protected players is:
1. Matt Besler
2. Benny Feilhaber
3. Dom Dwyer
4. Roger Espinoza
5. Jimmy Medranda
6. Soni Mustivar
7. Diego Rubio
8. Saad Abdul-Salaam
9. Graham Zusi
10. Ike Opara
11. Tim Melia
Saturday, November 19, 2016
Comets Comeback Falls Short
A late comeback by the Kansas City Comets was not enough as they fell in their first road test of the season, 6-5 to the Milwaukee Wave. The hosts got a hattrick by Ian Bennett to push them to a victory while the Comets came from two goals down in the fourth quarter to make it a one goal game but couldn't find an equalizer.
The first two quarters saw the Comets and Wave trade goals as Bennett scored his first goal of the game very early to put the Wave on top. The Comets equalized shortly after though as John Sosa found the back of the net off an assist by Leo Gibson to make it 1-1. The pair of early goals was all there was in the first quarter, but early in the second the Comets took their only lead of the game as Bryan Perez scored on the power play to put the Comets up 2-1 early. The Wave responded quickly after with Daniel Mattos scored to level the game at 2-2 with less than three minutes played in the second. The Comets and Wave traded goals late in the second period as well with Bennett scoring his second of the game before Stefan Stokic scored with a minute and a half left to send the teams into the half time break tied at 3-3.
The third quarter saw Bennett complete his hattrick on the power play after a blue card on Stephen Paterson gave the Wave the power play. The goal was the only one in a tight third period that also saw Gibson miss a shootout attempt for the Comets on a power play chance of their own.
The fourth quarter saw the Wave look to pull away as they scored off an own goal credited to Robert Renaud before Mattos scored his second goal of the game to make it 6-3 to the Wave. In the final five minutes though the Comets put of a tremendous fight trying to get their way back into the game. With just over three minutes left, Ramone Palmer cut the lead to two goals with an assist to Sosa. The Comets went to the sixth attacker late on trying to find another two goals and got one more back with a long range shot by Lucas Rodriguez to make it 6-5. Unfortunately that was as close as the Comets would get as they fall to 2-2 on the season. The Comets are now off until December 3rd when they'll host the Chicago Mustangs at the SEC Arena.
The first two quarters saw the Comets and Wave trade goals as Bennett scored his first goal of the game very early to put the Wave on top. The Comets equalized shortly after though as John Sosa found the back of the net off an assist by Leo Gibson to make it 1-1. The pair of early goals was all there was in the first quarter, but early in the second the Comets took their only lead of the game as Bryan Perez scored on the power play to put the Comets up 2-1 early. The Wave responded quickly after with Daniel Mattos scored to level the game at 2-2 with less than three minutes played in the second. The Comets and Wave traded goals late in the second period as well with Bennett scoring his second of the game before Stefan Stokic scored with a minute and a half left to send the teams into the half time break tied at 3-3.
The third quarter saw Bennett complete his hattrick on the power play after a blue card on Stephen Paterson gave the Wave the power play. The goal was the only one in a tight third period that also saw Gibson miss a shootout attempt for the Comets on a power play chance of their own.
The fourth quarter saw the Wave look to pull away as they scored off an own goal credited to Robert Renaud before Mattos scored his second goal of the game to make it 6-3 to the Wave. In the final five minutes though the Comets put of a tremendous fight trying to get their way back into the game. With just over three minutes left, Ramone Palmer cut the lead to two goals with an assist to Sosa. The Comets went to the sixth attacker late on trying to find another two goals and got one more back with a long range shot by Lucas Rodriguez to make it 6-5. Unfortunately that was as close as the Comets would get as they fall to 2-2 on the season. The Comets are now off until December 3rd when they'll host the Chicago Mustangs at the SEC Arena.
Wednesday, November 16, 2016
Arnaud Joins Houston as Assistant Coach - Former SKC Wizards Update
Davy Arnaud is moving closer to his home town, the Nederland, Texas is moving from his job as an assistant coach with DC United to take a similar position with the Houston Dynamo under their new head coach, Wilmer Cabrera. Arnaud now joins his second club that have a bit of a history with Kansas City. DC had defeated Kansas City in the 2004 MLS Cup final, with Arnaud on the field for KC. He now joins the Dynamo, who had a three year stretch meeting KC in the playoffs each of those years.
Also this week, Erik Palmer-Brown scored his first professional goal, scoring for Porto B in their 2-0 win over Leicester City's U23 team. At this point I'd be surprised if he doesn't permanently join this list when his loan ends at the end of 2016.
Here is the rest of this week's update.
Active without a club or unknown
Vicente Arze
Pablo Escobar
Brian Fekete
Jeferson
Neven Markovic
Victor Munoz
Jordi Quintilla
Brendan Ruiz
MLS
Jalil Anibaba - Houston - Offseason.
Teal Bunbury - New England - Offseason.
Servando Carrasco - Orlando City - Offseason.
Aurelien Collin - New York - Offseason.
Marcel de Jong - Vancouver - Started and played 90 minutes in Canada's 2-0 loss to South Korea.
Amadou Dia - Montreal - No game this week.
Herculez Gomez - Seattle - No game this week.
Michael Harrington - Chicago - Offseason.
Jack Jewsbury - Portland - Offseason.
Kei Kamara - New England - Offseason.
Chris Konopka - Portland - Offseason.
Eric Kronberg - Montreal - No game this week.
Mikey Lopez - NYCFC - Offseason.
Yura Movsisyan - Salt Lake - Offseason.
Amobi Okugo - Portland - Offseason.
Tony Rocha - Orlando - Offseason.
CJ Sapong - Philadelphia - Offseason.
Sal Zizzo - New York - Offseason.
NASL
Bernardo Anor - Minnesota (loan) - Offseason.
Stefan Antonijevic - Tampa Bay - Offseason.
Omar Bravo - Carolina - Offseason.
Mechack Jerome - Jacksonville - Started and played 90 minutes, scoring a goal in Haiti's 5-2 loss to French Guiana. Started and played 120 minutes in Haiti's 2-0 win over St. Kitts & Nevis.
Michael Kafari - Puerto Rico - Offseason.
James Marcelin - Carolina - Offseason.
Rauwshan McKenzie - Oklahoma City - Offseason.
US
Amer Didic - Swope Park - Offseason.
Christian Duke - Swope Park - Offseason.
Tomas Granitto - Swope Park - Offseason.
Cyprian Hedrick - Oklahoma City - Offseason.
Ryan James - Rochester - Offseason.
Alex Martinez - Charlotte - Offseason.
Alex Molano - Swope Park - Offseason.
Tyler Pasher - Swope Park - Offseason.
Nansel Selbol - Swope Park - Offseason.
Michael Thomas - Oklahoma City - Offseason.
Kris Tyrpak - Swope Park - Offseason.
Ualefi - Swope Park - Offseason.
Yomby William - Richmond - Offseason.
PDL
Adnan Gabeljic - San Francisco - Offseason.
Faik Hajderovic - St. Louis U23 - Offseason.
Indoor
Jamar Beasley - Cedar Rapids - Played in Cedar Rapids' 7-6 loss to Chicago, did not play in their 9-8 loss to Chicago.
Mike Jones - Dallas - Played in Dallas' 5-4 shootout loss to San Diego.
Boris Pardo - San Diego - Did not play in San Diego's 6-5 loss to Florida. Played in their 5-4 shootout win over Dallas.
International
Korede Aiyegbusi - AFC United- Sweden - Offseason.
Scott Angevine - YPA - Finland - Offseason.
Claudio Bieler - Belgrano - Argentina - No game this week.
Reinaldo Brenes - Belen Siglo XXI - Started and played 60 minutes in Belen's 2-1 loss to Limon.
Sunil Chhetri - Mumbai City - India - Started and played 90 minutes in Mumbai's 1-0 loss to Pune City.
Jorge Claros - Alajuelense - Costa Rica - Started and played 90 minutes in Honduras' 1-0 loss to Panama. Started and played 90 minutes in Honduras' 3-1 win over Trinidad.
Daneil Cyrus - W Connection - Trinidad - Started and played 90 minutes in Trinidad's 2-0 loss to Costa Rica. Started and played 90 minutes in Trinidad's 3-1 loss to Honduras.
Toni Dovale - CD Leganes - Spain - No game this week.
Luis Gil - Queretaro - Mexico - No game this week.
Will John - RoPS - Finland - Offseason.
Igor Juliao - Fluminense - Brazil - Did not dress in Fluminense's 1-1 draw with Atletico PR.
Igor Kostrov - Slavia-Mozyr - Belarus - No game this week.
Luis Marin - CD Temuco - Chile - No game this week.
Michal Mravec - RoPS - Finland - Offseason.
Krisztian Nemeth - Al-Gharafa - Qatar - Came off the bench and played 9 minutes in Hungary's 4-0 win over Andorra. Started and played 90 minutes in Hungary's 2-0 loss to Sweden.
Erik Palmer-Brown - Porto (loan) - Portugal - Started and played 90 minutes, scoring a goal in Porto B's 2-0 win over Leicester City U23s.
Akeem Priestley - Metapan - El Salvador - Did not dress in Metapan's 2-1 win over Pasaquina.
Pablo Punyed - IBV - Iceland - Offseason.
Oriol Rosell - Belenenses (Sporting Club de Portugal)(loan) - Portugal - No game this week.
Soony Saad - Pattaya United (BEC Tero Sasana) - Offseason.
Daniel Salloi - Gyirmot FC Gyor (loan) - Hungary - No game this week.
Peter Schmetz - Wuppertaler SV - Germany - Started and played 90 minutes in Wuppertaler's 0-0 draw with Borussia Monchengladbach II.
Yann Songo'o - Plymouth Argyle - England - Started and played 90 minutes in Plymouth's 2-1 win over Crewe Alexandra.
Kevin Souter - Deveronvale FC - Scotland - Did not play in Deveronvale's 7-2 win over Strathspey Thistle.
Martin Steuble - Ceres-La Salle - Philippines - Offseason.
Milos Stojcev - Atromitos - Greece - No game this week.
Matt Taylor - Kickers Offenbach - Came off the bench and played 22 minutes, scoring a goal in Kickers' 2-0 win over Wormatia Worms.
Also this week, Erik Palmer-Brown scored his first professional goal, scoring for Porto B in their 2-0 win over Leicester City's U23 team. At this point I'd be surprised if he doesn't permanently join this list when his loan ends at the end of 2016.
Here is the rest of this week's update.
Active without a club or unknown
Vicente Arze
Pablo Escobar
Brian Fekete
Jeferson
Neven Markovic
Victor Munoz
Jordi Quintilla
Brendan Ruiz
MLS
Jalil Anibaba - Houston - Offseason.
Teal Bunbury - New England - Offseason.
Servando Carrasco - Orlando City - Offseason.
Aurelien Collin - New York - Offseason.
Marcel de Jong - Vancouver - Started and played 90 minutes in Canada's 2-0 loss to South Korea.
Amadou Dia - Montreal - No game this week.
Herculez Gomez - Seattle - No game this week.
Michael Harrington - Chicago - Offseason.
Jack Jewsbury - Portland - Offseason.
Kei Kamara - New England - Offseason.
Chris Konopka - Portland - Offseason.
Eric Kronberg - Montreal - No game this week.
Mikey Lopez - NYCFC - Offseason.
Yura Movsisyan - Salt Lake - Offseason.
Amobi Okugo - Portland - Offseason.
Tony Rocha - Orlando - Offseason.
CJ Sapong - Philadelphia - Offseason.
Sal Zizzo - New York - Offseason.
NASL
Bernardo Anor - Minnesota (loan) - Offseason.
Stefan Antonijevic - Tampa Bay - Offseason.
Omar Bravo - Carolina - Offseason.
Mechack Jerome - Jacksonville - Started and played 90 minutes, scoring a goal in Haiti's 5-2 loss to French Guiana. Started and played 120 minutes in Haiti's 2-0 win over St. Kitts & Nevis.
Michael Kafari - Puerto Rico - Offseason.
James Marcelin - Carolina - Offseason.
Rauwshan McKenzie - Oklahoma City - Offseason.
US
Amer Didic - Swope Park - Offseason.
Christian Duke - Swope Park - Offseason.
Tomas Granitto - Swope Park - Offseason.
Cyprian Hedrick - Oklahoma City - Offseason.
Ryan James - Rochester - Offseason.
Alex Martinez - Charlotte - Offseason.
Alex Molano - Swope Park - Offseason.
Tyler Pasher - Swope Park - Offseason.
Nansel Selbol - Swope Park - Offseason.
Michael Thomas - Oklahoma City - Offseason.
Kris Tyrpak - Swope Park - Offseason.
Ualefi - Swope Park - Offseason.
Yomby William - Richmond - Offseason.
PDL
Adnan Gabeljic - San Francisco - Offseason.
Faik Hajderovic - St. Louis U23 - Offseason.
Indoor
Jamar Beasley - Cedar Rapids - Played in Cedar Rapids' 7-6 loss to Chicago, did not play in their 9-8 loss to Chicago.
Mike Jones - Dallas - Played in Dallas' 5-4 shootout loss to San Diego.
Boris Pardo - San Diego - Did not play in San Diego's 6-5 loss to Florida. Played in their 5-4 shootout win over Dallas.
International
Korede Aiyegbusi - AFC United- Sweden - Offseason.
Scott Angevine - YPA - Finland - Offseason.
Claudio Bieler - Belgrano - Argentina - No game this week.
Reinaldo Brenes - Belen Siglo XXI - Started and played 60 minutes in Belen's 2-1 loss to Limon.
Sunil Chhetri - Mumbai City - India - Started and played 90 minutes in Mumbai's 1-0 loss to Pune City.
Jorge Claros - Alajuelense - Costa Rica - Started and played 90 minutes in Honduras' 1-0 loss to Panama. Started and played 90 minutes in Honduras' 3-1 win over Trinidad.
Daneil Cyrus - W Connection - Trinidad - Started and played 90 minutes in Trinidad's 2-0 loss to Costa Rica. Started and played 90 minutes in Trinidad's 3-1 loss to Honduras.
Toni Dovale - CD Leganes - Spain - No game this week.
Luis Gil - Queretaro - Mexico - No game this week.
Will John - RoPS - Finland - Offseason.
Igor Juliao - Fluminense - Brazil - Did not dress in Fluminense's 1-1 draw with Atletico PR.
Igor Kostrov - Slavia-Mozyr - Belarus - No game this week.
Luis Marin - CD Temuco - Chile - No game this week.
Michal Mravec - RoPS - Finland - Offseason.
Krisztian Nemeth - Al-Gharafa - Qatar - Came off the bench and played 9 minutes in Hungary's 4-0 win over Andorra. Started and played 90 minutes in Hungary's 2-0 loss to Sweden.
Erik Palmer-Brown - Porto (loan) - Portugal - Started and played 90 minutes, scoring a goal in Porto B's 2-0 win over Leicester City U23s.
Akeem Priestley - Metapan - El Salvador - Did not dress in Metapan's 2-1 win over Pasaquina.
Pablo Punyed - IBV - Iceland - Offseason.
Oriol Rosell - Belenenses (Sporting Club de Portugal)(loan) - Portugal - No game this week.
Soony Saad - Pattaya United (BEC Tero Sasana) - Offseason.
Daniel Salloi - Gyirmot FC Gyor (loan) - Hungary - No game this week.
Peter Schmetz - Wuppertaler SV - Germany - Started and played 90 minutes in Wuppertaler's 0-0 draw with Borussia Monchengladbach II.
Yann Songo'o - Plymouth Argyle - England - Started and played 90 minutes in Plymouth's 2-1 win over Crewe Alexandra.
Kevin Souter - Deveronvale FC - Scotland - Did not play in Deveronvale's 7-2 win over Strathspey Thistle.
Martin Steuble - Ceres-La Salle - Philippines - Offseason.
Milos Stojcev - Atromitos - Greece - No game this week.
Matt Taylor - Kickers Offenbach - Came off the bench and played 22 minutes, scoring a goal in Kickers' 2-0 win over Wormatia Worms.
Sporting KC Re-Sign Feilhaber and Opara
Sporting KC was busy today announcing that the club had re-signed two players who had played a large role in the 2016 season. The biggest news belonged to the re-signing of Benny Feilhaber. The news, which had been rumored for the last two days was confirmed with the club announcing that they had signed Feilhaber to a new two year deal with the club. Feilhaber confirmed that he had been ready to move on from Sporting KC, setting his sights on a move to Israel and Hapoel Be'er Sheva before Sporting KC came in with an offer.
Plenty can be said about Peter Vermes tradition of not negotiating new contracts during the season as coach and technical director, in this instance it came close to costing the club arguably their best player over the past two years. Feilhaber, being in the last year of his contract had been free in the final six months of his contract to sign a pre-contract with a new team. Feilhaber though stuck around and Kansas City was able to convince him to stay.
While he's getting a raise from his salary from last year, which was reportedly just over $400,000, Feilhaber will not be a designated player, instead the club will use allocation money to pay down his salary to the maximum salary cap hit. His play over the last two years, with 17 goals and 28 assists in league play is certainly deserving of a raise, and the two year contract is the right amount for Sporting KC with Feilhaber turning 32 before the 2017 season kicks off.
The other signing the team announced today was that the club will be bringing back Ike Opara on a one year deal with two option years. Opara's career has been marred by injuries that have limited his time, but in 2016 he set career highs in games, starts, and minutes played. Depending on what goes on with Nuno Coelho, Opara could be penciled in as the projected starter at center back next to Matt Besler.
The pair signing brings KC up to 10 players currently under contract for the 2017 season, joining Matt Besler, Dom Dwyer, Roger Espinoza, Tim Melia, Soni Mustivar, Cameron Porter, Diego Rubio, and Graham Zusi.
Plenty can be said about Peter Vermes tradition of not negotiating new contracts during the season as coach and technical director, in this instance it came close to costing the club arguably their best player over the past two years. Feilhaber, being in the last year of his contract had been free in the final six months of his contract to sign a pre-contract with a new team. Feilhaber though stuck around and Kansas City was able to convince him to stay.
While he's getting a raise from his salary from last year, which was reportedly just over $400,000, Feilhaber will not be a designated player, instead the club will use allocation money to pay down his salary to the maximum salary cap hit. His play over the last two years, with 17 goals and 28 assists in league play is certainly deserving of a raise, and the two year contract is the right amount for Sporting KC with Feilhaber turning 32 before the 2017 season kicks off.
The other signing the team announced today was that the club will be bringing back Ike Opara on a one year deal with two option years. Opara's career has been marred by injuries that have limited his time, but in 2016 he set career highs in games, starts, and minutes played. Depending on what goes on with Nuno Coelho, Opara could be penciled in as the projected starter at center back next to Matt Besler.
The pair signing brings KC up to 10 players currently under contract for the 2017 season, joining Matt Besler, Dom Dwyer, Roger Espinoza, Tim Melia, Soni Mustivar, Cameron Porter, Diego Rubio, and Graham Zusi.
Monday, November 14, 2016
Tournament Time for Sporting KC Academy Players in College
The NCAA Division 1 field is set for this year's tournament, and there are eight former academy players across six different teams competing in the tournament. Three players are on seeded teams as UNC is the ninth seed and Notre Dame is the 12th seed. UNC will play the winner of South Florida and Florida Gulf Coast while Notre Dame will play the Loyola Chicago/UIC winner. Elsewhere, former academy players will take the field in the first round with Creighton hosting Tulsa, Fordham traveling to Boston College, UNLV going to San Diego State, and Coastal Carolina hosting Radford.
Here is this week's full update.
Class of 2012
Derek Schrick (Rockhurst) - M - RSr - Started Rockhurst's 3-1 win over Southern Indiana.
Class of 2013
Joe Amico (Jacksonville) - D - Sr - Started Jacksonville's 3-2 loss to Florida Gulf Coast.
Matt Bernard (Cal Baptist) - MF - RJr - Season over.
Paul Dean (Rockhurst University) - D - Sr - Did not play in Rockhurst's 3-1 win over Southern Indiana.
Seo-In Kim (UCSB) - MF - Sr - Did not play in UCSB's 2-1 loss to Cal State Fullerton.
Adam Lightner (Northern Illinois University) - D - Sr - Season over.
Clay Stewart - (University of Missouri Kansas City) - MF/D - Sr - Season over.
Wes White (Coastal Carolina) - F - RJr - Started both Coastal Carolina's 2-0 win over Hartwick and 1-0 win over Georgia Southern.
Drew Wilson (Fort Hays State University) - D - Sr - No game this week.
Class of 2014
Darby Cronin (Missouri State)- MF - Jr - Did not play in any of Missouri State's games.
Heath Honold (West Virginia) - F - Jr - Season over.
Mason Leonard (Drake) - D - Jr - Did not play in either of Drake's games.
Blake Levine (Baker) - F - Jr - No game this week.
Matthew Lewis (Fordham) - D - Jr - Started Fordham's 4-0 win over Duquesne, 4-0 win over Rhode Island, and 0-0 (3-2) shootout loss to VCU.
Andy Lopez (North Carolina) - MF - RSo - No game this week.
Noah Mudd (Trevecca) - D - Jr - Season over.
Joey Piatczyc (West Virginia) - MF - Jr - Season over.
Cole Stevenson (Fordham) - F - Jr - Started Fordham's 4-0 win over Duquesne, recording an assist, their 4-0 win over Rhode Island, recording two assists, and their 0-0 (3-2) shootout loss to VCU.
Zach Wright (North Carolina) - F - Jr - No game this week.
2015
Andrew Blalock (Drake) - GK - RFr - Did not play in either of Drake's games.
Robert DeWitt III (Xavier) - MF - So - Season over.
Jack Freeman (Furman) - D - RFr - Season over.
Bryce Gibson (Creighton) - D - So - Did not play in Creighton's 2-1 win over Providence, came on as a substitute in Creighton's 2-1 loss to Butler.
Nic Jaimes (Drake) - MF - So - Started both Drake's 2-0 win over Bradley and 2-1 loss to Evansville.
Ryan Krutz (Notre Dame) - GK - So - No game this week.
Zane Moxley (Air Force) - D - So - Came on as a substitute in Air Force's 2-0 win over CSU Bakersfield, and in their 3-1 win over Seattle. Did not play in their 2-1 loss to UNLV.
Alexis Quevedo (UNLV) - MF - So - Did not play in UNLV's 3-2 win over Rio Grande Valley or their 1-0 win over Utah Valley. Started their 2-1 win over Air Force.
Hector Solorio (Niagara) - MF - So - Season over.
Tucker Stephenson (West Virginia) - F - So - Season over.
Andy Velez (JCCC) - MF - So - Season over.
Bailey Weeks (Northeastern State University) - D - So - Season over.
2016
Dakota Karns (Missouri State) - MF - Fr - Did not play in any of Missouri State's games.
Ryan Kellogg (West Virginia) - D - Fr - Season over.
John Leisman (Yale) - F - Fr - Came on as a substitute in Yale's 1-1 draw with Princeton.
Logan Lucas (West Virginia) - D - Fr - Season over.
Andrew McLeod (Northwestern) - D - Fr - Season over.
Absalom Solorio (Niagara) - MF - Fr - Season over.
Paul Whitener (Marshall) - MF - Fr - Season over.
Here is this week's full update.
Class of 2012
Derek Schrick (Rockhurst) - M - RSr - Started Rockhurst's 3-1 win over Southern Indiana.
Class of 2013
Joe Amico (Jacksonville) - D - Sr - Started Jacksonville's 3-2 loss to Florida Gulf Coast.
Matt Bernard (Cal Baptist) - MF - RJr - Season over.
Paul Dean (Rockhurst University) - D - Sr - Did not play in Rockhurst's 3-1 win over Southern Indiana.
Seo-In Kim (UCSB) - MF - Sr - Did not play in UCSB's 2-1 loss to Cal State Fullerton.
Adam Lightner (Northern Illinois University) - D - Sr - Season over.
Clay Stewart - (University of Missouri Kansas City) - MF/D - Sr - Season over.
Wes White (Coastal Carolina) - F - RJr - Started both Coastal Carolina's 2-0 win over Hartwick and 1-0 win over Georgia Southern.
Drew Wilson (Fort Hays State University) - D - Sr - No game this week.
Class of 2014
Darby Cronin (Missouri State)- MF - Jr - Did not play in any of Missouri State's games.
Heath Honold (West Virginia) - F - Jr - Season over.
Mason Leonard (Drake) - D - Jr - Did not play in either of Drake's games.
Blake Levine (Baker) - F - Jr - No game this week.
Matthew Lewis (Fordham) - D - Jr - Started Fordham's 4-0 win over Duquesne, 4-0 win over Rhode Island, and 0-0 (3-2) shootout loss to VCU.
Andy Lopez (North Carolina) - MF - RSo - No game this week.
Noah Mudd (Trevecca) - D - Jr - Season over.
Joey Piatczyc (West Virginia) - MF - Jr - Season over.
Cole Stevenson (Fordham) - F - Jr - Started Fordham's 4-0 win over Duquesne, recording an assist, their 4-0 win over Rhode Island, recording two assists, and their 0-0 (3-2) shootout loss to VCU.
Zach Wright (North Carolina) - F - Jr - No game this week.
2015
Andrew Blalock (Drake) - GK - RFr - Did not play in either of Drake's games.
Robert DeWitt III (Xavier) - MF - So - Season over.
Jack Freeman (Furman) - D - RFr - Season over.
Bryce Gibson (Creighton) - D - So - Did not play in Creighton's 2-1 win over Providence, came on as a substitute in Creighton's 2-1 loss to Butler.
Nic Jaimes (Drake) - MF - So - Started both Drake's 2-0 win over Bradley and 2-1 loss to Evansville.
Ryan Krutz (Notre Dame) - GK - So - No game this week.
Zane Moxley (Air Force) - D - So - Came on as a substitute in Air Force's 2-0 win over CSU Bakersfield, and in their 3-1 win over Seattle. Did not play in their 2-1 loss to UNLV.
Alexis Quevedo (UNLV) - MF - So - Did not play in UNLV's 3-2 win over Rio Grande Valley or their 1-0 win over Utah Valley. Started their 2-1 win over Air Force.
Hector Solorio (Niagara) - MF - So - Season over.
Tucker Stephenson (West Virginia) - F - So - Season over.
Andy Velez (JCCC) - MF - So - Season over.
Bailey Weeks (Northeastern State University) - D - So - Season over.
2016
Dakota Karns (Missouri State) - MF - Fr - Did not play in any of Missouri State's games.
Ryan Kellogg (West Virginia) - D - Fr - Season over.
John Leisman (Yale) - F - Fr - Came on as a substitute in Yale's 1-1 draw with Princeton.
Logan Lucas (West Virginia) - D - Fr - Season over.
Andrew McLeod (Northwestern) - D - Fr - Season over.
Absalom Solorio (Niagara) - MF - Fr - Season over.
Paul Whitener (Marshall) - MF - Fr - Season over.
Report: Sporting Set to Re-Sign Feilhaber
Reports tonight should bring some good news to Sporting Kansas City fans as Jeff Carlisle is reporting that Benny Feilhaber is set to spurn offers from abroad and return to Kansas City in 2017. Carlisle reports that while the length of the deal is not known, sources tell him that Feilhaber is set to get a raise to somewhere in the $500,000 to $600,000 range.
That raise in salary would see Feilhaber jump into the designated player range for Kansas City. Sporting at the moment have all three of their designated player spots filled with Roger Espinoza, Diego Rubio, and Graham Zusi. The club also has Matt Besler and Dom Dwyer making over the designated player threshold according to the MLS player union numbers. Obviously if the salary is correct, that means Kansas City is going to likely be paying down someone's salary with GAM/TAM to make room for Feilhaber's new salary or they'll be moving one of their designated players to make room.
To re-sign with Sporting, Feilhaber looks set to turn down an offer from Israel Premier League side, Hapoel Be'er Sheva, the same club that had been interested in acquiring Feilhaber at the European transfer deadline back in September, but Sporting rejected the deal. According to Carlisle, Feilhaber and Be'er Sheva had a verbal agreement on a contract, but a significant raise by Kansas City in their offer convinced Feilhaber to stay in Kansas City.
At the same time, Sam McDowell with the KC Star is throwing a little bit of cold water on the rumor tonight, saying that there is no deal in place or signed.
Feilhaber has enjoyed probably the most successful stretch of his club career with Kansas City, recording 38 assists and 24 goals over his four years in KC. Twenty eight of those assists and 17 of those goals have come in the last two years alone and fueled calls by many fans for Feilhaber's return to the national team.
The big question with any deal for Feilhaber will be the length of the contract. While Feilhaber doesn't have a ton of miles on his legs due to minimal playing time earlier in his career, he still turns 32 before the 2017 season kicks off. The worry has to be about a drop off in production, but given his play over the last two years most of those concerns should be put at ease. This is at least a start to getting KC to be a competitor in 2017, maintaining your best players like Feilhaber his key.
That raise in salary would see Feilhaber jump into the designated player range for Kansas City. Sporting at the moment have all three of their designated player spots filled with Roger Espinoza, Diego Rubio, and Graham Zusi. The club also has Matt Besler and Dom Dwyer making over the designated player threshold according to the MLS player union numbers. Obviously if the salary is correct, that means Kansas City is going to likely be paying down someone's salary with GAM/TAM to make room for Feilhaber's new salary or they'll be moving one of their designated players to make room.
To re-sign with Sporting, Feilhaber looks set to turn down an offer from Israel Premier League side, Hapoel Be'er Sheva, the same club that had been interested in acquiring Feilhaber at the European transfer deadline back in September, but Sporting rejected the deal. According to Carlisle, Feilhaber and Be'er Sheva had a verbal agreement on a contract, but a significant raise by Kansas City in their offer convinced Feilhaber to stay in Kansas City.
At the same time, Sam McDowell with the KC Star is throwing a little bit of cold water on the rumor tonight, saying that there is no deal in place or signed.
Feilhaber has enjoyed probably the most successful stretch of his club career with Kansas City, recording 38 assists and 24 goals over his four years in KC. Twenty eight of those assists and 17 of those goals have come in the last two years alone and fueled calls by many fans for Feilhaber's return to the national team.
The big question with any deal for Feilhaber will be the length of the contract. While Feilhaber doesn't have a ton of miles on his legs due to minimal playing time earlier in his career, he still turns 32 before the 2017 season kicks off. The worry has to be about a drop off in production, but given his play over the last two years most of those concerns should be put at ease. This is at least a start to getting KC to be a competitor in 2017, maintaining your best players like Feilhaber his key.
Sunday, November 13, 2016
Comets Run Past Ambush
The Kansas City Comets ended their three game home stand to start the season with an 8-3 win over the St. Louis Ambush on Sunday evening. The Ambush, playing their first game of the season looked a bit rusty in the first half, similar to how the Comets looked against the Cedar Rapids Rampage in their opener. While the Ambush have played some preseason games, the Comets having two real games under their belt already certainly seemed to give them an advantage in the early going.
The Comets got the first goal of the game from a very unlikely source as about eight minutes in as goalkeeper Stephen Paterson took a lot of space that the Ambush defense gave him on a line change. Paterson raced almost to the Ambush yellow line before firing a shot low to the far post that Ambush goalkeeper Nikola Marojevic didn't even dive for. The shot bounced into the corner of the net giving the Comets a 1-0 lead. While the goal was impressive coming from a goalkeeper, Marojevic not even making an attempt to make a dive on the play looked bad for the St. Louis goalkeeper. The goal ended up being the only one of the first quarter as the Comets dominated but some good saves by Marojevic kept the lead to just a single goal.
It didn't take long for the Comets to extend their lead in the second quarter as some high pressure by the Comets led to a give away by Marojevic as he played a ball right to Guerrero Pino who fired a shot into the net to double the lead less than two minutes into the quarter. KC made it 3-0 five and a half minutes in after some good passing around the yellow line led to Alain Matingou playing a ball to the back post where Ramone Palmer was lurking to tap the ball home. The rout appeared to be on, but less than a minute later the Ambush were on the board with Stefan St. Louis scoring his first goal of the season. The Comets restored their three goal lead before half time as Vahid Assadpour scored after sending Marojevic sliding by with a fake shot and passing the ball into the empty net as the Comets went into the half up 4-1.
The Ambush came out after the half time break and looked to have woken up and were ready to play. They seemed to have gotten their feet under them and were able to create chances, especially on the counter were Richard Schmermund beat Paterson almost seven minutes into the quarter to cut the Comets lead back to two goals. Kansas City though responded again with Bryan Perez scuffing a shot into the far corner after a centering pass by Leo Gibson to make it 5-2. Before the end of the quarter Schmermund had cut the lead back to just two goals blasting a shot past Paterson to make it 5-3 after three quarters.
The fourth quarter saw the Comets pull away from the Ambush scoring three times while keeping the Ambush from cutting the lead any further. Less than two minutes into the quarter, Gibson set up Lucas Rodriguez to extend the lead back to three goals. Just over five minutes in the Comets made the lead four goals as Brian Harris scored to make it 7-3. With less than four minutes left, the Comets finished off their scoring, almost seeming to toy with the Ambush defense as a pair of Comets passed up shooting opportunities before Gibson picked up his third assist of the game playing a ball across the goal to an on-rushing Robert Palmer who fired a shot in off the post and the head of a St. Louis defender to finish the game.
The Comets will now go on the road for the first time this season next weekend when they'll take on the Milwaukee Wave, who split their East Coast road trip 1-1, defeating Baltimore but losing to Harrisburg.
The Comets got the first goal of the game from a very unlikely source as about eight minutes in as goalkeeper Stephen Paterson took a lot of space that the Ambush defense gave him on a line change. Paterson raced almost to the Ambush yellow line before firing a shot low to the far post that Ambush goalkeeper Nikola Marojevic didn't even dive for. The shot bounced into the corner of the net giving the Comets a 1-0 lead. While the goal was impressive coming from a goalkeeper, Marojevic not even making an attempt to make a dive on the play looked bad for the St. Louis goalkeeper. The goal ended up being the only one of the first quarter as the Comets dominated but some good saves by Marojevic kept the lead to just a single goal.
It didn't take long for the Comets to extend their lead in the second quarter as some high pressure by the Comets led to a give away by Marojevic as he played a ball right to Guerrero Pino who fired a shot into the net to double the lead less than two minutes into the quarter. KC made it 3-0 five and a half minutes in after some good passing around the yellow line led to Alain Matingou playing a ball to the back post where Ramone Palmer was lurking to tap the ball home. The rout appeared to be on, but less than a minute later the Ambush were on the board with Stefan St. Louis scoring his first goal of the season. The Comets restored their three goal lead before half time as Vahid Assadpour scored after sending Marojevic sliding by with a fake shot and passing the ball into the empty net as the Comets went into the half up 4-1.
The Ambush came out after the half time break and looked to have woken up and were ready to play. They seemed to have gotten their feet under them and were able to create chances, especially on the counter were Richard Schmermund beat Paterson almost seven minutes into the quarter to cut the Comets lead back to two goals. Kansas City though responded again with Bryan Perez scuffing a shot into the far corner after a centering pass by Leo Gibson to make it 5-2. Before the end of the quarter Schmermund had cut the lead back to just two goals blasting a shot past Paterson to make it 5-3 after three quarters.
The fourth quarter saw the Comets pull away from the Ambush scoring three times while keeping the Ambush from cutting the lead any further. Less than two minutes into the quarter, Gibson set up Lucas Rodriguez to extend the lead back to three goals. Just over five minutes in the Comets made the lead four goals as Brian Harris scored to make it 7-3. With less than four minutes left, the Comets finished off their scoring, almost seeming to toy with the Ambush defense as a pair of Comets passed up shooting opportunities before Gibson picked up his third assist of the game playing a ball across the goal to an on-rushing Robert Palmer who fired a shot in off the post and the head of a St. Louis defender to finish the game.
The Comets will now go on the road for the first time this season next weekend when they'll take on the Milwaukee Wave, who split their East Coast road trip 1-1, defeating Baltimore but losing to Harrisburg.
Friday, November 11, 2016
A Look at Sporting's Roster and Ahead Towards 2017
With the season over, most Sporting Kansas City fans have turned their eyes towards 2017 and the hopes of another new season. With that in mind people have been discussing who should be, or will be returning in 2017 and what players are likely on their way out. Yesterday from Sam McDowell we found out that Sporting KC has just eight players currently under contract for the 2017 season. Of the 23 remaining players that KC has (including their three players that were on loan this season; Bernardo Anor, Erik Palmer-Brown, and Daniel Salloi) there are likely to be a few of those players that are brought back, either because they have options the team is going to pick up, or because the team will extend the player a new deal.
So with that in mind here's a look at each player and some thoughts on their 2016 season, their chances on returning, and some ideas on what Swope Park Rangers players could play a role.
Goalkeeper
Tim Melia - He struggled during the middle of the 2016 season, with injuries and form affecting his play on the field, but came on strong late in the season, looking like the goalkeeper that he'd been in 2015. He's one of the seven under contract for 2017 and I think it's safe to assume that he's definitely coming in as the number one goalkeeper again.
Alec Kann - Performed admirably in Melia's stead when he was out with injury. He's not a bad back up and as long as the price remains right I think Kann will be back in Kansas City next season as the backup.
Jon Kempin - Probably the most interesting situation to follow with the goalkeepers. Kempin is Sporting KC's first homegrown player, but has appeared in only a handful of games for Sporting KC. This season he made just two appearances, both in the CONCACAF Champions League while Melia was injured. He spent most of the season on loan to the Swope Park Rangers, where he started the season as the starter, lost the job, gained it back, then lost it again when he was recalled to help cover for the Melia injury and never gained it back.
Outlook: I think it might be time for Kempin to move on from his home town club. The tweet by Robb Heineman back in January that the club wanted to take goalkeeper Andrew Tarbell, the losing the starting job with the Rangers to Zac Lubin and then Adrian Zendejas, it just seems that the club is starting to move on from Kempin. In his place I could see the club doing something similar in 2017 with Zendejas, signing him to Sporting KC and loaning him to SPR for the season.
Help from SPR: As I mentioned before, Zendejas looked extremely solid for the Rangers and at only 21 looks like an extremely strong option to grow into the position. Him being invited into preseason camp with Sporting won't be surprising at all.
Stay: Melia, Kann
Go: Kempin
In: Zendejas?
Defense
Saad Abdul-Salaam - Abdul-Salaam is one of those players that I believe falls into the option needing to be picked up category. Traditionally MLS rookies are given a two year deal when they sign, two years plus two more option years. Abdul-Salaam just finished his second season, which would put him firmly into the position of entering one of his option years. He seems to have firmly entrenched himself into the starting right back job as Chance Myers has been unable to stay healthy.
Ever Alvarado - One of Sporting KC's mid-season signings, Alvarado spent most of his time with the Swope Park Rangers. Plenty of that probably had to do with the emergence of Jimmy Medranda as a viable player at left back for Sporting KC. The Honduran isn't one I would consider a "young, up and comer" as he is already 24. I could see him brought back as depth for KC; I could also see him make his exit from Kansas City as well.
Matt Besler - The second of two players under contract already for 2017, Besler had a rough 2016 season on the field for KC. He played his fewest games since his second professional season through both injury and being benched by Peter Vermes, was stripped of the captain's armband he had first been given in 2014, and lost the designation as being a designated player. He's still the best defender KC has, but has been unable to form a cohesive partnership with anyone the way that he had with Aurelien Collin.
Nuno Coelho - The man that was originally expected to help fill that Aurelien Collin role with Besler was the Coelho. Unfortunately, after a strong start, Coelho's history of injuries caught up with him around May. After going 90 minutes in KC's 3-1 loss to RSL on May 21st (his 14th straight start, and 14th straight game going 90 minutes), Coelho only played 90 minutes one time over the final 20 games of the regular season. He started six of those final 20 games and made one substitute appearance. Making $275,000 base and $375,000 guaranteed you have to wonder if there was enough to get him another year in Kansas City. For me I'm not sure he did.
Kevin Ellis - After all was said and done at the end of the season, after KC tried Besler, Coelho, Ike Opara, and Lawrence Olum at center back, it ended up being Ellis that partnered Besler at the end of the season for KC. While he still draws the ire of a number of KC fans that he's not a center back, he's still a good depth option for KC at his price. If he's one that has an option to pick up I would guess there's a good chance it's picked up.
Jimmy Medranda - Probably the biggest surprise of the season for Sporting KC, Medranda made the left back position his for a good chunk of the season holding off Alvarado, Seth Sinovic, and making Amadou Dia expendable. He's certainly not a finished product there and some of his defending would best be classified as erratic and a little worrisome, he still got the job done. As McDowell mentioned, the team sees his eventual position further of the field, and I'd agree, I'm not sure exactly where, but I think he has more to provide to the offense than he does as a defender.
Chance Myers - sporting KC's longest tenured player may be seeing his time in KC coming to an end soon. Myers was hit by the injury bug again in 2016, something that has been an on again off again issue for him throughout his career. He played in just 11 league games, starting just six. His last start came back on May 7th, while his last appearance was on August 7th. He's been very good for the club when he's been healthy, his spot in the great back line from 2011 through 2013 will be remembered very well by KC fans, but with a base salary of $200,000 and Abdul-Salaam looking good in the right back position it may be time for KC to move on from Myers.
Ike Opara - Set a career high for starts (16), games (25), and minutes (1,542) in 2016, Opara was not as dominating as he was in the early part of 2015 before his injury but was still strong defensively. He too missed time again with injury though not as bad as prior years. His salary is still pretty reasonable in MLS and at worst he's a good third defender for the club to have.
Erik Palmer-Brown - Sporting KC's youngest ever player is on loan to Porto until the end of the season, when the Portuguese club will make a decision on whether they will purchase Palmer-Brown's contract. The US youth international was an important part of Porto B's run to winning the Portuguese second division championship last season. This season after returning from an injury he's gone right back into the starting 11 for Porto B and done well. From reports of people who have been watching him play he has been doing very well and most fans seem very interested in retaining his duties with the club, some even saying that they wouldn't be surprised to see him get time with the first team in the Portuguese Cup competition. In that regard I'm not going to be surprised if he's played his last game for Sporting KC.
Seth Sinovic - I think each of the last two seasons I've written Seth Sinovic's obituary with Sporting KC, first the emergence of Dia and then Medranda this season, but yet again by the end of the season this year Sinovic was back in the starting 11, replacing Medranda over the final few league games and then in the playoffs as well. Sinovic is still a relatively inexpensive option for Kansas City and even if KC chooses to bring in another starter, Sinovic would be a good veteran presence on the bench that can come in and start when you need him to.
Outlook: For some of the comments that Kansas City took about their defense in 2016, it was still a fairly good defensive unit, allowing the sixth fewest goals on the season in MLS. The big issue was simply consistency in personnel. Abdul-Salaam seems to have the right back; with Besler out of the dog house he seems to have the left center back position. That means that KC needs to look to fill the right center back position, and either decide on Medranda or Sinovic for the left back spot, or bring in a starter there.
Help from SPR: Swope Park's starting center back partnership of Omuar Ballo and Amer Didic had a long unbeaten run for SPR when they were starting together that was ended in the USL final against New York Red Bulls 2. The pair certainly looked strong at times and Didic at 21 even earned himself a call up to Sporting for the CCL games this season, which Ballo was too old for. I could see at least Didic, if not both of them invited into camp. On the wings, I think that Sporting will give Tyler Pasher another look with Sporting in preseason, he seems likely to split time between the wing and wingback position with SKC, something he did with the Rangers at times last season.
Stay: Abdul-Salaam, Besler, Ellis, Medranda, Opara, Sinovic
Go: Alvarado, Coelho, Myers, Palmer-Brown
In: starting right center back, starting left back, Didic?, Pasher?
Midfield
Bernardo Anor - Spent the entire season on loan with Minnesota United of the NASL. The assumption had to have been that Anor would impress enough that KC could work out a deal where Sporting would trade Anor to Minnesota in exchange for a draft pick and a handshake agreement to not take any of their players in the expansion draft. Unfortunately Anor only appeared nine times for United, only two of those in the fall season after suffering an injury. If this was a loan with an option to buy I have a feel that United will pass on Anor, and I can't see KC retaining him either.
Emmanuel Appiah - Like Alvarado, Appiah was KC's other summer transfer window signing, and like him he spent a vast majority of his time with SPR, making a handful of appearances across all competitions for Sporting KC, mainly in CCL play. I could see Appiah making a return to the team in preseason only to end up signing with SPR for 2017 instead of Sporting. As a 23 year old first round pick (albeit for Colorado) I would have wanted more of a contribution from him.
Roger Espinoza - The third of seven players already under contract for the 2017 season, Espinoza had himself another strong season for KC in midfield and on the wing by the end of the season. He took over the captaincy from Besler and set career highs in games (30), starts (30), minutes (2,679), and assists (5). While KC had some success late in the season with Espinoza on the wing I appreciate that the team is planning to move him back to the midfield, on the wing I just didn't feel that Espinoza had the impact on the game that he can have in the middle, and while he's a good player, he's not enough of an offensive weapon to be playing the wing regularly in a 4-3-3.
Benny Feilhaber - Probably the biggest story of Kansas City’s offseason will be the status of Feilhaber. Now out of contract, Sporting has not held any negotiations with him about a new contract during the regular season. With numerous reports that teams in both Israel and Mexico were interested in the midfielder he can technically sign an offer sheet with a new club at any time, even though his contract with KC runs through the end of December. The fact that he hasn't is certainly a good sign. There are questions that will be asked though if and when Feilhaber signs a new contract. The biggest being how long of a contract do you give a midfielder who will be 32 at the start of the 2017 season? Can he continue to keep up the impact he's had with KC over the past couple seasons?
Benji Joya - The former US youth international came back to MLS as a roster freeze signing for Kansas City. Joya only appeared one time for Kansas City, the club's meaningless CCL game against Central FC, but he showed flashes during that one appearance. He's cheap enough to be an option on Sporting KC next season, or with SPR. He's one of the few roster freeze deadline signings that I could see sticking around beyond the one season.
Soni Mustivar - Another player already under contract for 2017, Mustivar had a bit of a rough season. KC had been searching for a defensive midfielder to replace Oriol Rosell since the Spaniard transferred to the Portuguese league, and last year it looked like they might have found it with Mustivar. This year though there's been some issues with his passing. It seems like at least once a game Mustivar would play a ball that would end up putting KC's defense under pressure, either by it being to the other team or not to a good position. In KC's 4-3-3 the passing by the defensive midfield is extremely important; it's why Feilhaber has spent plenty of time there. Hopefully an improvement from Mustivar is coming in 2017.
Paulo Nagamura - It seems like the last few years Nagamura has missed the first half of the season only to come back in late July/August to help steady the team and push them towards the playoffs. This year was no different, but the question surrounding Nagamura is that he turns 34 early in 2017 and can KC afford to have $225,000 in cap space tied up in a player (no matter how important) only plays about 500 minutes in a season?
Lawrence Olum - After a year abroad, Olum returned to Kansas City and for a period of time over the summer became the preferred starting center back partner of Ike Opara in KC's back line. Like a number of KC's new signings this past season though he missed a long stretch of time with injury, not appearing in a league game after 8/13. He will also be turning 33 next season, an age where if he permanently makes the switch to center back could be a decent depth signing if KC want him to return.
Outlook: When KC's starting midfield trio of Espinoza, Feilhaber, Mustivar were on their game they were one of the best midfield combinations in the league. Unfortunately they all couldn't seem to hit form at the same time in 2016. This is an area in 2017 that KC really probably needs to get younger in, both Feilhaber (if he stays) and Espinoza are now on the wrong side of 30, Olum and Nagamura are also both north of there. While Mustivar is in his prime now there are certainly questions about his play. The only "young" players in the midfield are Appiah and Joya, both had minimal action, but Joya looked the better of the two when it came down to it.
Help from SPR: Unfortunately, probably the two top candidates to help out on the midfield tore their ACLs in training in 2016. Kevin Oliveira, number 2 on the USL's list of 20 under 20 is back out on the field getting himself back into shape, but Ualefi only tore his ACL during the USL playoffs and is still a ways out. If either or both were healthy I would have expected both in camp with KC, now Oliveira may be back by the time the USL season kicks off. Elsewhere, Ayrton showed flashes filling in for Oliveira at the attacking midfield spot and Tomas Granitto showed well in his one appearance with SKC in the Champions League, but I'm not sure either one is ready to make the jump full time.
Stay: Espinoza, Feilhaber, Joya, Mustivar, Olum
Go: Anor, Appiah, Nagamura
In: Fausto Rossi?, other starting attacking midfielder if Feilhaber leaves, potentially a new defensive midfielder
Forward/Winger
Brad Davis - Probably the highest profile of KC's offseason acquisitions, a player that Peter Vermes had reportedly been chasing for years. Unfortunately Davis ended up starting just 14 games, the fewest since his rookie year in 2002, same for the number of minutes played (1,300), and his fewest assists since 2004. The expectation was that Davis would provide close to double digit assists, setting up goals for other players on the field. The lack of production from Davis caused some of KC's offensive attacking issues. His retirement will free up plenty of cap space though so hopefully Kansas City uses that on improving the team.
Dom Dwyer - The fourth player still under contract for 2017, Dwyer became Sporting KC's second all-time leading scorer in 2016 and seems likely to continue to closer to Preki in 2017. For Kansas City, the best thing for Dwyer would be for Sporting to get him support. Dwyer spent a lot of 2016 on "Dwyer Island" isolated from the rest of Kansas City's team; getting him support has to be a priority.
Connor Hallisey - To say that Sporting's highest pick from the 2015 MLS Superdraft has not lived up to expectations would be an understatement. Hallisey has struggled to transition his game to MLS. He's had numerous opportunities to lock down a starting spot on the wing for KC, especially this year with KC's two big signings there being underwhelming. In his 30 games played for KC in MLS play he's recorded just a single assist while having a number of decent opportunities to score but his only finish has been a penalty kick in KC's final CCL game. There comes a point where Vermes needs to just cut his losses with Hallisey.
Justin Mapp - The league's first free agent signing will also be the measuring point for free agent busts for years to come in MLS. Mapp played just 43 minutes for Kansas City, never starting a single game. He missed most of the season with a variety of injuries. If KC takes anything from this mistake it's to hopefully be more cautious with their signings. KC has made a history of signing players that have injury histories and trying to make them come good. Sometimes it works for them (Nemeth), this year it didn't really work out with two of their main signings (Coelho and Mapp).
Jacob Peterson - Peterson had a career year in 2016, and there are really two ways to take it for most KC fans. Many are thrilled that he was able to step up and become at least some kind of secondary threat to take some pressure off of Dwyer up top. The other side of things is that KC put themselves into a position with their player signings where Peterson had to have a career year just to try to save Kansas City's season. Peterson still has something to offer this team, maybe not as a starter, but as that spark of energy off the bench if KC needs it.
Cameron Porter - Porter is another player under contract for 2017 already. Acquired from the Montreal Impact in the trade that sent Amadou Dia north, Porter has shown some flashes at time but has also looked out of his depth. One player that actually played fewer league minutes than Mapp did. I think Porter could be someone that replaces Peterson as that spark f Sporting decides not to bring Peterson back to KC.
Diego Rubio - The sixth player under contract for 2017, Rubio will unfortunately miss a good chunk of the start of the 2017 season as he too recovers from an ACL tear. With KC's single forward system Rubio only was on the field once at the same time as Dwyer was all year. His apparent inability to play the wing has put him in mainly a reserve role. It doesn't make a lot of sense to have a DP just to have him sit on the bench mainly, but it really isn't something KC is going to have to worry about for at least the first half of the season.
Daniel Salloi - Sporting's latest homegrown player is on loan in his native Hungary where he's become a regular starter for Gyirmot scoring a pair of goals. Unfortunately Gyirmot is currently in a relegation spot, which would likely keep a permanent move from happening. With Rubio injured and how regularly Dwyer plays KC could bring him back as the primary back up to Dwyer.
Graham Zusi - The last player currently on KC's roster already for the 2017 season, Sporting really needs to start getting production from Zusi again. Over the past two seasons he's scored just four goals and added nine assists in league play, that's as many goals as he was involved in 2014 alone (five goals, eight assists). We were told last year it was because of lingering injuries. Unfortunately being healthy in 2016 hasn't helped to turn his form around. The grumbles from the fans that have grown to love Zusi are starting to get higher, especially with his DP status.
Outlook: Of the four areas, the forward/wing position is probably where Kansas City needs the most house cleaning; coincidently it's also where KC has the most players already under contract for 2017. KC gets plenty of production from Dwyer this past season, but needs to get more production from the wings in 2017 to be competitive.
Help from SPR: At the forward position, Sporting has the Rangers' leading scorer, Mark Anthony Gonzalez his ability to make the jump to MLS is certainly something to question though. There's also the USL's all-time leading scorer, Dane Kelly, but considering he has yet to make the jump to MLS, there do have to be some questions about whether he can as well. On the wings KC has Pasher who I previously mentioned as an option for outside back, and there's also Kris Tyrpak, who has some MLS experience from his time with Chivas USA.
Stay: Dwyer, Peterson, Porter, Rubio, Salloi?, Zusi
Out: Davis, Hallisey, Mapp
In: Pasher? Tyrpak? at least one starting winger.
Kansas City has a number of pieces that can be built on to get the team past the first round of the playoffs; they just need to add some pieces to get them further. KC has spent a number of years just trying to find that one, maybe two pieces required to get the team to the next level. This may be the first time since 2011 that KC has really had to come into the season with a number of new needed starters and impact players.
So with that in mind here's a look at each player and some thoughts on their 2016 season, their chances on returning, and some ideas on what Swope Park Rangers players could play a role.
Goalkeeper
Tim Melia - He struggled during the middle of the 2016 season, with injuries and form affecting his play on the field, but came on strong late in the season, looking like the goalkeeper that he'd been in 2015. He's one of the seven under contract for 2017 and I think it's safe to assume that he's definitely coming in as the number one goalkeeper again.
Alec Kann - Performed admirably in Melia's stead when he was out with injury. He's not a bad back up and as long as the price remains right I think Kann will be back in Kansas City next season as the backup.
Jon Kempin - Probably the most interesting situation to follow with the goalkeepers. Kempin is Sporting KC's first homegrown player, but has appeared in only a handful of games for Sporting KC. This season he made just two appearances, both in the CONCACAF Champions League while Melia was injured. He spent most of the season on loan to the Swope Park Rangers, where he started the season as the starter, lost the job, gained it back, then lost it again when he was recalled to help cover for the Melia injury and never gained it back.
Outlook: I think it might be time for Kempin to move on from his home town club. The tweet by Robb Heineman back in January that the club wanted to take goalkeeper Andrew Tarbell, the losing the starting job with the Rangers to Zac Lubin and then Adrian Zendejas, it just seems that the club is starting to move on from Kempin. In his place I could see the club doing something similar in 2017 with Zendejas, signing him to Sporting KC and loaning him to SPR for the season.
Help from SPR: As I mentioned before, Zendejas looked extremely solid for the Rangers and at only 21 looks like an extremely strong option to grow into the position. Him being invited into preseason camp with Sporting won't be surprising at all.
Stay: Melia, Kann
Go: Kempin
In: Zendejas?
Defense
Saad Abdul-Salaam - Abdul-Salaam is one of those players that I believe falls into the option needing to be picked up category. Traditionally MLS rookies are given a two year deal when they sign, two years plus two more option years. Abdul-Salaam just finished his second season, which would put him firmly into the position of entering one of his option years. He seems to have firmly entrenched himself into the starting right back job as Chance Myers has been unable to stay healthy.
Ever Alvarado - One of Sporting KC's mid-season signings, Alvarado spent most of his time with the Swope Park Rangers. Plenty of that probably had to do with the emergence of Jimmy Medranda as a viable player at left back for Sporting KC. The Honduran isn't one I would consider a "young, up and comer" as he is already 24. I could see him brought back as depth for KC; I could also see him make his exit from Kansas City as well.
Matt Besler - The second of two players under contract already for 2017, Besler had a rough 2016 season on the field for KC. He played his fewest games since his second professional season through both injury and being benched by Peter Vermes, was stripped of the captain's armband he had first been given in 2014, and lost the designation as being a designated player. He's still the best defender KC has, but has been unable to form a cohesive partnership with anyone the way that he had with Aurelien Collin.
Nuno Coelho - The man that was originally expected to help fill that Aurelien Collin role with Besler was the Coelho. Unfortunately, after a strong start, Coelho's history of injuries caught up with him around May. After going 90 minutes in KC's 3-1 loss to RSL on May 21st (his 14th straight start, and 14th straight game going 90 minutes), Coelho only played 90 minutes one time over the final 20 games of the regular season. He started six of those final 20 games and made one substitute appearance. Making $275,000 base and $375,000 guaranteed you have to wonder if there was enough to get him another year in Kansas City. For me I'm not sure he did.
Kevin Ellis - After all was said and done at the end of the season, after KC tried Besler, Coelho, Ike Opara, and Lawrence Olum at center back, it ended up being Ellis that partnered Besler at the end of the season for KC. While he still draws the ire of a number of KC fans that he's not a center back, he's still a good depth option for KC at his price. If he's one that has an option to pick up I would guess there's a good chance it's picked up.
Jimmy Medranda - Probably the biggest surprise of the season for Sporting KC, Medranda made the left back position his for a good chunk of the season holding off Alvarado, Seth Sinovic, and making Amadou Dia expendable. He's certainly not a finished product there and some of his defending would best be classified as erratic and a little worrisome, he still got the job done. As McDowell mentioned, the team sees his eventual position further of the field, and I'd agree, I'm not sure exactly where, but I think he has more to provide to the offense than he does as a defender.
Chance Myers - sporting KC's longest tenured player may be seeing his time in KC coming to an end soon. Myers was hit by the injury bug again in 2016, something that has been an on again off again issue for him throughout his career. He played in just 11 league games, starting just six. His last start came back on May 7th, while his last appearance was on August 7th. He's been very good for the club when he's been healthy, his spot in the great back line from 2011 through 2013 will be remembered very well by KC fans, but with a base salary of $200,000 and Abdul-Salaam looking good in the right back position it may be time for KC to move on from Myers.
Ike Opara - Set a career high for starts (16), games (25), and minutes (1,542) in 2016, Opara was not as dominating as he was in the early part of 2015 before his injury but was still strong defensively. He too missed time again with injury though not as bad as prior years. His salary is still pretty reasonable in MLS and at worst he's a good third defender for the club to have.
Erik Palmer-Brown - Sporting KC's youngest ever player is on loan to Porto until the end of the season, when the Portuguese club will make a decision on whether they will purchase Palmer-Brown's contract. The US youth international was an important part of Porto B's run to winning the Portuguese second division championship last season. This season after returning from an injury he's gone right back into the starting 11 for Porto B and done well. From reports of people who have been watching him play he has been doing very well and most fans seem very interested in retaining his duties with the club, some even saying that they wouldn't be surprised to see him get time with the first team in the Portuguese Cup competition. In that regard I'm not going to be surprised if he's played his last game for Sporting KC.
Seth Sinovic - I think each of the last two seasons I've written Seth Sinovic's obituary with Sporting KC, first the emergence of Dia and then Medranda this season, but yet again by the end of the season this year Sinovic was back in the starting 11, replacing Medranda over the final few league games and then in the playoffs as well. Sinovic is still a relatively inexpensive option for Kansas City and even if KC chooses to bring in another starter, Sinovic would be a good veteran presence on the bench that can come in and start when you need him to.
Outlook: For some of the comments that Kansas City took about their defense in 2016, it was still a fairly good defensive unit, allowing the sixth fewest goals on the season in MLS. The big issue was simply consistency in personnel. Abdul-Salaam seems to have the right back; with Besler out of the dog house he seems to have the left center back position. That means that KC needs to look to fill the right center back position, and either decide on Medranda or Sinovic for the left back spot, or bring in a starter there.
Help from SPR: Swope Park's starting center back partnership of Omuar Ballo and Amer Didic had a long unbeaten run for SPR when they were starting together that was ended in the USL final against New York Red Bulls 2. The pair certainly looked strong at times and Didic at 21 even earned himself a call up to Sporting for the CCL games this season, which Ballo was too old for. I could see at least Didic, if not both of them invited into camp. On the wings, I think that Sporting will give Tyler Pasher another look with Sporting in preseason, he seems likely to split time between the wing and wingback position with SKC, something he did with the Rangers at times last season.
Stay: Abdul-Salaam, Besler, Ellis, Medranda, Opara, Sinovic
Go: Alvarado, Coelho, Myers, Palmer-Brown
In: starting right center back, starting left back, Didic?, Pasher?
Midfield
Bernardo Anor - Spent the entire season on loan with Minnesota United of the NASL. The assumption had to have been that Anor would impress enough that KC could work out a deal where Sporting would trade Anor to Minnesota in exchange for a draft pick and a handshake agreement to not take any of their players in the expansion draft. Unfortunately Anor only appeared nine times for United, only two of those in the fall season after suffering an injury. If this was a loan with an option to buy I have a feel that United will pass on Anor, and I can't see KC retaining him either.
Emmanuel Appiah - Like Alvarado, Appiah was KC's other summer transfer window signing, and like him he spent a vast majority of his time with SPR, making a handful of appearances across all competitions for Sporting KC, mainly in CCL play. I could see Appiah making a return to the team in preseason only to end up signing with SPR for 2017 instead of Sporting. As a 23 year old first round pick (albeit for Colorado) I would have wanted more of a contribution from him.
Roger Espinoza - The third of seven players already under contract for the 2017 season, Espinoza had himself another strong season for KC in midfield and on the wing by the end of the season. He took over the captaincy from Besler and set career highs in games (30), starts (30), minutes (2,679), and assists (5). While KC had some success late in the season with Espinoza on the wing I appreciate that the team is planning to move him back to the midfield, on the wing I just didn't feel that Espinoza had the impact on the game that he can have in the middle, and while he's a good player, he's not enough of an offensive weapon to be playing the wing regularly in a 4-3-3.
Benny Feilhaber - Probably the biggest story of Kansas City’s offseason will be the status of Feilhaber. Now out of contract, Sporting has not held any negotiations with him about a new contract during the regular season. With numerous reports that teams in both Israel and Mexico were interested in the midfielder he can technically sign an offer sheet with a new club at any time, even though his contract with KC runs through the end of December. The fact that he hasn't is certainly a good sign. There are questions that will be asked though if and when Feilhaber signs a new contract. The biggest being how long of a contract do you give a midfielder who will be 32 at the start of the 2017 season? Can he continue to keep up the impact he's had with KC over the past couple seasons?
Benji Joya - The former US youth international came back to MLS as a roster freeze signing for Kansas City. Joya only appeared one time for Kansas City, the club's meaningless CCL game against Central FC, but he showed flashes during that one appearance. He's cheap enough to be an option on Sporting KC next season, or with SPR. He's one of the few roster freeze deadline signings that I could see sticking around beyond the one season.
Soni Mustivar - Another player already under contract for 2017, Mustivar had a bit of a rough season. KC had been searching for a defensive midfielder to replace Oriol Rosell since the Spaniard transferred to the Portuguese league, and last year it looked like they might have found it with Mustivar. This year though there's been some issues with his passing. It seems like at least once a game Mustivar would play a ball that would end up putting KC's defense under pressure, either by it being to the other team or not to a good position. In KC's 4-3-3 the passing by the defensive midfield is extremely important; it's why Feilhaber has spent plenty of time there. Hopefully an improvement from Mustivar is coming in 2017.
Paulo Nagamura - It seems like the last few years Nagamura has missed the first half of the season only to come back in late July/August to help steady the team and push them towards the playoffs. This year was no different, but the question surrounding Nagamura is that he turns 34 early in 2017 and can KC afford to have $225,000 in cap space tied up in a player (no matter how important) only plays about 500 minutes in a season?
Lawrence Olum - After a year abroad, Olum returned to Kansas City and for a period of time over the summer became the preferred starting center back partner of Ike Opara in KC's back line. Like a number of KC's new signings this past season though he missed a long stretch of time with injury, not appearing in a league game after 8/13. He will also be turning 33 next season, an age where if he permanently makes the switch to center back could be a decent depth signing if KC want him to return.
Outlook: When KC's starting midfield trio of Espinoza, Feilhaber, Mustivar were on their game they were one of the best midfield combinations in the league. Unfortunately they all couldn't seem to hit form at the same time in 2016. This is an area in 2017 that KC really probably needs to get younger in, both Feilhaber (if he stays) and Espinoza are now on the wrong side of 30, Olum and Nagamura are also both north of there. While Mustivar is in his prime now there are certainly questions about his play. The only "young" players in the midfield are Appiah and Joya, both had minimal action, but Joya looked the better of the two when it came down to it.
Help from SPR: Unfortunately, probably the two top candidates to help out on the midfield tore their ACLs in training in 2016. Kevin Oliveira, number 2 on the USL's list of 20 under 20 is back out on the field getting himself back into shape, but Ualefi only tore his ACL during the USL playoffs and is still a ways out. If either or both were healthy I would have expected both in camp with KC, now Oliveira may be back by the time the USL season kicks off. Elsewhere, Ayrton showed flashes filling in for Oliveira at the attacking midfield spot and Tomas Granitto showed well in his one appearance with SKC in the Champions League, but I'm not sure either one is ready to make the jump full time.
Stay: Espinoza, Feilhaber, Joya, Mustivar, Olum
Go: Anor, Appiah, Nagamura
In: Fausto Rossi?, other starting attacking midfielder if Feilhaber leaves, potentially a new defensive midfielder
Forward/Winger
Brad Davis - Probably the highest profile of KC's offseason acquisitions, a player that Peter Vermes had reportedly been chasing for years. Unfortunately Davis ended up starting just 14 games, the fewest since his rookie year in 2002, same for the number of minutes played (1,300), and his fewest assists since 2004. The expectation was that Davis would provide close to double digit assists, setting up goals for other players on the field. The lack of production from Davis caused some of KC's offensive attacking issues. His retirement will free up plenty of cap space though so hopefully Kansas City uses that on improving the team.
Dom Dwyer - The fourth player still under contract for 2017, Dwyer became Sporting KC's second all-time leading scorer in 2016 and seems likely to continue to closer to Preki in 2017. For Kansas City, the best thing for Dwyer would be for Sporting to get him support. Dwyer spent a lot of 2016 on "Dwyer Island" isolated from the rest of Kansas City's team; getting him support has to be a priority.
Connor Hallisey - To say that Sporting's highest pick from the 2015 MLS Superdraft has not lived up to expectations would be an understatement. Hallisey has struggled to transition his game to MLS. He's had numerous opportunities to lock down a starting spot on the wing for KC, especially this year with KC's two big signings there being underwhelming. In his 30 games played for KC in MLS play he's recorded just a single assist while having a number of decent opportunities to score but his only finish has been a penalty kick in KC's final CCL game. There comes a point where Vermes needs to just cut his losses with Hallisey.
Justin Mapp - The league's first free agent signing will also be the measuring point for free agent busts for years to come in MLS. Mapp played just 43 minutes for Kansas City, never starting a single game. He missed most of the season with a variety of injuries. If KC takes anything from this mistake it's to hopefully be more cautious with their signings. KC has made a history of signing players that have injury histories and trying to make them come good. Sometimes it works for them (Nemeth), this year it didn't really work out with two of their main signings (Coelho and Mapp).
Jacob Peterson - Peterson had a career year in 2016, and there are really two ways to take it for most KC fans. Many are thrilled that he was able to step up and become at least some kind of secondary threat to take some pressure off of Dwyer up top. The other side of things is that KC put themselves into a position with their player signings where Peterson had to have a career year just to try to save Kansas City's season. Peterson still has something to offer this team, maybe not as a starter, but as that spark of energy off the bench if KC needs it.
Cameron Porter - Porter is another player under contract for 2017 already. Acquired from the Montreal Impact in the trade that sent Amadou Dia north, Porter has shown some flashes at time but has also looked out of his depth. One player that actually played fewer league minutes than Mapp did. I think Porter could be someone that replaces Peterson as that spark f Sporting decides not to bring Peterson back to KC.
Diego Rubio - The sixth player under contract for 2017, Rubio will unfortunately miss a good chunk of the start of the 2017 season as he too recovers from an ACL tear. With KC's single forward system Rubio only was on the field once at the same time as Dwyer was all year. His apparent inability to play the wing has put him in mainly a reserve role. It doesn't make a lot of sense to have a DP just to have him sit on the bench mainly, but it really isn't something KC is going to have to worry about for at least the first half of the season.
Daniel Salloi - Sporting's latest homegrown player is on loan in his native Hungary where he's become a regular starter for Gyirmot scoring a pair of goals. Unfortunately Gyirmot is currently in a relegation spot, which would likely keep a permanent move from happening. With Rubio injured and how regularly Dwyer plays KC could bring him back as the primary back up to Dwyer.
Graham Zusi - The last player currently on KC's roster already for the 2017 season, Sporting really needs to start getting production from Zusi again. Over the past two seasons he's scored just four goals and added nine assists in league play, that's as many goals as he was involved in 2014 alone (five goals, eight assists). We were told last year it was because of lingering injuries. Unfortunately being healthy in 2016 hasn't helped to turn his form around. The grumbles from the fans that have grown to love Zusi are starting to get higher, especially with his DP status.
Outlook: Of the four areas, the forward/wing position is probably where Kansas City needs the most house cleaning; coincidently it's also where KC has the most players already under contract for 2017. KC gets plenty of production from Dwyer this past season, but needs to get more production from the wings in 2017 to be competitive.
Help from SPR: At the forward position, Sporting has the Rangers' leading scorer, Mark Anthony Gonzalez his ability to make the jump to MLS is certainly something to question though. There's also the USL's all-time leading scorer, Dane Kelly, but considering he has yet to make the jump to MLS, there do have to be some questions about whether he can as well. On the wings KC has Pasher who I previously mentioned as an option for outside back, and there's also Kris Tyrpak, who has some MLS experience from his time with Chivas USA.
Stay: Dwyer, Peterson, Porter, Rubio, Salloi?, Zusi
Out: Davis, Hallisey, Mapp
In: Pasher? Tyrpak? at least one starting winger.
Kansas City has a number of pieces that can be built on to get the team past the first round of the playoffs; they just need to add some pieces to get them further. KC has spent a number of years just trying to find that one, maybe two pieces required to get the team to the next level. This may be the first time since 2011 that KC has really had to come into the season with a number of new needed starters and impact players.
Thursday, November 10, 2016
Sporting Still Chasing Rossi, but Other MLS Teams are Interested
Things have been fairly quiet on the Sporting KC front since their season ended on the road in Seattle. The team has basically turned their focus towards 2017, but there's been very little news on where they are with Benny Feilhaber (although there's been no news about him going elsewhere either) or with adding new players (although that's really not going to come until the MLS Cup playoffs end). One name has come back up regarding Sporting KC though, Fausto Rossi. Earlier this week, TuttMercatoWeb reported that Kansas City still have the midfielder "in the crosshairs" for a January move to MLS.
Based on MLS rules though Kansas City should still have first dibs on Rossi through the discovery claim process. This would put Kansas City first on the priority list for Rossi as MLS roster rules are set up to keep teams from "fighting" over the rights to different players. At the same time, this could just be Rossi's agent trying to get a deal done for his client and throwing out names of other MLS teams interested as a way to try to get the move to KC done quicker.
Wednesday, November 09, 2016
Aiyegbusi Falls Short of League Title - Former SKC Wizards Update
Former Kansas City wingback, Korede Aiyegbusi and his current club, AFC United just missed out on winning the Superettan, the Swedish second division. On the final match day of the season, AFC defeated third place Halmstad 2-0 to finish with 61 points, tied with first place Sirius. Unfortunately for Aiyegbusi and AFC, they finished second place on goal difference, +31 to +30.
Here is the rest of this week's update.
Active without a club or unknown
Vicente Arze
Pablo Escobar
Brian Fekete
Jeferson
Neven Markovic
Victor Munoz
Akeem Priestley
Jordi Quintilla
Brendan Ruiz
MLS
Jalil Anibaba - Houston - Offseason.
Teal Bunbury - New England - Offseason.
Servando Carrasco - Orlando City - Offseason.
Aurelien Collin - New York - Started and played 90 minutes in New York's 2-1 loss to Montreal.
Marcel de Jong - Vancouver - Offseason.
Amadou Dia - Montreal - Did not dress in Montreal's 2-1 win over New York.
Herculez Gomez - Seattle - Came off the bench and played 32 minutes in Seattle's 2-1 loss to Dallas.
Michael Harrington - Chicago - Offseason.
Jack Jewsbury - Portland - Offseason.
Kei Kamara - New England - Offseason.
Chris Konopka - Portland - Offseason.
Eric Kronberg - Montreal - Dressed but did not play in Montreal's 2-1 win over New York.
Mikey Lopez - NYCFC - Dressed but did not play in NYCFC's 5-0 loss to Toronto.
Yura Movsisyan - Salt Lake - Offseason.
Amobi Okugo - Portland - Offseason.
Tony Rocha - Orlando - Offseason.
CJ Sapong - Philadelphia - Offseason.
Sal Zizzo - New York - Started and played 90 minutes in New York's 2-1 loss to Montreal.
NASL
Bernardo Anor - Minnesota (loan) - Offseason.
Stefan Antonijevic - Tampa Bay - Offseason.
Omar Bravo - Carolina - Offseason.
Mechack Jerome - Jacksonville - Offseason.
Michael Kafari - Puerto Rico - Offseason.
James Marcelin - Carolina - Offseason.
Rauwshan McKenzie - Oklahoma City - Did not dres in OKC's 2-1 loss to New York.
US
Amer Didic - Swope Park - Offseason.
Christian Duke - Swope Park - Offseason.
Tomas Granitto - Swope Park - Offseason.
Cyprian Hedrick - Oklahoma City - Offseason.
Ryan James - Rochester - Offseason.
Alex Martinez - Charlotte - Offseason.
Alex Molano - Swope Park - Offseason.
Tyler Pasher - Swope Park - Offseason.
Nansel Selbol - Swope Park - Offseason.
Michael Thomas - Oklahoma City - Offseason.
Kris Tyrpak - Swope Park - Offseason.
Ualefi - Swope Park - Offseason.
Yomby William - Richmond - Offseason.
PDL
Adnan Gabeljic - San Francisco - Offseason.
Faik Hajderovic - St. Louis U23 - Offseason.
Indoor
Jamar Beasley - Cedar Rapids - No game this week.
Mike Jones - Dallas - Had a goal in Dallas' 14-7 win over El Paso. Played in Dallas' 8-4 loss to San Diego.
Boris Pardo - San Diego - Did not play in San Diego's 8-4 win over Dallas.
International
Korede Aiyegbusi - AFC United- Sweden - Started and played 90 minutes in AFC's 2-0 win over Halmstad.
Scott Angevine - YPA - Finland - Offseason.
Claudio Bieler - Belgrano - Argentina - Started and played 90 minutes, scoring a goal in Belgrano's 2-1 loss to Tigre.
Reinaldo Brenes - Belen Siglo XXI - Dressed but did not play in Belen's 2-1 loss to Saprissa. Started and played 60 minutes, scoring a goal in Belen's 3-3 draw with Cartagines.
Sunil Chhetri - Bengaluru - India - Started and played 90 minutes in Bengaluru's 1-0 loss to Al Quwa Al Jawiya.
Jorge Claros - Alajuelense - Costa Rica - Did not dress in either of Alajuelense's games.
Daneil Cyrus - W Connection - Trinidad - Defeated St. Ann's Rangers 4-0.
Toni Dovale - CD Leganes - Spain - Did not dress in Leganes' 3-0 loss to Real Madrid.
Luis Gil - Queretaro - Mexico - Did not dress in either of Queretaro's games.
Will John - RoPS - Finland - Offseason.
Igor Juliao - Fluminense - Brazil - Dressd but did not play in Fluminense's 4-2 loss to Cruzeiro.
Igor Kostrov - Slavia-Mozyr - Belarus - Started and played 90 minutes in Slavia's 3-3 draw with Gorodeya.
Luis Marin - CD Temuco - Chile - Started and played 90 minutes in Temuco's 2-0 loss to Palestino.
Michal Mravec - RoPS - Finland - Offseason.
Krisztian Nemeth - Al-Gharafa - Qatar - Started and played 81 minutes, scoring a goal in Al Gharafa's 2-0 win over Al Wakrah.
Erik Palmer-Brown - Porto (loan) - Portugal - Started and played 90 minutes in Porto B's 1-0 loss to Cova Piedade.
Pablo Punyed - IBV - Iceland - Offseason.
Oriol Rosell - Belenenses (Sporting Club de Portugal)(loan) - Portugal - Came off the bench and played 27 minutes in Belenenses' 1-0 win over Feirense.
Soony Saad - Pattaya United (BEC Tero Sasana) - Offseason.
Daniel Salloi - Gyirmot FC Gyor (loan) - Hungary - Started and played 90 minutes in Gyirmot's 4-0 loss to Videoton.
Peter Schmetz - Wuppertaler SV - Germany - Started and played 90 minutes in Wuppertaler's 3-0 loss to Bonner SC.
Yann Songo'o - Plymouth Argyle - England - Started and played 90 minutes in Plymouth's 2-1 FA Cup win over Mansfield Town. Dressed but did not play in Plymouth's 2-0 EFL Trophy loss to Swansea City U23.
Kevin Souter - Deveronvale FC - Scotland - Did not dress in Deveronvale's 2-1 loss to Clachnacuddin.
Martin Steuble - Ceres-La Salle - Philippines - Offseason.
Milos Stojcev - Atromitos - Greece - Started and played 56 minutes in Atromitos' 2-2 draw with AEK Athens.
Matt Taylor - Kickers Offenbach - Came off the bench and played 15 minutes in Kickers' 2-2 draw with Stutgart II.
Here is the rest of this week's update.
Active without a club or unknown
Vicente Arze
Pablo Escobar
Brian Fekete
Jeferson
Neven Markovic
Victor Munoz
Akeem Priestley
Jordi Quintilla
Brendan Ruiz
MLS
Jalil Anibaba - Houston - Offseason.
Teal Bunbury - New England - Offseason.
Servando Carrasco - Orlando City - Offseason.
Aurelien Collin - New York - Started and played 90 minutes in New York's 2-1 loss to Montreal.
Marcel de Jong - Vancouver - Offseason.
Amadou Dia - Montreal - Did not dress in Montreal's 2-1 win over New York.
Herculez Gomez - Seattle - Came off the bench and played 32 minutes in Seattle's 2-1 loss to Dallas.
Michael Harrington - Chicago - Offseason.
Jack Jewsbury - Portland - Offseason.
Kei Kamara - New England - Offseason.
Chris Konopka - Portland - Offseason.
Eric Kronberg - Montreal - Dressed but did not play in Montreal's 2-1 win over New York.
Mikey Lopez - NYCFC - Dressed but did not play in NYCFC's 5-0 loss to Toronto.
Yura Movsisyan - Salt Lake - Offseason.
Amobi Okugo - Portland - Offseason.
Tony Rocha - Orlando - Offseason.
CJ Sapong - Philadelphia - Offseason.
Sal Zizzo - New York - Started and played 90 minutes in New York's 2-1 loss to Montreal.
NASL
Bernardo Anor - Minnesota (loan) - Offseason.
Stefan Antonijevic - Tampa Bay - Offseason.
Omar Bravo - Carolina - Offseason.
Mechack Jerome - Jacksonville - Offseason.
Michael Kafari - Puerto Rico - Offseason.
James Marcelin - Carolina - Offseason.
Rauwshan McKenzie - Oklahoma City - Did not dres in OKC's 2-1 loss to New York.
US
Amer Didic - Swope Park - Offseason.
Christian Duke - Swope Park - Offseason.
Tomas Granitto - Swope Park - Offseason.
Cyprian Hedrick - Oklahoma City - Offseason.
Ryan James - Rochester - Offseason.
Alex Martinez - Charlotte - Offseason.
Alex Molano - Swope Park - Offseason.
Tyler Pasher - Swope Park - Offseason.
Nansel Selbol - Swope Park - Offseason.
Michael Thomas - Oklahoma City - Offseason.
Kris Tyrpak - Swope Park - Offseason.
Ualefi - Swope Park - Offseason.
Yomby William - Richmond - Offseason.
PDL
Adnan Gabeljic - San Francisco - Offseason.
Faik Hajderovic - St. Louis U23 - Offseason.
Indoor
Jamar Beasley - Cedar Rapids - No game this week.
Mike Jones - Dallas - Had a goal in Dallas' 14-7 win over El Paso. Played in Dallas' 8-4 loss to San Diego.
Boris Pardo - San Diego - Did not play in San Diego's 8-4 win over Dallas.
International
Korede Aiyegbusi - AFC United- Sweden - Started and played 90 minutes in AFC's 2-0 win over Halmstad.
Scott Angevine - YPA - Finland - Offseason.
Claudio Bieler - Belgrano - Argentina - Started and played 90 minutes, scoring a goal in Belgrano's 2-1 loss to Tigre.
Reinaldo Brenes - Belen Siglo XXI - Dressed but did not play in Belen's 2-1 loss to Saprissa. Started and played 60 minutes, scoring a goal in Belen's 3-3 draw with Cartagines.
Sunil Chhetri - Bengaluru - India - Started and played 90 minutes in Bengaluru's 1-0 loss to Al Quwa Al Jawiya.
Jorge Claros - Alajuelense - Costa Rica - Did not dress in either of Alajuelense's games.
Daneil Cyrus - W Connection - Trinidad - Defeated St. Ann's Rangers 4-0.
Toni Dovale - CD Leganes - Spain - Did not dress in Leganes' 3-0 loss to Real Madrid.
Luis Gil - Queretaro - Mexico - Did not dress in either of Queretaro's games.
Will John - RoPS - Finland - Offseason.
Igor Juliao - Fluminense - Brazil - Dressd but did not play in Fluminense's 4-2 loss to Cruzeiro.
Igor Kostrov - Slavia-Mozyr - Belarus - Started and played 90 minutes in Slavia's 3-3 draw with Gorodeya.
Luis Marin - CD Temuco - Chile - Started and played 90 minutes in Temuco's 2-0 loss to Palestino.
Michal Mravec - RoPS - Finland - Offseason.
Krisztian Nemeth - Al-Gharafa - Qatar - Started and played 81 minutes, scoring a goal in Al Gharafa's 2-0 win over Al Wakrah.
Erik Palmer-Brown - Porto (loan) - Portugal - Started and played 90 minutes in Porto B's 1-0 loss to Cova Piedade.
Pablo Punyed - IBV - Iceland - Offseason.
Oriol Rosell - Belenenses (Sporting Club de Portugal)(loan) - Portugal - Came off the bench and played 27 minutes in Belenenses' 1-0 win over Feirense.
Soony Saad - Pattaya United (BEC Tero Sasana) - Offseason.
Daniel Salloi - Gyirmot FC Gyor (loan) - Hungary - Started and played 90 minutes in Gyirmot's 4-0 loss to Videoton.
Peter Schmetz - Wuppertaler SV - Germany - Started and played 90 minutes in Wuppertaler's 3-0 loss to Bonner SC.
Yann Songo'o - Plymouth Argyle - England - Started and played 90 minutes in Plymouth's 2-1 FA Cup win over Mansfield Town. Dressed but did not play in Plymouth's 2-0 EFL Trophy loss to Swansea City U23.
Kevin Souter - Deveronvale FC - Scotland - Did not dress in Deveronvale's 2-1 loss to Clachnacuddin.
Martin Steuble - Ceres-La Salle - Philippines - Offseason.
Milos Stojcev - Atromitos - Greece - Started and played 56 minutes in Atromitos' 2-2 draw with AEK Athens.
Matt Taylor - Kickers Offenbach - Came off the bench and played 15 minutes in Kickers' 2-2 draw with Stutgart II.
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