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Revs land Bunbury from Sporting KC for 1st-round pick and allocation

TealBunbury1-OrlandoCity (SportingKansasCity)

By IVES GALARCEP

The New England Revolution needed a big forward to help spearhead their attack. Sporting Kansas City had a surplus of forwards and a need for some allocation money.

The result is a trade sending Teal Bunbury from Sporting KC to the Revs in exchange for a first-round pick in 2015 and allocation money.

Bunbury, 23,  suffered a torn ACL a year ago which cost him a large part of the 2013 season with Sporting KC. He returned in time to play 12 matches for Sporting KC, but made just one start and finished without a goal.

A fresh start in New England could do Bunbury some good as he fits exactly what New England needed in a good target forward. With more time to regain his full strength in his surgically-repaired knee, Bunbury could be in for a breakout season.

The trade was a simple one for Sporting KC to make given the club’s wealth of forward options. With C.J. Sapong, Claudio Bieler, Dom Dwyer and Soony Saad on the squad, and having drafted big forward Adnan Gabeljic, Sporting KC was able to unload some surplus and score a first-round pick and allocation money in the process.

What do you think of the trade? See Bunbury having a bounce back year in 2014? Think Sporting KC were smart to deal him now?

Share your thoughts below.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Comments

  1. Bunbury lacks finishing ability. I’ve watched him miss so many opportunities that a true striker would finish. He simply can’t close the deal at a rate high enough to justify him being on the field. I think KC cleaned New England’s clock on this deal …

    Reply
    • He’s still young. Kamara and Oduro were pretty bad the first few yrs in MLS, but have improved enough to be regular contributors by now. Kamara got so good that Boro bought him and he plays very well over there.

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    • His ACL looked good toward the end of last season. He should be good to go as long as that hack Gaudette doesn’t take him out again.

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  2. I hope he does well. It’s been sad seeing him fall out of the National team picture and the club scene as well. Here’s to a BREAK OUT 2014!

    BY THE WAY, IS ANYONE MISSING FRANK!

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    • Yep, same can be said for Cooper going to Seattle. Any guy over 30 is going to have problems training/playing day in, day out on plastic. Didn’t he already learn from Portland?

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      • Are you serious? Forget about the supposed studies you cite (you actually didn’t cite them). Have you actually played soccer on turf vs grass? I just turned 30 years old, and have been playing soccer in a local league for the last 4 years. I’m in average shape; the type where if i play today and really feel it for the next two days. When I play on grass vs turf, there is an incredibly obvious difference in soreness between the two. The most obvious difference is felt in the feet. Grass, I don’t feel much at all the next day. Turf, the bottom of my feet feel like they were hit over and over with a hammer. The body doesn’t lie.

      • Exactly.

        When I was younger I could play back to back days on grass, but with turf, no way an over 30 player can do that. Have to give it a day, so every other day is manageable.

      • I’m sure you don’t play soccer at least 4x/week on field turf. I’m not talking about standing there and watching your kids play.

        If an over 30’s amateur player in decent shape has issues with their knees playing that frequently, you can bet a big over 30 guy like Cooper is not obliviously to it.

  3. Assuming his knee is good to go and he can get back to his previous form, this looks like the kind of trade that might work out well for everyone involved.

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  4. Sad to see him go, but this is better for him as he will probably see the pitch a bit more often. It will also help SKC with any future personnel decisions.

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    • Very happy that he will have a chance to feature for another team. Regardless of anyone’s oppinion about his upside or international future or whatever, he can still grow a lot and needs playing time to do so.

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    • Personally, I’ve never put Teal anywhere near Adudelo in terms of skill. I just haven’t seen much on the ball ability from Bunbury in my experience. I’ve always seen Juan as much more creative and skilled. Anyone agree or disagree?

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      • Agudelo has individual skill and flair. Teal just has speed but his touch could be better.

        Agudelo is the better player but if your team has all the pieces and just needs someone to finish off then Teal is the guy.

        Revs already have good midfielders (Nguyen, Rowe) who can create so Teal is a better fit. They have a similar player in Bengston so I don’t know why they need Teal, maybe as cover for Bengston?

      • The Revs got a lot of goals from their midfielders/wingers (Fagundez and Rowe, mostly) last year because Sene and Imbongo worked the target man role and occupied the centerbacks. Even Agudelo did, which pleasantly surprised me. Bengston…didn’t.

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