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.
The Revs are open-minded as long as someone does not expect to be paid like a pro.
The Revs like that Boonbooory, they like that Boonboory, Teal Boonbury!
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 …
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.
good move for all, minus the turf ACL issue…
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.
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!
That turf should really do wonders for his ACL doe…
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?
That’s a myth. Studies don’t back it up. Turf isn’t any worse on knees than grass.
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.
He is a bad striker
This seems like one of them trades that should help both sides
KC got something for someone who was going to be sniped away for free in the expansion drafts.
Didn’t think of it this way. A solid bit of business for Vermes and co. if that’s the case.
His career has been downhill since he opted to play for the USMNT – its a curse
For some reason it does seem curse for some players. i.e john brooks downfall.
just saying
Brooks is spent, indeed.
????? He’s young.
What the hell are you talking about? Smh.
You can’t be serious
And Rossi.
Forget those other guys, no foreign born USMNT player other than Bunbury was wanted by their country of birth…let keep it real….the only potential one is (Julian Green), and he is non committal
…and if Rossi is injured before the World Cup, the curse is definitely real
I’m pretty sure Iceland would have loved to have AJ
I’m loving the Jay Heaps era in NE!!
+1
Good trade for all involved. Go Boon-boo-ree!
Right on, Huge Bunbury Fan, hope all goes well for him at NE.
Was a class act for KC. Wish him well in Boston.
Bunbury was never the MAN at SKC, now he has that opportunity to truly showcase his talents.
Aww, Timbers didn’t want him? Is an Akron alum haha
Huge fan of Bunbury. Hope it works out for him. My only concern would be the ACL injury and playing on the fake stuff more regularly.
Glad someone said it.
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.
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.
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.
Worked for Agudelo. Why not?
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?
Ooops. Actually, I think Teal has the edge over Adudelo. Agudelo, on the other hand…..
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.
Agree, but Bunbury has something Juan will never have, BURST!
Even after the knee operation?