The 2016 season saw another early playoff exit for Sporting Kansas City, and the club will be hoping to push a bit deeper in the new season.
For another season, Sporting KC manager Peter Vermes will rely on a reliable and battle-tested core of players together. The club isn’t short on leadership or stability, but is in dire need of mercurial-type players who can lift the club above and beyond.
At this point in the offseason, rumors and reports of transfers are piling up, and a couple wingers appear to be on their way to Kansas City in Ghanian attacker Latif Blessing and Guinea-Bissau attacker Gerso Fernandes, who currently plays for Belenenses in the Portuguese league. Vermes already added a familiar face in Igor Juliao, which has been the only first-team signing to be made official this offseason.
While most MLS sides are making huge shifts with offseason moves, things are staying even keel in Kansas City. While the core of players that has achieved success in the past for Sporting grows older, it still has plenty of opportunity to excel in the league this year.
Here’s a look at what’s been done and what’s left to do for Sporting KC:
WHO’S IN
Igor Juliao, Andrew Dykstra
WHO’S OUT
Brad Davis, Justin Mapp, Connor Hallisey, Alec Kann, Jacob Peterson, Nuno Andre Coelho
DRAFT PICKS
1st Round: 14th overall
3rd round: 58th overall
REMAINING NEEDS
After unexpectedly losing Krisztian Nemeth to Qatari team Al Gharafa late last offseason, Sporting never properly replaced the outstanding winger. This offseason, the team needs to do so and reports appear to show the team will.
Sporting reportedly will sign Latif Blessing, a 19-year-old Ghanaian striker who led the Ghanaian league in goals last season, and Gerso Fernandes, a speedy winger from Belenenses in the Portuguese Liga.
If these signings pan out, Sporting looks to have a well-balanced group going into the 2017 season. In addition to Blessing and Gerso, the team signed U.S. international Benji Joya toward the end of last season. The former Sounders and Fire man will hope to rekindle his career in Kansas City.
Other than the attacking wings, Sporting might need to shore up the defense with some depth at center back. Sporting has plenty of options at fullback and two clear center back starters in Matt Besler and Ike Opara, but Sporting could add a viable starter to compete with or fill in for Opara should he miss some time injured.
OUTLOOK
At worst, Sporting KC should be middle of the pack and fight to make the playoffs. At best, the team could put everything together and be a contender in the Western Conference.
Although Benny Feilhaber didn’t perform like an MVP candidate last season, he can still be a solid central midfielder for Sporting. Matt Besler experienced some dips in form over 2016 but he can be depended on. Sporting is still looking for the production it had from Graham Zusi two years ago and will need to make up for the lukewarm return from the signing of Brad Davis last season. The club will get a little younger and hopes to be more powerful in 2017. After draft pick Connor Hallisey didn’t quite pan out, Sporting might look for a winger in the draft to fill a need.
There isn’t much that changes for Sporting KC this season, but it will be a huge disappointment if Sporting’s signings prove not to be successful. In 2017, Sporting KC is looking to make it over the tipping point to become a team that truly contends for MLS Cup.
FWIW the first team also signed Pasher and Zendejas from SPR.
Also Chance Myers is essentially gone.