Is it SKC 2.0?
Sporting Kansas City Manager Peter Vermes posed this rhetorical question during Friday’s press conference at Swope Soccer Village, three days before his team begins preseason training in Tucson, Arizona.
Vermes was describing the new look of a Sporting KC side that has added one particular dimension ahead of the 2017 campaign: speed.
“It’s definitely younger, it’s got more pace to it, and it’s going to be a hungry group,” Vermes said of a team that has added nine new players this offseason — seven of which are 25 or younger. “I’m excited about this new group, and I’m excited to use some of the assets we have, because a lot of the guys we’ve brought in can play a lot of different positions.”
Newfound pace in the attacking third has come courtesy of Gerso Fernandes and Latif Blessing, a pair of African signings who Vermes thinks can create goals in a variety of ways.
Fernandes, a 25-year-old Designated Player who has spent the last five seasons in Portugal’s top flight, is a strong candidate to start Sporting KC’s opening-day fixture at D.C. United on March 4.
“He’s very good in possession, and he also has the ability to eliminate guys one-v-one on the dribble,” Vermes said of Fernandes. “And then there are situations in the game where you can really take advantage of his speed, especially over the top of a team. No matter whether the opponent tries to sit [deep] or step up on you, there’s always moments in the game in transition that provide space in behind teams. Speed is a very welcomed asset, whether the team’s dropped off or playing high on you.”
Numerous times over the last several years, Sporting KC has run into opponents who drop men behind the ball, absorb pressure and strike on the counter. Fernandes could be the key to unlocking these stubborn defenses.
“I think we’ve added some really interesting pieces with really good qualities that maybe we haven’t had here recently,” Vermes assessed.
Blessing, a 20-year-old forward who was named the 2016 Ghana Premier League player of the year after notching a league-best 17 goals, brings a scoring pedigree, pace and tremendous upside. Vermes pointed out that Blessing will need time to adjust as a young player coming to a new country, but his versatility in attack provokes excitement.
“Blessing could probably play one of four positions — any of the front three and then attacking midfielder sitting behind the center forward. A lot of it depends on the team we’re playing. But he has one real quality, and that’s the guy loves scoring goals.
“But with him coming to a new country, there’s going to be a little adaptation there. We’re going to have to do our best to help him assimilate as fast as possible.”
Star striker Dom Dwyer is likely to feature regularly up top, creating a fascinating battle for forward depth. In addition to Blessing, offseason signings Cameron Iwasa and Christian Volesky are coming off excellent seasons in the USL and join Cameron Porter as potential candidates to add a scoring punch from off the bench.
Competition for spots exists in midfield and defense, as well. Vermes rattled off multiple candidates for each position on the pitch before spending extra time on Sporting Kansas City’s breakout performer of 2016: do-it-all spark plug Jimmy Medranda.
“Jimmy can play almost anywhere on the field, except for probably goalkeeper and central defender,” Vermes said of the 22-year-old Colombian, who reached MLS career-highs last year in games (28), minutes (1939, goals (1) and assists (2).
“Jimmy has some really good qualities in the attacking third. I also think that he has goals in him; he can score goals. Jimmy’s taken a while to assimilate himself into the team, but he really made a mark last year, and I think this is a big year for him.”
The Audi MLS Player Index rated Medranda as the second left back in MLS in 2016. The diminutive defender may be the most flexible weapon on Sporting KC’s roster, which will only help during preseason as Vermes gets a better idea of what the 2017 rotation will look like.
Sporting KC has undoubtedly become younger and faster over the last few months. At the same time, Vermes points out that a veteran core remains very much in tact along all four lines from back to front — namely Tim Melia, Matt Besler, Ike Opara, Roger Espinoza, Benny Feilhaber, Graham Zusi and Dwyer.
“There are four core values that I always look for in a player: they’ve got to be team-first, they’ve got to have a great work ethic, they have to be intelligent, and they have to have a winning mentality,” Vermes said. “The guys we’ve brought in all possess those qualities.”
