After many years in the Eastern Conference Sporting Kansas City rejoins the Western Conference for the foreseeable future what awaits this retooled team will be more week to week competition against the better conference in MLS.
Sporting KC finish to 2014, after listing MLS Cup in 2015 was anything but spectacular. So this required many people to move on and new players to come in and refresh the squad as they look to return to their championship winning ways.
The major addition of note in attack with young Hungarian striker Krisztian Nemeth. Formerly a rising star plucked by Premier League side Liverpool at an early age this youthful attacker will give a different substance that will be very much the kind of additional thrust that was lacking in the attack at the tail end of the 2014 season.
Playing him on the wing and perhaps shifting Graham Zusi in to the middle of the pitch will ensure that Dom Dwyer will not be left all by his lonesome up top in attack. Options going forward is something that was not necessarily there in 2014 as many of their previously perceived options seemed more ready for a long vacation rather than a tough competitive season.
Roger Espinoza return is a massive boon towards a successful season in the tough Western Conference. Having Benny Feilhaber play next to him as the deep lying play maker and Espinoza as the hard man cleaning up the midfield there will be less stress for the defensive line to make stops that risk them being caught out by opposing attacks.
Luis Marin is the critical defensive addition that will clean up the mess that was left during the 2014 season. Three different keepers we in the defense over the course of the season and not having a keeper being the solid rock of the defense was how the 2012 Open Cup and 2013 MLS Cups were won. An out and out #1 in Marin will make sure that there will be no questions or worries between the sticks and giving some sense of comfort towards the defense
The fear of course lies with the defense. So many injuries and shifting of players has made this the worrisome spot in the squad. Will there be continuity game in game out after having nearly a different back four every game. It cause many problems over the course of the year and has not been properly strengthened as of yet. A mid-season acquisition is sorely needed for this squad to do well this 2015 season.
A fresh look for Sporting Kansas City is what was needed but wether it will all pan out for Peter Vermes in 2015 is what will decide the clubs long term and short term future in a new conference that stands to be more competitive than what they have vacated for.
