A playoff-minded bunch: analyzing Sporting KC’s roster, position by position
It’s been an active offseason for Sporting Kansas City ahead of the 2020 season, with no fewer than 10 players putting pen to paper with the club as homegrown players and loan or permanent signings.
Nine others were shown the door through contract expiration, declined options and/or trades.
If 2020 promises to be a bounce-back year for Sporting, it’ll be because the club has strengthened its starting lineup while adding depth behind it.
Goalkeepers
Tim Melia
Richard Sanchez (Acquired via 2019 Re-Entry Draft)
John Pulskamp (Signed from Sporting Kansas City II)
There should be little debate as to who will start between the sticks in 2020. Melia has been the first name on the depth chart since 2015, when he arrived from Chivas USA. And after signing a contract extension through 2022, the 33-year-old is going nowhere.
In the case of an injury or a cup game, Melia is backed up by two fine deputies. Sanchez was selected by Sporting in the 2019 MLS Re-Entry Draft following his exit from Chicago and has nine years of professional experience under his belt.
Behind Sanchez is 18-year-old Pulskamp, who became the second-youngest goalkeeper to sign with the club Monday (Jon Kempin was the youngest). Puskamp spent two seasons with the L.A. Galaxy academy before joining Sporting Kansas City II in 2019, where he kept two clean sheets and posted a record of 4-8-2.
Defenders
Botond Barath
Matt Besler
Andreu Fontas
Roberto Puncec (signed from HNK Rijeka)
Winston Reid (loan signing from West Ham)
Graham Smith
Luis Martins
Amadou Dia (signed from Phoenix Rising FC)
Graham Zusi
Jaylin Lindsey
Kansas City is absolutely stacked at center-back in 2020, boasting six players who can play the position. And despite allowing 67 goals in 2019, this is a group that should be able to cope with pressure better in 2020.
Captain Matt Besler is a surefire name on the team sheet; beside him, there should be a good battle between Puncec, Barath and Reid.
Reid is coming off the back end of an ACL injury that has kept him out of action the past two years, so it will take him some time to get back to speed. But there should be a great early battle between Barath, who was Sporting’s most capable center back at times last season, and Puncec, who coach Peter Vermes has described as “bigger than I thought he was ... taller than I thought he was.” Puncec stands 6-foot-1 and 170 pounds.
Graham Smith may struggle to find minutes behind the veterans but should still be reliable when called upon. It will be a huge surprise if Fontas makes an appearance this season after he disappeared in the second half of 2019.
As for the wings, Martins continues to impress with his blistering speed and ability to deliver into the box, and Dia will provide ample cover.
It’s at right back where problems may arise. Zusi has performed admirably over the years, converting from a midfielder to a defender a couple of seasons ago and excelling at the position. But he turns 34 in August. While he can still assist the offense, teams often target his right flank due to his lack of speed getting back into position.
Behind him, Lindsey can have a bright future here, but he’s also showed weakness in marking and getting into position. At just 19, he’ll need to gain experience with Sporting Kansas City II.
Midfielders
Gianluca Busio
Cameron Duke (signed as a homegrown player)
Roger Espinoza
Felipe Gutierrez
Felipe Hernandez
Gadi Kinda (loan signing from Beitar Jerusalem)
Ilie Sanchez
Wan Kuzain
Sporting has some serious depth in midfield. Realistically, we’ll probably only see five of these players on a regular basis, with Duke, Hernandez and Kuzain all likely to feature for SKC II. But Hernandez and Kuzain have already featured for the senior team these past two seasons and can step up if need be.
Presuming Vermes will stick with a defensive midfielder and two center midfielders, KC boasts one of the best midfield groups in the country.
Anchoring the midfield is Sanchez, one of the best defensive midfielders in the league. In front of him, you’ve got a rotation of MLS veteran Espinoza, assist-machine Gutierrez, U.S. Youth National Team wunderkind Busio and the creative Kinda.
With those four rotating in front of Sanchez, Sporting is prepared for whatever the opposition presents.
Forwards
Gianluca Busio
Gerso Fernandes
Tyler Freeman (signed as a homegrown player)
Erik Hurtado
Alan Pulido (signed from C.D. Guadalajara)
Johnny Russell
Daniel Salloi
Khiry Shelton (acquired on a free transfer; previously at SC Paderborn)
For the first time since Dom Dwyer’s departure in 2017, Sporting KC has a focal point in the middle of its attack. Signing for a club-record $9.5 million this offseason, Pulido will be counted upon to turn this offense around.
Acting as a false nine but with the ability to also finish, Pulido should provide plenty of opportunities for Kansas City’s lethal core of wingers. Fernandes, Russell and Salloi recorded a meager combined 12 goals and 18 assists in MLS play in 2019, with nine goals and 11 assists coming from Russell alone.
But that was while playing with either Erik Hurtado or Krisztian Nemeth in the middle — two forwards who play better as target men than facilitators. Pulido should allow Sporting’s wingers more space inside this season, leading to a greater production of goals. And then there are the goals he will score himself.
“Alan, I thought he was good in the buildup — he’s better than I thought in the buildup,” Vermes said. “I thought he was clinical around the box. He’s more clinical than I thought he was.”
Deputizing Pulido is Hurtado — who can play up top or on the wing — and Shelton, who Vermes has said “knows himself more” since returning to the club from Paderbo.
Busio can play on the wing if called upon, but it won’t happen with regularity. And KC native Freeman most likely won’t see much action on the senior level during his first year of pro soccer.
This story was originally published February 27, 2020 at 1:53 PM with the headline "A playoff-minded bunch: analyzing Sporting KC’s roster, position by position."