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  • Is it Time to Panic about the 2025 Sporting KC Roster Build?

    Is it Time to Panic about the 2025 Sporting KC Roster Build?
    2025/01/07
    For the Glory KC is back with the 113th episode of the show and the first one of Season Four! Sporting Kansas City lead off the show, as is almost always the case. Just like the last episode two weeks ago, there are no signings but there is actually news. The biggest of the stories broke today with the rumor that Alan Pulido may be departing Sporting KC to head back to Chivas in Liga MX. There are now three separate sources saying Pulido is leaving for Mexico, with the latest pegging the transfer fee (yes, they are paying for him) at $1.5 million. It may seem like a fleecing of SKC, who paid a reported $6 million after the 2019 season, but considering I think most fans just want Pulido's salary off the books, making $1.5m in the process would be wild. Sheena and I get our hopes up about a potential move and discuss the ramification of him leaving (if it were to happen). What it means for the team's roster flexibility. Where we'd like a new Designated Player to be signed. If Agada can be the starting center forward if Alan isn't around. Plus, a slew of other topics with a random reading of a Remi Walter farewell post snuck into the middle as we scoured the web live during the podcast looking for more Pulido news. The Pulido conversation nicely transitioned into the title of this week's podcast. Counting Pulido, SKC have just 20 players signed for 2025 of a possible 30. They'll surely leave a few spots open, but they are missing about one-third of their roster. They are down Johnny Russell, Tim Melia, Walter and others and the question has to be asked, "is it time to panic?" For some context, here are the month and day of several of the higher priced signings over the last few seasons: Radoja: 10/26Pulido: 12/10Walter: 12/22Leibold: 1/12Ilie: 1/13Ndenbe: 1/14Voloder: 1/19Kinda: 1/23Russell: 1/31Rosero: 3/2 Contrast that with the season starting earlier than ever, not to mention the Inter Miami CCC game on February 18th, and there is some concern. Pushing back against the concern slightly is the transfer windows in many European and South American countries just opened which could make teams more willing to sell since they can go out and find replacement players. Beyond the roster discussion, we get into the leaked Sporting KC jersey (images here), SKC moving on from assistant coach Zoran Savic, Andreu Fontas possibly retiring and some choice Russell quotes from a recent podcast appearance. The KC Current were a bit quieter, which is weird to say, considering they actually made a signing. They brought in 27-year-old Brazilian goalkeeper, Lorena, as we said they would on the last pod. Plus, the NWSL outlined their schedule for 2025, including March 14th as the first league game. In the Digital Crawl, we touch on a few more topics, including: Ilie signs in AustinNicole Barnhart retiresKC Comets All-StarsEthan Bryant finds a new homeDenver is the 16th NWSL teamand more! Here is a rundown of topics (and approximate start times): Is Pulido being sold? - 4:32Should we panic about the Sporting KC roster build? - 26:182025 SKC Jersey Leak - 43:50Fontas, Russell, Savic and Preseason Changes - 48:02KC Current and NWSL Schedule News - 1:03:52Digital Crawl - 1:09:36 As a special gift to For the Glory KC listeners and KC Soccer Journal readers, Backheeled dot com is giving away 30 days of their amazing, independent American soccer coverage for free. If you decide you want to turn that into a paid membership, they'll give you 10 percent off too. Just follow this link! Big thanks to Splitter Conspiracy (listen to them here) for our theme music made with the permission of the KC Cauldron.
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    1 時間 27 分
  • The Best Sporting KC Road Trips in 2025

    The Best Sporting KC Road Trips in 2025
    2024/12/23
    For the Glory KC is back with the 112th episode of the show. While there weren't any signings (don't worry, we address that too), Sporting Kansas City did have a fairly big week. The 2025 MLS schedule came out, Sporting KC had a rumored signing, they drafted three players and announced a section of preseason is open to the public with a couple games that you can actually go watch. On the schedule front, Sporting KC open their season on the road against Austin FC before returning home to face the San Jose Earthquakes on March 1st (good to catch them before Bruce Arena rights that ship). The Quakes game will actually be their fourth game in all competitions when they play four times in 12 days with two Inter Miami games sandwiched around the Austin game for CONCACAF Champions Cup competition. While that's a tough schedule, it's not nearly as bad as the month of May. Sporting KC play seven times in May, including two stretches of three games in eight days. It's by far their busiest month of the season, pending US Open Cup involvement. One of those stretches is three straight road games, a trip to Portland, a trip to St. Louis and then back to the west coast to face San Diego FC for the first time in Cali. The schedule makers clearly hate KC. Honestly, it's probably just incompetence. Sheena and I weigh in with our best road trips for our family and yours. Sheena had a top trip, but then a bunch of reasons to basically go see any other team in the league. I was a little narrower in my focus. What we could both agree on, was that going to the first game at an opponent's stadium is always exciting. There is one chance to do that this year, San Diego FC. They topped both lists, with a few other key games standing out for us too. The game we are likely making our annual road trip to a new stadium to is the Houston Dynamo (I guess). Then we get into the Geronimo Rivera rumor, those preseason details and the three SuperDraft picks. Finally, we turn our attention to a team making actual roster moves. The KC Current made two more signings with a third on the way. The team traded for midfielder Rocky Rodriguez and signed free agent Laurel Ivory. On top of that, our own Thad Bell confirmed Brazilian National Team goalkeeper Lorena will be announced soon. In the Digital Crawl, we touch on a few more topics, including: SKC U-13s successNetflix is the home of the 2027 and 2031 Women's World CupsFormer KC Current players on the moveBecky Sauerbrunn retiredNWSL Expansion Here is a rundown of topics (and approximate start times): Sporting KC get their 2025 Schedule - 5:56Another SKC Rumor: Geronimo Rivera - 42:15Some of SKC’s preseason is open to the public - 50:33Three new Sporting KC Draft Picks - 56:26KC Current keep making moves - 1:10:34Digital Crawl - 1:19:01 As a special gift to For the Glory KC listeners and KC Soccer Journal readers, Backheeled dot com is giving away 30 days of their amazing, independent American soccer coverage for free. If you decide you want to turn that into a paid membership, they'll give you 10 percent off too. Just follow this link! Big thanks to Splitter Conspiracy (listen to them here) for our theme music made with the permission of the KC Cauldron.
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    1 時間 31 分
  • We've Got Multiple 2025 Sporting KC Dates

    We've Got Multiple 2025 Sporting KC Dates
    2024/12/16

    For the Glory KC is back with the 111th episode of the show.

    The 2024 MLS season just came to an end eight days ago, but we've already got Sporting Kansas City dates for 2025. This past week the draw for Sporting KC's CONCACAF Champions Cup opponent happened and the team drew fellow MLS club Inter Miami. Shortly after, the Feb 18th and 25th dates were announced for the two-legged competition.

    As a part of that release, January 11th was listed as the date that SKC's 2025 preseason will begin with players reporting to Kansas City. That's just under a month from a soccer ball being kicked in preparation for CCC and the season.

    Sheena and I get into what we think about Sporting KC playing Messi and Miami again. We ponder if Messi will play (on a cold Tuesday night in KC) and if the game will be moved from the announced location of Children's Mercy Park to Arrowhead Stadium again.

    In addition, there were several quicker stories in the Sporting KC universe, including having no player selected in the expansion draft and the club not selecting anyone in the first round of the Re-Entry Process. Stage two comes next week, along with the 2025 MLS SuperDraft where SKC will pick fourth.

    The KC Current made news this week with their end of year roster announcements. Three more players are added to the list of women not returning to the club, and we got official word on Bia Zaneratto and Regan Steigleder coming back. We weight in on those moves and a few other stories, including a record five players in the top 19 of jersey sales for the NWSL this past season.

    In the Digital Crawl, we touch on a few topics, including:

    • MLS rumors
    • The Vancouver Whitecaps are for sale
    • Bailey Sparks, formerly of SKC II, is up for the Mac Hermann Trophy
    • USL have an expanded Jägermeister Cup announcement
    • and more!

    Here is a rundown of topics (and approximate start times):

    • Sporting KC Learn their CCC Opponent - 6:16
    • SKC’s Preseason Announced - 27:15
    • Other Sporting KC updates - 35:32
    • KC Current updates - 49:18
    • Digital Crawl - 59:08

    As a special gift to For the Glory KC listeners and KC Soccer Journal readers, Backheeled dot com is giving away 30 days of their amazing, independent American soccer coverage for free. If you decide you want to turn that into a paid membership, they'll give you 10 percent off too. Just follow this link!

    Big thanks to Splitter Conspiracy (listen to them here) for our theme music made with the permission of the KC Cauldron.
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    1 時間 9 分
  • Two Sporting KC Signings and Expansion Draft Predictions

    Two Sporting KC Signings and Expansion Draft Predictions
    2024/12/10
    For the Glory KC is back with the 110th episode of the show. Sporting Kansas City got their offseason started with not one, but two signings. The club added two 16-year-old Homegrown players in defender Ian James and goalkeeper Jack Kortkamp. We learn a little about the new signings and talk about where they fit into this ongoing roster build. Any conversation around these signings is colored slightly with the ridiculous compensation being paid to Minnesota United. MNUFC shut down their Academy, leaving their players nowhere to play. James and Kortkamp, among others, ended up in other MLS Academies. Sporting KC had to compensate Minnesota for their Homegrown rights at the time, then again when they signed them, and they had to give them a sell-on fee if they are sold to another club. It's an absurd amount of compensation for a team that literally shut down their academy. In other news, earlier today, Sporting KC CEO and President Jake Reid was named MLS Executive of the Year. The reactions online are what you would expect. We get into why he earned that award, including all of his accomplishments over the last few years. And this can't be said enough, he DOES NOT make soccer decisions. If you are unhappy with the product on the field or the roster, blame Peter Vermes (and now Mike Burns). If you are unhappy with the coaching staff, blame Mike Illig. However, if you are unhappy with the gameday experience, fan relations, etc., that rolls up to Reid. Don Garber also gave his annual State of the League address. We cover a few highlights: Leagues Cup may be down to just 18 teams in 2025 (Garber wouldn't comment)MLS will up the number of teams in the US Open Cup after only having eight this yearMLS Roster Rules don't appear to be changingAnd the fall to spring schedule is still on the table for MLS The KC Current also got their offseason moving with the re-signing of Nichelle Prince. It will really kick into gear in the coming days with all NWSL roster decisions due by 5:00PM CST on Tuesday the 10th of December. Claire Hutton was also up for US Young Soccer Player of the Year and eight (!!) KC Current players were on the Guardian's list of the best players in the world. In the Digital Crawl, we touch on a few topics, including: An update on an unlikely Sporting KC rumored signingLA Galaxy defeated the New York Red Bulls in MLS CupKC Comets lose their first game of the seasonMASL are holding most of their playoffs in San DiegoFIFA is considering a 48 team Women's World CupKansas City are getting two more USL2 teamsPlus, a potential USL1 team in Springfield, MO Here is a rundown of topics (and approximate start times): Sporting KC make two signings - 3:44Jake Reid wins Executive of the Year - 15:08SKC Expansion Draft Protection Lists - 29:29Bonus Listener Q&A - 51:44Don Garber’s State of MLS - 1:00:37KC Current signing and updates - 1:06:22Digital Crawl - 1:10:21 As a special gift to For the Glory KC listeners and KC Soccer Journal readers, Backheeled dot com is giving away 30 days of their amazing, independent American soccer coverage for free. If you decide you want to turn that into a paid membership, they'll give you 10 percent off too. Just follow this link! Big thanks to Splitter Conspiracy (listen to them here) for our theme music made with the permission of the KC Cauldron.
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    1 時間 29 分
  • Sporting KC's Most Needed Moves & a Fan Q&A

    Sporting KC's Most Needed Moves & a Fan Q&A
    2024/12/02

    For the Glory KC is back with the 109th episode of the show.

    It's been quiet on the Sporting Kansas City news front, but that doesn't mean there aren't SKC related topics to discuss. We take a look at the biggest needs for Sporting KC in 2025. Obviously, the first topic of conversation was around the roster itself. There are just 19 players signed for 2025, with the Ian James announcement still pending.

    • FWDs: Pulido, Salloi, Agada, Afrifa, Vargas, Thommy?
    • MIDs: Radoja, Davis, Memo, Bassong
    • DEFs: Rosero, Fernandez, Voloder, Leibold, Ndenbe, Shelton, James*
    • GKs: Pulskamp, Schewe

    Beyond the roster itself, there are issues around fan experience, front office building and more to be accomplished before boots hit the field for the season.

    Then, we switch gears and take listener questions. One big theme was "trust" in ownership and the coaching staff to lead Sporting KC forward. Are the owners truly investing? Is Mike Burns right for the job? How has Peter Vermes remained in charge when so many other teams have moved on from their coaches? (We came up with 10 coaching changes this offseason already off the top of our heads).

    Then we get a little broader and talk careers in journalism/broadcasting and the state of club soccer in Kansas City.

    There was no KC Current news this week but, in the Q&A we did get a Vlatko Andonovski question, so they still made an appearance.

    In the Digital Crawl, we touch on a few topics, including:

    • KC Comets season started perfectly!
    • MLS Playoffs
    • Ilie Sanchez and Kei Kamara are without a team
    • Is the Leagues Cup format changing?
    • USWNT results

    Here is a rundown of topics (and approximate start times):

    • What are Sporting KC’s biggest Needs? - 5:28
    • Listener Q&A - 36:11
    • Digital Crawl - 1:25:17

    We recently turned on "Listener Support." Don't feel obligated, but if you have a few spare bucks and are a fan of the pod, we'd appreciate your donation.

    As a special gift to For the Glory KC listeners and KC Soccer Journal readers, Backheeled dot com is giving away 30 days of their amazing, independent American soccer coverage for free. If you decide you want to turn that into a paid membership, they'll give you 10 percent off too. Just follow this link!

    Big thanks to Splitter Conspiracy (listen to them here) for our theme music made with the permission of the KC Cauldron.
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    1 時間 35 分
  • The Return of the Casual Perspective to For the Glory KC

    The Return of the Casual Perspective to For the Glory KC
    2024/11/25

    For the Glory KC is back with the 108th episode of the show.

    Finally, Sheena has returned to the podcast! After two weeks off, the casual perspective returns. Sheena weighs in on Sporting Kansas City's offseason roster moves, since she missed a chance to do it last week. [If you missed that episode, Juan, Josh and I all gave our thoughts in greater depth].

    We also answer listener questions about where we might see the likes of Johnny Russell, Tim Melia, Remi Walter and others. Will it be inside MLS? Elsewhere? Retirement? Plus, Sheena commiserates on Benny Feilhaber leaving Sporting KC II and where he might land.

    Since the KC Current season came to an end, it's time to play Fantasy Sporting Director/General Manager for them as well. While there are some sentimental favorites out of contract, nearly the entire starting lineup is signed for 2025 already.

    We also catch up on the NWSL, including our experience at the NWSL Championship game, the various award winners around the league and the three finalists (Denver, Cleveland and Cincinnati) for NWSL Expansion. And Sheena gets reminded the MLS season is still going and we're down to just four teams vying for the title.

    In the Digital Crawl, we touch on a few topics, including:

    • A flimsy Sporting KC rumor
    • MLS Next Pro teams potential moving out of market
    • Jaylin Lindsay is out in Charlotte
    • USMNT and US U-20 results
    • Local college soccer in the College Cup (Missouri State, UMKC and SLU)
    • And drama in the USL

    Here is a rundown of topics (and approximate start times):

    • Sheena weighs in on SKC’s Roster Moves - 3:19
    • Fantasy Sporting Director for KC Current - 36:42
    • NWSL Update & Expansion - 47:56
    • MLS Update - 1:06:26
    • Digital Crawl - 1:13:21

    We recently turned on "Listener Support." Don't feel obligated, but if you have a few spare bucks and are a fan of the pod, we'd appreciate your donation.

    As a special gift to For the Glory KC listeners and KC Soccer Journal readers, Backheeled dot com is giving away 30 days of their amazing, independent American soccer coverage for free. If you decide you want to turn that into a paid membership, they'll give you 10 percent off too. Just follow this link!

    Big thanks to Splitter Conspiracy (listen to them here) for our theme music made with the permission of the KC Cauldron.
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    1 時間 26 分
  • Reactions to Sporting KC's Roster Moves; Feilhaber Moving on from SKC II

    Reactions to Sporting KC's Roster Moves; Feilhaber Moving on from SKC II
    2024/11/18
    S3E42 (#107) - For the Glory KC is back with the 107th episode of the show. The week of the offseason we've been waiting for and simultaneously dreading has arrived. Sporting Kansas City announced their roster moves, including moving on from eight players. And it sounds like they wanted to move on from more. Due to an emergency, Sheena missed her second straight podcast (it's a really good reason, find it in your heart to forgive). In her stead we brought on not one, but two extra co-hosts: KC Soccer Journal staff writers Juan Cisneros and Josh Wallace. Due to their intricate knowledge of all things Sporting KC, the podcast lost a bit of its casual perspective, and we went much deeper. Discussing the departures, along with the players that stayed, and if we agreed with them or not. Juan had a hot take on Memo Rodriguez that Josh and I roundly rebuffed. We also got into who should be the captain of the team with Johnny Russell gone and where the future of the goalkeeper position lies with Tim Melia also out the door. We couldn't talk about so many players leaving without reliving our favorite memories of Russell, Melia and Remi Walter, including legendary penalty kick shootouts, Melia dropping a Rock Bottom on Cristian Roldan, Russell nearly fighting all of the Vancouver Whitecaps and Remi scoring bangers. A part of Sporting KC announcing all these moves was new Sporting Director, Mike Burns, talking to the media for a better part of half an hour. If you missed it, Burns hit on a lot of topics, that we discussed as well, including: The candid response on the guys still on the rosterInsight on Benny Feilhaber parting from SKC IIThe way SKC will build their roster, including a new U-22 approachBuilding out the staff with an Assistant Sporting Director, more scouts, technical and analytic staff We also spun back in time to talk about Sporting KC II's roster moves from last week, which leaves the team with just four players under contract for 2025. Plus, the other guys we wouldn't mind see coming back that are out of contract (Sebastian Cruz and Ethan Bryant among others). Then we had to talk about the tough KC Current loss that sees their season come up just short of playing in the NWSL title game. We talk through whether we are rooting for or against the Orlando Pride and Marta. Plus, set things up for a 2025 title run in the NWSL. In the Digital Crawl, we touch on a few topics, including: The USMNT win over JamaicaUMKC winning the Summit Leagueand NJ/NY Gotham building a massive new training facility Here is a rundown of topics (and approximate start times): Sporting KC announce their roster moves - 2:35Mike Burns talked to the Media about those moves and more - 59:30SKC II also have moves, including their coach - 1:19:59KC Current Season comes to a painful end - 1:31:00Digital Crawl - 1:40:08 Upcoming Schedule: USMNT vs. Jamaica (2nd Leg, Nations League) - Monday, Nov. 18th @ 7:00PMNWSL Championship: Washington Spirit vs Orlando Pride - Saturday, Nov. 23rd @ 7:00PM (in KC) We recently turned on "Listener Support." Don't feel obligated, but if you have a few spare bucks and are a fan of the pod, we'd appreciate your donation. As a special gift to For the Glory KC listeners and KC Soccer Journal readers, Backheeled dot com is giving away 30 days of their amazing, independent American soccer coverage for free. If you decide you want to turn that into a paid membership, they'll give you 10 percent off too. Just follow this link! Big thanks to Splitter Conspiracy (listen to them here) for our theme music made with the permission of the KC Cauldron.
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    1 時間 49 分
  • Breaking down the KC Current's Pivotal Playoff Win

    Breaking down the KC Current's Pivotal Playoff Win
    2024/11/11
    S3E41 - For the Glory KC is back with the 106th episode of the show. This week, there is very little Sporting Kansas City in the episode, but they always find their way into the show, simply for comparisons sake if nothing else. Plus, I ran into Graham Zusi at the KC Current game, so we have to talk about that! Instead of SKC, this is a KC Current focused episode considering they just won a home playoff game in the NWSL for the first time in a decade (and that was FCKC). Kansas City hosted the North Carolina Courage and pulled out a 1-0 win on an 8th minute Temwa Chawinga goal. To break it all down, Xander Kennedy joins the show this week as one of our resident KC Current experts here at the KC Soccer Journal. He and I go through the changes to the lineup and if it was the best path to victory. We break down the team effort that led to the Chawinga goal and find a few unsung heroes on that play. The game wasn't one way traffic either, as NC had some big chances, including the wide-open miss by Alene Gomes and the goal that was called off for a foul by Manaka on Almuth Schult. Speaking of Schult, we both sing her praises as she's in the 99th percentile in some key goalkeeping stats. And the topic of protecting Temwa had to come up after the referee let her basically be abused throughout the match, something that didn't go unnoticed by Vlatko Andonovski. It led to an interesting scuffle between Bianca St. George and Ellie Wheeler after BSG taunted Temwa after hacking her to the ground. Xander and I also share some Graham Zusi stories, talk about Inter Miami being bounced from the MLS Cup Playoffs and the rest of the NWSL playoff matchups. In the Digital Crawl, we touch on a few topics, including: Ian James and Jack Kortkamp get callups for SKCJim Curtin is out at the Philadelphia UnionWhile Bruce Arena is in over at the San Jose EarthquakesPlus, the USL Super League, USL Championship and USL League One all get into the show Here is a rundown of topics (and approximate start times): KC Current win a playoff game - 1:58MLS Update - 1:06:30Digital Crawl - 1:13:14 Upcoming Schedule: KC Current @ Orlando Pride, Sun Nov 17th at 2:00PM CSTSporting KC and SKC II seasons are over... We recently turned on "Listener Support." Don't feel obligated, but if you have a few spare bucks and are a fan of the pod, we'd appreciate your donation. As a special gift to For the Glory KC listeners and KC Soccer Journal readers, Backheeled dot com is giving away 30 days of their amazing, independent American soccer coverage for free. If you decide you want to turn that into a paid membership, they'll give you 10 percent off too. Just follow this link! Big thanks to Splitter Conspiracy (listen to them here) for our theme music made with the permission of the KC Cauldron.
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    1 時間 33 分