2016 MLS Season Preview: Sporting Kansas City
With the MLS season set to begin on Sunday, theScore runs down everything you need to know about each team heading into the 2016 campaign. Here, we take a look at Sporting Kansas City.
One year removed from the comforts of playing in the easier Eastern Conference, Sporting Kansas City has become lost in the loaded confines of the West. If head coach Peter Vermes wants his team to stand out, he'll need to focus on what he does best: Building a winner.
Sporting KC is poised to enjoy yet another strong season in 2016, as its core group of talented players remain together for another year, with one notable exception.
Over the offseason, fans had to bid farewell to starting striker Krisztian Nemeth, who swapped the MLS life for the riches of the Qatari league.
His loss may prove tough to overcome, but Vermes has plenty of players who are ready to step up and fight for both a starting spot, and an MLS Cup.
2015 season
Regular season: 6th in Western Conference
| Record (W-D-L) | GF | GA |
|---|---|---|
| 14-9-11 (51 points) | 48 | 45 |
Playoffs: Lost in Western Conference knockout round to the Portland Timbers
Nuts and Bolts
- Head coach: Peter Vermes
- Stadium: Children's Mercy Park
- Season opener: Sunday, March 6: Seattle Sounders vs. Sporting Kansas City (CenturyLink Field) - 7 p.m. ET
Key Arrivals
- Brad Davis (traded from Houston Dynamo)
- Nuno Andre Coelho (free transfer)
- Lawrence Olum (free transfer)
- Justin Mapp (free agent)
Key Departures
- Krisztian Nemeth (sold to Al-Gharafa SC)
- Jalil Anibaba (option declined)
- Amobi Okugo (waived)
Player to Watch
Benny Feilhaber was the best midfielder in MLS last season, and had his name in the MVP race up until the final week of voting. His penchant for finding space and ability to create are matched only by his incredible range of hairstyles.
He is, perhaps, the best American player not getting called up to the U.S. national team, for reasons that are unclear.
What is known about Feilhaber, however, is that he's Sporting KC's most important component, and he'll be looking to improve on an impressive 2015 campaign.
Keep an eye on: Graham Zusi
Projected Starting XI
Season in a Sentence
Justin Mapp or Brad Davis? The battle for the left wing will be fought between two grizzled veterans, and it's a selection headache Vermes likely welcomes. But while the wide positions remain a question mark, Dom Dwyer now finds himself as Kansas City's only hope up top. The loss of Nemeth might be too big a blow for Sporting KC to overcome in 2016.
.@Ddwyer14 by a hair. #SportingKC pic.twitter.com/8hZfmHnvWW
— Sporting Kansas City (@SportingKC) February 26, 2016