Episode 181 - Another SKC loss, discussing more pragmatic tactics, and the MLS kids are alright.

Sporting KC headed to Vancouver on Friday evening and if anyone was still holding onto hope they may shake off the match in Colorado Springs on Tuesday and come out with some more competitive edge, most of those hopes were dashed pretty early as Emmanuel Sabbi ran rampant up the makeshift left sided defense of SKC and helped Vancouver to a 3-0 lead before the half hour mark.  In the oft-quoted words of the imitable Denny Green:  “THEY ARE WHO WE THOUGHT THEY WERE!”

Thankfully the blood-letting was swift and clinical, so we could settle into our usual level of malaise regarding this club rather quickly.  Whether it was game state, or changes in the 2nd half(probably a little from column a, and a little from column b), the performance did solidify somewhat and while the bar is subterranean at this point, the team did improve on how it played on Tuesday in Colorado Springs as well as from the first to second half Friday night.

That said, those moral victories are extremely hard to find, and one has to wonder if we are too close to forest to see trees to see the forest at the moment by highlighting them.  Playing the only game on the slate on a Friday night meant most of the National media saw it, and whoo boy did they have things to say afterward.  Rightfully so, because this team is bad, but it also reminds us of simpler times when SKC were simply ignored by such outlets.

All of this does beg an important question though.  Is Rapha Wicky setting this team up for success?  Or at least, for as much success as this roster can achieve?  Because at the current moment it seems like his principles are meant to be followed in spite of his players ability to achieve them, not necessarily because it will enable them.  Is there a more pragmatic way to do things that don’t risk losing the locker room?  Especially when it is full of inexperienced young players that need development?  All things we will cover this week.

Finally, we will do a bit of USWNT discussion, chat about what we saw in MLS this week, and do a quick preview of this weekend’s upcoming match in Chicago.