If Sporting Kansas City’s season had a title, it would be “Night and Day”. &nbsp;A tough start to the season, no doubt spurred on by the never-ending road trip, saw the team open Livestrong Park and use its great atmosphere to rocket to the top of the Eastern Conference. &nbsp;Although they fell in the conference finals, the team has enough young players and talent that going into 2012, it has to be considered one of the favorites for the East.
So how can Sporting KC make this happen? &nbsp;Here are “Three Questions” that will define how KC enters the new season:
1. Who replaces Omar Bravo?
With <a href="http://www.kansascity.com/2011/12/12/3316543/bravo-departs-sporting-for-cruz.html#storylink=misearch" target="_blank">Bravo’s departure to Cruz Azul</a>, Kansas City has two voids to fill, one that may be easier than the other. &nbsp;The first is replacing the Mexican’s production, which in 2011 was nine goals and two assists. &nbsp;While those are good numbers, Sporting had one of MLS’s most prolific offenses and the continued growth of players like Teal Bunbury and MLS Rookie of the Year CJ Sapong should replace those stats. &nbsp;What may be missed even more is his leadership. &nbsp;Bravo and Davy Arnaud split time as captains last season and both have left the team. &nbsp;Who replaces that leadership on the field is critical to this team moving forward, something that may be harder with so many young players. &nbsp;When the going gets tough, who will shoulder this team and carry them forward? &nbsp;Bravo certainly did.
2. Does the team’s offseason turnover make them a better team?
For a team that made a conference finals, the amount of turnover this offseason has been incredible. &nbsp;You can see the round-up of player moves <a href="http://www.kansascity.com/2011/12/21/3331713/despite-the-changes-sporting-kansas.html" target="_blank">here</a>, but in essence the team got cheaper and younger. &nbsp;In addition, the departures of Omar Bravo and Jeferson frees up two designated player slots that could be used to make a big-impact signing (maybe in the midfield?). &nbsp;What has all of this shuffling brought them? &nbsp;The team picked up <a href="http://www.thedailywiz.com/2011/12/2/2605878/sporting-kansas-city-continues-off-season-overhaul-trade-for-bobby" target="_blank">veteran Bobby Convey from San Jose</a> to replace Bravo and made a trade with Chivas USA to nab Pablo Nagamura, who potentially could play the holding midfield spot. &nbsp;Their gamble leaving left back Seth Sinovic unprotected in the expansion draft led to the Davy Arnaud trade, which again freed up salary but lost them a veteran presence. &nbsp;With potentially a bunch of new starters and first choice subs, will the new guys adequately replace the old ones?
3. Can the defense hold?
We know the team can score, and even next year with its departures this team will put up goals in bunches. &nbsp;But can it stop opposing teams? &nbsp;While KC had the second best goals allowed amount in the East, their 40 for the year would have put them fifth in the Western Conference (although their goal difference would have put them third). &nbsp;As mentioned above, unless they use some of their money for a holding midfielder, that slot is going to Pablo Nagamura, who is an ok option to start but is injury prone. &nbsp;Another player who may miss time on the pitch but due to disciplinary reasons is starting center back Aurelien Collins (he of the 9 yellow cards and one red last season). &nbsp;This teams looks to be potentially a veteran defensive player signing away from having the back locked down and pushing this team to a higher level.

Is Sporting KC the Eastern Conference Favorites? Three Questions for KC

Is Sporting KC the Eastern Conference Favorites? Three Questions for KC - World Soccer Talk

Anyone who has been looking for a new home understands the feeling of displacement that comes with it: the yearning for something new and different which you can model after your vision, while still feeling unsettled because you haven’t found that perfect place yet. &nbsp;In June, MLS fans looked at Kansas City and either&nbsp;pitied&nbsp;or ignored them. &nbsp;For a team who should have had <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Travelin&apos;_Man" target="_blank">Ricky Nelson</a> sing its theme song, the season looked like a lost one. &nbsp;Despite the new name and new logo, it was the same ol’ Kansas City, going from road game to&nbsp;road&nbsp;game trying to hang on until they could move into a new home.
Yet after last night’s 2-1 victory over Columbus, Sporting Kansas City sits atop the Eastern Conference. &nbsp;With the Eastern Conference margin so narrow, their position may be tenuous (especially with DC and Philly having games in hand) but they are the in-form team in the East right now. &nbsp;How did a team that looked so beaten early in the season rally to become maybe the favorite to win the top seed in the East?
The first place to look is last night’s game. &nbsp;A few things stand out that point to reasons for their success. &nbsp;The first is their suffocating offense, something that has been there all season but is really beginning to click. &nbsp;Kei Kamara is an absolute weapon, and playing next to Omar Bravo in a 4-3-3 type formation allows him space to find his shot. &nbsp;Teal Bunbury, who has struggled all year and is seemingly on the “outs” for the U.S. national team, is beginning to contribute in little ways and refine his game; while the goals aren’t there yet the consistent play is. &nbsp;Add in some quality play from midfielder Graham Zusi and the rotating cast of starters, and this team can score with anyone. &nbsp;Even the threat of their offense is dangerous, as both goals last night came from Columbus defensive mistakes under pressure. &nbsp;The first was a penalty after Robbie Rogers took down C.J. Sapong in the box, the second was a Julius James own-goal after a throw-in.
But the biggest key to the KC ascent has been their defensive improvement. &nbsp;The team that went from allowing over two goals a game to running a streak of late blown leads has now settled into a pretty good team defensively. &nbsp;They have allowed 11 goals in their last 10 games after giving up 28 in their first 21. &nbsp;The starting back four last night had an average age of 24, which while not terribly young was still somewhat inexperienced. &nbsp;However, two players that have really helped defensively are keeper Jimmy Nielsen and centerback/midfielder Julio Cesar. &nbsp;Both are veterans with years of international experience who are providing veteran leadership to the club. &nbsp;While their defense is still not up to par with some of the elite MLS teams, it has improved to their point where it is no longer an eye-closing liability.
Outside factors also have played into Kansas City’s rise, the biggest being their obvious home field advantage. &nbsp;After playing the first ten games of the season on the road, Sporting KC has gone 8-2-6 at home. &nbsp;Their field is beautiful and creates a definite home field advantage, which gives the team a boost. &nbsp;They also are&nbsp;benefiting&nbsp;from an Eastern Conference with no dominant team which of course has both allowed them to overcome early season struggles and grab needed points (like they did last night).
Looking ahead, can Kansas City keep this up? &nbsp;Their schedule sets up nicely to allow them to control their own destiny: they play an inconsistent San Jose team on the road this weekend, then host New York and travel to DC, both of whom are chasing them. &nbsp;New York’s away record (2-4-9) and DC’s home record (4-3-7) bode well for them. &nbsp;However, Kansas City may have set themselves up for a late stumble, scheduling a friendly against CD Guadalajara on October 12, three days before the Red Bulls match-up. &nbsp;Regardless, Kansas City is hot right now and securing the Eastern Conference crown is not only a possibility, but maybe even likely.
It’s good to be home.

Is Sporting Kansas City the Team to Beat Out East?

Is Sporting Kansas City the Team to Beat Out East? - World Soccer Talk

<div style="width: 510px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a title="Flying V by Mafue, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mafue/5541928196/"><div><figure class="external-image"><img loading="lazy" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5017/5541928196_e56c0e70a5.jpg" alt="Flying V" width="500" height="375"></figure></div></a>Photo by Mafue</div>
MLS could not have asked for a better opening weekend of soccer than this weekend. &nbsp;After a somewhat pedestrian first match between the Galaxy and Sounders, there were a ton of story lines to follow in this weekend’s games. &nbsp;While it may be a lot to ask for every weekend to be this exciting (although we can hope) there is no doubt that this season is looking like a great one.
Just like Don Garber planned it.
Vancouver 4, Toronto 2
What a tale of two cities. &nbsp;Expansion Vancouver certainly kicked off their first first-division season in style. &nbsp;The fans were decked out in white as part of the “White Out”, celebrity fan Steve Nash sat among the masses and led the cheering, and the action on the pitch could not have been better for the home team. &nbsp;Eric Hassli started the scoring in the 15th minute and, after Dwayne De Rosario equalized, it was all Whitecaps. &nbsp;The Toronto defense was exposed and the Reds looked pretty bad; it may be worst case scenario for them at least in the near future.
For more weekend reviews…..
Colorado 3, Portland 1
I was intrigued by this match because I wanted to see how Colorado looked in their first match that counted after their MLS Cup win, as well as see how our other newest club looked. &nbsp;Kenny Cooper contributed a goal (and points for my MLS fantasy team) but otherwise it was all Colorado. &nbsp;The Cummings/Casey duo again looked dangerous in front of the goal, a must for the Rapids, and it was last year’s key pickup Jeff Larentowicz who got the scoring started for Colorado. &nbsp;A tough first match for Portland, but their next three matches are very winnable: at Toronto, at New England, versus Chicago.
Dallas 1, Chicago 1
If you stepped away to the fridge for a beer, you missed the scoring in this one. &nbsp;Milton Rodriguez for Dallas and Diego Chaves for Chicago scored within two minutes of each other, and defense carried the game. &nbsp;Hats off to Dallas for selling out their stadium, after receiving so much criticism for their poor draws last year. &nbsp;Let’s hope that they are building a tradition of being a tough ticket to get. &nbsp;Kevin Hartman picked up where he left off last season, facing 12 shots (5 on goal) and conceding one goal.
D.C. United 3, Columbus 1
I did a story for the site on this match, but I want to make a few follow-up points. &nbsp;Can any Crew fan fill me in on Robbie Rogers absence for most of the match? &nbsp;He had a&nbsp;discernible&nbsp;and positive impact when he was subbed on in the 65th minute, and he may have made a difference playing the full 90. &nbsp;Charlie Davies is getting the attention from this one, but the DC backline (which was horrendous last year) played very well in this match. &nbsp;But with Perry Kitchen called up to the U-20s and Jed Zayner picking up an injury, their depth may be tested (<a href="http://www.blackandredunited.com/2011/3/21/2063523/dc-united-roster-depth-defense" target="_blank">find more&nbsp;information&nbsp;here</a>).
New York 1, Seattle 0
Daniel did <a href="http://www.majorleaguesoccertalk.com/new-york-1-0-seattle-sounders-agudelo-scores/12049" target="_blank">an excellent job covering this match for MLS Talk, so I will refer you to his analysis</a>. &nbsp;But allow me to continue heaping praise on Juan Agudelo. &nbsp;The guy will be something special if he is allowed to grow properly both in a playing sense and media sense. &nbsp;I also hope the European clubs dismiss him as an overrated American so he plays in MLS for a while longer. &nbsp;I’d like to hear from Sounders’ fans – what can your team do to generate some goals? &nbsp;Goalless now in two matches.
Real Salt Lake 1, San Jose 0
RSL is a very efficient team. &nbsp;They manage only two shots on goal and that’s all they need for Kyle Beckerman to find the winner. &nbsp;It was a good win in bad weather and there was nothing in this match that doesn’t make you think RSL may be the best team already. &nbsp;For San Jose, they are in a tough spot like we expected. &nbsp;They need to win home games against the favorites in the West to be considered playoff contenders; this match will do nothing to make anyone think that they are one of the better Western Conference teams.
Sporting KC 3, Chivas 2
Newcomers shined for Kansas City in this quality away win. &nbsp;James Madison University rookie C.J. Sapong scored the first goal in the second minute and newcomer Omar Bravo added two more in this match. &nbsp;Both teams should be very concerned about their defense, however. &nbsp;Sporting KC allowed two goals on only four shots on goal, while Chivas obviously had some defensive lapses. &nbsp;Does this match assert the Eastern Conference’s dominance over the Western Conference? &nbsp;Probably not, but it is a good win for a potential playoff contender.
Philadelphia 1, Houston 0
Another match where if you turned your head you missed the goal, as Danny Califf scores off a long throw-in. &nbsp;Kudos to Houston for another good crowd of almost 20,000 to begin the season, but a disappointing offensive output. &nbsp;They needed some points from this match, as their next two (at Sounders, at Red Bulls) could see them trailing early in the season, never a good place to be. &nbsp;The Union also needed this one, as five of their next six matches are against 2010 playoff teams and the sixth is against Vancouver.
Los Angeles 1, New England 1
Paging Mr. Angel, please pick up the white courtesy phone. &nbsp;The Galaxy need him healthy or need other players in their midfield to step up if they want to create more scoring chances. &nbsp;Again it was Juninho who salvaged the point for LA, and the good news for their supporters is that they have taken the early lead in the Supporters Shield race. &nbsp;It is good that New England salvaged a point from this match, but they showed some concerning tendencies in the match. &nbsp;Joseph’s third minute goal was their only shot on goal. &nbsp;Their home opener is DC United, so that will be a good test of where they stand.

MLS First Kick '11 is as Good as Advertised

MLS First Kick '11 is as Good as Advertised - World Soccer Talk

<div id="attachment_2399" style="width: 370px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><div><figure class="external-image"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-2399" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-2399" src="/files/2009/03/bravo-omar_3147.jpg" alt="Omar Bravo" width="360" height="296"></figure></div>Omar Bravo</div>
Last Saturday morning, while he was in town to promote the fights taking place that evening at Houston’s Toyota Center, Oscar de la Hoya stopped by Estadio Robertson to chat with reporters while watching his Houston Dynamo host the Montreal Impact in a 70 minute practice match. While most of the de la Hoya press conference focused on the impending fights, Houston’s own Juan “The Baby Bull” Diaz, and de la Hoya’s future as a boxer, de la Hoya did discuss the team that his Golden Boy Promotions bought an interest in just over a year ago. In addition to expressing his opinion that a stadium deal among the Dynamo, the City of Houston, and Harris County was going to be finalized soon, de la Hoya also indicated his desire that the Dynamo sign a big name player from Mexico; however, he did not commit to a time from for such a signing and he did not indicate that he had any particular player in mind.
Little did we in the press know that the Houston Dynamo had already set their sights on Omar Bravo and were actively courting the Mexican striker. Bravo made his debut with Club Deportivo Guadalajara on August 20, 2001, and went on to score 101 goals over 258 appearances for Chivas. The only Chivas player with more goals then Bravo is Salvador Reyes who scored 122 goals. This past summer, Bravo parted ways with Chivas and signed with La Liga’s Deportivo La Coruña, where he made 9 appearances and scored his only goal against Málaga CF.
Late last month news emerged that Bravo would be returning to Mexico on a 4 month loan to UANL Tigres – a loan deal that could turn into a permanent transfer. But the news had emerged before a deal was finalized and the Houston Dynamo quietly expressed their interest in obtaining Bravo’s services and signing him as the club’s first designated player.
In his blog on MyDynamo.com on Friday morning, Dynamo COO, Chris Canetti, finally addressed the Dynamo’s close but failed effort to sign Bravo. Dynamo Coach Dominic Kinnear, who is well acquainted with Mexican soccer and Omar Bravo, was very interested in adding Bravo to his team’s offense, giving it that extra offensive firepower that so many fear was lost with the departure of Dwayne De Rosario.
The Dynamo have not provided detailed information on the course and status of the Bravo negotiations, but the Dynamo believed they had a serious shot at landing Bravo and are uncertain as to why he chose to go to Tigres instead of Houston. In the end, Tigres is pay $500,000.00 for the loan and then could acquire Bravo by paying a $4.3 million transfer fee this summer. In light of these figures, it is possible that the MLS front office balked at coughing up the necessary money to bring Bravo to the Dynamo, but the team contends that the league was in full support of the Dynamo’s efforts to bring Bravo to the MLS. More likely, it had to do with Bravo concluding that his best shot at securing a starting spot with El Tri would be playing in Mexico.
After the failed effort to sign Luis Angel Landin earlier in this MLS off-season, it is not surprising that the Dynamo kept their efforts to sign Bravo quiet. What is clear is that the Dynamo, a team that has won two MLS Cups without relying on the designated player rule, is seriously open to signing a designated player and the team has seemingly set its sights on offensive talent from our southern neighbor. That being said, Canetti is still making it clear that the team is weighing several factors in determining who they go after, factors that include age, position, ability, talent, contract status, style, attitude, salary requirements, and, yes, marketability.
Had the Dynamo signed Bravo, who just turned 29 this week, it would have marked the biggest signing going into the 2009 MLS season. Not only did Bravo make a name for himself by playing at and being the poster boy for one of Mexico’s most popular, and hated, clubs, but he has 55 caps and 14 goals for the Mexican National Team, including a brace in Mexico’s match against Iran in the 2006 FIFA World Cup finals, the Dynamo would have legitimized the club in the eyes of football fans in Mexico. That’s not meant as a knock against the Dynamo, who already have a good reputation in Mexico, but Dynamo jersey sales would have shot up south of the border in the same manner that Blanco’s time at Real Valladolid Club de Fútbol legitimized that Spanish side in Mexico and had football fans in Mexico wearing the purple and white kits in public.
One of the interesting points made to me by my colleague Rey Gallegos is that not only have the Dynamo been eyeing soccer players in Mexico, but the club has been pursuing Mexican players who are equipped to handle the physical play of the MLS. Landin stands about 6 feet and has the physicality to handle the rough play of the MLS, while Bravo was an amateur boxer who knows how to employ the physical traits of that sport while on the soccer pitch.
It is the patient yet persistent approach that the Dynamo have shown on the pitch these past few years, resulting in the team becoming on of the top clubs currently in the MLS, that the club appears to be employing in its efforts to sign a designated player. The question is not if the Dynamo will sign a DP, it is when and who will it be? Based on the team’s recent efforts, the answers are likely to be soon and someone who will contribute positively both on and off the pitch.
– Brian Zygo is the Bureau Chief for the World Soccer Wrap – Houston Bureau and a co-host of the 1560 The Game Soccer Show. Special thanks to Rey Gallegos for his insight on Bravo and the Beautiful Game in Mexico.

The Long and Winding Road &#8211; Dynamo Again Try to Sign an Offensive Weapon from Mexico

The Long and Winding Road - Dynamo Again Try to Sign an Offensive Weapon from Mexico - World Soccer Talk

The Long and Winding Road – Dynamo Again Try to Sign an Offensive Weapon from Mexico

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