Football Season Guide

Sporting Kansas City suffered their worst campaign of the decade last season as they picked up the least number of points while also failing to make it to the playoffs for the first time since 2010. Kansas have gone in for changes during the off-season, letting go of a number of players who were not pulling their weight in the roster with Nemeth, Wallace, Feilhaber and Sinovic all being let go while losing Medranda in the expansion draft. They have spent big in the market, splashing the cash to bring in Mexican striker Alan Pulido who is expected to make an immediate impact while also signing Roberto Puncec and Winston Reid to bolster their defense. Khiry Shelton will provide backup for Pulido while Gadi Kinda has been brought on loan to provide creativity from the midfield. Kansas lacked the clinical touch in front of goal despite creating chances but the arrival of Pulido and Shelton should go some way addressing the problem. However the defense remains a weak point for Peter Vermes' side, who had the second worst defensive record in the MLS last season, and the decision to opt for experience rather than youth in bringing in new players at the back means Kansas are once again likely to struggle at the back this season