When you are coming off a road swing of five away matches in the last six that can be a difficult ask to be pulling off the right results but the best get it done.
It is a telling moment when a club’s CEO gets on Twitter and has to defend the club in a long message as Robb Heineman did earlier this week:
https://twitter.com/RobbHeineman/status/730974027326447618/photo/1?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Most fans have been venting their frustrations entirely at the lack of goals that have been created by Sporting Kansas City and for good reasons. In 2015 10 goals and six assists were attested to the forward/winger Krisztian Nemeth who transferred to the UAE after turning down a raise he was offered in the off season.
The fillers were Justin Mapp and Brad Davis, two players who were looked at as additions that were to supplement the existing attack. While Davis has the skills to create magic just like Nemeth Mapp has done little while being injured most of the 2016 season. Finding the attacking output of Nemeth and the offensive production can be fixed but its yet to be deciphered if that will be earned from the current players or another addition is needed.
Diego Rubio has been brought in on loan and currently there is an option to fill in for when Dom Dwyer is out. For him to be fully integrated he needs to know which role he is to fill. Could he produce the necessary results? Most likely not as Davis and Mapp are seen now as the position replacements and Rubio is an out and out striker to provide backup for Dwyer.
Thing is it can be really down to the defense as well.
Peter Vermes was a very intense defender as a player and in the off season bringing in Nuno Andre Coelho was supposed to give a reliable defensive presence to work alongside Matt Besler.
Besler was injured on international duty which threw off the good workmanship that was developing.
Tim Melia has been a rock but not having consistent play from the central defensive paring is really the problem.
Whats needed is some belief in themselves and a little luck. Early goals and putting the opposition on the wrong foot will give the confidence that is needed to move into 2016 and develop as a team.
Is Orlando that team? Possibly.
Orlando has had difficulty in getting three points as they have tended to concede early yet their strength has been in their ability to fight and earn points from a trailing position.
For Sporting KC score two first half goals and belief will be restored in the fans. Additions will be made to the squad over the season but it all starts bu ending a six game win-less streak and its against a team from the East who has yet to travel west of the Mississippi River so the elements are there.
Prediction: 1-1 Draw as Sporting Kansas City continues to search for a win after a good start to 2016.
Sporting Kansas City
Orlando City
