The Blue Testament: For Sporting Kc Fans

We're three matches into the season and Sporting KC has yet to find the back of the net. The 30 shots is a sign they're creating chances, but the quality of chances is lacking. While Daniel Salloi has yet to find midseason form and Willy Agada appears to struggle with confidence at the moment, the impact of missing Johnny Russell has been painfully obvious. Newcomer Nemanja Radoja made his MLS debut, but he played a different position than expected. Remi Walter has things working nicely with the centerbacks from the #6 position. All of a sudden the attack seems to be a larger issue than the defense, who have given up just one goal in 270 minutes. Robert Voloder is still working some kinks out, but progressing nicely. Tim Leibold slotted in at left back and played well in his first start. We talk about press box shenanigans and Peter Vermes clapping back at the KC Star reporter. Also, some very strong opinions on St. Louis City. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Erik Bergrud from the Kansas City Comets broadcast team and Thad Bell from The Blue Testament have another episode of The Blue Turf. The Kansas City Comets were blasted in Baltimore (totally expected pun there). A small field, Kansas City did not play to their potential and the Comets were on the bad side of a 9-2 scoreline. They have a chance for payback as they host Baltimore Saturday. It is a two-game weekend as the Comets head to Milwaukee the next day. This pod was recorded while the Comets practiced so there is a bit of ambiance during the recording. After Erik and I recapped and previewed matches he had to leave. Thad had the opportunity to chat with legendary keeper Alan Mayer. He was a great keeper and is an even greater person. He was recently recognized in San Diego for the anniversary of winning the MISL MVP as part of the 1982-83 championship team. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We spoke with Felipe Hernandez and Tim Liebold at Sporting Kansas City's 2023 media day. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

He had the opportunity to speak with Marinos Tzionis and Gadi Kinda at Sporting KC's 2023 media day. Kinda talks about the mental aspect of the injury and give an estimated timeline to be back. Tzinois talks about fighting for time and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

At Sporting Kansas City's 2023 media day, we had an opportunity to bring Peter Veres on the pod for a more casual conversation. We talked about stupid media questions, how much he works, the growth of the club and more. Timeline 3:07 Dumb questions from the media 5:10 Was Vermes “forced” to relax or just not a chance for actual time off? 7:45 “If I’m doing something, I’m doing it.“ 11:15 Academy talk and challenges for the future for Sporting Kansas City’s Academy 14:30 Growth of the organization since Vermes took over, from very few to a lot of specialized roles Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Reinforcements cannot come soon enough. Sporting KC got it's first point of the season with a draw in Colorado vs the Rapids, but they've yet to a score in the first two matches. Wasn't the offense supposed to be the part we didn't have to worry about? Marinos Tzionis got the start on the right wing over Khiry Shelton. It's not a great place to be right now in the absence of Johnny Russell. We have a tough conversation about who should be starting. After a stellar introduction to MLS last season, some of the shine has worn off striker Willy Agada in the first two matches. Is the team not giving him enough service... or is it self inflicted? We saw more shaky moments from Robert Voloder and Ben Sweat. John Pulskamp came up with some big saves, but we still aren't sure he's ready. But there are problems on all three lines. Without Kinda and Radoja, who is nowhere to be found, the midfield is in trouble. Felipe Hernandez & Cam Duke might have hit their ceilings. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcas

After the preseason injury to Kortne Ford, Sporting KC needed to act fast to acquire a centerback. This week they officially announced the signing of 29-year-old Colombian, Dany Flores. The deal nearly fell through at the last minute and Brian Bliss hopped on a plane to make sure they got their guy. Atlético Junior was not ready to give him up. It's mid-season and he's been a key player for them. But Rosero is coming for a reported fee of $1.2 million after Bliss kept the deal together. While all the red tape and details are worked out, Rosero will continue training with his old club. He's expected to arrive in a couple weeks. But this weekend SKC face off with the Colorado Rapids. Who are you starting? Will Khiry be out on the wing again? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Zach Reget had a difficult February. An unexpected trade from Florida to Harrisburg, a pair of games, and then a trade to Kansas City just in time to face his former Florida teammates. Zach reveals all of what happened, why it upset him, and why he is willing to talk now. We also talk about being welcomed into Kansas City and more. A very honest interview with one of the best goal scorers in the MASL. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Erik Bergrud from the Kansas City Comets broadcast team and Thad Bell from The Blue Testament have another episode of The Blue Turf. The Comets earned a strong victory at home over the Milwaukee Wave. We discuss who were the best performers in the match. We also take a look at the upcoming game in Baltimore. Does a tiny field matter? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Khiry's back. An aging lineup. Tons of questions about the backline. Sporting KC opens the MLS season with a shutout loss. It's time to panic, right? A quick glance at fan reactions across the internet seem to indicate a resounding yes. With injuries to the three best players on the team, Peter Vermes once again trotted out an aging lineup against the Portland Timbers in the 2023 season opener. Relying too much on Graham Zusi, Roger Espinoza, and Ben Sweat is not something anybody wants to see this season. Khiry Shelton on the right wing was another one sure to have fans groaning. As new & returning players get to full fitness, what would you do with the Starting XI? We look at all options, including Marinos Tzionis, who turned in a solid shift off the bench. Many questions were answered... just not the way we wanted. Robert Voloder showed he still has kinks to work out. Ben Sweat is still Ben Sweat. A bright spot was Remi Walter. He was deployed in the holding midfield role and was probably the best player o

Erik Bergrud from the Kansas City Comets broadcast team and Thad Bell from The Blue Testament have another episode of The Blue Turf. The Kansas City Comets are two-thirds of the way through the season and sit in fourth place. It is time for the Comets to start making up ground in the standings. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Reacting to the reactions to the new kit "Hoops 4.0". Should BBQ loving fans be wearing hoops? (13:00) Sporting KC got an emergency centerback in 24-year-old Robert Castellanos. But that doesn't exactly fix the problem. Andreu Fontas & Robert Voloder will be getting the nod to start the season. Meanwhile, we still hold out hope for another new CB. (22:30) Matchday 1 has arrived! It's a late kickoff vs the Portland Timbers on Saturday night. We get a scouting report on the Timbers and choose a starting lineup for Peter Vermes. (34:00) Predictions that are sure to make us look bad in a few months. Who will lead the team in goals and assists? How many games will Gadi Kinda play? Will Tim Melia or John Pulskamp play more minutes in goal this season? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Erik Bergrud from the Kansas City Comets broadcast team and Thad Bell from The Blue Testament have another episode of The Blue Turf. The Zach Reget trade paid off for the Comets with a big win over his former team. Can we expect five goals every game? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's one of our favorite shows of the year! Senior Director of Brand Chad Reynolds and Director of Retails Operations Thomas Earle join us to unveil the new Sporting KC kit for the 2023 season. This year is Hoops 4.0 as the club works to create a brand identity and own the "hoops" look in Major League Soccer. We look at all the new kits around the league and argue about the best and worst. Remember the brown Vancouver Whitecaps kit? Chad and Thomas are at the mercy of Adidas, who has a single manufacturer contract with MLS. We're tired of the boring templates from the large companies, when can we break free and get crazy like Venezia? The dream of SKC sneakers lives on. When are we getting new kicks? Hoops 4.0 is the next generation of what the club hopes has become the brand identity. They want everyone who turns on a game to know who is playing before checking the score. Croatia has their checkerboard, SKC has their hoops. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sporting KC was already in need of another centerback before the season ending injury to Kortne Ford. Now, they find themselves in a massive hole. Is this another year of questionable roster construction? Or might they have a new starting CB coming soon, and we're freaking out about nothing? With just a couple weeks until the season begins, Peter Vermes and Co. need to figure something out very soon. If you want to take a look at the available free agents in MLS to fill the spot... brace yourself. Geoff Cameron is among them, even though we, as a soccer community, agreed to forget about him a long time ago. We recorded on Super Bowl Sunday ahead of the Kansas City Chiefs vs Philadelphia Eagles. This gave us the natural opportunity for the airing of grievances about the sport of American football. Neutral Zone Infractions... 10-second runoffs... football is simply a poorly designed game. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Erik Bergrud from the Kansas City Comets broadcast team and Thad Bell from The Blue Testament have another episode of The Blue Turf. We take a look at the Comets needed win over the St. Louis Ambush with the game-winner from Junior Kazeem. Next up is the Florida Tropics. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Comets Celebrity Match was over the weekend and we hear from the stars that took the field. Sporting KC played to a 2-2 draw with Louisville City in a preseason matchup after two goals from Remi Walter. Former SKC man Wilson Harris also scored for Lou City. Do we regret letting him go? Peter Vermes spoke to the media and gave the normal updates on player progress and the arrival of the new guys. But there were two parts that stood out. His contract expires at the end of this year, and he was asked about that as well as the USMNT jobs that may or may not be available. As far as his contract goes, he says he's not talking about it right now. Vermes also directly indicated that he expects a CB to be signed. However, this could mean a starter or a trialist. Ben Sweat gave a candid interview with Robert where he shared his feelings on the team bringing in a third left back. 2022 was the year of calves. 2023 is the year of schnoz. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A sit-down interview with Kansas City Current head coach Matt Potter. He talks about his journey to Kansas City and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Erik Bergrud from the Kansas City Comets broadcast team and Thad Bell from The Blue Testament have another episode of The Blue Turf. The Kansas City Comets snatched a point from Milwaukee after a tremendous comeback but fell short in overtime. Is the rivalry between Milwaukee fans think they have reached ridiculous levels? Comets return home to face St Louis this weekend needing to get a win and put distance between them and the teams below them. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We're joined by Zachary Cobb (@ZachIsHere) and talking about Sporting KC's 8-0 preseason scrimmage, battles for starting spots, and the current state of the Cauldron. John Pulskamp saw a lot of time in goal last season. Is the job his to lose? The Big Bear is often thought of as the future for the team, but costly mistakes have plagued him in the past. The youngster and Tim Melia have a battle on their hands, and the competition should up the standard. The KC Cauldron was, at one time, the toast of the league. But it's become a bit stagnant. What can each of us do to help bring back the former glory of the Cauldron and ensure our boys are playing in a true Blue Hell? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices