The Blue Testament: For Sporting Kc Fans

We could feel it right as we walked through the front entrance of the brand new $18 million training complex. There's an excitement around the Kansas City Current right now which cannot be ignored. Perhaps the fresh paint and new car smell have something to do with it, but this building has a vibe. Club President Allison Howard has been in KC for three months now, since her move from the Los Angeles Lakers where she served as VP of Corporate Partnerships for the last five years. Her decade long experience with one of the most famous sports franchises on the planet, is very clear after talking with her for just a short time. She's among a front office filled with wildly impressive people who are all incredibly passionate about the work they're doing. Sitting in a gorgeous conference room overlooking three fields, Howard quickly confirmed that palpable atmosphere we sensed. "The workout room is directly below us... and the music is blaring! So you can really feel the liveliness." This complex provides this club

Cody & Thad among the first civilians let inside the new training complex for the Kansas City Current in Riverside, MO. We’re coming at you from an absolute magnificent conference room overlooking the training ground, joined by Executive Director of Communications, and our long-time friend, Dani Welniak. Dani made the jump from player (with a giant Super Bowl ring by the way), to the media side, and now to the front office. The girl can do it all. She shares the differences and challenges of the new gig. As well as all the excitement that comes with being a part of this club. There truly is a vibe, a palpable atmosphere, on these grounds. And it’s not just the new car smell of the building! These people are ambitious, they’re driven. The KC Current and this staff are working everyday to build something great for not just Kansas City, but the NWSL and women’s soccer as a whole. It’s a big week for them as the look to set an attendance record on Friday with Angel City FC coming to town. Daniel Sperry of the KC

No Cody this week so David Greenwald took over hosting duty and did a pretty good job. Along with regulars Robert Rusert and Thad Bell, Mike Kuhn and Chad Smith joined to discuss SKC's win over the Galaxy and included a little KC Current chat at the end. . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Media Game was a success. In that Thad survived. Cody missed the email. But the worse things get for Sporting KC.. the more we have to talk about. We though the low point of the season had come months ago. The team seemed to be playing better than the beginning of the season. But here we are again. A new low point. We second guess Peter Vermes' lineup choice for the Open Cup Semifinal in Sacramento, as well as his choices for PK takers. How does Graham Zusi go 5th? Felipe Hernandez is developing a bit of a reputation. Did yelling at the keeper inspire him to make the winning save? Youthful mistakes were a trend the next game against Austin FC as Cam Duke was sent off with an embarrassing second yellow card and Jonathan Pulskamp let in an inexcusable goal between his legs. Will we find anything to cheer about the rest of the season? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Even the most optimistic Sporting KC fans are having a hard time seeing a path to the MLS Cup Playoffs these days. But Lamar Hunt is giving Kansas City another chance at glory. Wednesday night's match against the Sacramento Republic FC is the biggest match of the season. The best attempts at ignoring the loss to LAFC went ignored. There was too much to talk about from Erik Thommy & William Agada making their debuts, to Khiry Shelton's worst performance ever. Everyone in the stadium can see he has zero confidence. What is your starting lineup for the US Open Cup Semifinal? Who starts at striker? Is it really possible Khiry starts up top again? The club's worst season in over a decade has brought out an ugly side to the fanbase. But is it different than other teams and other sports? Brian Bliss is technically the Sporting KC Technical Director. How does that differ from Peter Vermes' role and should more blame be directed towards Bliss for this season's failure? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastch

An injury to Graham Zusi provided youngster Kayden Pierre with a massive opportunity. He joined the Sporting KC academy in 2018 and seen plenty of time with SKCII since, but a lot has changed in the last month or so for the 19-year-old. Pierre has actually been a bright spot at times while his team struggles in last place. He has plenty of growing left to do, but he's ready for the challenge and playing with a ton of confidence. Kayden was laid back and smiling through our whole conversation. We talked about video games. Reminiscing about old classics, and playing FIFA with his teammates today. He tells about the difference in talent level from USL to Major League Soccer. Pierre isn't intimidated by the jump to the top flight. It might be nervy at first with larger crowds, but then he settles into the match. "It's not too crazy. I can do this. My confidence just kicked in." The first assist is in the bag. What's next? What goals does he have for this season? His career? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit

On Saturday July, 23, 2022, Ilie Sanchez will make his return to Children’s Mercy Park. Ilie spent five years in Kansas City becoming a fan favorite with his incredible passing range and his sincere kindness off the pitch. So in preparation for his return, he went to training. He watched some film. He did some stretching. And he sat down to chat with the Shades of Blue. In an interview that was only supposed to last for 10-15 minutes, we chatted for almost 30. Tears may or may not have been shed. We talked about everything with Ilie. How the move to LAFC materialized; what his time in KC was like; and which LAFC players might be flying under the radar but need to be noticed. We then played a rapid fire question and answer game where I ended up losing a bet to Robert. Ilie continued to show the same grace and high character that made him such a fan favorite and has me petitioning for the club to install some Ilie Sanchez stained glass in the Member’s Club. Take a listen and give him a standing ovation whe

It was an ugly, punch-in-the-gut 3-0 loss at the RioT against Real Salt Lake. But Sporting KC got 4 points from a tough three-game road trip. Until Roger Espinoza's red card, they didn't look like a Wooden Spoon team either. We've obviously lowered the bar in the middle of this terrible season but we can help you find some of the positive. And Reddit hates us for that. Good. The backline, specifically the centerbacks, are a main target of fan frustrations. What do they do that's good? What do they do that's bad? Should ANY of them return next season? Uri Rosell's struggles continue. Marinos Tzionis didn't exactly set the stage on fire with starting opportunity. Robert defends Nicholas Isimat-Mirin... by blaming everyone else. 19-year-old Kayden Pierre has started several matches in a row and been impressing at right back. The KC Current have put together a nice unbeaten run, but they hate that term. And we also talk about the US Women's National Team winning the Concacaf Women's Championship. Learn more about

"Sporting KC looks pretty good," you may find yourself saying watching a match. And you're right. Until they don't. This team gives themselves a chance in what feels like every single match. They're right there. The defense is organized. The offense is creating chances. And in the blink of an eye, an absolute breakdown leads to the easiest goal you've ever seen. Or a clearance bounces off the keeper's back into the net. Peter Vermes made changes to his lineup against Minnesota United FC amidst a busy schedule, but SKC looked as dangerous and creative for stretches in this match as they have the entire season. But the soccer gods simply wouldn't allow Sporting to get two straight road wins. Mike Kuhn joins the show and we couldn't avoid talking about keepers. Did Dayne St. Clair "stand on his head"? Or did he just make two decent saves? Jonathan Pulskamp, however, deserves a ton a of credit for the result after he made a couple great saves. Do keepers get too much credit? Cody doubles down. At the very least,

Just when it felt like Sporting KC was on the brink of turning things around this season, we got a reminder from the Seattle Sounders just how much the team is lacking at the moment. Losing to Seattle is never fun, but a 3-0 shutout is painful. We recorded the show just after the final whistle on Saturday from our very first Watch Party at Strange Days Brewing. Thank you to everyone who came to hangout and watch the game with us. It was a really fun day all around, in spite of the ugly result. SKC has reinforcements coming in the attack, but this match seemed to prove plenty of problems at the back as well. Kortne Ford was a noticeable absence and it appears his presence is needed. But who else is the problem? Nicolas Isimat-Mirin or Andreu Fontas? We talk about the new signings which will be arriving when the transfer window opens. Last week was a great week for the sport in Kansas City, including the opening of the KC Current training center and the city being selected to host the World Cup in 2026. Learn m

We're focusing this show on the one thing going well for Sporting KC so far this year. This team has tons of history with the US Open Cup, and in spite of terrible MLS play this season, somehow SKC is just three wins from another trophy. The Union Omaha Soccer Club, playing in USL League One - the third tier of American soccer - have beaten two MLS clubs to reach this point. But the club has done very well with fan engagement and carving out a place in their community. The Who Gives A Hoot podcast is dedicated to the club and USL news so we invited them to come on the show with us. Luke Opperman joined to give us some insight into this little team from Nebraska and how they've made it this far. Omaha fans are very likely also Sporting KC supporters as well, and Luke tells us that makes this matchup even more fun. But that also means the fans have been watching SKC and know just how bad things are looking for Peter Vermes' side. The fans & the players are sure to come into this one with tons of confidence. The

It's time for Cody to face the music after a mistake last time the BELGIAN joined the show. Although he finds somewhere else to pass the blame. The 22-year-old defender has settled into life at Sporting KC, becoming a fan favorite in the process. Not just because of his calves, either. Logan is thriving in the physicality of Major League Soccer. Nobody gets fouled like Logan Ndenbe. Nobody! But the youngster welcomes to the tough challenges, as he enjoys dishing them out himself. Ndenbe tells us about the process that brought him to the team, and if other MLS clubs were interested. He vividly remembers his first call with Peter Vermes, a common theme among his teammates. Having spent time in Belgium's youth ranks, most recently with the U-21's, Logan has his eyes on the EURO's next year. But he's also quick to remind us of his eligibility for Cameroon as well. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In honor of the current state of Sporting KC, we recorded this show at Strange Days! So this episode is done, in its truest form, with beers in our hands. "My Football Team's Got Me Drinking" The Blue Testament is hosting a Watch Party on June 25th at Strange Days Brewing and all of you are invited! After the match against the Seattle Sounders, we'll record a live postgame show and let some of you give your hot takes on air! SKC lost yet again, this time at the hands of the New England Revolution. It was a rag tag lineup filled with replacements and hopeful experiments, albeit out of necessity. Peter Vermes is still dealing with a multitude of injuries and international duty. But we are fed up with the performances from this team. Graham Zusi returned from injury and made one play that has the guys AMPED up. Uri Rosell is not good enough. And he plays a dangerous game with his jersey roll-ups. We remember (again) how bad Jose Mauri screwed things up for SKC. Cody declares this the focus of all his rage this s

After yet another disappointing result, Sporting KC find themselves in the loneliest of places - the bottom of the table. Thankfully, we all have Johnny Russell to remind us why we love this sport. The captain put in some 'legendary' performances over an incredibly challenging time for the club. It's obvious to anyone watching that he puts his entire body and mind into every match. Everyone is frustrated at the results, rightfully so! But Russell is making sure there's no question about the level of dedication and passion they have right now. The boys can finally catch their breath this week. They played seven matches over 21 days and Peter Vermes is giving them much needed time off. Being in last place, it's hard to say they survived that rough stretch. But at least JFR made it out alive. The break will also give several players the chance to get off the injury report. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Signed as a Homegrown Player in 2019, Cam Duke is right where he wants to be. Wearing the Sporting KC shirt and representing his city every week. This team has seen a barrage of injuries requiring Duke to be deployed on all three lines of the field already in 2022. That versatility makes him incredibly valuable to Peter Vermes in trying to piece together a Starting XI through injuries, suspensions, & international duty. Additionally, the youngster to gain more confidence & composure every time he takes the field. Cam comes from strong KC soccer roots. His older brother Christian is a former Sporting KC and Swope Park Rangers player, and their father Chris played with the Kansas City Comets as well as the Attack. Jumping into big brother's practices put Cam's game on another level from a very young age. There were some Questions from Kids that Duke enjoyed. He even divulged hidden gems like his favorite color. All the young guys on this close-knit team spend a lot of time together off the field. It isn't just

It turns out, all they had to do was listen to the show! Peter Vermes has deployed a different style and formation in the last two matches for Sporting KC, albeit out of necessity due to injuries & suspensions. But the change has yielded two straight results in league play. One worrying note is a potential trend developing in which the defense concedes an ugly goal early in the second half. Robert Voloder took some blame on this one, but he might have been the only one actually defending. A look at the current MLS Western Conference table is quite jarring when compared to last year's playoffs. Sporting KC is not the only team struggling. Seattle, Portland, Colorado, & Vancouver are all at the bottom of the table at the moment. All of a sudden the young guys on the roster are starting to impress. Homegrowns Cam Duke & Felipe Hernandez are looking solid, while all three international U-22's are key contributors as well. "God bless Ben Sweat." But it's really important how you say it. Learn more about your ad c

It's been quite the journey to the Sporting KC starting XI for Olathe, KS native Kortne Ford. He's faced a lot which has made him stronger, and perhaps wise beyond his years. So naturally, we start off talking about his socks. There's a really good reason he cuts holes in them, by the way. Apologies to those with Trypophobia (Cody calls it Thalassophobia). Kortne lost his mother to cancer, and she has been a massive inspiration to him. As well as so many others. Thad can empathize with him to a certain extent. Although he didn't go through it publicly in front of the media. It's been a different experience for him, but Ford explains how it has given him the chance to tell her incredible story. On the field, you may notice the 26-year-old is fearless when it comes to blocking shots. He takes pride in this part of his game as it was embedded in him back in college at the University of Denver. That dedication and drive make Ford an obvious choice for Peter Vermes. Kortne vividly remembers his initial, very short

After a historically bad 7-2 loss at the hands of the Portland Timbers, we've hit a new low for Sporting KC. It's quite an unfamiliar place for this organization since the rebrand. So.. where do we go from here? We might still be searching for rock bottom. OR.. they could figure things out and still make a run at the playoffs. The arguments can be had about who should be playing, of course. Tzionis should be getting more time, Khiry less. But that won't save the team this year. What can the club do to show they still care? Sign a midfielder? Change the formation & style of play to fit our current talent? For years SKC fans have heard the mantra, "Play the kids." Well the kids played. Are they not as good as we hoped? Several goals can be chalked up to youthful mistakes, but that youth is going to be forced on the field a lot this season. So the problem isn't going away. Peter Vermes is getting the lion's share of fan frustration. Is it possible he gets fired this year? How many losses would it actually take?

It's Shades of Blue AFTER DARK! We recorded in the wee hours of the morning, fresh off a thrilling 4-2 extra time win for Sporting KC over FC Dallas in the US Open Cup. And to think... you almost forgot how much fun it is to watch SKC! The Starting XI turned some heads and one player's name was literally hand-written on the official scoresheet. Several youngsters were given their shot to make an impact. Who did? Kayden Pierre had a big opportunity to slide into the regular first team lineup. Jake Davis wasted zero time in proving he's a young Roger Espinoza by immediately getting a yellow card. Peter Vermes admitted the miserable 2-0 deficit at the half was his fault. Even though Ben Sweat straight up forgot he was playing soccer at one point. But whatever he did at halftime - it worked. This game had everything. Including a Khiry Shelton brace (kind of). Power Rankings for the best calves on the team. The two newcomers scored their first goals for Sporting. Vujnovic redeemed an otherwise quiet performance wi

His nickname isn't "JFR" for no reason, it's earned. The Sporting KC captain is passionate & fiery. He knows his teammates, coaches, and the fans, all expect this from him. We sat down with Johnny Russell this week to talk about that passion, a frustrating season, and of course... cars. The 32-year-old Scotsman had just got off the treatment table after getting some work done for an "ongoing hamstring problem". But that kind of work is common and he says it's nothing that's holding him back right now. I'd make sure to get the most out of the incredible facilities at Pinnacle as I could, as well. We asked Johnny if he feels like SKC is headed in the right direction after showing signs of life in the 2-2 draw with FC Dallas. "We haven't reached the standards we set last year," he says. "We know that ourselves." Russell is well aware he just hit #5 on Sporting KC's all-time scoring leader charts. He even says he's set "targets" for himself, the first of which was his friend Mo Johnston. Johnny plans to keep clim