Sporting KC Release Chhetri, Kounenakis, Murray and Scales

Sunil Chhetri juggling the ball in practice...


Chhetri (#19) heading ball against Man U

The news:

Sporting Kansas City announced four roster moves Monday. Sporting did not pick up the option for Sunil Chhetri, Nick Kounenakis was released by "mutual consent" and pre-season cuts of draft picks JT Murray and Sam Scales.

Sunil Chhetri only appeared in one Open Cup game and the friendly with Manchester United, never making the bench during a league game. Kounenakis did appear on the bench a few times but never made it to the field for Kansas City.

Murray, a defender was the 2nd round (32nd overall) pick for Kansas City in the 2011 MLS SuperDraft out of the University of Louisville.

Scales, a midfielder taken in the first round of the MLS Supplemental Draft from Ohio State University.

The analysis:

Chhetri and Kounenakis were no surprise at all. Neither has been with the team this pre-season. In fact, with Kounenakis the only surprise is it was not officially reported already. I reported Kounenakis was released on Jan 24th and was just waiting on the official release.

Chhetri was in limbo while waiting to see if a deal could be worked out. Vermes had said they were working on bringing Chhetri back if the situation was right. Sporting wanted to sign him and loan him out so he could get playing time. Chhetri is a great finisher but he needed to work on a lot of other aspects of his game and he needed actual games against better opponents than he was used to previously. So apparently no deal was reached and will not be. I will try to find out what was the deal breaker not that it matters.

Murray and Scales were also not a huge surprise. Neither player was mentioned by Vermes in the post game press conference after the pre-season tie with Columbus. When asked about which new guys were fitting into the system, Vermes mentioned all of the other draft picks; Sapong, Mravec, Warzycha and Jones.

Both Murray and Scales looked decent in their first week of training in Kansas City. Scales initially impressed when he was the winner of one of the beep test groups. Many fans will probably find the release of Murray to be the most disappointing since he was a second round draft pick. I don't think it is that unexpected that a second round pick would be released with all of the competition in camp, it is a mild surprise it is this early. The early release of a second rounder will be pointed at as a failure of scouting but it may also be a triumph of scouting that lower draft picks and trialists are still there.

When Murray was drafted it was mentioned that he would be cover for Espinoza when he was called up for Honduras (like in the Gold Cup this summer). Note an unknown trialist (#4) played at left back in the second session of the Columbus game.

While it is unknown why the two were released this early, it is easy to assume that other players in camp showed more promise for the style Vermes wants to play. Stiff competition from trialists, other draft picks, possible homegrown players and returning Sporting KC players may have just been too much.

Expect a couple more moves this week as Vermes trims his roster to the players with the best chance of making the team.

Kounenakis at practice

Sporting KC 2 - 2 Columbus Crew - Notes and Quotes

Sporting Kansas City tied their first preseason game 2-2 with Columbus. The teams played three thirty minute sessions with different lineups for each session. In the first session, Kansas City veteran Jack Jewsbury put home a ball from Sheldon Bateau for the first goal of the game. Brazilian trialist Alex Fraga tied it up for Columbus.

In the second session, Kei Kamara got on the end of a quick one-two with Teal Bunbury and easily beat the Columbus keeper. In the third session Robbie Rogers scored on a penalty kick to tie the final score at two.

Scoring summary
KC -- Jack Jewsbury (Bateau) -- 1st session
CLB -- Alex Fraga -- 1st session
KC -- Kei Kamara (Teal Bunbury) -- 2nd session
CLB -- Robbie Rogers (penalty kick) -- 3rd session

Lineups:

First Session:
Jimmy Nielsen, Chance Myers, Trialist 1 (Santos), Trialist 2, Roger Espinoza, Sheldon Bateau, Jack Jewsbury, Craig Rocastle, Trialist 3, Adda Djeziri, Birhahim Diop

Second Session:
Eric Kronberg, Michael Harrington, Daneil Cyrus, Matt Besler, Trialist 4, Konrad Warzycha, Graham Zusi, Korede Aiyegbusi, Kei Kamara, Omar Bravo, Teal Bunbury

Third Session:
Jon Kempin, Kevin Ellis, Trialist 5, Mike Jones, J.T. Murray, Stephane Auvray, Davy Arnaud, Trialist 6, Sam Scales, Franklin Salas, C.J. Sapong

Players in Arizona that did not play:

Michal Mravec and Calum Butcher sat out with hip flexors. Left out the last two days and kept out of the game so they have all weekend to rest and can start training again on Monday with another game on Wednesday.
Omar Colley was there and did not play
Shavar Thomas did not play, he was doing some fitness stuff

Postgame press conference notes and quotes with Manager Peter Vermes

Sporting KC Manager Peter Vermes opening comment

We played three different teams, the lineups were different players but had a lot of similar lines, definitely not a starting team or second team or third team or anything like that. Just trying to get an opportunity for guys to play in the positions where they can show themselves and against another opponent because we had already played against each other for 10 days total soccer time. This will give us another look. Thought we started off well, and I think all in all there were some really good things in all three 30 minutes games especially on the attacking side. The combination play was very good.

How far has team come in understanding the system and executing offensively?

What's really taken hold is exactly what we were hoping for. That is it's one thing with the guys finishing off the season having a good understanding and coming back and getting right into it right away but quite a few new guys that are new to the team, adapting and adjusting as quick as they have been really has been a credit to the rest of the players that are coming back. From day one they started playing that way and it's an easy learning environment for the new guys to see what our rhythm of play and our style is. Just because those guys do it well and know what their roles and responsibilities are on the field. It has been a great achievement that the team is able to start really close to where we left off last season.

Which new guys that have stepped up to the new system?

Mravec was out with a hip flexor but CJ (Sapong) and (Konrad) Warzycha have played well and has held their own for sure. Both of them have a good understanding of their position inside our team and because of some of their qualities they have, it even accentuates their position even more because of the quality each brings to his position. Mravec has been solid as well. Jones, today was his best day so far, he has been a little nervous.

Adda Djezeri has been playing well, Julio Cesar also and some of the other guys.

Franklin Salas, how has he been acquitting himself and what type of player is he?

He is definitely more of an attacking player, he likes to come inside. I think it's a little bit difficult to play in our system because of what the requirements of the position he plays in the teams he came from, he his having a little bit of a tough time maybe with the physicality and the speed of the game. That tends to be the situation with a lot of foreign players when they first come here, the real evaluation and decision goes into whether those guys are able to adapt and adjust quickly and when they do will they have a strong impact.

Kei, Teal, and Omar played on one team, how did they look?

Worked together really well. Kei had a great goal, great one-two between him and Teal. they had a couple of really good combinations. Teal was very active. Omar twice was in two great positions for two great opportunities, the timing is maybe not there perfect right now but it's early in the season, the positions he gets into are excellent.

How would you describe Graham Zusi's play and how has he done so far?

He has done well, I made a point to say to him in pre-season, he's got to stop being the guy that's just along for the ride. He's got to become a protagonist on the field , he needs to start taking things upon himself, because he has all the qualities to be a very solid attacking midfield player in this league but he's got to have more production, he's got to push it a little bit more himself. Take more responsibility and I think he's building into that. Drafted him a couple years ago because I loved the way he played , now he has the ability to come into his own, especially on the attacking side. He is very crafty, low center of gravity, can hit the ball with his left or right, good quick feet and has good acceleration in tight spaces. Now the opportunity is right in front of him.

How have the Trinidadians looked?

Daneil Cyrus - played well today. We put him in central defense where it really the place we brought him in to look at. He was very solid, him and Matt Besler wound up being a pretty good combination between the two of them. They played well. He's uncanny because when you watch him run you think he is not very fast but he never gets beat.

Sheldon Battue -He had a assist on Jack's goal. His situation is that he is going to a take a little time trying to get used to our system a little bit and also tactically, but he is definitely a physical presence. Very good athlete, he has a good passing idea around the field but just positionaly he needs to be a little bit better.

How about Kevin Ellis?

Every day he is a little bit better, the year at school helped him or whatever happened to Kevin has really helped him mature a lot. He has excellent attitude, very determined. Every day we play he is learning more. Very focused kid at the moment. It's great to see that especially you know he is a kid that came out of our academy.

Upcoming roster moves?

We will probably see three right away and then another shortly trying timing wise to get it down and at least another one a by after Wednesday.

Releasing, signing or combination?

Maybe a combination but definitely letting some people go.

Teal Bunbury Files FIFA Switch to USA

It has been reported that Sporting Kansas City forward Teal Bunbury has formally filed his one-time switch with FIFA that will now permanently switch him to the United States national team. Bunbury had previously represented Canada at the youth team levels.

Bunbury has played in two friendlies for the US but needed to make the switch before playing in any official games. This would make him eligible to play in the Gold Cup, the Olympics and World Cup Qualifiers.

Despite having limited playing time early in his rookie year, Bunbury increasingly found time through the season, eventually winning a consistent starting spot. In the off season Teal joined the US side that defeated South Africa at home and played the second half.

Bunbury was with the MLS Generation Adidas team that defeated 3 La Liga reserve teams in December. Teal had 3 goals and an assist in those games and his performance was consistently praised.

On his way home, he had a short training stint with Stoke City where he scored another goal for their reserves.

Upon returning to the states, Bunbury joined the US National Team camp in preparation for their friendly with Chile. Teal came off the bench in the 60th minute and ended up scoring the equalizing goal on a penalty kick. The goal call has become a bit of a sensation now and has helped boost Bunbury's popularity with Sporting Kansas City and US National Team fans alike.

Kevin Ellis interview

Kevin Ellis played in the Wizards Juniors and with Barton Community College. He was invited to camp with Sporting Kansas City and has traveled with the team to Arizona.


It is possible that Ellis will end up being the second Home Grown player to sign with Sporting KC.

Coach Vermes talking with Ellis during the first week of camp...

Mike Jones Interview

Sporting Kansas City took Mike Jones in the second round of the MLS Supplemental Draft. Jones is a defender from SIUE. In the first week of camp, Jones was mentioned multiple time by SKC Manager Peter Vermes so he had definitely gotten the attention of the coaches in a short time frame.

Mike Jones


Sporting Kansas City players going through fitness testing the first week of camp...