The Blue Testament: for Sporting KC fans

Erik Bergrud from the Kansas City Comets broadcast team and Thad Bell from the Kansas City Soccer Journal recorded the third episode of The Blue Turf for the 2023-24 season. The Comets have a win over the rival Milwaukee Wave and looked good doing it. We discuss the game, who stood out, where the team still needed to improve, and what we can look for going forward. Next up is the St Louis Ambush. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It was an ugly end to a beautiful story this season for Sporting KC. We're back at it again with a quick reactions pod immediately following the 1-0 loss in Houston. But we wanted to create a safe space to vent and work through this. So Thad tries to walk us through the five stages of grief... although it might be too early for stage five. The handball, the missed chances, the substitutions... we're airing all the grievances this Festivus season. S6:E57 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Erik Bergrud from the Kansas City Comets broadcast team and Thad Bell from the Kansas City Soccer Journal recorded the second episode of The Blue Turf for the 2023-24 season. We talk about who is in camp, the new faces, and the returning players. Also a look at the difference in styles between last year and this. Which positions are set and which needs more depth are discussed. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Thad Bell from the Kansas City Soccer Journal is joined by Daniel Sperry from the KC Star for a new episode of Keeping Current with Kansas City. With the expansion draft coming up in the middle of December, the expansion teams (Utah Royals and Bay FC) are making trades to start their rosters. The biggest carrot the expansion sides have to entice teams to make trades is protection from selecting a player in the expansion draft. The Current made a deal with Bay FC to send Alex Loera there in exchange for allocation money and protection. That still leaves Utah with the opportunity to select a pair of players, so a protection list of nine players is not easy to determine. Sperry and Bell take a swing at a rough cut, talking out why and in what order they would protect those players. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We start off with the US Men's National Team and their embarrassing loss at Trinidad & Tobago. Sergino Dest picked up an all-timer red card and Gregg Berhalter came to his defense after the game. Plus we talk about an exciting few years to come for soccer in America. Sporting KC are facing off with a Houston Dynamo team they beat two months ago. We pick a few players and matchups to keep your eyes on as the old rivalry is brought back to life. Results from Predict The Lineup for SKC this weekend are split on the midfield. The KCSJ community can't decide between Erik Thommy and Gadi Kinda. Who are you starting? S6:E56 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sporting KC manager Peter Vermes joins Thad Bell from the KC Soccer Journal in this episode of One Shots. Vermes talks about the 2023 season. It was a rough start, a very rough start. Vermes reveals his thoughts on fans wanting him out, his confidence in the team and if he ever doubted himself. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Thad Bell from the Kansas City Soccer Journal is joined by Daniel Sperry from the KC Star for a new episode of Keeping Current with Kansas City. The big news was a trade between the Current and Bay FC sending Alex Loera from KC to Bay FC. Kansas City received $175,000 and protection from Bay selecting a player in the expansion draft. This would have been big news by itself but it seems that Loera was not happy with the process. We discuss. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Round 1 of the MLS Cup Playoffs is (finally) complete. What do you think of the format so far? We'll wait for your answer... because the next round is still almost two weeks away. Vermes puts an end to any Antoine Griezmann "rumors". Did the "Vermes Out" pressure on the club force the changes that turned the season around? We don't talk about the camping trip enough. Why are there no good soccer movies? S6:E55 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Erik Bergrud from the Kansas City Comets broadcast team and Thad Bell from the Kansas City Soccer Journal recorded the first episode of The Blue Turf for the upcoming season. We talk about who is in camp, the new faces, and the returning players. Also a look at the difference in styles between last year and this. Which positions are set and which needs more depth are discussed. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We brought in a HOARD of KC Soccer Journal voices to help celebrate Sporting KC's 2-1 win over sT. lOuIs CiTy Sc! We re-live the atmosphere inside CMP for the fire capacity crowd, talk about tactics from Peter Vermes, and debate whether or not a three-week is a good thing for this team. S6:E54 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Broadcaster Anna Witte joins Thad Bell from the KC Soccer Journal in this episode of One Shot. Anna calls games for NWSL matches and other leagues around the US. Anna talks about her move to a new area and the opportunities that brings for her before we dive into more specific NWSL topics. With Anna's view from around the league calling games including a number of Kansas City Current matches, she breaks down what she saw go wrong for the Current. We also talk about the Current bringing in Vlatko Andonovski as their new head coach after he left the U.S. Women's National Team. What will that mean for the Current? With the next round of the playoffs quickly approaching we give our thoughts on which teams will win and go to the final. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

STL played their best postseason match in club history, and they were still beaten down 4-1. Sporting KC give Cody the most satisfying sports event he's ever witnessed with a Game 1 win on rival turf. Ndenbe's form on his banger should be the new MLS logo. We relive all the best moments and talk about the tactics from Darth Vermes to allow STL more possession than they know what to do with. Has the Fire Vermes crowd been proven wrong? How far do they need to go? We also preview Game 2 with possible lineup and tactical changes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Short staffed on the pod tonight! No Cody, no Robert, no David! Thad is joined by Mike Kuhn to review the win over San Jose in the Wild Card match and take a look at Sporting KC's chances against the cross-state rivals in the next round. What does SKC need to do against St. Louis to win the three-game series? Oh, and Mike rants about the playoff format. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It is decided! Sporting KC snuck into the 8th seed of the MLS Cup Playoffs following a 3-1 Decision Day win over Minnesota United. Johnny Russell picked up a brace after not practicing all week, George Brett took his shirt off, and Vermes had words for the doubters this season. SKC will face San Jose on Wednesday night at 8:30pm for the chance to play STL in Round One. S6:E51 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sporting KC can leapfrog into 7th place on the final day of the season with a win at home against Minnesota United... and some help from our Western Conference brethren. Dallas, Portland, and San Jose would all have to win in order to end the season for SKC. We had our correspondent at the Pitch Black event where the 2023 Club Awards were announced. We hear (very little) about the fashion of the evening and talk about how sad some of the winners are. S6:E50 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Thad Bell from the KC Soccer Journal sat down with Stefan Stokic, the new head coach of the Kansas City Comets. Stokic and the Comets held an open tryout, have signed and re-signed players and are busy planning for the new season. Stokic talks about what it means to be the head coach of Kansas City, the mentality he expects from the Comets, and some of his plans without giving away too much. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Thad Bell from the Kansas City Soccer Journal is joined by Daniel Sperry from the KC Star for a new episode of Keeping Current with Kansas City. They break down the recent win by the Current over the Chicago Red Stars. It was an explosion of offense on fan appreciation night and the last game at Children's Mercy Park. It was a disappointing season but a fun way to finish their home season. A little discussion of the rookies and a few other things before looking toward the next game. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sporting KC got a big win at Real Salt Lake to keep their postseason hopes alive. They can still possibly jump ahead of three teams and into 7th place. But do they deserve it? It seems there are some fans who would like to see SKC miss the playoffs again with the idea this would put pressure on ownership to force changes. But how much truth is there to this? S6:E49 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We take a deep dive into the MLS Western Conference standings and preview the RSL game this weekend. It's BIG night in Major League Soccer. SKC have the night off on Wednesday but it won't come without stress. We'll tell you which games to watch and what we want to happen as the season closes out. S6:E48 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Literally everybody lost. Sporting KC embarrassed again in STL. The KC Current inch closer to elimination. And Benny Feilhaber's SKCII lost to Austin in the first round of the playoffs after choosing their own opponent. Cody was too scared to even watch the SKC game. S6:E47 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sporting KC kept themselves in the MLS playoff race with a hard fought 2-1 win over the Houston Dynamo. Nobody was perfect, but everyone played a part in securing all three points while down a man. Jake Davis, Logan Ndenbe, & Tim Melia all came up big. Surprisingly, Khiry Shelton also put in a good shift in place of Daniel Salloi. Did Johnny Russell deserve a red card? Did Peter Vermes get a yellow card for showing emotion? SKC can beat anyone... but they can lose to anyone. This is an absolutely maddening team to follow and we never know which team will show up each game. However, this also means they could be a handful in the postseason. S6:E46 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It was a wild game as Sporting KC pulled off a 1-0 win in Minnesota to keep their playoff hopes alive. Now sitting just below the playoff line. We cover what it means in the standings and the playoff outlook for the final five games of the season. Cody finally rants about Andreu Fontas. S6:E45 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's a Puli-pod! Sporting KC & Alan Pulido have signed what has to be the largest contract in club history... but we don't hear anything about that. Is three years too long? We dive into the possible ways to structure this deal, and the potential of a 35-year-old taking up an important DP slot in 2026. Pulido has appeared in less than half of all SKC matches since his arrival. But just how good is when he's on the field? He's good for a goal or an assist two out of every three matches he steps on the field. S6:E44 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sporting KC has a big chance to secure three points and put themselves above the playoff line with a 3-2 loss to Inter Miami. Lionel Messi was absent and it was there for the taking. But two moments of lapses in judgement doomed SKC. Mistakes from last week needed correcting which lead to the Top 5 MLS Teams You Forget About. We look at the tactics, goals, and ugly moments from the loss to Miami, and what it means for the playoff hunt. What soccer-y club names from around the world are left for MLS clubs to claim? The US Men's National Team gets a (disappointing) win over Uzbekistan. Berhalter is back. S6:E43 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As part of a series getting to know coaches better. Thad Bell from the Kansas City Soccer Journal sits down with Kansas City Current interim head coach Caroline Sjöblom. This interview took place in late August. Coach Sjöblom talks about how she went from playing to coaching, some of her coaching influences, a fun quick description of her assistants, and more. In this series, we talk with Lloyd Yaxley, Lee Nguyen, Lucas Rodriguez, and interim head coach Caroline Sjöblom. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As part of a series getting to know coaches better. Thad Bell from the Kansas City Soccer Journal sits down with Kansas City Current assistant coach Lucas Rodriguez. This interview took place in late August. Coach Rodriguez talks about his favorite player now that Messi is in the United States, spicy food, and more. In this series, we talk with KC Current assistant coaches Lloyd Yaxley, Lee Nguyen, Lucas Rodriguez, and interim head coach Caroline Sjöblom. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As part of a series getting to know coaches better. Thad Bell from the Kansas City Soccer Journal sits down with Kansas City Current assistant coach Lee Nguyen. This interview took place in late August. Coach Nguyen talks about how he went from playing to coaching, some of his coaching influences, coaching women, his perceptions of Kansas City now that he lives here, and more. In this series, we talk with assistant coaches Lloyd Yaxley, Lee Nguyen, Lucas Rodriguez, and interim head coach Caroline Sjöblom. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As part of a series getting to know coaches better. Thad Bell from the Kansas City Soccer Journal sits down with Kansas City Current goalkeeping coach Lloyd Yaxley. This interview took place in late August. Coach Yaxley talks about how he went from playing to coaching, some of his coaching influences, coaching a group of talented keepers, and more. In this series, we talk with Lloyd Yaxley, Lee Nguyen, then Lucas Rodriguez and then interim head coach Caroline Sjöblom. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A big win over STL makes for an extra long episode. So many moments to relive, so many tears to drink. The Top 5 Reasons St. Louis Sucks and David goes all Jewish lawyer on us. The locker room was a party and Jake Davis was getting razzed by his teammates. Alan Pulido is up to 12 goals, two shy of the Golden Boot lead. sT. LOuiS CitY sC looks likes the Mocking Spongebob meme. Sporting KC appear to be finding form at the right time and look ready for the fight for the postseason in MLS. KC Current are all but eliminated from the postseason after another loss. Plus Thad shames Cody for his performance in the media game. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Thad Bell from the Kansas City Soccer Journal is joined by Daniel Sperry from the KC Star for a new episode of keeping Current with Kansas City. The Current played well in the Challenge Cup, finishing first in the Central Division, and earning the second seed in the Challenge Cup knockout round. The hope was that the Current would come out strong in the last part of the regular season but they only managed a 1-1 draw in Houston. They have a tough road to make the playoffs. Will the new players make a difference? Will they even play? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sporting KC smashed San Jose with a three-goal shutout and get a massive confidence boost. Which they need badly with St. Louis City coming to town this weekend. Plus we talk KC Current and the increasingly gross situation with the Royal Spanish Football Federation. When Johnny Russell officially becomes a Sporting KC Legend, that spot of the wall should have nothing more than three letters emblazoned up on it. J F R Who will play if Johnny is out? Plus we cover Tim Melia's amazing return, and enjoy all the highs from the win. The Current dropped much needed points and have made their room for error is nearly gone. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Back at it again with another Shades of Blue! This time, Thad, Robert, and David are joined by special guest (and hometown hero), Seth Sinovic. Seth, along with a number of former teammates, are back in town to celebrate the 10 year anniversary of the 2013 MLS Cup trophy. The guys ask Seth all the crucial questions from that 2013 run: did the MLS Cup get him any dates? Who complained the most about the cold during MLS Cup? What is Matt Besler's most annoying trait? Most importantly, Seth answers the question we all need to know: will he be taking the field at left back once again to help push Sporting Kansas City into the playoffs? Find the KC Soccer Journal wherever you get your podcasts. Please subscribe, rate, & review! You can yell at Cody @ThatCodyTho, Thad @TheBackpost, and Robert @SpKCLife. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Lionel Messi has already won a trophy with Inter Miami after a 10-round, penalty kick thriller over Nashville SC in the Leagues Cup Final. This show had a lot of animosity towards this tournament, but it officially won us over. There are ways to improve this going forward, but with the help of the best player of all time, the Leagues Cup was a massive hit. Sporting KC has nine games left to right the ship and get into the playoffs. 27 points on the board mean a lot can change, but the margin for error is thin. The next two matches are at home against San Jose and St. Louis and the remaining schedule is full of contenders. SKC simply MUST start off the final stretch on the right foot. The Spanish Women's National Team won the World Cup over England, in spite of all the problems between the players and the federation. It's a truly wild story, and incredible those women were able to overcome all of it to win. But the federation took a jab before the players had left the field. The Current and SKCII picked up 1-0 wins. Benny's Boys are in fourth place at the moment. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Thad Bell from the Kansas City Soccer Journal is joined by Daniel Sperry from the KC Star to talk about the Kansas City Current. The Current finished first in the Central Division and they are the second seed in the Challenge Cup knockout round. While the Current have performed well in the Challenge Cup, they have a tough road to make the playoffs. Will the new players make a difference? Will they even play? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If the reporting is to be trusted, Alan Pulido is set to sign a new deal to return with Sporting KC. The deal would double his current salary $4.4 million. A hefty price to pay for an aging, injury prone player. On this episode of Shades of Blue, we look at the logic of bringing back the Mexican striker. "A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush," is essentially what they're going with. Pulido is a lethal goal scorer in MLS. He's proven to be a bargain at his current salary when he is actually on the field. IF he can stay on the field. And that's a big risk. Segment 1 - Alan Pulido Rumor Segment 2 - Leagues Cup Success (24:00) Segment 3 - MLS Transfer Window (35:00) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After the US Women's National Team crashed out of the World Cup by way of penalty kicks, it's become clear PK's are stupid. How do we fix it? Old school MLS style shootouts? Set pieces? The Americans dominated Sweden in regulation. The first shot on goal from the Swedish side was in the 85th minute. But they let us down with some ugly kicks from the spot and a heartbreaking goal-line technology winner. Where do they go from here? What's next for Vlatko? The KC Current finished their group of the Challenge Cup with the top spot. Kristen "Hammy" Hamilton notched a brace in the 3-0 win over Racing Louisville. Don't mess around with Ruth Langmore. We listen to a story from the BSI Podcast about our new favorite coach, Veljko Paunović, who gave us the soundbite of the year last week. Sporting KC were hammered by Toluca 4-1. They now get a three-week break to prepare for a battle to make the playoffs. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Whoever doubted the Leagues Cup!? Sporting KC advanced out of a very difficult group featuring the two current best teams in MLS and Liga MX. And they did it with a very impressive 1-0 win over Chivas, while missing their start striker. We hear all the accents with postgame audio from Johnny Russell, Remi Walter, Peter Vermes, and our favorite soundbite of the year from Chivas head coach Veljko Paunovic. The USWNT advanced the Knockout Round of the Women's World Cup after being saved by the post in a scoreless draw with Portugal. Friend of the show and Head Coach Vlatko Andonovski is taking a lot of heat for the subpar performance thus far. What needs to change? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Huw Williams joins Thad Bell from the Kansas City Soccer Journal to review the US Women's National team's draw with the Netherlands at the 2023 World Cup. After a 3-0 win versus Vietnam in the first match of the group stage, Vlatko Andonovski's team played to a 1-1 draw. It was a rematch of the 2019 final against a very good team. The US did not have a good first half but they were definitely better in the second half. Was it the lone sub (yes we discuss that), a change in tactics (a bit) or the US getting mad? Especially Horan. Andonovski went with the same lineup. We discuss possible alternatives. The US is coached by Kansas City resident Vlatko Andonovski. Williams and Andonovski worked together in the NWSL and in local soccer. The USWNT faces Viet Nam, Portugal, and the Netherlands in the group stage and Williams talks about what the United States faces with each one. USA: 1-Alyssa Naeher; 23-Emily Fox, 4-Naomi Girma, 8-Julie Ertz, 19-Crystal Dunn; 17-Andi Sullivan, 10-Lindsey Horan (Capt.), 9-Savannah DeMelo (16-Rose Lavelle, 46); 11-Sophia Smith, 13-Alex Morgan, 20-Trinity Rodman Substitutes not used: 18-Casey Murphy, 21-Aubrey Kingsbury, 2-Ashley Sanchez, 3-Sofia Huerta, 5-Kelley O'Hara; 6-Lynn Williams, 7-Alyssa Thompson, 12-Alana Cook, 14-Emily Sonnett, 15-Megan Rapinoe, 22-Kristie Mewis Head coach: Vlatko Andonovski Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The loss that was a draw against FC Cincinnati on Sunday was yet another painful result after being in a winning position. It's a trend for Sporting KC for years now, but it's hitting harder this season. SKC has dropped more points from winning positions than anyone in Major League Soccer. Where are you pointing the finger after the latest disappointment? Messimania has taken over MLS. Is it too much? Can there be "too much" for the Greatest Player of All Time? The USWNT kicked off the World Cup with a 3-0 win against Vietnam. A much younger US squad than the final four years ago will take on the Netherlands on Wednesday night. Do we care about the Leagues Cup? Is our last chance at finding happiness this season beating St. Louis? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Huw Williams joins Thad Bell from the Kansas City Soccer Journal to review the US Women's National team's win over Vietnam at the 2023 World Cup. The first match of the group stage was a 3-0 win for Vlatko Andonovski's team. Sophia Smith led the US Women's National Team with two goals and an assist but was she the best player in the game? Was it a good result or just good enough? A different lineup than many expected, Julie Ertz played center back, Demelo started were a couple of the surprises. The US is coached by Kansas City resident Vlatko Andonovski. Williams and Andonovski worked together in the NWSL and in local soccer. The USWNT faces Viet Nam, Portugal, and the Netherlands in the group stage and Williams talks about what the United States faces with each one. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Huw Williams joins Thad Bell from the Kansas City Soccer Journal to preview the US Women's National team at the 2023 World Cup. The first segment is focused on the group stage games and some of the other teams in the World Cup. The second segment was recorded shortly after the World Cup roster was announced. The US is coached by Kansas City resident Vlatko Andonovski. Williams and Andonovski worked together in the NWSL and in local soccer. The USWNT faces Viet Nam, Portugal, and the Netherlands in the group stage and Williams talks about what the United States faces with each one. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Everyone survived the media game last week without too many bruised egos. David breaks it all down and gives us in-depth analysis for each of us. Sporting KC dropped points that night against RSL. That was before losing 2-1 in Austin on Saturday. Peter Vermes was pretty open with his post-game comments, openly calling out the shot stopping and defense. Is this the end of Kendall McIntosh? A roster overhaul may be in order. Who on this roster are you keeping around? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices