25th season, all time team

Discussion in 'Sporting Kansas City' started by mschofield, Mar 15, 2020.

  1. mschofield

    mschofield Member+

    May 16, 2000
    Berlin
    Club:
    Union Berlin
    Nat'l Team:
    Germany
    I know this is pointless and pure bar argument, but without any games for the next several weeks, why not?
    If we put together our top team from the first quarter century, who would we start? I'm going with PV's 4-3-3 because this is the position of our longest sustained period of success.
    IMO:
    Keeper. We actually have four legit options here. JImmy and Meola have MLS Cups. Melia is our stats leader. Hartman had his best years elsewhere. but still he had 90 games with us. My choice is Meola, and specifically Meola 2000. He was absolutely spectacular. I admit, I hung out with him for two weeks for a story, so got to know him quite well.
    Center backs: Is tough. If we're going with silverware, Vermes and Besler. But I'm not sure who our best ever CB is. Opara and Conrad have to be in the discussion. I suppose Collins should be in this discussion, as should Garcia. I still love Uche.
    Outside backs, for me, is simpler. On the right Zusi. I know he's now in decline, but he was the best rb in MLS for a couple seasons IMO, and was more dangerous than anyone we've played back there. He's one of the few really easy answers on this for me. Left back is a bit of a problem. I'd think Espinoza or Martins. Was Brandon Prideaux on the left? Seth should be considered, of course. Hell, it's probably Seth.
    D-Mid: Kerry, Uri or Ilie, though i loved Auvray, if briefly. I do wonder if our best ever dmid has yet to play in that role, Felipe G.
    8: Roger, Nagamura or Arnaud? Others might be McKeon and ... drawing a blank.
    10: We really rock at this position: Preki or FelipeG are both very solid. I do believe at the end of this season, already, Kinda will be in the conversation but it has to be Preki.
    Wings: I'm thinking all Scots, Mo and Johnny would be fun. Nemeth was better here than centrally for us, and he had that one great season. I think this is where Digital would fit in this team, and he should be mentioned, if not included. Kei is a better CF, but for us he was exciting out here. Is this where Smith played? Hell of a run, if a short one.
    CF: I really want to say Pulido here, just based on two games, but that's not really fair. Bieler and Dwyer have to be considered. If Kei had played here for us, he'd be in. Molnar? I still think Pulido is a cut above the rest.
    So: Meola
    Zusi, Vermes, Besler, Seth
    Uri, Roger, Preki
    Mo, Pulido, Johnny
     
  2. SportingKCFan

    SportingKCFan Member

    Sep 2, 2010
    Club:
    Sporting Kansas City
    Since I have seen one League wide 25 year team with Preki and Meola on the starting eleven, hard to argue that they wouldn’t be on the team’s list. Can’t add Pulido to the team when he has only played 2 games.
     
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  3. Buzz Killington

    Buzz Killington Member+

    Oct 6, 2002
    Lee's Summit
    Club:
    Kansas City Wizards
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Meola isn’t on my list. Nielsen has more wins, more shutouts, a lower GAA. Nielsen is my goalkeeper for a 25 years team.
     
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  4. kcscsupporter

    kcscsupporter Member+

    Apr 17, 2002
    D17
    Club:
    Sporting Kansas City
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    where does morsink fit on here?
     
  5. mschofield

    mschofield Member+

    May 16, 2000
    Berlin
    Club:
    Union Berlin
    Nat'l Team:
    Germany
    Somewhere around the Klein line, just a bit below?
     
  6. mschofield

    mschofield Member+

    May 16, 2000
    Berlin
    Club:
    Union Berlin
    Nat'l Team:
    Germany
    Overall, probably. But Meola had that one season. Was that the best season of any keeper in MLS history? I remember a workout with him that post season, he worked on reactions on a shot that was heading for the bottom left corner for about half an hour after practice. Then, in the final, makes that exact save to preserve the win. He was unreal. I mean, MLS MVP and absolutely deserved.
    But Jimmy was quite amazing, as well. I guess the nod for me goes to Meola because he didn't have nearly the team around him but either is a solid choice.
     
  7. mschofield

    mschofield Member+

    May 16, 2000
    Berlin
    Club:
    Union Berlin
    Nat'l Team:
    Germany
    So... Johnson? Wolff? Molnar?
    I admit I am way too into the Pulido kool-aid. It was also a bit late when I got down to striker on this post (about 1am).
     
  8. Inca Roads

    Inca Roads Member+

    Nov 22, 2012
    Club:
    Sporting Kansas City
    On paper, Pulido is obviously a candidate. But we do have to see what they've accomplished long-term before they can come anywhere near an all-time greats list.

    Zusi does not belong as RB. He had only a single good season, which was largely by virtue of Espinoza quietly having a terrific year.

    I want to participate, but I was in all honesty paying little to no attention to the Wizards at any point. Yes, I'm a latecomer bandwagon guy, but it's been almost a decade now so I'm not doing that badly.
     
  9. mschofield

    mschofield Member+

    May 16, 2000
    Berlin
    Club:
    Union Berlin
    Nat'l Team:
    Germany
    I'm gonna suggest that it really, really does not matter if you've never heard of a Preki or not and put together a team that is essentially this years' squad because, well, just moved to KC. I just am kind of desparate to talk and chat online about SKC and football in general ( i mean, crikey, it's off everywhere! I was watching Australian league this weekend).
    I'd love to see everyone's choices and would assume they're all different.
     
  10. SportingKCFan

    SportingKCFan Member

    Sep 2, 2010
    Club:
    Sporting Kansas City
    The spine of the team is easier for me to pick then the wings. Meola, Vermes, Besler, Espinoza, Gutierrez, Preki, Dwyer (Molnar was the better player but only one year here hurt him). For the wing players, I would lean to Myers, Seth, Mo Johnston and Russell.
     
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  11. Inca Roads

    Inca Roads Member+

    Nov 22, 2012
    Club:
    Sporting Kansas City
    I mean, I'm familiar with all the standouts (Preki, Meola, and so on), but I can pretty much only put together a team of the decade.

    And I personally think with the growth of the league, 2020 SKC would kick 2013 SKC's ass, and 2013 SKC would destroy 2000 KCW. I don't think it's just recency bias. The youth are being trained better, the foreign players are being scouted better, and money for serious contenders is in the mix now. With that said, I'll take proof of at least a great season before I add someone to the list. So my team of the decade:

    Kamara - Dwyer - Russell
    Gutierrez - Feilhaber- Espinoza
    Sinovic - Besler - Opara - Myers
    Nielsen

    Holler if you have any Qs. The midfield is lacking a dmid, but those three players are so standout compared to the others since the rebrand that I can't justify changing. And I'm sad Dwyer has to be on that list. Can't wait for Pulido to oust him at the soonest opportunity.
     
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  12. aletheist

    aletheist Member+

    Nov 17, 2010
    Olathe, Kansas, USA
    Club:
    Sporting Kansas City
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Gutierrez and Feilhaber have both been in that role for SKC when necessary due to injury or suspension, and Gutierrez may have it quite a bit this year if and when games resume.
     
  13. mschofield

    mschofield Member+

    May 16, 2000
    Berlin
    Club:
    Union Berlin
    Nat'l Team:
    Germany
    I love that Chance is getting some respect. What was his nickname, Practice Squad Jesus? I agree on Gutierrez as a dmid. I do think he might be our best ever at that role, but he hasn't really played it for us. And I totally forgot about Benny. My bad.
     
  14. Inca Roads

    Inca Roads Member+

    Nov 22, 2012
    Club:
    Sporting Kansas City
    Yes, sure. However, neither has played it much and certainly neither is on my list for their contributions at dmid.
     
  15. lukeD

    lukeD Member+

    Jul 7, 2011
    Olathe
    Club:
    Sporting Kansas City
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    You can't have a 25 year best Wiz team that does not include Wolff and Arnaud. Yet, most of you do.
     
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  16. Buzz Killington

    Buzz Killington Member+

    Oct 6, 2002
    Lee's Summit
    Club:
    Kansas City Wizards
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Wolff you absolutely can. He doesn't belong ahead of at least Dwyer and if you're sticking with a 4-3-3 he's not playing anywhere else on the forward line.

    As for Arnaud, he's on my roster, but I could easily hear arguments for Kamara to have one of the wing spots for SKC.

    Here's my 11. Garcia at RB would stay at home a bit more, but he played there enough for KC (specifically in 2003/2004 especially with Thomas and Conrad in 2004).

    Arnaud - Dwyer - Klein
    Preki - Espinoza
    Zavagnin
    Sinovic - Besler - Conrad - Garcia
    Nielsen

    To go on top of it, I'll add the 7 on the bench
    Meola, Zusi, Vermes, Opara, Wolff, Johnston, Russell
     
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  17. mschofield

    mschofield Member+

    May 16, 2000
    Berlin
    Club:
    Union Berlin
    Nat'l Team:
    Germany
    I moved out of KC just before the Wolff years, so i tend to forget he played for us. When I remembered, after making my list, he's the one guy I do think deserves it over my wildly unrealistic and early expectations of Pulido. Though maybe Johnson does, as well.
    The problem with Arnaud, though, is who takes a seat. Is he better, really, than Roger? Roger has been a dominant force on the most successful run of play we've had. I would argue that he's nowhere near Preki as a force for good. Is he better than Felipe? Again, isn't that a stretch?
    One thing this excercise reminded me of is that we've had a lot of good players. I mean, when i started I was thinking Conrad was an easy pick, but then I started looking at lineups and I left him off altogether.
    so. your team? It's harder than it looks.
     
  18. mschofield

    mschofield Member+

    May 16, 2000
    Berlin
    Club:
    Union Berlin
    Nat'l Team:
    Germany
    that is a very nice bench
     
  19. lukeD

    lukeD Member+

    Jul 7, 2011
    Olathe
    Club:
    Sporting Kansas City
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Adding a bench makes this easier as you don't have to leave anyone out. Hard to argue against your lineup, but I rate pre-Germany Wolff over Dwyer.

    Looking at the various lineups, its obvious the strength of the KC Wiz was in the spine of the team. Keeper, CBs, CMs are really solid.

    I would have loved to see a Besler Conrad partnership, with both in their prime. No one would score against the Wiz.

    The beauty of Arnaud is you can play him as a wing (like you did) or at the 8 instead of Roger. Our weakest position is LW, so put Arnaud there.
     
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  20. kcscsupporter

    kcscsupporter Member+

    Apr 17, 2002
    D17
    Club:
    Sporting Kansas City
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    i'm sorry, i hope you're being just as facetious as i was. klein doesn't end up on my list, but he was a stalwart of our team for a good chunk of our early history. morsink ... for not one single minute, deserved to even be on the field as a professional soccer player.

    also, i feel like any list that leaves off conrad on the backline is automatically invalidated. we've never had a very good rb, so the backline should consist of besler, conrad, opara, and sinovic. i know that doesn't fit a proper "lineup," but those are the players that need to be on the list, exact position be damned. the only other acceptable answer here would be buzz's backline with garcia as the rb replacing opara in the starting lineup (conrad gets the nod over him for length of service).

    one last one, where would lance watson fit on here? sorry, i had to. it's been a long time since i've been able to do that, and it felt good.
     

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