2023 is here. We don't have much of a defense, on paper, but that same paper says we have a hell of an interesting attack and midfield. And, just because:
Portland's dealing with some injury issues coming into the season, including Blanco. Their CB and forward situation seems a bit up in the air at the moment as well.
Khiry Shelton is ********ing Thanos, he's inevitable... #SportingKC injury report as of 2/22 for #SKCvPOR:QUESTIONABLE - Alan Pulido (!!)OUT - Gadi Kinda, Kortne Ford, Logan Ndenbe, and Johnny Russell.PV speaks with the media this afternoon. We'll learn more about the extent of Johnny's hamstring troubles then.— Daniel Sperry (@sperrydaniel94) February 23, 2023
Jeebus, this is not what I was wanting to hear. I knew eventually, yeah, he'd get a game or several. How about Tzonis on the right? i mean, he's right footed? How questionable is Pulido? Could he start at the 9 and we try Agada on the right?
All possibilities, I just know last year Tzionis almost exclusively rotated with Salloi. And I'm not sure PV is ready to start Pulido in game 1 back.
When did Russell get hurt? had to be this week, right? I would suggest that we stop with the drills during which we beat the players ankles and knees with shovels. or whatever our problem is
Peter Vermes said Johnny Russell tweaked his hamstring in their last pre-season match. Said he is being held out to make sure it doesn't get worse. Said it could be a couple weeks. #SportingKC— Daniel Sperry (@sperrydaniel94) February 23, 2023
Here's Portland's injury report. First #RCTID injury report of the season… pic.twitter.com/JBGeIyqcb3— Cascadia FC (@Cascadia_FC) February 22, 2023
Oh good. Johnny got old just in time for the season. This is gonna be an every other week thing isn’t it.
As I've seen pointed out on twitter, this postponement seems a bit odd. It isn't odd that they're pushing it back, but rather that they're only doing so until Monday, when the weather is supposed to be just as bad if not a bit worse. In a way, this reminds me of a time back when i was working in DC. My office was in the Pentagon (press office), and as we were leaving for the night, there was a forecast for 8 inches of snow. The Pentagon immediately announced a shut down, calling the next day a snow day. It did not actually snow the next day, but the Pentagon employees had a day off. Brilliant day for it, sunny and mid 50s. It would have been a good day to invade the US.
Issue may have had as much to do with KC's inability to get into town. Portland is effectively shut down, abandoned cars on the highway, etc.
Yea, it looks bad. The other thing is getting a flight from KC safely into Portland. Monday looks like it will rainy, wet and cold at game time. That's the perfect set of conditions to add to the injury problems of both teams. https://uk.news.yahoo.com/oregon-do...hnk4wgr02dGajZnDLLjbWwKZkk1et-w4t-p37zZb0Ydj-
FWIW SKC isn't flying out of KC. They're still in Arizona and flying to Portland from there. Someone on the CFB posted that Melia and Russell were on his flight back to KC. Meaning Pulskamp or McIntosh is starting Monday.
Lineup? Salloi Agada Shelton Thommy Walter Radoja Leibold TrafficCone TomatoCan Zusi Melia The potent attack looks much less potent with Russel out and Shelton a possible/likely starter. Maybe PV goes with Tzionis, but I bet he goes with Shelton. Kinda and Pulido still on the injury report. Doesn't matter which CBs start. Random new guy might start in front of tomato can. Traffic cone is a lock.
Melia flew back to KC last week with Russell while the rest of the team stayed in Arizona. He won't even be in the 18 tonight.
None of the new signings start. The first Starting XI of 2023 🙌Watch #PORvSKC free on the @AppleTV app: https://t.co/rdPg0Kx0zP#SportingKC | @BlueKC pic.twitter.com/miuWJZUmRN— Sporting Kansas City 🎗️ (@SportingKC) February 28, 2023
None of these are really surprising though knowing PV. Expecting it doesn't make it any less underwhelming though. Meh.
ridiculous. also, apple charges this fee to stream their stuff... and then they still stuff it with commercials?