During the week leading up to Sporting Kansas City's season opener on Saturday at D.C. United, SportingKC.com will visit five prominent storylines heading into the club's 2017 campaign. The Countdown to MLS will run Monday through Friday, serving as a comprehensive preview of the year ahead.|#5 - Defensive Depth|#4 - Expansion Teams|#3 - Pursuit of Preki| #2 - For Club and Country
Sporting Kansas City's current roster looks markedly different than it did four months ago when the team exited from the 2016 MLS Cup Playoffs.
While a veteran core remains very much in tact, an influx of newcomers has changed the complexion of the squad. With nine additions under the age of 27, Sporting Kansas City is suddenly a whole lot younger.
It's also a whole lot faster.
The likes of Gerso Fernandes and Latif Blessing add a dimension to the Sporting Kansas City attack that Manager Peter Vermes hopes will translate into more goals and more wins.
Gerso has spent the last six years in Portugal's top-flight Primeira Liga and arrives in MLS as Sporting KC's newest Designated Player. The 26-year-old appeared in all six preseason matches, showcasing his explosiveness along the wings multiple times in Tucson.
Blessing is only 20 years old, but he comes to the club after landing 2016 Ghana Premier League player of the year honors. He gave Sporting KC a decidedly new dynamic throughout the preseason campaign, utilizing his pace and low center of gravity — he's listed at 5-foot-7 — to beat defenders with the ball at his feet.
“Gerso is very good in possession, and he also has the ability to eliminate guys one-v-one on the dribble,” Vermes said before the team departed for Tucson. “And then there are situations in the game where you can really take advantage of his speed, especially over the top of a team. No matter whether the opponent tries to sit [deep] or step up on you, there’s always moments in the game in transition that provide space in behind teams. Speed is a very welcomed asset, whether the team’s dropped off or playing high on you.”
Vermes also expressed his optimism for Blessing, whose transfer saw him leave Ghana for the first time ever.
“Blessing could probably play one of four positions — any of the front three and then attacking midfielder sitting behind the center forward," Vermes said. "A lot of it depends on the team we’re playing. But he has one real quality, and that’s the guy loves scoring goals."
Sporting Kansas City's African imports headline the new crop of speedsters, but Gerso and Blessing aren't alone. Tyler Pasher, a 22-year-old Canadian who starred last season for the Swope Park Rangers, is capable of playing left back or left wing. Both positions allow him to exploit his speed up and down the flanks. Pasher notably assisted a goal during Sporting KC's preseason, setting up Amer Didic in a 1-1 draw against the Colorado Rapids on Feb. 15.
Supporters will have the chance to see a younger, faster Sporting Kansas City take the field Saturday when the team opens its 2017 regular season at D.C. United. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. CT on FOX Sports Kansas City and FOX Sports Midwest, and the official watch party will be held at No Other Pub in the Power & Light District.
