With Sporting KC opening the season on Sunday, I caught up with Fox Sports broadcaster JP Dellacamera to discuss the club's offseason moves and preview the match. The match will kick off at 6 p.m. CT with live coverage available on the Fox Sports 1, Fox Deportes, Sports Radio 810 WHB, and La Gran D 1340 AM.
Jonathon Feyerherm: What are your thoughts on Sporting KC’s offseason moves and their outlook for this upcoming season?
JP Dellacamera: While I still think they may be making another move at some point, I do like the additions of Luis Marin,Krisztian Nemeth, and Bernardo Anor, plus the return of Roger Espinoza. Most recently signed Marcel De Jongis another player who can add something to an already talented squad. Under Peter Vermes, they will always becompetitive. The only negative to me is a move to the tougher western conference, where wins will be harder to come by.
JF: A few of these notable offseason moves include the arrival of players such as Krizstian Nemeth, Luis Marin, Bernardo Anor, and Roger Espinoza. Which of these new additions do you see having an immediate impact for Sporting KC on Sunday evening?
JPD: If I could pick one player of this group, I'd go with Espinoza. I know he loved playing in Kansas City and only left for the lure of playing in England. With Wigan undergoing problems and his playing time cut, a return to Kansas City seemed in the cards. I think once he takes to the field, in front of his supporters, it will be as if he never left.
JF: This match features two of the top goalscorers in MLS in Dom Dwyer and Bradley Wright-Phillips. What impact do you see both players having on Sunday’s match?
​JPD: Assuming both are healthy, they could have a huge impact. I know Dwyer is coming in at less than 100% with a right ankle sprain. If he is good to start, adrenalin will get him going in front of another loud sellout crowd. As for Wright-Phillips he scored twice the last time these two clubs met here. This year, he'll be more of a marked man since the retirement of Thierry Henry who drew a lot of attention away from the league's Golden Boot Winner. Besides the superb passing of Henry, his mere presence on the field meant that Wright-Phillips would have more space to operate.
JF: Sporting Park is expected to have another sell-out crowd for Sunday’s match. Can you talk a bit about your experience (the crowd, atmosphere, et etc) of broadcasting matches from the stadium and what you’re expecting on Sunday?
​JPD: I love coming to Kansas City and Sporting Park, and truly appreciate and admire the support given to the home team. The ownership group in Kansas City spared no expense in making this a top notch facility. MLS has come such a long way that it's hard to say where the best stadium atmospehere is. Sporting Kansas City is certainly in that discussion. The days of empty seats at Arrowhead stadium or playing in a baseball stadium are a distant memory.
JF: What are you expecting/looking forward to seeing from both teams for Sunday’s match?
​JPD: Openers can be tough to predict, but with the recent history of these two teams, I think there's an added element of excitement. We have the two best goal scorers in the league on display, which on it's own is a good reason to watch. I'm interested in seeing the new players for SKC, including goalkeeper Luis Marin. Sporting KC felt a need to upgrade in that position, so we'll see how the Chilean goalkeeper fares in his debut. As for the New York Red Bulls, what will be their style under Jesse Marsch who replaced the popular Mike Petke as Head Coach. With all the criticism that the Red Bulls took over the Petke firing, it's important that they get off to a good start. Good to see Sacha Kljestan back in MLS, he will be among NY's better players in 2015.
JF: Finally, as a broadcaster who’s covered the league for many years, what are your thoughts on MLS as it enters it’s 20th season and the future of the league in this country?
​JPD: MLS has come so far in such a relatively short period of time. Since 1996 I have watched the league grow in leaps and bounds. We now have so many beautiful stadiums controlled by MLS clubs. Training facilities are greatly improved. Stars like David Beckham, Thierry Henry, Robbie Keane and so many other have given the league so much credability. We are now a known league throughoutThe world and it will only get better. Eight year television deals with a regular time slot will help along with all of the digital and social media. Imagine what this league will look like even 10 years from now, after seeing what has been accomplished over the 1st 19 seasons.
