Football Season Review

Sporting Kansas City ended the campaign with some silverware as they won their fourth US Open Cup title but disappointed once again in the MLS where they could improve on their previous points tally by just two, finishing fifth for a second season running and bowing out of the knockout round of the playoffs once again. The campaign saw Kansas change the way they play as they tried to reduce their reliance on Dom Dwyer in the attack and the signings of Gerso Fernandes and Ilie Sanchez did provide them with more guile in the attack while Latif Blessing offered physicality in the penalty box. But for all their eye catching displays, goals were hard to come by for Kansas who ended the game with just 39 goals, the third worst tally in the Western Conference. Their defense did bail them out with Tim Melia's form playing a crucial role in ensuring Kansas had the best defensive record in the whole of the MLS. While the US Open Cup triumph does underline a successful campaign, coach Peter Vermes will be disappointed his side was not able to capitalize on other Western Conference rivals' poor showings with LA Galaxy, Dallas and Seattle Sounders all struggling for major portions of the campaign. Kansas have managed to keep hold of all of their major players but, with Blessing leaving in the Expansion Draft and Dwyer being traded in the final weeks of last season, Vermes is still in search of a reliable goalscorer and that is one position that Kansas should strengthen before the new season kicks off if they are to enjoy a successful campaign

Player of the Season: Tim Melia