Home and Away - A Sporting KC Podcast

In this episode, Drew and Cody discuss the beginning of the MLS offseason, focusing on the implications for Sporting Kansas City and the league as a whole. They analyze the recent MLS Cup final, highlighting key moments and tactical decisions that influenced the outcome. The conversation shifts to the importance of coaching decisions and player acquisitions as teams prepare for the upcoming season...

In this episode of Home and Away, Drew and Cody discuss the offseason planning for Sporting Kansas City, focusing on tactical identity and player acquisitions. They analyze the recent MLS playoffs, highlighting the excitement and performances of various teams. The conversation shifts to coaching dynamics, emphasizing the impact of effective coaching on team performance. They also touch on the NWSL...

In this episode of Home and Away, Drew and Cody delve into the recent performances of the US Men's National Team, analyzing their matches against Paraguay and Uruguay. They discuss the significant vibe shift within the team under Pochettino's management, highlighting the importance of player performances, tactical evolution, and the depth of the squad as they prepare for the upcoming World...

In this episode, Drew and Cody discuss the offseason storylines surrounding Sporting Kansas City and the Kansas City Current, including injuries and coaching decisions. They analyze the Current's playoff performance and the tactical choices made by coach Vlatko Andonovski. The conversation shifts to the MLS playoffs, highlighting key matches and player performances. Finally, they delve into pr...

The offseason has well and truly begun for Sporting Kansas City as David Lee made his first official decisions as the new Chief Soccer Officer of the club moving on from at least 12 players from the 2025 roster, with one in negotiations to stay, leaving only 13 currently rostered players going into the 2026 season.   This leaves a mountain of work to accomplish over the next 10 weeks as he and his...

In this episode, Drew and Cody reflect on the disappointing end of Sporting Kansas City's season, discussing the lackluster performance in their recent game against Houston and the implications for coaching and roster decisions moving forward. They highlight the importance of player performances and the need for significant changes in the offseason. The conversation shifts to the upcoming MLS...

In this episode of Home and Away, Drew and Cody discuss the current state of Sporting Kansas City, focusing on player evaluations, potential roster changes, and the upcoming free agency period. They delve into the performance of key players, particularly the goalkeeping situation, and the need for significant upgrades across the roster. The conversation also touches on the U-22 initiative and its...

To begin this episode, Drew and Daniel Sperry discuss the recent appointment of David Lee as the new Chief Soccer Officer for Sporting Kansas City. They explore Lee's genuine approach, his understanding of the MLS landscape, and the importance of community identity in soccer. The conversation delves into Lee's intentionality in the coaching search, the need for transparency in communicatio...

In this episode of Home and Away, hosts Drew and Cody discuss the recent hiring of David Lee as the Chief Soccer Officer for Sporting Kansas City. They explore the implications of this hire, the reactions from the league, and the expectations for the future of the club. The conversation delves into Lee's track record with NYCFC, the ambition behind the hire, and the challenges he may face in a...

In this episode, Drew and Joe discuss the recent appointment of David Lee as the Chief Soccer Officer for Sporting Kansas City. They evaluate Lee's background with NYCFC, the influence of the City Football Group (CFG), and the potential challenges and opportunities that lie ahead for SKC. The conversation delves into the importance of youth development, the need for a strategic roster overhaul...

Sporting KC put in a pretty dire performance in against Vancouver on the weekend, leaving Cody and Drew apoplectic regarding the state of this roster and the direction of the team. We go over the performance in the game and how much it shows about the relative quality and depth of the team, which leads to a much deeper conversation about the upcoming offseason rebuild and who should remain to be r...

Sporting Kansas City were unfortunately unable to capture a result against Austin FC Sunday Night at Children’s Mercy Park, falling 2-1 to the Verde giving up a couple goals on the types of sequences that have become all too common for them this year.   It was a return to the 4-2-3-1 setup we saw for the first hour against Colorado, and similarly to that game  Kerry Zavagnin switched to the 4-4-2...

Sporting Kansas City exorcized some demons against the Colorado Rapids Saturday Night in Children’s Mercy Park, sweeping the season series with 4-2 win.  We did see some adjustments to the setup moving Santi Munoz more centrally in more of a 4-3-2-1 as someone on this podcast suggested might be a good idea, and it largely improved Sporting’s shape as well as Munoz’ ability to impact the match.  Th...

Never was the gap in quality so significantly on display during this recent stretch of games than it was in Seattle Sunday night as Sporting KC made it no wins in 6 straight getting pretty well dominated by the Sounders 5-2. Not only were SKC thoroughly outplayed, they were outplayed by youth players that were more engaged, better prepared, and just playing at a higher speed than SKC's youth c...

Sporting KC’s winless streak was extended to 5 games after a disappointing 3-1 loss in Orlando on Saturday Night after a substantial weather delay, making it 2 separate Kansas City soccer clubs facing significant delays to their matches vs. teams from Orlando in the same day. Kerry Zavagnin did bring the 4-4-2 back out for this match, although it was a different setup than the prior week and while...

Sporting KC unfortunately extended their winless streak to 4 games on Saturday night losing to the visiting Western Conference leaders San Diego FC 2-0.  While the result seemed somewhat predictable to the proprietors of this podcast and many of its listeners, the performance that led to it was not.  Sporting KC largely limited San Diego’s attack, and created a flurry of chances of their own, and...

Sporting KC have addressed a significant area of need on the roster bringing in center back Alan Montes from LigaMX club Necaxa in on loan with an option to buy at the end of the season. His profile is quite different from what SKC fans may be used to at the position, and on paper it looks to be a good addition and a divergence from how signings at the position had been identified and prioritized...

This week Drew is joined by Daniel Sperry of the Kansas City star to break down all things Sporting KC this week. Cody unfortunately had some life requirements get in the way of recording this week but should be back next week as usual. Sporting KC struggled to make a substantive imprint on the match in Vancouver, as we had unfortunately predicted might happen last week. Kerry Zavagnin did make su...

Sporting KC went behind early in both games since the last episode, in what is becoming a worrying trend in home matches this year. They did show fight in both matches, performing much better in the 2nd half of each, which is also becoming a noteworthy trend of late. The roster has limitations, and interim coach Kerry Zavagnin is making due as best he can with the players he has at his disposal, a...

National media was alight with the various visualizations of the 3+ xGD that Sporting KC gave up in Commerce City on Friday night, yet they still came home with the 2-1 victory. We talk about some of those underlying numbers, how they belie a concerning trend of likely unsustainable results and the context within how they have happened. We also talk through the biggest areas of need on the roster...

Sporting KC got a late win in dramatic fashion vs Charlotte on Wednesday before having to hold on late against RSL to survive a late red card from Jake Davis and maintain a 1-1 result. We dive into the interesting parts of both games, both the tactical changes at halftime vs. Charlotte as well as Ian James' first start for SKC against RSL, concluded by a discussion about perhaps the most deser...

Sporting KC finally returned to the friendly confines of Children’s Mercy Park on Saturday Night, but were unable to give the fans a victory as they fell to FC Dallas 4-2.   SKC was able to take the early lead again in this one off of a pretty curling shot from the top of the box by Shapi Suleymanov, but in a familiar refrain the team was unable to maintain their defensive posture in central midfi...

Sporting KC traveled to LA this weekend a bit short handed due to a rapidly increasing injury list and it looked like it as LAFC were the far better side on the night and came away as 3-1 victors in what could almost be described as a tune up match for them before they begin their club world cup campaign in a few days.   There was a moment of brilliance for Sporting as they scored a very beautiful...

Sporting Kansas City were able to come away with all 3 points after another come from behind performance this time in Houston, on the heels of a Dejan Joveljic brace and Santi Munoz’ first goal in Sporting Blue.  Houston piled on quite a bit of pressure in this one, but SKC were able to survive the onslaught and come away with a 3-1 victory. There were a number of positive performances, including...

It was a tale of two halves at Children’s Mercy Park on Saturday Night as Sporting Kansas City came out fairly flat in the first half of their game against New England.  Showing very little of the defensive organization that kept San Diego at bay the weekend prior.  New England repeatedly exposed space on SKC’s right flank and scored two goals in the first half.  Thankfully the response was incomi...