Who Plays LB for Sporting KC with Everyone Hurt or Suspended Saturday
Ben Sweat is suspended. All others are in the injury report. Something must give.
Sporting Kansas City’s 2023 MLS season got off to a brutal start. They go into week six of the season without a win (0-3-2), suffering a horrible 4-1 loss at home to the Seattle Sounders, helped by a red card from Ben Sweat. Because of that red card and injuries to the other full-backs in the roster (Pierre, Leibold and Ndenbe), there is a gaping hole on the left for this Saturday’s game against the Philadelphia Union (it could be argued there was already a hole) . .
Let’s discuss some options of who should and could play at left-back.
Option 1: Cam Duke
Cameron Duke is an absolute jack of all trades. He played both full-back positions and both winger positions in a game in 2022. A game! And that’s not even his natural position as he seems to be at his best in one of the advanced midfield roles in 4-3-3.
He seems like the most likely candidate to step in and play for Ben Sweat as he seemed to take that role after the red card (and third goal when he came on and settled into that spot). If Duke is the answer, I’m fine with that. He’s an imperfect vessel for the role but he’ll certainly work hard, have the pace to come back and will definitely add to the attack.
Possibility 2: Robert Voloder
stay here with me I know Voloder is a centre-back in a team that lacks starting-quality centre-backs. However, he played a little left back in 2022 and definitely tends to get into attack (see those nervously long runs from CB in attack?).
From a defensive standpoint, this might be the most solid option. At times the team somehow settles into a back three anyway, with full-backs taking turns coming forward. This would allow Graham Zusi to be the primary full-back pushing the field up and you would essentially have three CBs staying at home.
There are two other CBs who have been with the team for some time, bringing in Chris Rindov in the second round and Robert Castellanos, who was signed after Kortne Ford was injured. However, there is also a new choice. South American Dany Rosero arrived in Kansas City over the weekend and reports he may be available immediately. It’s a big request, but don’t rule it out.
Option 3: Someone from SKC II
At this week’s For the Glory KC, Sheena asked me if a second team player could be loaned out and I incorrectly told her it wasn’t possible. I was asked on the fly and things have changed a lot since the launch of MLS Next Pro. I referenced the “Extreme Hardship Call-Up” rule that applied to USL championship loans (and still applies today), but there is a more recent rule. The “Short Term Affiliate Agreement”. Here’s the full rule from MLS itself.
A club may sign a player aged 25 or under from their partner (MLS NEXT Pro) during the league season for a maximum of four short-term contracts (up to four-day contracts) per season (maximum 16 days).
A single player may be included in up to four MLS League season playlists per season, however, that player may not appear in more than two MLS League season games. A single player may appear in any number of non-league games during the terms of their four short-term agreements.
A club may field up to four short-term contract players per MLS league game of the season, as long as they are domestic players or players earning less than or equal to the MLS senior minimum salary (US$85,444) at the partner. This number will be reduced to one player per MLS league game of the season after the roster freeze (including MLS Cup Playoffs). Additional players can also sign short-term agreements for MLS league season play, but only in cases of extreme hardship.
International player limits continue to apply to short-term arrangements, excluding convocations for cases of extreme hardship.
You may recall Sporting did this with Julian Vazquez (no longer at SKC II) last year. He never got into a game but it was an option.
Now who can play left-back on SKC II? Well, last Sunday Diedie Traore started there. He used to be with LA Galaxy so it’s a possibility. The team also has homegrown full-backs Coby Jones (LB), Leo Christiano (LB), Nati Clarke (RB) and Mikey Lenis (RB). All three are talented young players, although mostly the only ones I’ve seen play down the left flank are Jones and Christiano. The team also have 25-year-old rookie right-back Lucas Rosa.
I doubt any of those moves will happen, but I won’t completely rule out the possibility of either of them getting a loan just to have some full-back depth.
Option 4: Someone gets well
I mentioned right at the beginning of the story that Tim Leibold, Logan Ndenbe and Kayden Pierre were injured. It’s possible they might just be healthy enough to play. It seems that Pierre and Ndenbe are still at least a few weeks away, but Leibold has been flagged as questionable every week since leaving the game against the LA Galaxy.
If anyone would hit back, it would be Leibold. If he’s healthy, he’s definitely the type.
bonus options
- It’s always possible that another midfielder could fill that role. Jake Davis played for Graham Zusi late in the Seattle RB loss. Roger Espinoza started his career at LB for SKC. I just don’t see both happening.
- The team could also try to change formations. They did that in a US Open Cup game last year but it went so badly they shut it down at halftime. That feels like a reach to me too.
- The last option is to sign someone. The team’s roster is full and having four signed LBs seems ridiculous (when I look at you KED). You can technically put Kortne Ford on the season-ending injury list and vacate a spot (or cut someone, like Sweat), but I don’t see it either.
The simplest answer is probably the best. When Leibold is healthy, he plays. If not him, then probably Voloder or Duke.
What would you like to see from Sporting KC? Let’s discuss it in the comments.
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