Even though Sporting Kansas City is sitting at 6th in the Western Conference with 30 points, they’re the hottest team in MLS right now…
The boys in blue have lost just twice in all competitions since April 18th, and three of their mainstays – Matt Besler, Graham Zusi, and Benny Feilhaber – were just named to the All Star team.
So if they’re crushing it so hard, how come they’re 6th?
It’s because they’ve played only 17 games, three fewer than West-leading Seattle who is sitting at 32 points.
Yep, just two points separates sixth from first. And with a win Saturday against Montreal at Sporting Park, KC can take the lead in the West with two games in hand.
How is Sporting doing it? Especially with Dom Dwyer, last season’s leading goal scorer, sitting at just 5 goals thus far? I’ll tell you how: goalkeeper Tim Melia.
And it’s not just the journeyman turned super-keeper.
There’s also the addition of the young and crafty Hungarian Krisztian Nemeth who is the club’s leading goalscorer. And the fact that Benny is having a career year in the midfield, dishing 9 assists so far to go with 5 goals.
But the biggest factor is Melia.
Last season, KC never could get comfortable with lifetime backup Eric Kronberg finally “earning” his spot between the pipes.
Kronberg’s inexperience showed badly, and combined with his lack of confidence and poor decision making, he turned some relatively standard plays into total nightmares and points squandered. He was cut in the offseason, and KC brought in a relatively unknown, although experienced keeper from Chile, Luis Marin.
Marin didn’t speak much English, didn’t perform very well, and was not a strong distributor of the ball – which was his supposed strength. He left the team after just a few months in KC “for family reasons.” Right.
Enter Tim Melia, he of the cannon foot and scrappy athleticism.
Since his debut, Melia has been nothing short of one of the best keepers in MLS.
How did this guy never got a legit shot before?
For years he toiled as a backup, bouncing from team to team, and even being sent by the MLS to teams as a “pool player” – essentially a practice squad guy.
But in 9 games played, Melia has 6 shutouts, which is good for a 6-1-2 record over that stretch. He also boasts the lowest goals against average in the league at 0.56 per.
But in addition to Melia’s gaudy numbers, there’s an aspect to his game that can’t accurately be judged by running the numbers. It’s his confidence, his assertiveness, his aggressive mentality in front of the net. Melia’s demeanor and play have had a noticeable effect on the rest of the squad, emboldening the players in front of him in a way that neither Kronberg nor Marin could.
“The Hulk,” is what KC boss Peter Vermes calls him.
And if you know anything about the red-assed Vermes, you know that’s a pretty high compliment.
Hey Sporting, lock this guy up, ok?
Sporting KC is still playing?
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
Melia has been the absolute tits in goal. As you said, it’s astonishing this guy was a pool player such a short time ago. He’s either playing wildly above his ceiling and is due to crash and burn or he’s the MLS equivalent of Kurt Warner.
Right time, right place.
Melia has been a beast. And with SKC’s relative inexperience (minus Besler) among the defensive back four, his stats and play has been even more impressive. He’s single-handedly won a few games for Sporting.
When he came on last season from the MLS goalkeeper pool, immediately after he played his first game I made comments to friends that he should be signed to a full-time contract and be the full-time starter. Then SKC brings in Marin, who was supposed to be the GK savior and he absolutely sucked donkey balls.
I knew as soon as Melia made his first start this season and played lights out that Marin was done in this town. Hell, Melia deserves to be considered for the national team. But at this point, I’m glad he’s not because if he misses a game for whatever reason, Kempin should be the No. 3 goalkeeper, not No. 2.
Glad you are back covering this team. It is nice this site has one knowledgable sports writer.
Here is my big question: how in the world could this club have scouted and signed a foreign keeper who was not only worse than a league pool backup, but MUCH worse?
That’s a good question, J. Sporting sent Jimmy Nielsen down to South America to meet with Luis Marin and check him out prior to the signing. Nielsen returned with glowing reviews about his leadership and skills. I’m sure that wasn’t the extent of SKC’s due diligence, but Jimmy’s evaluation seems way off target now.
And remember, the rest of MLS also whiffed on Melia over the past several years.
The poor guy was on Chivas. CHIVAS.
That would rattle any goaltender’s head for a while.
F men’s soccer and the GOD AWFUL… F L O P S !!!!!! I can’t watch it. I can’t. It hurts me to watch KC do it. I walked out of my first and only SKC game. KCC, could cover something amazing, like Kansas City rugby, or the Lee’s Summit swinger’s scene that’s been going on for years, but they won’t. Regional sports writers have said that the bi-annual match between the Kansas City Rugby Football Club and the Kansas City Blues Rugby Football club is the most intense, aggressive, and downright entertaining amateur athletic event in the four state area. And no goddamned FLOPS! What ever happened to the competitive culture that instilled in young athletes to never let your opposition know they hurt you – or you are in pain??? I play rugby and have played football, soccer, water polo… doesn’t matter. I could play badminton and I wouldn’t behave like these “professional” athletes do. Rules seem to be getting a little better. But the legitimacy of this deceptive behavior is crap. Google “soccer flops” – which circles back to my first expletive – 99% men do this – which is why I think I enjoyed watching the Women’s World Cup. But then again F you, FIFA! Have a great weekend! And don’t forget to leave your garage door open a crack for Harley.
You got it right BS, there is no damn flopping in rugby. Superior sport to soccer or ‘Murican football.