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Enough is enough. The new secondary jersey was unveiled. No Other Pub opened. We've been teased with Vines from training, preseason YouTube streams, and actual soccer in the CCL last week. We've seen the boys on the field in practice and heard the stern, yet loving F-bombs of Peter Vermes! Media day and the launch party were great. I've renewed my Cauldron membership and there is just nothing left to do but wait! So I'm really just not sure what to do with myself at this point...
Tomorrow, you guys. TOMORROW.
Plus it looks like the long-awaited, young, foreign, forward DP is coming soon!
REPORT: Sporting Kansas City to sign Diego Rubio Kostner - Rubio is a Chilean striker who comes to KC via Real Valladolid in the Spanish 2nd division. He is going to be a Designated Player and being only 22 years old, he will be a "young DP". A DP who is 23 years or younger will only figure into the salary cap as $200K.
You can find several videos of Rubio right here... but the video below shows his goals during the 14/15 season.
He definitely appears to be a good ol' 4-3-3 center forward that maneuvers himself into the right spots to slot home easy finishes. However, there are a couple howlers in the video above (The goal at 1:03 above is phenomenal) as well.
Rubio scored a lot of goals for Sporting B before signing a 4 year deal with Real Valladolid last year. I found an article about his arrival to the club that was entitled, "Born to play in Valladolid" So this is a situation where a player has JUST began a 4 year deal at a club that really values him as a part of their future. But Rubio has yet to score a goal in 403 minutes over 13 appearances with the new club.
I have not seen it specified just what type of signing this is. Valladolid could have already decided in those 13 appearances that maybe he wasn't actually born to play there and sold him off to MLS. But it is also possible they decided to loan him away as a means of switching up his environment to get him out of his funk.
Diego fills, at least in theory, the need of depth at the striker position. It feels like the last question has been answered and this well-rounded, deep squad is looking pretty solid.
EA Sports doesn't give MLS enough respect:
Diego Rubio FIFA16 Rating: 73
Dom Dwyer FIFA16 Rating: 71
Jordi Quintilla may be starting at holding midfield tomorrow:
It seems there's a good chance Jordi Quintilla could start at defensive midfielder Sunday. Vermes spoke highly of him today. #SportingKC
— Sam McDowell (@SamMcDowell11) March 4, 2016
This has been talked about all preseason and Jordi has been playing a little bit of everywhere. I definitely get the idea of simply trying to get Jordi on the pitch, because I believe he is the real deal. So I don't blame Peter for trying him anywhere and everywhere. But this is really surprising that he could be sliding in front of Soni Mustivar. It's going to be an interesting dynamic to keep an eye on this year.
Season Previews EVERYWHERE:
SB Nation | Thad Bell |Sporting Kansas City 2016 MLS preview
SBI MLS Season Preview: Sporting Kansas City | Soccer By Ives
The Full 90: Sporting KC Season Previews | The Kansas City Star
Armchair Analyst: 2016 MLS Season Preview Spectacular! | MLSsoccer.com
2016 ASA PREVIEW: SPORTING KANSAS CITY — American Soccer Analysis
Sporting Kansas City | FourFourTwo
Sporting KC not included in this video about Western Conference Favorites:
MLS 2016 Season Guide: Western Conference favorites | MLSsoccer.com
Eastern Conference Favorites:
MLS 2016 Season Guide: Eastern Conference favorites | MLSsoccer.com
Ike Opara is not letting injury talk bother him and he's ready for the season.
A Legend Retires:
It's been an amazing journey. Thanks to everyone I've met along the way....... pic.twitter.com/7cNmgQgW6u
— Davy Arnaud (@d_arnaud22) March 3, 2016
Mass Elimination of MLS teams from the CCL:
D.C. United eliminated by Queretaro FC | MatchCenter
Club America send home Seattle Sounders FC | MatchCenter
Santos Laguna take down LA Galaxy | MatchCenter
Real Salt Lake falls to Tigres UANL | MatchCenter
A really cool piece to learn about each MLS Supporters' Group culture:
2016 MLS supporters' group field guide: Sporting Kansas City | MLSsoccer.com
KC Cauldron and South Stand SC both featured!
In case you want to re-live Saad Abdul Salaam's double post PK:
Portland Reigns: Timbers bring home MLS Cup glory | MLS Insider | MLSsoccer.com
What they call destiny, I would call dumb luck. BUT WHATEVER IT'S COOL I'M OVER IT YOU GUYS.
The new US Soccer kit has been leaked... and I think I actually dig it!
The new #USMNT/#USWNT home jersey, confirmed by sources. We know you have thoughts and you now have the floor... pic.twitter.com/wSpPC3JlGg
— AODC (@AO_DC) March 5, 2016
Jermaine Jones finally found a team and will be joining Tim Howard in Colorado this year:
Colorado Rapids acquire Jermaine Jones in trade with New England Revolution | MLSsoccer.com
Fantasy MLS is actually really fun and a great way to get into the league:
Fantasy Soccer | MLSsoccer.com
And I'll leave you with hella goals to prepare for tomorrow: