Sporting Kansas City should look to Tyler Pasher over Connor Hallisey

Peter Vermes has for the most part done a great job of taking players in the MLS Super Draft and turning them into key contributors for Sporting Kansas City. Players that might come to mind are favorites like Matt Besler, Graham Zusi, Roger Espinoza, and even Dom Dwyer. Now while Vermes has had plenty of success with these guys he's also had his fair share of guys like Mikey Lopez or Eric Kronberg who just didn't ever seem to get it clicking. After watching Hallisey miss Sporting KC's last chance of the game last night during their CCL match against Vancouver Whitecaps (and several other golden opportunities), I couldn't help but think how fitting a display it was of his season thus far.

In his sophomore season Hallisey has made 17 appearances and has started 12 games for Sporting KC just in MLS regular season play, and in those 17 appearances he has just one assist. Now I'm not one to rely on numbers to be the sole reason for giving up on a player, but tell me what Hallisey offers to the team that SKC doesn't already have.

Speed to blow past defenders on the wing? Not at all. Creativity on the ball to beat his defender and serve in a cross? More like ability to hand the outside back the ball. The ability to whip in a dangerous cross for attackers in the box? Honestly, I just started laughing. Hallisey doesn't offer any sort of versatility either. He's not like Jimmy Medranda or Zusi who could play outside back if need be or a serviceable center mid if times are tough. The only thing that I think you could possibly say about Hallisey is that he does work hard occasionally, but is that really enough reason to keep him around when you have a dynamic player like Tyler Pasher giving outside backs fits in USL.

What would Tyler Pasher bring to this team? Pasher brings something that Sporting Kansas City hasn't had in a long long time out on the wing, Speed. Speed isn't something that you can teach or train it's just a natural attribute. With every game that passes in USL Pasher makes smarter runs, becomes more comfortable on the ball (even if it just a stopover and a big touch to get down the line), and most importantly his service gets better and better (although he doesn't have an assist yet this season). Also Pasher gives SKC some depth at left back where he might not be as comfortable, but can do a serviceable job.

While I do belive this would be a good move I don't believe we see anything happen partially because of Swope Park Rangers playoff push, but mostly because of Vermes not wanting to rush anything. If anything is to happen with Pasher making a more permanent move up to SKC I think we'll have to wait till the offseason. What will be more interesting is how long Vermes continues to give the Hallisey project. After all he gave Mikey Lopez three season in which he only appeared 14 times for Sporting KC.