Sporting KC’s Vermes on: Hurtado, Shelton, Freeman, “the kids,” Formations and Spending

Sporting Kansas City are two simultaneous preseason games away from playing a game that actually counts. Later today, they’ll kick off against the Houston Dynamo in a split squad game. Two 90-minute games with two completely separate squads for both SKC and Houston.

But before that, on Sunday at practice, The Blue Testament got the chance to talk one-on-one with Sporting KC head coach Peter Vermes on a multitude of topics.

• First, PV laid out his 2019 plans for how all his players, but especially his “young kids” would get their games and minutes in.
• Second, and it’s the one most people are worried about, we asked Peter about Sporting KC’s spending on salaries and transfer fees.

We didn’t stop there there, he also weighed in on:

• Erik Hurtado’s injury status (Don’t panic, he’s fine)
• We ask Vermes to compare Hurtado to Khiry Shelton (PV: “I don’t know if you would compare them.”
• PV goes a bit deeper on Shelton and him leaving (PV: “Unfortunately he made a different decision.”
• Playing different formations in 2019 beyond the 4-3-3
• Rookie Tyler Freeman, PV’s thoughts and on Freeman’s “overuse” injury, where he sees him positionally fitting and a “good selfishness.”

What you won’t see is any questions about the MLS Players Union and their upcoming Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) with MLS. Vermes indicated he wouldn’t be allowed to comment on it.

Here is the full interview.