Blue Links: USL Return, Podcasts, Game Night, Salloi, Besler, Vermes and more

Despite a lack of soccer and sports in general (though we are getting closer to a return), there is still soccer related content in the world. Here is a little bit of it you may have missed.

USL to Return to Small Group Training May 11th

The United Soccer League and presumably Sporting Kansas City II will return to small group training sessions next week.

“Small group settings will be limited to up to four players, with no more than one athletic trainer and one member of a club’s technical staff allowed on each field during a session. Teams in areas where local and state recommendations for stay-at-home orders have not been lifted should not train or allow treatment that is prohibited by their jurisdiction. In addition, all clubs will notify the league of their plans to return to the team’s training facility prior to re-opening and training is voluntary for players.”

Sporting KC Game Night

Episodes 1 & 2 are out hosted by Benny Feilhaber of SKC Game Night. It’s good stuff and a must watch. The first episode features Tim Melia, Matt Besler, Roger Espinoza and Graham Zusi (and kind of Seth Sinovic). Episode two has Johnny Russell, Gianluca Busio, Jaylin Lindsey and Daniel Salloi.

Daniel Salloi Podcasts and Vlog

Salloi did a video podcast with the Colligans that was a fun listen.

He also got together with Gianluca Busio to rate the talent of his teammates. Good stuff in there from Gerso Fernandes and Matt Besler’s families plus some other randomness.

Peter Vermes on the Future of Youth Soccer

On one of the many spots on 810 WHB over the last few weeks, Peter Vermes dropped by the Sporting Kansas City Show podcast to talk about many things, including an in-depth plan for the future of youth soccer. SBI Soccer pulled the quotes but if you want the full interview, we have that below. He also talks about SKC’s involvement in a return to play protocol and Wan Kuzain joins the show (co-hosted by former Blue Testament writer Aly Trost) to talk eMLS Cup.

Sporting KC’s Plan for a Return

Our own Stacy Fulk lays out the potential plan for a return based on information communicated to Season Ticket Members. The Blue Testament has learned of additional rumors around a return that we will report on soon, including a potential plan for multiple teams to play in Kansas City.

SKC Enhanced Highlights

It’s hard to believe it’ll be two months ago as of tomorrow that Sporting last played a game. It was the beat down of the Houston Dynamo. I somehow overlooked the enhanced highlights the team released which is a promising new graphic overlay on all four goals that were scored. I hope to see more content like this, and maybe more in-depth, in the future.

Besler on the Radio

Matt does a weekly spot with the boys on 810 WHB but a few weeks ago he told an interesting story about former players Michael Harrington and Hercules Gomez. Apparently they were being quite chippy in practice and Vermes simply stopped practice to allow them to fight. Crazy! The full interview is here.

PV Press Conference

In case you missed it, Vermes has his full press conference from April 29th available for viewing.

Shades of Blue Soccer Show at Home

The Blue Testament site manager Thad Bell is trying something new with the crew unable to get to the radio station to record podcasts like usual. He’s doing it from home. On episode one he has fellow TBT writer and former Down the Byline man Mike Kuhn on. Then in episode two he has Dave Borchardt talk about his time with Sporting KC.