Sporting KC: Expectations rise as 2021 season edges closer

Consistent center back pairing

Last season’s defensive issues were because Sporting KC couldn’t find a pair of center backs that could stay healthy work well together. That has to change in 2021. That is the most important thing that SKC has to address this offseason.

Now that Matt Besler is officially gone, Peter Vermes needs to find a somewhat young center back that can be relied upon for the seasons to come. Their current roster has Andreu Fontas, Roberto Puncec, and Graham Smith. All three of them have had highs and lows with SKC and none of them provide a great feeling of stability.

The good thing is that SKC has some good talent at outside back. I would expect Jaylin Lindsey to keep his starting spot since he proved to help stabilize the defense after Graham Zusi went down. Both Amadou Dia and Felipe Martins showed some promising signs last season. If they can find more consistency, I would like to see one of them really take the left back spot and run with it.

The greatest expectation for the defense still remains to find a center back pairing that can stay healthy. The revolving door of the center backs last season did not help them in any way last season, but Vermes should have plans to fix that in 2021. Vermes needs to bring in another center back, one that can expect to compete for a starting spot right off the bat.