Sporting KC’s Transfer Hangover and the Shocking Vlatko Departure

<p><a href="https://kcsoccerjournal.com/tag/for-the-glory-kc/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">For the Glory KC</a> is back with the 194th episode of the show!</p><p>Before we get to the podcast, if you&#39;d like to support us, we talked at the very end of the episode about Upside. It&#39;s an app you can use to buy gas, eat out and in some cities buy groceries and get cash back for buying what you are going to buy anyways. If you want to support the podcast by doing what you are already doing, <a href="https://upside.app.link/CHAD93386">join Upside with our affiliate link</a>.</p><p>***</p><p><a href="https://www.sportingkc.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sporting Kansas City</a> played soccer this week, but the focus was mostly on the transfer window. Sadly, it was more about <a href="https://kcsoccerjournal.com/09/07/2026/where-are-the-new-sporting-kc-designated-players/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">what didn&#39;t get done</a> than what did. Can we take back what we said last week about how the transfer rumors were more fun than the games? When it all falls through, it&#39;s quite disappointing.</p><p>Sheena and I talked about what did get done (<a href="https://kcsoccerjournal.com/09/03/2026/sporting-kc-acquire-two-players-on-one-year-loans/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">two loans for teenagers within MLS</a>) and what didn&#39;t (<a href="https://kcsoccerjournal.com/09/04/2026/rumored-sporting-kc-20-million-target-goes-to-the-premier-league/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Yann Gboho</a> and Paulos Abraham, among others). Plus, the fallout and the press conference from David Lee. It was a robust discussion about the state of the team with a real mix of casual perspective and deeper analysis.</p><p>Sporting KC also played <a href="https://kcsoccerjournal.com/09/06/2026/sporting-kc-falls-4-3-at-fc-dallas/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a thrilling 4-3 game</a> against <a href="https://www.bigdsoccer.com/">FC Dallas</a> that was unfortunately a loss. Taylor Calheira had a breakout performance and Capita found new life on the left side of the attack. There was lots to like, including a statistically dominant performance and a lot to dislike with four goals going into SKC&#39;s net. Is it he defense? Is it goalkeeping? Sporting KC just taking their foot off the gas of their attack and press? Something else?</p><p>We also work through the long list of injured players for Sporting KC, which now includes Jake Davis, Zorhan Bassong, Ian James, Calv