Drew VanderPloeg
@alvanderp.bsky.social
Soccer nerd. Sneaker addict. Army Veteran. Extremely amateur podcaster. Bulldog dad. Half of the Home and Away SKC Podcast
https://linktr.ee/homeandawaypod
https://linktr.ee/homeandawaypod
We’ve had a long wait, and there’s still a lot of work left to do, but this is a really positive signing. A CM pairing of Lasse and Manu immediately puts it near the top of the league in that department imo.
(Many other departments still desperately need addressing obvs)
(Many other departments still desperately need addressing obvs)
Velkommen til Kansas City 🇳🇴
We've acquired Norwegian midfielder Lasse Berg Johnsen in transfer from Malmö FF.
📰: https://skcsoccer.co/4bVOSzT
We've acquired Norwegian midfielder Lasse Berg Johnsen in transfer from Malmö FF.
📰: https://skcsoccer.co/4bVOSzT
February 18, 2026 at 4:37 PM
We’ve had a long wait, and there’s still a lot of work left to do, but this is a really positive signing. A CM pairing of Lasse and Manu immediately puts it near the top of the league in that department imo.
(Many other departments still desperately need addressing obvs)
(Many other departments still desperately need addressing obvs)
So Son and Bouanga seem to be able to coexist, no? Not like anyone ever supposed this would be a problem.
February 18, 2026 at 3:59 AM
So Son and Bouanga seem to be able to coexist, no? Not like anyone ever supposed this would be a problem.
This week’s pod is up a day early! We have an actual game to preview, if not an actual roster to play in it 😬
Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/h...
Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/1XA2...
Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/h...
Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/1XA2...
Episode 172 - And so it begins...
Podcast Episode · Home and Away - A Sporting KC Podcast · 02/18/2026 · 1h 25m
podcasts.apple.com
February 18, 2026 at 3:02 AM
This week’s pod is up a day early! We have an actual game to preview, if not an actual roster to play in it 😬
Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/h...
Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/1XA2...
Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/h...
Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/1XA2...
This contains perhaps the most spot on(and somewhat depressing) analysis of SKC going into this season that I’ve seen so far.
Our team-by-team MLS previews are live at @backheeled.com 👀
You can binge all 30 previews right up until Saturday's first kick. Or, you can just read about your favorite team and hate-read about your biggest rival.
Whatever floats your boat.
Read ⤵️️
You can binge all 30 previews right up until Saturday's first kick. Or, you can just read about your favorite team and hate-read about your biggest rival.
Whatever floats your boat.
Read ⤵️️
MLS 2026 season team previews: In-depth, unparalleled look at all 30 clubs
With a new MLS season starting this weekend, we have unparalleled previews for each and every team.
www.backheeled.com
February 16, 2026 at 4:45 PM
This contains perhaps the most spot on(and somewhat depressing) analysis of SKC going into this season that I’ve seen so far.
Reposted by Drew VanderPloeg
Our team-by-team MLS previews are live at @backheeled.com 👀
You can binge all 30 previews right up until Saturday's first kick. Or, you can just read about your favorite team and hate-read about your biggest rival.
Whatever floats your boat.
Read ⤵️️
You can binge all 30 previews right up until Saturday's first kick. Or, you can just read about your favorite team and hate-read about your biggest rival.
Whatever floats your boat.
Read ⤵️️
MLS 2026 season team previews: In-depth, unparalleled look at all 30 clubs
With a new MLS season starting this weekend, we have unparalleled previews for each and every team.
www.backheeled.com
February 16, 2026 at 2:38 PM
Our team-by-team MLS previews are live at @backheeled.com 👀
You can binge all 30 previews right up until Saturday's first kick. Or, you can just read about your favorite team and hate-read about your biggest rival.
Whatever floats your boat.
Read ⤵️️
You can binge all 30 previews right up until Saturday's first kick. Or, you can just read about your favorite team and hate-read about your biggest rival.
Whatever floats your boat.
Read ⤵️️
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms quickly reaching Andor levels of quality viewing.
February 16, 2026 at 4:02 AM
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms quickly reaching Andor levels of quality viewing.
Player rumors and preseason tactics to overreact to? Sounds like actual podcast content!
Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/h...
Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/27zB...
Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/h...
Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/27zB...
Episode 171 - Letting your tactical freak flag fly
Podcast Episode · Home and Away - A Sporting KC Podcast · 02/12/2026 · 2h 3m
podcasts.apple.com
February 12, 2026 at 3:56 AM
Player rumors and preseason tactics to overreact to? Sounds like actual podcast content!
Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/h...
Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/27zB...
Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/h...
Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/27zB...
Especially when you compare it visually to what they are getting in return. This isn't meant as a slight on Bethune, I think she is a great player, I just think it really underestimates Hutton's value to the Current.
February 11, 2026 at 10:08 PM
Especially when you compare it visually to what they are getting in return. This isn't meant as a slight on Bethune, I think she is a great player, I just think it really underestimates Hutton's value to the Current.
Talk about giveth and taketh away.
BREAKING: Sources confirm that two rising #USWNT star midfielders are changing #NWSL teams in two major intra-league transfers
🚨 Croix Bethune ➡️ to KC Current (Spirit get $1M total fee)
🚨 Claire Hutton to Bay FC (KC gets $1.1M total fee)
More on @espn.com 👇
www.espn.com/soccer/story...
🚨 Croix Bethune ➡️ to KC Current (Spirit get $1M total fee)
🚨 Claire Hutton to Bay FC (KC gets $1.1M total fee)
More on @espn.com 👇
www.espn.com/soccer/story...
Sources: USWNT's Croix Bethune moving from Spirit to Current
United States midfielder Croix Bethune has joined the Kansas City Current, and USWNT midfielder Claire Hutton has joined Bay FC, in a pair of separate seven-figure moves, multiple sources have confirm...
www.espn.com
February 11, 2026 at 9:09 PM
Talk about giveth and taketh away.
Matt is responsible for many of our respective MLS sickness, and while I am really annoyed MLS didn't see his value, I was happy to see him land in a good place, and contribute to his newsletter.
The brown liquor streams should be fun, as if I needed another excuse to enjoy such spirits myself.
The brown liquor streams should be fun, as if I needed another excuse to enjoy such spirits myself.
Fifteen years ago, I got my dream job writing for MLSsoccer. Last week, that came to an end.
I'm off on my own, and it's time to build something new – with a little help from all of you.
tacticsfreezone.ghost.io/an-end-to-my...
I'm off on my own, and it's time to build something new – with a little help from all of you.
tacticsfreezone.ghost.io/an-end-to-my...
February 11, 2026 at 8:21 PM
Matt is responsible for many of our respective MLS sickness, and while I am really annoyed MLS didn't see his value, I was happy to see him land in a good place, and contribute to his newsletter.
The brown liquor streams should be fun, as if I needed another excuse to enjoy such spirits myself.
The brown liquor streams should be fun, as if I needed another excuse to enjoy such spirits myself.
Reposted by Drew VanderPloeg
Maybe it's a dramatic headline but I'm right www.thetransferflow.com/p/thomas-fra...
Thomas Frank was a symptom of Tottenham's progressing disease
The coach was bad, but why would this club find a good one?
www.thetransferflow.com
February 11, 2026 at 3:05 PM
Maybe it's a dramatic headline but I'm right www.thetransferflow.com/p/thomas-fra...
I see that Spurs have another injured player. They were already only a GK short of what is a pretty decent PL starting XI on the injured/unavailable list. Cool.
February 10, 2026 at 8:37 PM
I see that Spurs have another injured player. They were already only a GK short of what is a pretty decent PL starting XI on the injured/unavailable list. Cool.
The nerds like me love this because it’s been like 4 years since there’s been a straight player for player trade in MLS
🤝 Sources: New York Red Bulls are finalizing a deal to acquire wingback Jahkeele Marshall-Rutty from CF Montréal in exchange for midfielder Wiki Carmona.
🇨🇦 Marshall-Rutty, 21, product of Toronto academy. 112 MLS apps between 3 clubs.
🇻🇪 Carmona, 22, made 118 apps for RBNY.
🇨🇦 Marshall-Rutty, 21, product of Toronto academy. 112 MLS apps between 3 clubs.
🇻🇪 Carmona, 22, made 118 apps for RBNY.
February 6, 2026 at 9:58 PM
The nerds like me love this because it’s been like 4 years since there’s been a straight player for player trade in MLS
This week’s pod is up. We really enjoy when Warshaw joins the Soccerwise guys and the topic last week was pretty poignant regarding club building philosophies, so we tried to apply it to SKC:
Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/h...
Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/5hQj...
Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/h...
Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/5hQj...
Episode 170 - Trying to be Soccerwise-r than David Lee
Podcast Episode · Home and Away - A Sporting KC Podcast · 02/05/2026 · 2h 11m
podcasts.apple.com
February 5, 2026 at 3:45 AM
This week’s pod is up. We really enjoy when Warshaw joins the Soccerwise guys and the topic last week was pretty poignant regarding club building philosophies, so we tried to apply it to SKC:
Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/h...
Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/5hQj...
Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/h...
Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/5hQj...
Oh no.
February 4, 2026 at 5:50 PM
Oh no.
Reposted by Drew VanderPloeg
The headline should be, "DHS to keep 2,000 immigration officers in Minnesota."
Instead, it seems the entirety of the traditional media went with, "DHS to withdraw 700 immigration officers from Minnesota."
This presser worked like a charm.
Instead, it seems the entirety of the traditional media went with, "DHS to withdraw 700 immigration officers from Minnesota."
This presser worked like a charm.
Homan in Minneapolis: "Effective immediately, we will draw down 700 people effective today."
February 4, 2026 at 3:43 PM
The headline should be, "DHS to keep 2,000 immigration officers in Minnesota."
Instead, it seems the entirety of the traditional media went with, "DHS to withdraw 700 immigration officers from Minnesota."
This presser worked like a charm.
Instead, it seems the entirety of the traditional media went with, "DHS to withdraw 700 immigration officers from Minnesota."
This presser worked like a charm.
This week’s pod is up:
Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/h...
Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/3N7n...
Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/h...
Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/3N7n...
Episode 169 - Patience is running thin
Podcast Episode · Home and Away - A Sporting KC Podcast · 01/29/2026 · 1h 19m
podcasts.apple.com
January 29, 2026 at 2:47 AM
This week’s pod is up:
Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/h...
Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/3N7n...
Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/h...
Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/3N7n...
😍
VIZHUB 2.0 IS HERE ‼️
A culmination of VizMas + recent improvements, VizHub 2.0 brings the following features:
- revamped league tab with player & team stats
- more granularity across entire app
- new graphics
- mobile support
2.0 only broadens VizHub to cover more of your dataviz needs.
A culmination of VizMas + recent improvements, VizHub 2.0 brings the following features:
- revamped league tab with player & team stats
- more granularity across entire app
- new graphics
- mobile support
2.0 only broadens VizHub to cover more of your dataviz needs.
January 29, 2026 at 2:38 AM
😍
It's not as if Spurs are replete with chance creating options normally, but this lineup is especially bereft of dudes capable of hitting a decent pass.
January 28, 2026 at 8:45 PM
It's not as if Spurs are replete with chance creating options normally, but this lineup is especially bereft of dudes capable of hitting a decent pass.
It’s especially maddening because as anyone who actually runs a business knows, salary is an operational expense, not capital.
this has a smorgasbord of maddening quotes from berman
"In my best judgment, my fundamental responsibility is to be a responsible steward of capital”
on HIP criteria: "It has to move the needle from a business perspective”
"Said in another way? We are a business”
www.cbssports.com/soccer/news/...
"In my best judgment, my fundamental responsibility is to be a responsible steward of capital”
on HIP criteria: "It has to move the needle from a business perspective”
"Said in another way? We are a business”
www.cbssports.com/soccer/news/...
NWSL's Berman defends HIP rule as NWSLPA plans grievance
The NWSL's high impact player rule, which allows teams to spend $1 million on the salaries of eligible players, is currently the subject of a grievance from the players association
www.cbssports.com
January 24, 2026 at 9:53 PM
It’s especially maddening because as anyone who actually runs a business knows, salary is an operational expense, not capital.
This was absurdly(long) and fun to do. Thanks so much to @mikedkuhn.bsky.social @anabnos.com @thechadkc.bsky.social for joining us for this SKC Historical Draft. I hope y’all enjoy it as much as we did making it.
Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/h...
Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/0bWd...
Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/h...
Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/0bWd...
Episode 168 - The Sporting KC Historical Draft
Podcast Episode · Home and Away - A Sporting KC Podcast · 01/22/2026 · 3h 10m
podcasts.apple.com
January 22, 2026 at 5:53 AM
This was absurdly(long) and fun to do. Thanks so much to @mikedkuhn.bsky.social @anabnos.com @thechadkc.bsky.social for joining us for this SKC Historical Draft. I hope y’all enjoy it as much as we did making it.
Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/h...
Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/0bWd...
Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/h...
Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/0bWd...
Very, very, VERY thankful for the folks at @americansocceranalysis.com today. As well as the folks that create wonderful platforms upon which to consume their data in meaningful ways like @catabush.com and @paulharvey.theoutfield.nyc
January 21, 2026 at 12:08 AM
Very, very, VERY thankful for the folks at @americansocceranalysis.com today. As well as the folks that create wonderful platforms upon which to consume their data in meaningful ways like @catabush.com and @paulharvey.theoutfield.nyc