KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Peter Vermes has never been shy about cutting players loose. Professional soccer is a business, after all, and Sporting Kansas City's manager and technical director runs his side accordingly.
But for two and a half years, he stuck with Jimmy Medranda, committing a precious international roster spot to the energetic young Colombian who, for all his considerable talent on the ball, couldn't seem to crack the score sheet.
Vermes saw upside, and he was determined to get it out of Medranda.
“It wasn't, 'Could he play? Could he not play?