Welcome to “Down The Hatch,” a weekly mailbag about FC Cincinnati and their time in MLS. This is Charlie Hatch, the club’s Digital Host and Writer.
Questions can be submitted here or on Twitter by tweeting to @charliehatch_.
Here’s our seventh addition. Thank you for the questions and feel free to send more!
Patrick F: If FC Cincinnati is to get out of Red Bull Arena with a Win over the Red Bulls, what will be the key?
- FC Cincinnati need to score goals. One in the last four matches isn’t good enough – and that’s a universal belief. But along with scoring means creating chances and players producing quality in the final third. The team has had many quality – but unlucky – chances in the last few games. They just haven’t been able to convert.
- FCC must break New York’s press. Last match, Cincinnati was given space but ultimately did nothing with it. Against the Red Bulls, the Orange and Blue will be under constant pressure. They’ll need to beat that press with passes that break lines. Both Victor Ulloa and Leo Bertone have shown that ability this season.
- Collective defending. If FCC have someone caught up field, can someone slot over and occupy that space without leaving an opportune opening for their opponent? That relates to handling counter attacks, but it happened in some of the team’s losses.
@Tarnld_pvm96: Why are we having such a hard time defending the top of the 18? If feels like the majority of goals we’ve given up involve an open man at the top of our box.
This is an interesting question because the statistics are slightly misleading. So, FCC have left runners atop the box – on occasion. But overall, FC Cincinnati have defended the perimeter of the 18-yard box.
Every goal conceded has been shot inside the box.
That said, FCC have also given up multiple goals when opponents are in transition – like mentioned above. In both of Salt Lake’s goals from open play, they came from players finishing rebounds inside the 18.
On the first, Spencer Richey made a nice save, but the rebound fell into oncoming traffic. On the second, Alvas Powell and Nick Hagglund both made goal-line blocks, and ultimately the final ball fell to an opponent with a good angle on goal.
@Irish3171990: Is it time to move on from Adi?
No.
Has his start to life in MLS with Cincinnati been great? No. He’s admitted that as recently as today with the media. No player wants to miss matches for any reason.
He’s only played 2.5 games this season. During that stretch, he’s shown bright spots – like the goals he created out of nothing last year in USL. Like the headed goal called offside at Atlanta. He was also a big pest to his former team – Portland Timbers – before he left injured in the first half on March 17.
Perhaps this isn’t full public knowledge yet, but Fanendo Adi has been a leader at FC Cincinnati since the players reported in January. He stated in previous interviews before his injury that he wanted to be and was honored to be looked upon as a club leader.
Adi wore the captain’s armband during preseason games and could’ve when Kendall Waston missed time at New England and against Sporting KC. The point is, he made a mistake, but he owned up to it and said he wants to do anything he can to help the team.
Patrick: Do we have any hope of getting a big name like Robben who has shown interest in the MLS?
Yes. That’s not to say it will happen or there’s a timeline to expect that, but yes, FC Cincinnati could use transfer windows to bring in high-profile names – like other MLS clubs have done.
@Cincy1968: Is there any room under the cap to add a significant threat this summer?
First, FC Cincinnati needs to fully exhaust their current options on the roster before making any move to bring someone in from the outside. That said, the amount of TAM and GAM clubs in MLS have is private info and isn’t shared publicly.
@DragonMaster145: Are you ever going to make FC Cincy pop sockets and sneakers?
There’s a chance the club could make a pop socket in the future. As for sneakers, that might not be on the cards.
@Cincy1968: If Kenny Saief is signed will that equate to our summer signing?
If he was signed, yes, that’s a signing. The current transfer window is still open to add or sell players. The second window opens in July. FC Cincinnati haven’t specified the amount of targets they’re looking into at any position.
