When FC Cincinnati lines up against Jamaican side Cavalier F.C. on Thursday evening, 82 days will have elapsed since its soul-crushing home loss to eventual MLS champion Columbus in the Eastern Conference Final. Is 82 days enough to rest and properly digest a season highlighted by the franchise’s first-ever trophy (Supporters’ Shield), a reward for sustained excellence, but punctuated with a squandered chance to host MLS Cup? We’ll find out soon enough.
A step-back in the regular season should happen. Not just because integration of new faces will take time over the coming months, but more so that the Orange and Blue should not feel obligated to hammer the throttle over 8.5 months of league play. Supporters Shield? Been there, done that. Ensure your horses have healthy and at least somewhat rested legs come October.
It’s an outlook that was unthinkable just a few years ago. In November 2021, I referred to Cincinnati as the league’s “worst-run, worst-performing outfit.” Then ownership brought in head coach Pat Noonan and General Manager Chris Albright, made some savvy acquisitions, unlocked Lucho Acosta, and inserted competence and professionalism into the franchise that resulted in a first-ever playoff berth (and victory) in 2022.
You know what happened last season. FC Cincinnati spent the spring, summer, and fall as a bastion of consistency and earned its Shield for racking up 69 points over 34 matches. A league centered around parity—unless you’re a club based in Miami—means your reward for greatness is just 45 days off. That’s how long the Orange and Blue could rest on their laurels before reporting back for duty at the Mercy Health Training Center.
Let’s get this season preview fully started, though. After its Concacaf Champions Cup tilt in Jamaica on Thursday, FC Cincinnati opens MLS play Sunday afternoon at TQL Stadium vs. Toronto. Here are highlights of each position group, before big picture thoughts on the Eastern Conference and Cincinnati’s season to come.
Forwards
Brandon Vazquez and Dominique Badji are out, and MLS veteran Corey Baird is in. Vazquez completed a reported $7.5 million move to Liga MX power Monterrey in January, ending the tenure of the club’s most prolific goal scorer. Badji departed for Turkey, removing a solid backup striker option for Noonan.
The addition of a high-energy forward in Baird should make for a tidy fit next to Aaron Boupendza. Baird tallied 13 goals and seven assists across 48 appearances in 2023, helping Houston win the U.S. Open Cup and reach the Western Conference Final. I’m even more encouraged by the 27-year-old’s fit after reading that Baird operated in a two-striker system in Houston that highlighted the creativity of attacking midfielder Héctor Herrera—a very similar setup that Noonan employs to accentuate Acosta’s creative gifts.
How the chemistry develops between the reigning MVP, Boupendza, and Baird is critical. There were encouraging preseason signs that not only has Acosta and Boupendza’s partnership benefited from increased time on the training pitch, but Baird’s fit is as snug as I think—the trio combined for 10 of Cincinnati’s 12 preseason goals.
Midfielders
I don’t need to spill much digital ink extolling Acosta’s greatness, right? Dude has 60 (!!!) goal contributions over the past two seasons. I’m sure Noonan would like to lessen his No. 10’s load, but the squad is built around the dynamic Argentine.
Defensive midfielder and tackle-winning machine Obinna Nwobodo is back healthy after a leg injury marred the end of last season. Maybe it’s just me, but I get as much enjoyment out of viewing one of Obi’s ball-winning tackles that starts a counterattack as I do a sumptuous Acosta through ball.
Pavel Bucha, signed from the Czech First League, is Junior Moreno’s replacement at the No. 8 position. Once acclimated, he’ll add needed shot creation to Cincinnati’s attack, but his minutes will need to be monitored, as the 25-year-old logged 30 appearances since the 2023-24 Czech season began in late July. Yuya Kubo will get ample minutes backing up Bucha and Nwobodo, and his ability to deputize at any midfield role—and possibly right wingback (more on that in a second)—is indispensable.
I originally thought 2024 would be an important one for Marco Angulo, but there are whispers that the 21-year-old might be loaned out to net consistent playing time. Angulo was signed from the Ecuador first division in December 2022 after just 45 first-team appearances, and he looked out of his depth at times in 2023.
Wingback
Alvaro Barreal’s reported move during the winter European transfer window never materialized, a disappointment that reportedly left one of the league’s premier wingbacks unwilling to play for the Orange and Blue again. That appears to be why Barreal was loaned to Brazilian first division side Cruzeiro two nights before the season opener.
Barreal had 14 goal contributions in each of the past two seasons, and he’ll be replaced on the left wing by his former club teammate in Argentina, Luca Orellano. Prior to Barreal’s exit, the 23-year-old was originally in line to start at right wing after Santi Arias, Alvas Powell, and Ray Gaddis split time in 2023. Orellano will need to fill the technique and shot creation void left by Barreal, at least until a long-term solution at right wingback is found.
The Cincinnati Enquirer floated Kubo as a short-term option on the wing, where he would play in tandem with Alvas Powell. Kubo started the last few preseason matches with Cincinnati’s nominal starting XI.
Arias, 2023’s primary right winger, parlayed a successful career comeback into a move to Brazil’s top division. Ray Gaddis will not return, which could leave more minutes for Bret Halsey. Expect Alright to address right wingback before the summer transfer window closes.
Center back
Despite the departure of Yerson Mosquera, center back has gone from a massive depth issue at the end of 2023 to a clear strength. All three presumptive starting center backs (Matt Miazga, Ian Murphy and free agent signing Miles Robinson) now have experience with the U.S. Men’s National Team following Murphy’s call-up to the Americans’ January camp.
Robinson and Miazga are two of the league’s top center backs; Miazga is the reigning Defender of the Year. Pre-Achilles injury, Robinson was in serious contention to start for the U.S. in the 2022 World Cup; his combination of recovery speed, duel-winning, and passing is unmatched in the league when he’s right. The 26-year-old might only play in Cincinnati for one season, but this was a “chef’s kiss” move by Albright.
With Nick Hagglund likely to be eased back slowly following his season-ending hamstring injury last fall, former top SuperDraft selection Kipp Keller could see early minutes off the bench. FCC was connected to Keller prior to the 2022 SuperDraft but wound up taking Roman Celentano instead. Powell can play center back in a pinch as well.
Goalkeeper
It’s the same top two as last year, with Celentano being backed up by Alec Kann. Celentano took a step forward in his second season as starter, increasing his save percentage, accurate pass percentage, and long ball percentage.
Thoughts on the East
On paper, the Eastern Conference is stronger. That’s largely due to Lionel Messi’s presence for a full season, but every 2023 playoff team remains formidable.
Miami has continued its quest to recreate mid-2010s Barcelona, with Luis Suarez joining old Blaugrana friends Messi, Jordi Alba, and Sergio Busquets. This is one of the most talented teams I can remember seeing on an MLS pitch, but they are old. There’s boom or bust talk in the national media, but Miami simply needs to have Messi healthy and rested by October; seeding is irrelevant.
Defending champion Columbus is in the same weight class as Miami due its combination of talent and masterclass coaching by Wilfried Nancy, but the Crew’s high-wire defending makes it vulnerable to shipping goals in bunches.
For now, FC Cincinnati sits a tier below Miami and Columbus with Philadelphia, New England, and Atlanta (if Thiago Almada is around for an entire season). I’d listen to an argument for Orlando, too.
Big picture for 2024
The additions of Baird, Bucha, and Orellano are a concerted attempt to make FCC more athletic and harbor additional attacking juice than the 2023 side, which was reliant on Barreal and Acosta. Defensively, Noonan’s system makes the most of talented center backs, and it won’t take long for Orange and Blue enthusiasts to take note of Robinson’s quality.
Cincinnati needs to pace itself throughout the summer. Los Angeles FC won the Shield and MLS Cup in 2022, then advanced to MLS Cup again in 2023 with 15 fewer season points. This is the way forward for FC Cincinnati in 2024.
Grant Freking writes FC Cincinnati coverage for Cincinnati Magazine. You can follow him on Twitter at @GrantFreking.
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