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_.
Thank you for the questions and feel free to send more!
Jeremy: Hi. Is Fenando Adi still with FCC or has he been released? His house is on the market so I have to imagine he is on the move. Thanks !
Yes, Fanendo Adi is an FC Cincinnati, and he mentioned to us that his house is on the market so his family can live closer to the city.
@OHANON1: Will Adi play another minute for FC Cincinnati in his career?
I can’t speak for anything happening beyond the 2019 season, but Adi’s currently working through a calf injury that’s seen him sidelined recently.
That said, when Adi returns, he’ll have to integrate into the high press that Ron Jans wants his team to play. In previous matcheswe’ve seen Adi – admittedly in different systems – that’s not been what he’s been asked to do. But that doesn’t mean he wouldn’t adjust. It’s just a new way of playing after he’s been used differently earlier this season and his career.
Samuel: Can we get a Frankie Amaya update please?
Amaya began participating fully in training last week and has done the same recently, but Jans ruled the midfielder out ofSaturday’s match at FC Dallas. Amaya’s availability in the 18 should be soon, though, based on his progression.
CinciGunner: Update on Amaya, Adi, Alashe, Garza. Will they be able to play at all this year?
Amaya and Adi can return once they’re back healthy and if Jans wants to implement the players into his plans. The same goes for Alashe, who is healthy again. As for Garza, Jans said the left back will travel to North Texas and could play against FC Dallas.
Duke: Read your column about Hoyte and Bone start the last home game this year. What’s the chances of seeing Jimmy in the 18 in the final home game of the year?
This would be a nice gesture, but not possible. McLaughlin is on the season-ending injury list, meaning he’s not eligible to play for the rest of the season. Had his injury been such that he was a shorter-term rehab, he could have been placed on the Disabled List and then eligible for return. However, with the severity of an ACL tear, the club placed him on the SEI back at the roster compliance date in March.
Jeff: Looks like the wooden spoon will belong to FCC this year. Where will FCC draft this year with Miami and Nashville coming into the league. Will FCC be excluded from expansion draft?
If the MLS SuperDraft was today, FC Cincinnati would pick third based on how previous SuperDrafts have been handled. However, we cannot automatically assume MLS will operate any player procurement mechanism the same year over year. That said – based on precedent – Inter Miami and Nashville SC should have the first two picks, with team No. 24 picking third, No. 23 picking fourth, etc.
As for the Expansion Draft, the league has not released the rules for this year’s draft yet – so we really don’t yet have a firm idea if Cincinnati will be protected or not. One thing to note: in 2018 during FCC’s Expansion Draft, the most recent expansion team – LAFC – was not protected. FCC just chose not to select one of their players for myriad reasons.
Josiah: Just want to know why I’ve been hearing multiple reports of entire sections of fans being ordered to sit instead of stand during the last game. I get that there’s a balance trying to appease casual and veteran fans, but you can’t market a game as “the biggest game of the season” and then quell support that was passionate about the rivalry match. Is this a club issue or something that MLS came down on the front office about. The only home match I can recall before Columbus where fans wanted to stand for the entire game as the home opener against Portland, so I’m wondering if something has changed to tie the club into more restrictive fan management.
Hey Josiah, I had FCC Vice President of Operations Dan McNally help out. Here’s what he said:
“In the fan code of conduct we state that, ‘It is the club’s expectation that fans must be courteous to their fellow patrons, fans, players and referees.’
“We understand that at certain times during a game fans will stand. That is natural and normal. However, we feel that in all sections (outside The Bailey) it is appropriate (and courteous) for supporters to respect the people around them who do not wish to stand for large segments of the game. We step in when fans are standing for long periods of time and disrupting their fellow supporters from enjoying the game.”
David: When the opposing team scores a goal, why can't we watch the replay? Seems dumb that we have a screen showing video, we may have missed some part of what just happened or what to review what we did wrong but the stadium is unwilling to let us watch it. If some find it too disturbing to watch they can turn away.
David, good point on showing the replay, although that’s something MLS teams all handle differently. For FCC, the decision is to not show the replay of an opponent’s goal. MLS does have rules that regulate what types of replays can be shown, how they can be shown and how often or at what speed they can be shown. Opposing goals are not one of those. I polled staff who travel frequently to other stadiums and most noted that the home team rarely – if ever – shows an opponent’s goal.
