Welcome back to “Down the Hatch,” a mailbag about FC Cincinnati and their time in MLS. This is Charlie Hatch, the club’s Digital Host and Writer.
A lot’s happened since the last mailbag on May 24. Since then, the club hired Gerard Nijkamp as its new General Manager and Jeff Berding became President exclusively, competition in the 2019 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup came and went and there was a two-week break from MLS action, too.
But the mailbag is back, just like FCC in league play. If you’d like to participate, questions can be submitted here or on Twitter by tweeting to @charliehatch_.
Steven: What is the status of our injured players? Adi, Alashe, Cruz…. With injuries and international duty, it seems we’re running out of bodies!
We are (kinda).
So, the LA loss was the first time FCC haven’t been able to field a full roster for a league match in club history. Only 16 players were on the U.S. Open Cup matchday rosters. That’s hardly ideal – and means the same people are having to play while other MLS clubs utilized the two-week MLS break and used rotated squads in the Cup.
Fanendo Adi and Fatai Alashe are questionable for Saturday afternoon at Minnesota United FC. Allan Cruz is still on international duty, but that will probably change when Costa Rica meets Mexico on Saturday night in the 2019 Concacaf Gold Cup quarterfinals. The earlier Costa Rica and Jamaica are eliminated, the quicker Cruz, Kendall Waston, Alvas Powell and Darren Mattocks return.
Paul: When will Greg Garza be back?
It’s a good question, but there’s no current timetable. Garza’s been tremendous for Cincinnati when he plays, so hopefully soon. Once he’s back – and Powell returns from the Gold Cup – that could allow time for Mathieu Deplagne to rest after playing every minute up to this point.
@sbuck67: Is Lasso not 100%? Would seem more natural to play Hagglund and Lasso as the CBs, Hoyte and Deplagne as the two outside backs and then no one is playing out of position. Are we missing something?
He is 100%, but FCC opting to feature Justin Hoyte as a center back instead of outside back is a clear coaching decision. Since Yoann Damet became the interim head coach, he’s played Hoyte almost exclusively as a center back – which hadn’t happened since preseason friendlies.
It’s an interesting debate. On one hand, you’re getting size and stoutness in a Forrest Lasso-Nick Hagglund center back pairing. But on the other, that limits the club’s ability to play out of the back. Because Justin Hoyte is better on the ball, that’s why he’s stayed centrally. The consequence is Cincinnati playing someone out of position at right back, but it’s an option Damet prefers and reaffirmed to the media earlier this week.
Lars: Why does Manu always play on the right side when he cuts back to cross with his left foot? Why not just play on the left?
FC Cincinnati have regularly used inverted wingers – players who play on the opposite side to their preferred foot – in the past few seasons. Emmanuel Ledesma has done it this year, just like last campaign. Jimmy McLaughlin did the same as a left winger in 2016-18. We’re even seeing it with Kekuta Manneh at left wing this season.
Basically, by putting someone in an inverted role, that player will prefer to cut inside toward the goal rather than take the ball to the end line and cross with their weaker foot. Because Cincinnati is committed to playing with possession and not direct, that means less crosses into the box and more passes into it. A winger dribbling toward the goal theoretically makes that easier.
Sami: Can we expect a signing during the summer transfer window?
Yes, for two major reasons.
- The recent lack of depth and league position highlights FC Cincinnati could use more bodies and options for Damet and the next head coach to choose a starting XI from.
- Nijkamp becoming the general manager means he’ll design a roster that suits the playing style he wants to implement. As a result, the squad will be shifted to get closer to that preferred style, but that’s going to take time. One summer transfer window and offseason won’t lead to a complete overhaul – if Nijkamp opted for that route. So, yes, I would expect signings and potential departures, but less so on the latter with limited depth.
