Ahead of FC Cincinnati hosting the Sporting Kansas City for the annual “Orange Out” match, we’ve created a media roundtable with local beat reporters who cover the club daily.
This week’s roundtable includes:
- Laurel Pfahler, WCPO and The Athletic
- D.J. Switzer, Pro Soccer USA
- Pat Brennan, The Cincinnati Enquirer
What’s the biggest takeaway from last week’s loss to Philly?
Pfahler: FC Cincinnati needs to improve against high-pressing teams. That seemed to be the Achilles heel even back in USL. Against Philly, they just could not move the ball and they gave it away 26 times, often out on the wing. Darren Mattocks and Kekuta Manneh have the speed to get behind defenses but you can't utilize that if you aren't connecting passes in the midfield. The Union are a strong counter-attacking team, and that caused problems for the defense, which eventually had a couple breakdowns that led to goals.
Switzer: Being honest, it's hard to take much away from the match against Philadelphia due to the weather. While both teams obviously had to deal with the conditions, tactics often go out the window when the weather is as challenging as it was on Saturday night. That said, I think it was interesting seeing how Philadelphia approached the match. Out of possession, they clogged the middle with an overloaded midfield while pressuring high up the pitch. With the wind and rain, it made it difficult for FCC to play directly and beat the press. And with similar conditions anticipated for Sunday's match, I'm intrigued to see if Sporting KC follow a similar template.
Brennan: I think the Philly loss was a really good example for new FC Cincinnati fans of a solid, professional MLS performance from a club that, over time, has bought into the head coach’s message (the head coach being Jim Curtin in this instance). It wasn’t flashy. It wasn’t pretty. The goals weren’t of the highlight-reel variety and goalkeeper Andrew Blake coughed up a juicy rebound on the shot he stopped from Roland Lamah. But for that day, and for the circumstances (weather, etc.), it was more than enough to beat FC Cincinnati. So, the lesson in all of that is that teams don’t need a rampant attacking masterclass to beat FC Cincinnati. They can beat FC Cincinnati just by playing good enough. That should be a shock to the system for FC Cincinnati and a reminder you can’t ever let down in this league or with their group.
What’s the biggest thing you’re looking for in Sunday’s match against Sporting KC?
Pfahler: They have bounced back from disappointment before so this is a chance to show they can do it against quality competition. I think that is going to require better ball control. If Kenny Saief's fitness level allows for him to return to the starting lineup, that could make a big difference in that regard. He is so strong with the ball at his feet and already has shown a lot of creativity in a short amount of time.
Switzer: With players returning from injury and recuperated from the international break, I'm specifically looking to see who the Orange and Blue look to rebound with against Sporting.
Some of the players that stepped into the absences in coach Koch's first team have created some selection headaches for their manager. Can the veteran presence of a Kendall Waston help tighten up a defense, or does it make sense to give Forrest Lasso a third straight start? With Przemysław Tytoń returning to fitness, does that loosen Spencer Richey's tight grip in goal? Will Kenny Saief make a return to the starting XI after his red-hot start to life in Cincinnati?
Brennan: Not unlike the days leading up to New England when the forward/striker cupboard was a little bare and we were all kind of wondering what FC Cincinnati’s attack would look like, I’m eager to see how Cincinnati uses Darren Mattocks who, at last check at training Wednesday, was the only available forward for Cincinnati. I like Mattocks as a player. I thought he proved he was a worthy candidate to start going back to his preseason performances and Sunday should be a great opportunity for him, either in a starting or reserve role.
What’s your score prediction and why?
Pfahler: Sporting Kansas City 2, FC Cincinnati 1. FCC is catching KC at a good time as they have a short turnaround from a Champions League match in Monterrey, Mexico, on Thursday, but Sporting is one of the best teams in the league. I think FCC gives them a good game but still comes up short.
Switzer: Sporting KC are one of the deepest, most experienced, and best coached sides in Major League Soccer. And they have been for some time. The question is, how much will their 5-0 loss away to Monterrey in Champions League have impacted them? The short turnaround from the midweek away trip to Mexico will definitely have taken a physical toll on their team. But I don't think it's enough to undo the positive vibes from their 7-0 blowout win last weekend against Montreal. And as such, I'm predicting a 2-1 win for the visitors.
Brennan: 1-1 draw. It is true and important that FC Cincinnati hasn’t had a losing streak since August 2017. And the reason I still think that’s relevant, even as there’s been massive turnover all over the club in the jump to MLS, is that there are common threads in the technical staff. I’ll be very interested to see how Yoann Damet exercises his influence on the overall plan. And, of course, SKC has no small task in front of it with turning around for a league match after a late-week Champions League fixture. That must be thrilling for the Kansas City fanbase but grueling for the club itself. Sporting is deep enough to control the match and score, and potentially even prove me wrong and deliver multiple knockout blows to FCC, but I think Cincinnati will find a way into the game with what should be a strong backing in the grandstands.
You can also follow them on Twitter here:
Laurel Pfahler @LaurelPfahler
D.J. Switzer @wrongsideofpond
Pat Brennan @PBrennanENQ
