Ahead of FC Cincinnati hosting the Portland Timbers for the inaugural home match, we’ve created a media roundtable with local beat reporters who cover the club daily. These will become a regular occurrence throughout the 2019 MLS regular season.
This week’s roundtable includes:
- Laurel Pfahler, WCPO and The Athletic
- D.J. Switzer, Pro Soccer USA
- Pat Brennan, The Cincinnati Enquirer
- Michael Walker, MLSsoccer.com and Orange and Blue Press
What do you think of FC Cincinnati’s start to MLS so far?
Pfahler: Honestly, I thought they looked like they didn't quite belong in Seattle, but it wasn't unexpected. No new team ever is really "ready" after such a short time trying to figure each other out in the preseason. We saw that in 2017 when (Head Koch Alan) Koch spent much of the time adjusting the lineup and trying to find good pairings after inheriting that squad so last-minute in the preseason. Then, look what that team accomplished in the U.S. Open Cup semifinal run (I do believe USL play would have gone better in the second half of the season if that hadn't been such a big focus). I thought they took major steps forward at Atlanta, not only in stealing away a point against the reigning MLS Cup champions, but just in how much more organized they looked. Even though Atlanta had such a huge possession time advantage, they did not look threatening after the early goal, and I think we saw how the insertion of Allan Cruz into the lineup can help this team defensively. You could feel as the game went on the players getting more confident and I liked seeing them push forward more with the insertion of Kenny Saief and Greg Garza as late subs. One point at this stage is not too bad.
Swtizer: Given the quality of the opposition FC Cincinnati have had to face in their first two matches, and the locations they had to go to face them, one point from the first two matches is a positive. Particularly for an expansion side with as short of a run up as FCC's.
Brennan: It’s been OK, and OK is good enough for now. Seattle was ugly but we all saw that coming. I thought it was nice that Leonardo Bertone gave the supporters a goal that night, and most seemed to agree that was enough there. The first five minutes against Atlanta United were lethargic but the last 85 were impressive. Really liked what I saw there and actually thought, as did several of the players, FC Cincinnati could or should have won the game based on how the last 20-30 minutes played out.
Walker: Good. When the schedule was released, I said that any points from their first three games were a bonus, especially away to Seattle and Atlanta. The Seattle score was lopsided but you could see some easy fixes and a few promising signs. The Atlanta result was fantastic even if they were lucky to catch Frank de Boer’s team at a good time. The point in Atlanta was one of MLS’s top stories of week 2, so that says it all.
What’s the most important thing for the club entering Sunday’s game?
Pfahler: The most important thing is just to continue to show progress, so the biggest thing I would look for is a quicker start for FCC. It shouldn't be difficult to channel energy from Sunday's crowd with more than 30,000 expected to attend, and if they can somehow go into halftime with a lead, that would be huge. Diego Valeri is the player to watch for Portland, so containing him will be a key for the defense as much of the attack runs through him.
Switzer: At this point, improvement in performance from one match to the next is the bar by which we should be measuring FC Cincinnati. And though just two matches in so far, they're trending in the right direction. The hope would be that Sunday, in front of the home support at Nippert for the first time in 2019, that trend would continue. If it does, a positive result from which Koch's men can build momentum for the season could be in store.
Brennan: I think anything less than the collective defending we saw against Atlanta probably won’t suffice and would result in a loss. Portland will be so desperate after the way they’ve started the 2019 season. If FC Cincinnati can manage the first 25 minutes, that will set the game up for Alan Koch much like he and the team were set up for success late against Atlanta.
Walker: The most important thing is to stay connected defensively in the first half and stay in the game. Portland's in good form. They are also missing Diego Chará, but they have top-class talent like Vieri and Blanco that can hurt Alan Koch's side. FCC can't win the game in the first half, but they can lose it. Keep it close. Grwo into the game and let a rowdy Nippert crowd push them to a result.
You’ve covered the club since 2016. Then, FCC were a third-tier team. They’re about to play their inaugural MLS home match. Have you been able to reflect on the rapid growth on a personal level?
Pfahler: As a professional sports writer, I tend to distance myself from making anything personal and I'm usually too busy writing to reflect much. But I will say, thanks in part to my phone unexpectedly dying on me at the MLS announcement last May and thus preventing me from sending out the flurry of tweets I normally would have, I did get some time to take it all in and I'll admit, it was pretty cool. I grew up in West Chester and the only soccer games other than my own or my siblings' that I remember going to were Silverbacks indoor games. When former WCPO.com managing editor Mike Canan asked me in September of 2015 if I would be interested in covering the team right from the start with the initial roster-building process and beyond, I was a bit surprised. But he thought this team could really become something special based on the ownership group and Jeff Berding's clear ambition, and WCPO wanted to get in on the ground floor of it. I was happy for the work and privately hoping the club would succeed so I could continue writing about the beautiful game I have loved since I joined my first team at age 5. To see MLS commissioner Don Garber addressing such an energetic crowd at Rhinegiest and welcoming this city into the league in the midst of Year 3 was just crazy. And yes, I did get a few chills watching FCC walk out onto the pitch for the first time as an MLS club in the opener at Seattle.
Switzer: This is a difficult question for me to answer as there's a lot of emotion wrapped up in my response. I've actually been covering the rumblings about the club since 2014, back when the talk of Major League Soccer and crowds in excess of 30,000 in Cincinnati seemed fantasy. Along the way, it so quickly normalized in the moment that it felt expected. But when you look back, perched with perspective, it still manages to boggle the mind. And as someone who has poured themselves into progressing the game in his hometown, it's been an honor to help capture and tell the story.
Brennan: Honestly, it’s been harder recently to reflect on everything in a meaningful way. It’s just been so busy. What Alan Koch used to last year say about not getting too caught up in the team’s 2018 successes and appreciating them in the offseason really resonates with me now in a way it never used to. You just don’t have time to stay fixated on anything because there’s always something else coming down the line. Anyone that’s been part of the transition from USL to MLS should have an acute sense for this. I’ll probably have more profound and insightful things to say about all of this years from now. I will say the club is changing rapidly and in positive ways. That said, I think all the supporters should be proud of the way FC Cincinnati’s maintained its soul and essence throughout all the change. You still have people there from Day One that really “get it,” so to speak. I had a great time chatting with Dan McNally and Mike Albanese in Atlanta the night before the 1-1 draw. We swapped old FCC stories and laughed about all the good times we’ve had around the club, both collectively and as individuals. The new era of FC Cincinnati is shiny and fun but I think I’m always going to love and cherish those first three seasons the most. Being around McNally, a modern-day bard, and Mike (and Jeff Berding a week earlier in Seattle) and hearing the stories really took me back to the essence of why I wanted to be involved in covering the team back in 2015 and why I choose to still do it today. There’s a mutual and abiding respect shared by the people that have been on the journey. I love that.
Walker: I just feel lucky to have been here since the beginning to witness and cover what’s happening. We’re witnessing Cincinnati sports history. I write about soccer out of pure passion for the sport. The fact that it’s happening in my hometown makes it even better. I should reflect on things more but I spend all of my time writing about soccer.
What’s your score prediction and why?
Pfahler: FC Cincinnati gets its first MLS win, 2-1, in front of the home fans. The Timbers were the league runners up last year but have given up seven goals through two games so far and I think FCC will come out attacking a bit more this game to take advantage.
Switzer: It's important to remember that not only are Portland the reigning Western Conference champions, but they're also recovering from a difficult 4-1 loss to LAFC last weekend and are still searching for their first win of 2019. As such, Timbers head coach Gio Savarese and his men will be highly motivated to get things back on track. But with FCC also searching for a first win in front of their first home crowd of the season, they're not short on motivation either. As such, my prediction is a highly entertaining 2-2 draw.
Brennan: FC Cincinnati 2, Portland Timbers FC 2. Crazy things often happen when Nippert Stadium is packed full of FC Cincinnati fans and buzzing. I think there will be plenty of goals as Cincinnati takes space in the midfield as a result of Diego Chara’s absence for Portland. The Timbers will find themselves and perform to their capabilities but the fans will FCC to a draw.
Walker: 2-1 Portland, because I’m an insufferable realist. FC Cincinnati will be better this season than some pundits think, but it’s still very early. They have to go through growing pains, build familiarity, figure out their identity, and maybe even add player or two in the summer. The good news - the real prize is a playoff spot and not an opening day win.
You can also follow them on Twitter here:
Laurel Pfahler @LaurelPfahler
D.J. Switzer @wrongsideofpond
Pat Brennan @PBrennanENQ
Michael Walker: @walkermichaelg
