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_.
Here’s our fifth addition. Thank you for the questions and feel free to send more!
Alex: With the impressive performances vs. NER do you think that maybe Saief would be a continuous viable option going forward he seems to become very tired toward the later stages of the game (wouldn't we all) but I think his down field vision involving cross field long stretched passes could be a good option for the very explosive and sporadic offense FCC has? I would love to see more of him.
I think you’ll see more of Kenny Saief moving forward. He’s shown real quality in his two appearances this season and has stats to prove it. When he initially joined FC Cincinnati, he wasn’t 100 percent match fit, so he slowly acclimated to the team and to MLS. We’re starting to see everything he can offer.
Drew: Was it just chance that FCC encounter teams playing poorly which account for their performance over the last three games…or, are they really that good?
Can I say both? Seattle Sounders FC are arguably the best team in MLS right now. Atlanta United FC is still stacked, but going through adjustments under new head coach Frank de Boer and swapping marquee DPs. I think the Portland Timbers are still finding their identity, too – and remember they were without Diego Chara here in Cincy. As for the New England Revolution, reports indicate they’re working through some early-season adjustments, too.
That said, I think Cincinnati is good and can get better. The next few weeks are the first time the club can simply focus on each game. There’s no more “season” or “home” openers. There’s no looming international duty window for a while. We’ve seen a lot of growth from Cincinnati through the first month. I think now is when that growth becomes more sustained.
Lynn: I'm late to the season but I was shocked at the score against Seattle. Why don't we get to play them again at home?
FC Cincinnati play every team in the Eastern Conference twice and each Western Conference team once. As a result, the season opener in Seattle is their only matchup during the regular season until 2020.
@ChrisCalo1: What does Frankie do until the next U20 call up? Just practice with the team or is there anticipation he'll go on loan?
Eoghan: Frankie Amaya is yet to appear this season, I know some games missed due to international obligations. It would seem that, by not loaning him out, his is somewhere in the plans for this season. Has Alan Koch discussed his plans for the #1 pick?
That Frankie Amaya is still with the first team shows he’s part of Head Coach Alan Koch’s plans this season. He’s practicing like any other player for a spot in the 18, then the starting 11.
But it’s worth pointing out that he’s a deeper center midfielder and those are two spots that haven’t changed through the first four games. That’s not to say Victor Ulloa and Leo Bertone have a cemented space in the starting 11, but those are the two center midfielders that players are competing for minutes against.
Ana: Any news on the academy? Age groups? Try outs?
More information should be released by summertime!
Dave: Been a STH for awhile and have always had tickets on the opposite side of the team benches, so just wondering why the introductions of players can’t face our way at least a couple of times a season? Seems our side of the pitch only gets the backside of the players.
I wouldn’t expect that to change this season. Throughout the world, soccer teams tend to lineup in the same spot before matches. Whether it’s for TV, the national anthem or for players to be closer to coaches on the bench, that’s become the regularity.
Allison: This isn’t necessarily FC Cincinnati related, but what’s your preferred formation for a team?
First: thrilling soccer can be played in a variety of formations and systems. I think FC Cincinnati’s home opener against Portland is a reminder.
I love the 4-3-3. It’s a demanding formation, especially with fluid movement between players who interchange between positions. But when the formation is deployed and effective, it’s the most thrilling soccer to watch, in my opinion.
But ... I’m also biased because my sister lives five miles from Ajax Amsterdam’s stadium. :)
