Consider Friday evening a night of firsts. First home game in 2020. First FC Cincinnati match at Nippert Stadium without fans. Jaap Stam’s first game coaching FCC in market.
Those are all true, but there’s also another significant “first” when the Orange and Blue host D.C. United. (No, it’s not about the BOLD jerseys.)
Friday night will be the first time in 2020 that FCC have their attacking options operating at full health.
We saw a glimpse of the team’s potential late in the MLS is Back Tournament knockout game against the Portland Timbers, when the club switched from a 5-3-2, to a 4-3-3 and was a shot away from the tournament’s semifinals. That tactical adjustment freed up space on the wings, showcased Jürgen Locadia’s ability and allowed Siem de Jong and Allan Cruz to crash into the box.
The Timbers, who went on to win the tournament, didn’t have an answer how to stop the attack. Instead, FCC missed a point-blank shot and were defeated in a penalty shootout.
Now, one of the biggest questions entering Cincinnati’s home opener is if the team can produce a similar attacking performance – but also capitalize on scoring chances.
“We have good offensive players and we showed it a bit at the end of the game against the Timbers,” Siem de Jong said. “We need to show that maybe more in games, but we’re building on it and it’s improving.”
Photo taken by Douglas DeFelice-USA TODAY Sports
The de Jong-Locadia dynamic is especially intriguing after the duo both played together for PSV Eindhoven in 2016-17 and delivered a lively performance against the future MLS is Back Tournament champions.
While Locadia missed the would-be game winner against Portland late in the match, the play came from de Jong winning the ball, then delivering a pass to the back post.
“I played with him in Holland also, and I know what kind of player he is, and he knows what kind of player I am,” Locadia said. “The connection’s there, and there’s a connection with all my teammates.”
Add the two Dutchman, plus the attacking creativity of Yuya Kubo, Adrien Regattin and Joseph-Claude Gyau, and FCC resemble a club that can strike quickly on a counter attack or can build up possession and finish with a nice effort on goal.
Frankie Amaya and Allan Cruz have also showed their attacking potential with goals this season. Cruz, after all, led the club in goals with seven last season.
Since Stam transitioned the team’s base system to a 5-3-2, there’s been more focus on the defensive aspects of the game. But that doesn’t mean it stifles offensive creativity.
When asked about it in July, Stam said he wants that formation to become a 3-3-4 in attack with the wing backs attacking as wingers. However, if Cincinnati reverts to a 4-3-3, maybe that’ll lead to the goal-scoring chances that came against Portland.
Without having a full-strength frontline, these have always been hypotheticals. What will this look like in reality against D.C. United?
