There are two overarching reasons for loving soccer, and in particular, a soccer team: belonging and hope.
Belonging has undeniably been the main pull for FC Cincinnati fans since the inaugural 2016 campaign. While the team has played across three different tiers in five seasons, the opponent was never really want mattered. What mattered was who you watched games with.
Hope in FCC has always focused on the future. On shattering USL attendance records. On winning an MLS bid. On opening West End Stadium in 2021.
All of those thoughts are about the future and what comes next. But what if now is the moment when we start to appreciate and feel hopeful about the present?
It’s a big ask of fans to get excited about games they can’t witness in person. I understand and truly do sympathize. But what FCC are achieving right now shouldn’t be brushed aside for what they’ll produce later.
Using the same personnel but with different tactics, it took Cincinnati seven weeks to transition from a demoralizing 4-0 defeat to Columbus Crew SC in July, to a defiant draw on Saturday night at Nippert Stadium. And had Maikel van der Werff scored, FCC would’ve deservedly earned three points.
What they are doing isn’t revolutionary: They sit deep defensively, play compactly so the opponent can’t pass through the lines and spring forward if they can counter. Truthfully, if they can begin to capitalize in the final third, fans might even say they’re an exciting, attacking team, too.
The club that leaked goals in 2019 and set a single-season record for goals conceded has now earned three clean sheets in their last four league games.
Instead of wondering how many goals would Cincinnati need to score not to lose, the question can shift to, ‘When will the team score to claim three points?’ (The answer from the players is soon.)
Let’s be clear: No one’s saying the Orange and Blue have perfected their 5-3-2 system. Chicago Fire FC proved that – and hopefully won’t again on Wednesday night.
But watching present-day FC Cincinnati is an enjoyable experience. Seeing van der Werff back on the field winning tackles is encouraging. Frankie Amaya’s composure and work rate are inspiring. Joseph-Claude Gyau’s runs are truly enthralling.
What’s unfolding before our eyes is a team that’s growing in confidence and a coach having a better understanding of his roster. Stringing together one solid performance after another is going to take time – something head coach Jaap Stam hasn’t much of – but the early signs are certainly promising.
Following the scoreless #HellisReal Derby against Columbus Crew SC, Stam praised his team’s performance against a quality opponent. Sure, everyone wants more than a point against their biggest rival at home, but securing a clean sheet against the second-best team in the Eastern Conference deserves respect.
This is still the beginning phase of Stam’s time in Cincinnati, and that will probably be the case for the entirety of 2020. But just because it’s the beginning doesn’t have to mean there will be one growing pain after another.
When you put trust and faith in the right people, you’ll be rewarded. We’re starting to see that from FC Cincinnati.
For the first time since the club joined MLS, we’re watching a team that clearly belongs in MLS. I’m sorry I can’t write that about the on-field product in 2019.
It’s always been time to be hopeful about this team’s future. But let’s start feeling the same about its present.
