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USL: FC Cincinnati building an impressive squad for 2018

By Jordan Jacobsen

CINCINNATI, OH - AUGUST 15: FC Cincinnati fans cheer against the New York Red Bulls during the semifinal match of the 2017 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup at Nippert Stadium on August 15, 2017 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
CINCINNATI, OH - AUGUST 15: FC Cincinnati fans cheer against the New York Red Bulls during the semifinal match of the 2017 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup at Nippert Stadium on August 15, 2017 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /
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FC Cincinnati have retooled their squad following their splash in 2017. Despite a major overhaul, the new look roster is very promising.

Major League Soccer hopefuls FC Cincinnati is still waiting to hear whether or not their future will include playing in the top-flight. In the meantime, the Orange & Blue have not shied away from building a top-flight roster heading into their third USL season.

Cincinnati announced a head coaching change to Alan Koch just four weeks before the 2017 season began. Despite an up-and-down USL season that saw them finish in sixth place in the Eastern Conference, the club made waves with a deep run to the semi-finals of the US Open Cup, including dramatic victories over league rivals and eventual USL champs Louisville City, in-state rivals Columbus Crew, lower division powerhouse Miami FC, and MLS Cup (and World Cup) contenders Chicago Fire, before falling to New York Red Bulls in extra time.

Following the season, Cincy saw several key pieces move on, including GK Mitch Hildebrandt who moved to MLS with Atlanta United and USL defender of the year nominee Harrison Delbridge who moved home to his native Australia’s top-flight. Fellow center back Austin Berry retired, while Tyler Polak’s contract would not be renewed for 2018.

FCC have not rested on their laurels, however, and their roster for 2018 already looks like it will have significantly more bite.

Impressive Additions

After holding onto most of their core contributors from 2017, Cincy first got things started by signing center back and Maccabi Haifa captain Dekel Keinan, who also was rumored to have signed an impressive six-figure deal uncommon for USL standards. The club then signed 24-year-old Irish defender, Paddy Barrett from Dundalk of the League of Ireland Premier League. The additions kept coming as Real Monarchs winger Daniel Haber and Charleston Battery defender Forrest Lasso were added to the squad.

https://twitter.com/fccincinnati/status/947612837836357632

While those four signings alone offered impressive replacements for the 2017 departures, FCC wasn’t finished. The club tapped into the NASL in a major way, first by signing league champion and SF Deltas teammates Tommy Heinemann and Tyler Gibson, then added one of the best NASL players since the league rebooted with winger Lance Laing.

Still not finished, FCC signed another former Real Monarch standout and Puerto Rico FC playmaker with Emery Welshman. Cincinnati outdid themselves once more with NY Cosmos attacker Emmanuel Ledesma, who took the NASL by storm with his impressive goal scoring ability. Finally, FCC replaced Hildebrandt with another USL standout goalkeeper, Sacramento Republic’s Evan Newton.

https://twitter.com/fccincinnati/status/948996229056417792

The overhaul has been extraordinary as Cincinnati looks to build on their success in last year’s Open Cup, along with making a claim at the USL Cup in 2018, and they may not be finished. The club has also been linked with another NASL Best XI regular, Naz Albadawi, who has been on the charts of several different MLS teams and could be another piece used as the club looks to build toward an MLS roster.

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FC Cincinnati’s season will definitely be worth watching. Not only does their squad of NASL all-stars and USL standouts look like it has what it takes to go the distance, but their impressive home atmosphere is one of the best in the country and the level of play in USL overall is the highest it has ever been. While their MLS future is still up in the air, FC Cincinnati fans have plenty to look forward to.

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