How FC Cincinnati team and supporters has gotten MLS ready

FC Cincinnati keep jumping through hoops in grand style. They stay atop the MLS expansion race, ahead of rivals Detroit and Sacramento.

Opponents recognize FC Cincinnati‘s home pitch as an MLS environment, never mind MLS expansion. They’ve got a handful of ESPN’s USL Game of the Week appearances set this season. With all this attention, they always expect to see any opposing players tagged as MLS-class by scouts.

Head coach Alan Koch told Cincinnati Enquirer’s Charlie Hatch he knows FC Cincinnati has a big target on its collective back. Their team’s the show and the one to beat.

M Richie Ryan adds point-blank that any player not in the MLS wants to take the pitch for Cincinnati: a ‘No Brainer.’ It’s the attendance, plus the supporters. But mainly, it’s the combined outrageous ambition of club and fans: Top-tier North American soccer. MLS.

All remaining hoops get vaulted with ease by Cincinnati leadership. To finish the deal for their 21,000-seat MLS stadium, FC Cincinnati had to come back with a Community Benefits Agreement. They did.

The City Council approved that agreement on May 16. That’s the last hurdle Cincinnati had to clear, other than waiting until the MLS meets again on expansion. The next scheduled meeting would occur around the time of the league All-Star Game in August.

FC Cincinnati hoops cleared. Now what?

But at this moment in Summer 2018, no soccer organization outside MLS stands more ready for Major League Soccer membership than FC Cincinnati. They already have some of the players to go with that MLS environment.

And those players perform for FC Cincinnati in one of the USL’s toughest schedules.

Not many players on USL contracts make it to MLS. The top-tier league most frequently wants to start lower-league talent as depth players on the roster. Paying the transfer fee requires their value to begin as spot-starters. That’s a hard decision for a lot of MLS clubs to make.

With FC Cincinnati’s environment, the decision might become easier upon entry to the MLS. And it might make their fan base happier from the get-go.

Those top-tier players provide the passing, crossing, scoring and defense. And who are some of those players?

FC Cincinnati Passing and Crossing

Passing and crossing at FC Cincinnati start with players like F Daniel Haber. He’s a former All American and Ivy League Player of the Year at Cornell. He’s also got five caps with the Canadian National Team.

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M Kenney Walker earned the USL Fan’s Choice Goal of the Month in April for a score. The 50-yard volley against Ottawa Fury FC made ESPN SportsCenter’s Top 10 on April 21.

As for MLS credentials, Walker already made the top-tier show briefly with LA Galaxy. He’s plenty seasoned. He’s proved his abilities. To make the top league once more, this time with FC Cincinnati, will create a moment to commit to legend.

Then there’s the scoring potential of Magic Corben Bone, previously mentioned.

Add to that the two-footed talent of M Emmanuel Ledesma, who drifts though situations in a startlingly creative manner. He’s mainly left-footed but scouts repeatedly note that he’s dangerous to opponents everywhere.

In fact, the biggest problem scouts have comes when they must note what position Ledesma plays as the game unfolds. Depending on what he’s creating, it’s been described as a constantly evolving kind of right-wing and right-midfield.

Then comes FC Cincinnati’s anchor: the defense and goalkeeping.

FC Cincinnati Defenders and Goalkeeper

FC Cincinnati’s defense anchors on center back Forrest Lasso. The team held onto Lasso despite MLS interest. FC Dallas leaked their aim at Lasso last December. The home team can be happy. He’s still there.

Even while anchoring the team’s defense, Lasso gets off enough successful passes to rank as a league leader.

He’s joined there by another versatile defender, Lance Laing, who ranks among league-leading crossers. Laing also fills midfield assignments. He’s been a top left-footer in every league where he’s played.

Then comes the netminder, G Evan Newton, ripped this year from Cincinnati’s MLS expansion rival, Sacramento Republic FC.

If Newton’s not MLS-ready, it’s only because his career performance has yet to peak, according to FC Cincinnati coach Alan Koch.

He replaces a Cincinnati goalkeeper now in the MLS with Atlanta United, Mitch Hildebrandt.

Next: Three things learned: LAFC vs. Portland

So as an MLS expansion announcement nears, FC Cincinnati and supporters have a really high-class problem. Which of their highly talented roster sail into top-tier soccer with them?

The list here represents just the tip of a skilled iceberg.

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