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MLS stock report and preview: Eastern Conference

By Joshua Bowers

HARRISON, NEW JERSEY- October 28: Sean Davis #27 of New York Red Bulls, Alex Muyl #19 of New York Red Bulls and Aaron Long #33 of New York Red Bulls celebrate with tame mates after the team won the Supports Shield during the New York Red Bulls Vs Orlando City MLS regular season game at Red Bull Arena on October 28, 2018 in Harrison, New Jersey. (Photo by Tim Clayton for the New York Red Bulls)
HARRISON, NEW JERSEY- October 28: Sean Davis #27 of New York Red Bulls, Alex Muyl #19 of New York Red Bulls and Aaron Long #33 of New York Red Bulls celebrate with tame mates after the team won the Supports Shield during the New York Red Bulls Vs Orlando City MLS regular season game at Red Bull Arena on October 28, 2018 in Harrison, New Jersey. (Photo by Tim Clayton for the New York Red Bulls) /
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New York Red Bulls, MLS
HARRISON, NEW JERSEY- October 28: Sean Davis #27 of New York Red Bulls, Alex Muyl #19 of New York Red Bulls and Aaron Long #33 of New York Red Bulls celebrate with tame mates after the team won the Supports Shield during the New York Red Bulls Vs Orlando City MLS regular season game at Red Bull Arena on October 28, 2018 in Harrison, New Jersey. (Photo by Tim Clayton for the New York Red Bulls) /

Looking at every team in the MLS Eastern Conference, determining whether or not their stock has risen or fallen in advance of the 2019 season.

The 2019 Major League Soccer season is fast approaching. The first match kicks off this Saturday, March 2nd. To preview the season, we are looking at each team in the Eastern conference to determine, which teams will improve upon their 2018 performance, and which teams will regress. Teams are listed in reverse order of finish in 2018, along with their points total from last season.

It is important to note that the Eastern Conference was top-heavy last year. The New York Red Bulls and Atlanta United both had historical seasons. But there is a lot of room for the teams that were at the bottom to improve.

Related Story. MLS: Every team's best starting XI in 2019. light

First up is the league’s newest addition, FC Cincinnati.

INDIANAPOLIS, IN – MARCH 31: FC Cincinnati defender Forrest Lasso (3) fires the pass up field during the USL Soccer match between FC Cincinnati an Indy Eleven on March 31, 2018, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis IN. FC Cincinnati defeated the Indy Eleven 1-0. (Photo by Jeffrey Brown/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN – MARCH 31: FC Cincinnati defender Forrest Lasso (3) fires the pass up field during the USL Soccer match between FC Cincinnati an Indy Eleven on March 31, 2018, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis IN. FC Cincinnati defeated the Indy Eleven 1-0. (Photo by Jeffrey Brown/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

FC Cincinnati — 0 pts

Stock Up

Key Additions: M R.Lamah, F D.Mattocks, F K.Manneh, M V.Ulloa, M A.Cruz, M L.Bertone D G.Garza, D A.Powell, D K.Waston, D N.Hagglund, D M.Deplagne, G P.Tyton

FC Cincinnati are entering their first season in Major League Soccer, moving from the USL; so, their stock is going up regardless of their performance this season. But Cincinnati are positioning themselves for a successful first season nonetheless.

FC Cincinnati have a good backline with depth at center-back and full-back. It looks like they will use a formation with three center-backs with veteran Kendall Waston leading the group. The team brought in just shy of a hundred holding midfielders to secure the middle of the pitch. They have a pair of good strikers, and Fanendo Adi can still be a top-ten attacker in MLS.

Cincinnati’s attacking players are their weakness, however. They will rely on Roland Lamah, who has been inconsistent since joining the league, Kekuta Manneh, who hasn’t scored since leaving Columbus in 2017, and Emmanuel Ledesma, who is the reigning USL MVP after scoring 16 goals and adding 16 assists. There is not a proven star in that group, although all three are intriguing. The worry is they will be unable to provide Adi with the necessary service and the team fails to score goals, even with a good defensive spine.

Cincinnati have taken a different approach than most expansion teams. They have built their team from the back, and should have a solid defense to start. However, their upside is limited by the lack of attacking options. Do not expect FC Cincinnati to make the playoffs in their first season like Atlanta and LAFC have the past two years.

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