FC Cincinnati: Will Ron Jans provide long-term stability?

FC Cincinnati recently hired Ron Jans to take over as full-time manager. He has a renowned pedigree, but will he bring stability and success?

Simply put, FC Cincinnati have had a poor first season in Major League Soccer. Cincinnati sit dead last in the Eastern Conference with the worst points total in the league to date. Fortunately, the support for the MLS’s newest expansion club is incredible. As of August 4th, FC Cincinnati rank third in the league with an average attendance of 27,691. Despite this dichotomy between on-field performance and fan support, president Jeff Berding is hoping to construct harmony throughout the entire organization with the appointment of Ron Jans as FC Cincinnati’s newest manager.

FC Cincinnati did not get off to a terrible start prior to their calamitous struggles. They defeated the Portland Timbers with a 3-0 win at home, followed by an impressive away win at the New England Revolution. All told, they managed seven points out of their first five matches, including a draw away to Atlanta United.

Unfortunately, FC Cincinnati then went on a poor run of form that cost the job of their first manager, Alan Koch. They have won only three of their last 18 matches in the MLS.

Their porous league-worst defense has conceded 55 goals, averaging 2.3 goals per match. The subpar defense has been accompanied by an anaemic offense that is averaging one goal per game, with only 23 big chances created. They lack the lethality of a consistent striker. Allan Cruz is currently FC Cincinnati’s top goalscorer with four goals. Kekuta Manneh and Emmanuel Ledesma each have three goals. All of these three players are midfielders. Simply put, FC Cincinnati are lacking on all fronts.

FC Cincinnati’s first manager, Koch, was criticized by his own players for not fostering an identity within the club and not utilizing his players in their best positions. Fanendo Adi, who has had a poor season both on and off the pitch, was quoted as saying:

"“We just need to have an identity. We don’t have an identity yet. Of course we are a new team and have a bunch of new players, but we change formation, and it’s no good.”"

This lack of identity has plagued the side all season long. This was not necessarily because interim manager, Yoann Damet, failed to keep the side together. In fact, he did quite the opposite. Rather, it is incredibly difficult to form a consistent identity during a season when there was never one to begin with.

Familiarity can be a major component in fostering identity and stability with a club. And that is why FC Cincinnati unveiled Ron Jans as their new head coach this week. Jans provides this familiarity and is now afforded with the opportunity to construct his own identity with the club during the remaining months of the 2019 campaign, which could dramatically assist with potential additions or departures during the offseason.

Cincinnati is a smaller market in comparison to some of the top MLS sides. The relatively small market has fostered a deep sense of community within the supporters. There is a deep-rooted connection between the club and the community that dates back to the their USL days. During that time, FC Cincinnati would bring in record number attendance to their home matches, rivaling that of some MLS sides. The supporters came out in droves when FC Cincinnati were announced as the MLS’ latest expansion club. They deserve to have a manager that encapsulates the heart and soul of the city and emulates this mentality on the pitch. Could Yans be that man?

When he was unveiled, the Dutchman stated his desire to stay with the club long term and bring them up among the best in the Eastern Conference:

"“My greatest desire is to be part of the legacy of making FC Cincinnati a respectable club in the MLS. I have a one-and-a-half year contract…but I often stay longer.”"

Jans will bring a tactical prowess that can truly provide the stability that FC Cincinnati is after. Greg Seltzer, a contributor for mlssoccer.com, pointed out that Jans is renowned for his ability to develop younger players including Bas Dost, who currently plays for Sporting CP in the Primeira Liga, and Barcelona’s Luis Suarez. This knowledge of not only the tactical side of the game but also the importance and track record of bringing out the best in otherwise underrated talent should be the most exciting prospect for FC Cincinnati fans.

Thankfully for Jans, Cincinnati have already been at work trying to add players to help the process move along. Gerard Nijkamp acknowledged the need to add a striker and a potential winger ideally during the summer window. Since the opening of the summer transfer window, Cincinnati have signed Maikel van der Werff, a center-back from Vitesse in the Dutch Eredivisie, on a free transfer. They are still looking to add some attacking assistance, but with only one day remaining in the transfer window, additional signings look unlikely. Nevertheless, the desire to add is there, and this is often the first hurdle to overcome when rebuilding a squad.

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Although FC Cincinnati may not have addressed all areas of immediate necessity, it will provide Jans with the chance to focus on studying the current crop of players without having to worry about trying to incorporate multiple new signings. By the same token, Jans’ appointment can provide a necessary jolt to the side that could lead to a respectable finish to the season. Yes, there is very little to play for, but each player will know that, with Jans looking to be at the club for the long haul, they must try to impress to secure a place in the team heading into next season.

Still, the Dutchman certainly has his work cut out for him in a competitive Eastern Conference. During the past couple of seasons, we have seen clubs like Atlanta United, New York Red Bulls, and New York City FC solidify their position as some of the Conference’s best for seasons to come. We have also seen the recent rise of clubs like the Philadelphia Union and D.C. United (though with Wayne Rooney set to join Derby County in January, we may see a slight decline) fighting it out towards the top of the table.

FC Cincinnati can certainly get back into the fight under Jans’ leadership, especially with the aid of their youngsters. 2019 SuperDraft picks such as Tommy McCabe and Frankie Amaya, who was the first pick in the draft, have made strides with the first team. Amaya, in particular, can lead the midfield for years to come. Each player will undoubtedly benefit from the unrivaled development under Jans in the remaining matches.

Jans’ hiring looks to be a smart one. The season may be practically over for the Orange and Blue, but that should take nothing away from the opportunities that remain for growth and development. The future just became significantly brighter and the foundation is now in place. With such a reassuring community, that is the least that this club and supporters deserve.