FC Cincinnati 2 Lexington

Kevin Wallace

Eventually, in the next two or three years, FC Cincinnati will create a reserve team. It’s what all the cool MLS teams do, so we should probably follow their lead right? A reserve team gives your younger players a chance to get game time while still being under the control of the team. Rather than loaning out a young keeper to Louisville, you can keep them in house and make sure they are getting minutes between the sticks. Or if you have a creative midfielder, you can make sure the team they’re playing on is playing a style of soccer you expect them to be playing for your senior team.

The benefits are clear, but what isn’t clear is how to go about creating this reserve team. Having spent time in USL, FC Cincinnati fan have seen up close what works with these reserve teams and what doesn’t. And maybe, just maybe, I can suggest a few things that can help build the sport in the region.

League

So the first question is, where should this reserve team play? Projecting a few years out is always difficult in American soccer. Hell, 5 years ago the NASL was looking to challenge MLS for Division 1 status and USL was a third division league. If I were guessing, I’d say most, if not all, MLS2 teams in the USL Championship end up in USL League One. For starters, there are fewer requirements in the third division for running these teams, making it cheaper for the parent teams. Second, USL doesn’t need them in the Championship. They want the Championship to feature teams like Sacramento and Indianapolis, not “Bethlehem” Steel and Timbers 2. League One needs the teams, and adding MLS reserve teams helps build up their numbers. Taking notes from Orlando and Toronto, I’d expect FC Cincinnati 2 to begin playing in USL League One.