Patrick Brennan

pbrennan@enquirer.com

It’s hard to believe, but Futbol Club Cincinnati reached the halfway point in its inaugural, 30-game regular season Saturday. Attendance figures have made the team an international case study in American soccer success. On the field, the team is starting to turn heads, too. Results and performances in preseason indicated the FC Cincinnati coaching staff and front office had an assemblage of talent that could compete in the United Soccer League. That’s exactly what’s happened. FC Cincinnati is holding down the No. 3 spot in the Eastern Conference standings with a 9-2-4 record. The team is also riding an 11-game unbeaten streak into the second half of the schedule.

Now, at the halfway point, Enquirer FC Cincinnati beat writers Patrick Brennan and Charlie Hatch take stock of what’s transpired in the opening 15 games. In a two-part miniseries, Brennan and Hatch debate the team’s MVP (and MVP runner-up), the best save by goalkeeper Mitch Hildebrandt, the best coaching performance thus far, and other salient topics.

Most Valuable Player

Patrick Brennan: Sean Okoli. Okoli is the team leader in goals (seven) and points (16). His point total is also sixth-best in all of USL. But it’s the story behind the stats that reveals Okoli’s MVP qualifications: His goals have all been meaningful as he’s scored in six of FC Cincinnati’s nine wins. He has two game-winning goals (versus Orlando City B and FC Montreal), and he should have more as late defensive lapses have cost him a couple game winners. And even those still helped produce draws, so even his non-game winners equate to points in the standings.

Charlie Hatch: Mitch Hildebrandt. Naming the goalkeeper MVP might seem strange for a team that’s so aggressive attacking, but Hildebrandt consistently cleans the mistakes of others and cements a wall that’s led to 11 games unbeaten. Plus, he’s turned into a cult-like persona for the “Mitch Says No” chants, his personalized shirts and his interactions with The Bailey after matches.

MVP Runner-up

PB: Jimmy McLaughlin. McLaughlin makes his presence felt in every match, something plenty FC Cincinnati regulars can’t claim. He runs at defenders, distributes well (two assists on the year) and, like Okoli, scores meaningful, game-changing goals. McLaughlin’s four goals across all competitions (USL and Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup) ranks him second on FC Cincinnati. He also has a team-leading three game winners across all competitions, including the winner against Indy Eleven NPSL in Cincinnati’s first-ever U.S. Open Cup win.

CH: Paul Nicholson. This is a surprising pick, but it’s statistically justifiable. Nicholson is a holding midfielder who adapted into a central defending role seamlessly. FC Cincinnati’s backline has looked its tightest with him in the lineup. Head coach John Harkes said Nicholson filling felt like the club “gained another player” when he replaced an injured Austin Berry. Four clean sheets from 11 matches is a nice addition, indeed.

Best Goal

PB: Kenny Walker vs. Orlando City B (May 4). Kenny Walker’s long-range blast at Orlando City B? Absolute stunner. He thwacked it in from about 30 yards and the keeper couldn’t get a hand to it. Unbelievable goal. It also sparked a late offensive surge as FC Cincinnati won, 3-1.

CH: Sean Okoli vs. FC Montreal (June 11). Okoli’s side-footed volley in the home opener might have made the ESPN SportsCenter Top 10, but his volley against Montreal was beautiful. Eric Stevenson delivered a perfect cross to a wide-open Okoli.

Best Save

PB: Mitch Hildebrandt penalty save vs. Wilmington Hammerheads FC (April 30). Hildebrandt’s first half penalty save was quickly forgotten by some as Wilmington scored to go in front, 1-0, on the ensuing corner kick. But you could be absolutely certain at that moment Hildebrandt was going to be an anchor for FC Cincinnati while the defensive corps continued to sort through its issues, which were many at that point in the season.

CH: Mitch Hildbrandt double save at Toronto FC II (April 24). Just before Omar Cummings scored the game-winning goal, Hildebrandt had a ridiculous double save — going full extension on the first stop, then making another save at the back post with his body twisting and falling into the goal while the ball was still in play. The acrobatics pushed Hildebrandt up to No. 3 on ESPN SportsCenter’s Top 10.

Best Coaching Performance

PB: FC Cincinnati at Louisville City FC (June 25). Through watching the U.S. men’s national team compete in Copa America Centenario this summer, many American soccer fans learned the value of 1.) consistent lineups and 2.) game plans that are clear and attainable. While these concepts appeared revolutionary for the current USMNT coaching staff, FC Cincinnati head coach John Harkes and his staff have employed these methods from Day One this season. As a result of this, they’ve really pieced together a body of work worthy of commendation.

As far as single-game coaching performances go, I continue to maintain FC Cincinnati’s scoreless result at Louisville City was by far the best we’ve seen from Harkes, and assistants Ryan Martin and Jamie Starr.

The coaching staff helped FC Cincinnati navigate the pomp of the occasion (nationally broadcast game, record crowd for LouCity, large group of traveling FC Cincinnati supporters), the emotions involved (rivalry/revenge game) and the best team in USL. All of that on a treacherous playing surface. No small task.

CH: FC Cincinnati vs. City Islanders FC (May 28): Introducing a new club in a 4-3-3 formation is bold, but head coach John Harkes went for it and it worked. Everything worked well, too. But then Harkes opted for a 4-2-3-1 against the City Islanders. The coaching performance isn’t necessarily crucial for that match, but since the switch, FC Cincinnati’s midfield and backline both look more comfortable. Additionally, Okoli’s games-to-goals ratio has improved. This formation might be the norm the rest of the season.

Biggest Surprise

CH: The attendance numbers. Not to underestimate Cincinnati’s passion for soccer, but the massive crowds have been incredible. FC Cincinnati broke the USL single-game attendance record twice before a third of the season had elapsed.

Sure, the club spends a lot on marketing and promoting, but Cincinnati has fallen in love with a new professional team. FC Cincinnati was supposed to make an impact, but even the owners of the club should be impressed by the city’s response. Considering the Cincinnati Saints often had 100 fans at their matches last season (the Saints played in American soccer’s fourth tier, USL is the third tie), Nippert’s crowds have been slightly different.

PB: The attendance numbers and fan support. Charlie and I agree on this one. Give yourself a pat on the back, Cincinnati. Regardless of what the future holds, you are “major league.”

I knew back in February Greater Cincinnati was going to support FC Cincinnati because you were filling local soccer pubs to capacity to watch junky livestreams of preseason matches. And, yet, I still leave Nippert every Saturday night impressed by what’s happening in the stands. FC Cincinnati is a decidedly major league product operating within the wholly minor league construct that is USL. The fan support is the greatest manifestation of that fact.

What to watch for in the second half of the season

PB: Can FC Cincinnati get hot at the right time? To crown its postseason champion, USL employs the same multiple-round playoff construct seen other North American sports leagues. In this setup, the “hot,” streaking team, and not necessarily the best team, seems to win postseason championships with increasing regularity. All that being said, FC Cincinnati will probably reveal its playoff viability in the weeks leading into the postseason, just as most teams do in North American sports.

An 11-game unbeaten streak and growing ability to grind out results at midseason is admirable. It’s fun. Is it sustainable through the next 15 games? No. If you thought otherwise, let me be the first to tell you a 26-game unbeaten streak between now and the start of the postseason is highly unlikely.

Right now, the unbeaten streak serves several useful purposes: FC Cincinnati is amassing points, coming close to ensuring a favorable playoff seeding and finishing up the blueprint for how they’ll want to look entering the playoffs. However, there will be ebbs and flows, losses and adversity in the coming 15 games. The challenge for FC Cincinnati will be finding its best self again come playoff time.

CH: A potential losing streak. Cincinnati has been strong this season. The club is third in the Eastern Conference. At some point, the levels of success might drop off. Maybe a key player gets hurt. M aybe FC Cincinnati simply underperforms. Either way, it shouldn’t hurt the club in the long run. Hopefully it won’t hurt the city’s interest in the team, either.