Patrick Brennan

pbrennan@enquirer.com

FC Cincinnati wrapped up a four-day stretch of practices on Thursday, but the real work is just beginning for its coaches and front-office staff.

A four-day combine at Wall2Wall Soccer in Mason gave head coach John Harkes and his staff a close look at a pool of unsigned players, some of which played most recently in college.

The combine could lead to contract offers for a few of the players. With just 17 players currently under contract, two-a-day practices looming and a preseason trip to Florida in mid-February fast-approaching, the players forced Harkes and his staff into some tough decisions, he said.

"We knew coming into this it was going to be a lot of difficult decisions," said Harkes. "There's guys I would like to add to our roster, but we just don't have the positional space to do it ... A lot of the guys responded very well, and some guys didn't. Some guys dropped off.

"Overall, from an abilities standpoint, it was a very high level. It made it very hard on us ... This isn't for the weak."

Harkes said signings could be announced as early as Friday. He declined to comment on whether players from the combine would be offered contracts.

By rule, FC Cincinnati can carry up to 30 players, but is structured financially for 24, said team President and General Manager Jeff Berding.

Harkes, Berding and other coaches had private conversations with the unsigned players at the end of Thursday's combine session.

Each parlay ended with a handshake, but not each player will return to the team's next practice. Berding said he was inspired by the way the combine invitees performed in the face of such pressure.

"It's been very professional," said Berding. The players "are competing for the four or five last spots on our roster. Those spots don't pay a lot of money, and yet they're giving it everything they have for four days to try to earn the opportunity to try to be a professional soccer player."

In addition to seeking out the best players, Harkes said he has to balance the number of players he carries at each position.

He'd also like to include players with a mix of domestic and international experience – part of the reason his off-season search took him to London and Madrid.

And all the while, Harkes said he's aiming for 24 total players to allow the team to operate within its means while also having enough man power to run 11 versus 11 scrimmages.

"There's a huge group of guys that are on the bubble in this combine," said Harkes. "Some of them have come in, some of them have dropped off. It's difficult."

Signed players kicking each other

Some of the 17 players already signed by FC Cincinnati participated in optional practices alongside the combine this week. The players there weren't fighting for their professional lives, but the atmosphere was still competitive.

Defender Austin Berry, a graduate of Summit Country Day School in Hyde Park, said he was kicked several times by teammates this week.

"A lot of guys impressed me. Everyone’s come in and played well and have fun, but guys are competing," said Berry. "Guys are getting stuck in. Guys are getting kicked a lot, I’ve been kicked a few times."