Only 1 FC Cincinnati player has played in every USL match: Corben Bone. Koch explains why

Charlie Hatch | chatch@enquirer.com

Show Caption Hide Caption FC Cincinnati downs Penn FC, 1-0 FC Cincinnati captain Paddy Barrett and head coach Alan Koch discussed the club's 1-0 win against Penn FC Aug. 12 at the University of Cincinnati's Nippert Stadium.

Corben Bone is the only Futbol Club Cincinnati player to appear in each of the team's United Soccer League matches this season.

Considering head coach Alan Koch has stated previously that's normally unrealistic, especially for older players, it's a testament to the 29-year-old for his 23 USL appearances that have included different formations, roles and player partnerships.

"I don't really think about it," Bone said Wednesday morning after practice. "I've stayed healthy and that's a big reason why I've been on the field, which I'm thankful for. It takes the staff to help me do that. ... I've been lucky so far and thankful to be on the field and just take care of my body and put myself in a good position."

But it's taken more than that. Beyond durability, he's shown quality, too.

Of FC Cincinnati's 26 competitive matches in 2018, he's played in 25 of them. The lone absence was the 3-1 win at Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC in the U.S. Open Cup in May. In league play, he has three goals and four assists.

While the majority of his offensive numbers were produced earlier in the season when he played as a center-attacking midfielder, his role has adjusted several times, to the point where he was a box-to-box mid in Cincinnati's 1-0 win over Penn FC this past Sunday at Nippert Stadium. Then, the club used a 4-3-3 formation. Previously, it's used a 4-2-3-1 and a 4-4-2 diamond midfield.

"Throughout my career I have played a lot of positions, so when I get put into those roles, I can respond and hopefully do everything that position requires to the best of my ability," Bone said. "I've been comfortable playing in different areas and positions, so when that happens, I just go with the flow and do my best."

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In Cincinnati's first season, he played a more attacking role in a 4-3-3 formation under former head coach John Harkes. Last season, Bone dropped into a deeper spot within the midfield. In Koch's second season coaching, Bone's positioning has varied but is nestled between the two. Back in June, he joked "It's been a weird career for me in general when it comes to my positioning."

The flexibility has no doubt increased his importance for the team, however. As well as appearing in every league match, Bone leads the club in USL minutes this season.

"Obviously staying healthy allows you to play, but you earn your playing time through your performances," Koch said Wednesday. "This is a performance-based industry. It just shows he's stepped up to the plate.

"He's seen his competition. We've rotated a lot during the season, too, but he's a guy who comes in, wears his heart on his sleeve and he's doing his job and has gotten himself into a good rhythm."

Here's a look at FC Cincinnati's appearance leaders and top five for most minutes played:

USL appearances in 2018

Corben Bone: 23 Emmanuel Ledesma: 22 Danni König: 21 Blake Smith, Emery Welshman, Jimmy McLaughlin: 20

USL minutes in 2018

Corben Bone: 1,873 Emmanuel Ledesma: 1,798 Blake Smith: 1,734 Justin Hoyte: 1,710 Forrest Lasso: 1,674

FC Cincinnati currently leads the USL Eastern Conference with 48 points from 23 games. Charleston Battery, its next opponent, enters Nippert Stadium on Saturday night with 43 points from 24 games.

It's expected Bone will play, if not start against the Battery.

"He's put together a very, very good body of work this season," Koch said.