Highlights from this week’s show.

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The post Episode 348 – Gary has his Shield appeared first on Cincinnati Soccer Talk.

Having served as Club President since 2015, Berding will now oversee priorities such as the 2026 World Cup bid, commercial development around TQL Stadium, facility expansion, consideration of a Women’s Team and other development of the club.

“Now that we have opened our world-class stadium and begin our move to the next chapter of FC Cincinnati, I felt the time was right to award Jeff Berding a promotion. As co-CEOs, Jeff and I will be better able to handle the expanded areas of enterprise work resulting from the growth of the Club,” said Carl H. Lindner, III. “I do not feel the title of Team President for Jeff sufficiently addressed his leadership position, which the FC Cincinnati Holdings President/Team Co-CEO title more accurately provides and better defines his co-executive leadership of the enterprise with me.”

With the move, the club has begun the process of hiring a new Club President in a process led by Sportsology’s Mike Forde.

In an interview with the Cincinnati Enquirer, Lindner felt the need for the club to have a president more focused on the soccer aspects of the club while freeing up Berding’s responsibilities to drive the development of the organization including opportunities around TQL Stadium.

“He’s not being moved away from the (president) role,” Lindner told The Enquirer. “If anything, we are freeing up some room to add to the soccer IQ of our team.”

This move could also allow him to have further time to serve as the Chairman of the Board for Cincinnati USA Convention & Visitors Bureau. In a story from late 2021, Berding was also mentioned to be leading a movement to develop Ft. Washington Way as a part of the completion of the Banks Project.

Where will FC Cincinnati go from here?

The quote from Lindner above is telling. FC Cincinnati has struggled the last three years with a lack of soccer experience in the front office. You could see FC Cincinnati look internally throughout the league but also around the world for a Club President.

There are several ways other clubs across the league have set up their front office that FC Cincinnati could learn from.

Atlanta United brought in Darren Eales as President while former USMNT defender Carlos Bocanegra was named Vice President and Technical Director. Eales’s time as an executive of a top English Premier League club in Tottenham Hotspur gave him connections and cache to focus on top international talent while Bocanegra focused on building out the academy and roster. I could see FC Cincinnati going this route. Focusing on a heavy domestically based staff with MLS experience and partnering with a closer like Eales to bring in top end talent.

The Columbus Crew hired Tim Bezbatchenko as their President in 2019 but he serves a dual role as their General Manager. I don’t expect FC Cincinnati to promote Chris Albright immediately nor do I expect them to push him out.

I would look for the new president to be highly involved in both the men’s and future women’s teams like US Soccer Sporting Director Ernie Stewart. Stewart oversees the framework for US Soccer’s technical approach and development path while leaving the day to day running of the teams to General Managers Brian McBride and Kate Markgraf. FC Cincinnati could allow a new President to come in aligned with similar ideas to new General Manager Chris Albright and empower him to hire and manage coaches and players of the men’s and youth teams.

In the end, this move is a natural progression for both Berding and FC Cincinnati. The club itself is still riding a massive wave of growth and stands to expand even more in the coming years. Bringing in a soccer mind to lead that charge is a smart move for the club. It will free up someone to come in to focus on ever growing soccer responsibilities without pushing burdens onto the plate of Chris Albright who has a mighty task of building the MLS and MLS Next squads.

The post Berding Promoted, FC Cincinnati in Search of New President appeared first on Cincinnati Soccer Talk.

Highlights from this week’s show.

Coach Gough and Justin are back! The guys look at the past 3 losses for FC Cincinnati: 5-1 at Inter Miami, 6-3 at home to Nashville, and 2-0 at Philadelphia Union, and ask “What lessons can we learn from these losses?”

They ask the question, who on the team is still competing, and who isn’t showing the urgency necessary? They give Caleb Stanko some compliments, and then talk about why he still is a liability.

Then, as always, they get to your questions in the mailbag!

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The post 3 Losses, Many Lessons: Who is Still Competing for FC Cincinnati? appeared first on Cincinnati Soccer Talk.

“Our search for our next general manager was extensive,” said FC Cincinnati president Jeff Berding in the club’s press release. “Our new GM was going to be someone who knew what was required to win in Major League Soccer, experience that was non-negotiable. Delivering on that requirement, we are delighted to have found the best person for the job.”

“Chris’ experience in Major League Soccer and his track record of success are impressive,” said managing owner and CEO Carl H. Lindner III. “His ambitious, energetic character is emblematic of the type of leader we sought to bring in. We are thrilled to have him lead our soccer organization, and we are confident that he will fulfill our goals, and help make Cincinnati a championship city.”

The move was first reported by Sam Stejskal and Paul Tenorio of the Athletic in a story mentioning the two parties were negotiating toward a contract. On Thursday afternoon, The Post Cincinnati reported that the deal was completed.

Albright, 42, joined the front office of Philadelphia after a 15-year playing career in Major League Soccer. The Philadelphia-native has been highly regarded in MLS circles including rave reviews of his recruitment of players.

“It’s an honor to be the general manager of FC Cincinnati,” said Albright in the release. “This is a club with incredible supporters, top-of-the-league facilities and resources, and a hunger for success. I would like to thank Carl [H. Lindner III], Meg Whitman and the ownership, as well as Jeff and everyone who has trusted me to lead this club to achieve the goals we have set. I am committed to bringing all of my knowledge and experience to the table to make FC Cincinnati a championship club. I look forward to meeting the team, the staff and all of the fans, and I can’t wait to get started.”

Beginning in 2014 Albright began to oversee player recruitment under former Union CEO Nick Sakiewicz. Following his dismissal, Albright was in charge of Philly’s domestic acquisitions and the academy under current US Soccer sporting director Ernie Stewart. The former right back’s career began to really take off in 2018 when Ernst Tanner was installed as the Union’s new sporting director.

According to a piece in The Athletic, one head coach deemed that Albright operates in “a class of his own” among organizational seconds-in-command. That same article also stated under Albright’s guidance, Philadelphia has been MLS’s top club in terms of spend efficiency (point per dollar) for three seasons running, according to a Union spokesperson.

Philadelphia made the playoffs in four of Albright’s seven full seasons. In what would be a career highlight, the Union won the 2020 MLS Supporters Shield in a season which saw the club also make the MLS is Back tournament semi-finals.

“Chris has been extremely focused and efficient in accomplishing the club’s goals and has set the standard high when it comes to securing players and managing the salary cap,” said Sporting Director, Ernst Tanner in the Union’s release. “He has an incredible grasp of the MLS roster rules and regulations that he introduced me to when I first arrived. I’m grateful for our collaboration over the last couple of seasons and wish him the best in Cincinnati.”

Key additions added in Philly under Albright include Alejandro Bedoya, Jamiro Monteiro, Jose Martinez, Ilsinho and Bořek Dočkal. Their success is impressive as the Union as 25th of 27 teams in salary spent in 2021. The also are not know for high transfer fees as their club-record $2 million transfer to make Monteiro’s loan a permanent deal ranks well below the deals for Luciano Acosta, Isaac Atanga and Brenner.

Prior to his time in management, Albright had an outstanding professional career which included time with DC United, LA Galaxy, New England Revolution, New York Red Bulls and finally with the Union. The forward turned right back would go on to win three MLS Cups, one Supporters Shield and one US Open Cup. In 2005 Albright was named to the MLS Best XI while with the Galaxy.

He experienced international success playing for the US men’s national team including 22 caps and being named to the 2006 FIFA World Cup squad.

Albright will have a tough hill to climb as he will need to account for many roster budget constraints over the next year. The fanbase will expect improvement upon the past three seasons, yet he will have to deal with expensive cap hits including Kamohelo Mokojko, Yuya Kubo, Allan Cruz and potentially soon-to-be senior roster budget player Kenneth Vermeer.

The young GM will also need to encourage key pieces like youngsters Alvaro Barreal and Gustavo Vallecilla to stay “bought-in”. Albright will have seven games to evaluate the group including interim coach Tyrone Marshall. Will Marshall do enough to earn the head coaching spot or will Albright bring in current Union assistant coach Pat Noonan as the clubs new manager?

Stejskal and Tenorio also reported that Albright was expected to add Union assistant technical director Kyle McCarthy to his front office in Cincinnati.

While Cincinnati Soccer Talk can confirm through league sources that the position was offered to Seattle Sounders sporting director Craig Waibel last week, fans shouldn’t be discouraged with the results of the search. Albright has significantly more league experience than his predecessor and is already appearing to execute his plan.

Early on in his career in Philly, Albright did have some failures, but has had more successes recently. Fans would hope that ownership will allow Albright to make a couple big splashes this season with one DP spot likely open. There must be patience shown as the first-time GM will need to recalibrate the roster and likely will have some tough contracts to get rid of or sit on in 2022.

While the temptation to look ahead for incoming players will be great for FCC fans, Albright does have one role he must fill. Head Coach. Hopefully his connections will allow him to lure an attractive option to provide stability in a role that has been a revolving door.

The post Philadelphia Union’s Chris Albright named FC Cincinnati GM appeared first on Cincinnati Soccer Talk.

Highlights from this week’s show.

FC Cincinnati has parted ways with Coach Jaap Stam! Coach Gough and Justin look at the situation from an insider’s perspective. When did it become evident that Stam needed to go? Was he set up for failure from the start?

Justin talks about his personal experiences with changing coaches during a season. What are the players experiencing? What is their mindset like?

Then, as always, they get to your questions in the mailbag!

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The post An Insider’s Look at FC Cincinnati’s Sacking of Jaap Stam appeared first on Cincinnati Soccer Talk.

That there are many great names available or could become available is some realistic scenario playing out as we speak. Does this list excite you? Give us your thoughts at Feedback@CincinnatiSoccerTalk.com.

Likelihood Index:

10-8: Good fit for both club and exec. Should be someone the club interviews.
7-6: Good fit for club and or exec. If interested, this should be someone who is interviewed
5-4: Will get an interview if interested, but that is a big IF.
3-1: Highly unlikely, but could you imagine?
0: You don’t come here for zeroes.

Second in Command – More likely

Brian Bliss – chicagofirefc.com

Brian Bliss: Technical director and VP of player personnel — Sporting Kansas City

Success — Two Supporters’ Shields (2008, 2009) and the 2008 MLS Cup with the Columbus Crew, 2017 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup champion and the Western Conference regular-season top finisher in 2018 and 2020. First place in the Western Conference in 2021.

Transfer/roster budget record — Bliss has always been associated with mid-to-low spending clubs with the KC Wizards, Columbus, Chicago and the current version of Kansas City. While under Peter Vermes, Bliss oversees SKC’s player personnel matters while also managing the salary cap, negotiating contracts, holding a scouting role and assisting in player development across Sporting’s professional pathway. Bliss was also instrumental in the signing of designated player Alan Pulido.

Bio — Bliss earned 33 caps for the United States men’s national team over 11 years. As a defender, Bliss played in the 1988 Olympics and the 1990 FIFA World Cup. Bliss has had several senior executive positions including being the technical director of the Columbus Crew (2008-13) and the technical director of the Chicago Fire (2014-15) prior to SKC. Bliss was also an assistant coach in MLS and was the interim head coach of both Columbus and Chicago.

Likelihood –– 9 of 10. Bliss should be on FCC’s list. He should be on any club’s list for that matter. If Bliss wants to return to the big chair, this could be an exceptional opportunity for both club and leader. He brings many skillsets to the position that is badly needed and would be a golazo of a hire.

Will Kuntz – datanyze.com

Will Kuntz: Senior VP of soccer opps and assistant general manager — Los Angeles FC

Success – LAFC has made the playoffs in each of its three seasons 2018 (third), 2019 (first, MLS Cup semifinals) and 2020 (seventh).

Transfer/Roster Budget Record — Kuntz is part of a management team that has signed some of the highest-profile players in MLS including Diego Rossi and Carlos Vela. LAFC has also had success down roster inking Canadian Mark-Anthony Kaye from Louisville City and Eduard Atuesta. LAFC has been towards the top of league spending, ranking sixth this season. It has struggled with domestic signings lately but did succeed early in its tenure with players like Walker Zimmerman, Triston Blackmon and Jordan Harvey.

Bio — Kuntz works closely with Co-President and general manager John Thorrington in managing and assembling LAFC’s roster of players, coordinating the club’s scouting and data analytics departments and managing the salary budget. A member of the New York Yankees front office for 10 years, Kuntz transitioned to soccer as the director of player relations at MLS headquarters.

Likelihood –– 7 of 10. I think this boils down to whether Kuntz is interested. His resume and experience point to him being ready, and the club’s vision seems to be in step with Kuntz’s career path. Another great option should both parties be in sync.

Curt Onalfo: Technical director — New England Revolution

Success —  MLS Cup as an assistant coach for LA Galaxy in 2011, 2012 and 2014. Western Conference semifinal in 2007 as head coach of the KC Wizards. New England has made the playoffs in each of the past two seasons — seventh in 2019 and eighth with a trip to the MLS Cup semifinals in 2020. New England is first place in the Eastern Conference with 40 points (2.11 ppg).

Transfer/roster budget record — Onalfo has been a part of many roster builds over his time as an assistant (LA) and as a head coach (KC Wizards, DC United and the LA Galaxy). In New England, Onalfo has been tasked with developing the academy and reserve pipeline with New England II. He has worked with Bruce Arena to bring in quality players to the Revs including Carles Gil, Adam Buksa and Gustavo Bou. The Revs rank near the middle of the pack in roster spending this season, which has increased significantly since the arrival of Arena and Onalfo.

Bio — Arena’s right-hand man, Onalfo has served in various roles in MLS and with U.S. Soccer. Highly thought of in most football circles, the Sao Paulo native has overseen the development of many youth setups, including the Galaxy’s Los Dos program. The downside to Onalfo is his tenure in his latest stops. A top-notch assistant, Onalfo has floundered in short stops as the leader in KC, D.C. and LA. He does have many contacts around the game in the U.S. which could help recruit additional quality support staff.

Likelihood –– 5 of 10. You should respect what Onalfo has done in his career, but at this point I am not sure giving him a fourth opportunity to lead a club would be in FC Cincinnati’s best interest. I think there are worse options out there but also significantly better. Can he apply what he has learned from Arena in his most recent stop to propel FCC to success?

Ally Mackay: Assistant general manager — Nashville SC

Success – Seventh place in 2020 inaugural season (MLS Cup semifinal), currently fifth place in 2021.

Transfer/roster budget record — Nashville SC was near the middle of league spending prior to the arrival of DP Ake Loba. Nashville has set the bar for low-spending expansion sides, spending on MLS experience over sell-on potential. The shrewd moves for Walker Zimmerman and Dax McCarty help provide a solid foundation for Nashville in 2020. DP Hany Muhktar has shown to be a very good playmaker in MLS with Mackay helping to pull many of the right levers for NSC.

Bio — Mackay was an agent for the Stellar Group prior to Nashville SC. Based in London, Stellar is one of the largest sports agencies in the world, representing over 200 soccer players worldwide, and has offices in countries around the globe. Mackay utilizde those connections to assist Jacobs in building Nashville’s inaugural MLS roster in 2020.

Likelihood — 4 of 10. Mackay is relatively new at management in MLS, but his stock has to be high due to the success of Nashville. I would think he is to the point where he could be interviewed, but possibly a quality backup option at this point in his career. Very impressed so far.

Craig Waibel – soundersfc.com

Craig Waibel: Senior vice president of soccer and sporting director — Seattle Sounders

Success – Real Salt Lake reached the postseason in three of his four seasons as GM 2016 (sixth), 2018 (sixth) and 2019 (third).

Transfer/roster budget record — Waibel was on the cutting edge of bringing along youth players into MLS. During his tenure, academy players featured over 10,000 minutes of play for RSL in 2018 and 2019. Some of these players, including Corey Baird, Justen Glad, Sebastian Saucedo and Aaron Herrera, have become great professionals. Waibel did have some decent international signings along the way, including Albert Rusnak, Jefferson Savarino and Damir Kreilach.

Bio — First off, putting him in the second in command group feels a bit wrong for the former RSL GM. A large reason why he is now in Seattle in a secondary role is due to the environment around embattled RSL owner Dell Loy Hansen. Waibel was named technical director at RSL in 2015 and took over as GM following Garth Lagerwey’s departure to Seattle Sounders FC. Waibel served in that role through the 2019 MLS season.

Likelihood — 1 of 10. While I think Waibel might be the most qualified candidate listed on here next to Vermes, he just began back with Seattle replacing Chris Henderson, who left to go to Miami. If FCC can somehow convince Waibel to come to Cincinnati, it would be a dream hire.

Current GM – Possible given the right situation

Elliot Fall – RSL.com

Elliot Fall: General manager — Real Salt Lake

Success — Third place Western Conference finish in 2019 as assistant GM under Craig Waibel. Currently in eighth place.

Transfer/roster budget record — After being named as the youngest GM in MLS history in December 2019, Fall was tasked with rebuilding an aged RSL roster. Fall had to retool by adding young DP Jeizon Ramírez, former USMNT forwards Bobby Wood and Rubio Rubin, and international attacker Jonathan Menéndez. He also relied on MLS veterans such as Justin Meram along with a host of academy and Real Monarchs players.

Bio — Fall began as an intern at RSL but learned under top MLS execs such as Lagerwey and Waibel. He assumed the GM role after the departure of Waibel and had been working to make RSL a quality side under the cloud of the sale of the club from Dell Loy Hansen. He has lured some decent names to the club and has played a large part in the development of the its academy and USL side.

Likelihood — 4 of 10. I am concerned that he is not the “flashy” signing that FCC might want to make. He does not have a playing pedigree of some candidates but could be a great GM or second man in charge should the club go the route of a high-level head coach or VP. His job could be up in the air due to the ownership change, so that could make it more likely that he is looking around for other opportunities.

André Zanotta: Technical director — FC Dallas

Success –– Playoff appearances for FC Dallas in 2019 (seventh) and 2020 (sixth). Currently ninth in the Western Conference. Won the 2017 Copa Libertadores in 2017, Recopa Sudamericana in 2018 and Campeonato Gaúcho in 2018 at Grêmio. Under Zanotta’s leadership, Grêmio reached the final of the FIFA Club World Cup in 2017.

Transfer/roster budget record — Zanotta oversees a budget that ranks in the middle to bottom half of MLS. His duty has been to mix a healthy amount of homegrown players around MLS and international veterans in an effort to sell players. He has done an outstanding job of continuing the Dallas development pipeline, ensuring inflows of cash for prospects Tanner Tessmann, Reggie Cannon, Bryan Reynolds, Chris Richards and others.

Bio — Zanotta is an international “GM” that was sporting director of Santos FC and Grêmio. At Santos he was instrumental in the sale of Brazilian superstar Neymar from Santos to FC Barcelona in 2013. Zanotta has signed quality players while at Dallas including Bressan and Bryan Acosta while balancing playing time for young Dallas prospects. He has recently relied more on the international market to help add to the roster and continue the development and productivity of youngsters like Ricardo Pepi.

Likelihood –– 3 of 10. I could see FC Cincinnati as being a project of interest to Zanotta. He has the international contacts the club liked in Nijkamp but also learned the intricacies of the league in Dallas. Increased spending potential in Cincinnati could make it worth considering.

Matt Jordan: Senior vice president/general manager — Houston Dynamo

Success — Fourth in 2017. Never has finished higher than eighth nor made the playoffs in any other season as GM. Eleventh place on 1.00 ppg this season. Has the experience but not the winning track record.

Transfer/roster budget record — Houston is in the bottom five of salary spending for 2021. Jordan has done fairly well with big signings including starlet Mauro Manotas, Matias Vera, Demarcus Beasley and Alberth Elis. He orchestrated the trade for Tim Parker this year and signed USL standout Tyler Pasher who has been very good this season. His addition of Darwin Quintero could be questioned however.

Bio — Jordan joined the Dynamo as their first GM following the departure of Dom Kinnear. Prior to Houston, Jordan was the technical director of the Montreal Impact for four seasons. Jordan has been hampered by an ownership group that hasn’t been willing to spend. The new ownership group could decide to replace Jordan in the winter, possibly making him more interested in FC Cincinnati. His three head coach hires of Owen Coyle, Wilmer Cabrera and Tab Ramos have underperformed.

Likelihood –– 2 of 10. Another situation like Fall. Will the new ownership group continue or bring in its own candidate? I think Jordan could be an interesting candidate especially with his recent track record of signings. He has missed on his fair share, so his “winning-ness” will be heavily scrutinized. Not sure if his pattern of mediocrity would be good enough to be a top-tier candidate.

Coach as GM – If only this were the Winter window

Peter Vermes: Manager and sporting director — Sporting KC

Success — Won the 2012, 2015 and 2017 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup and the 2013 MLS Cup. Western Conference regular-season top finisher in 2011, 2012, 2018 and 2020. Named the 2019 MLS Sporting Executive of the year and one of the top five winningest coaches in MLS.

Transfer/roster budget record — Sporting KC routinely ranks in the upper half or third in MLS roster budget spending. Vermes up until recently did not spend large sums in the international transfer market. His largest signing happened this past year by bringing in DP Alan Pulido from Guadalajara. He has a strong track record of identifying low-cost international signings while developing college draftees and youth players.

Bio –– Vermes was appointed as the technical director for the Kansas City Wizards in November 2006 and was named manager of the Wizards on Aug. 4, 2009. He is a former USMNT player and U.S. Soccer Hall of Fame inductee. He represents the top caliber of managers and heads of football in MLS.

Likelihood — 1 of 10. Sporting KC ranks at the top of the Western Conference. SKC has great facilities, youth development and a core of top-level MLS players. I would doubt that he would choose to leave an MLS Cup contender for FCC no matter how much the author of this story wants it to happen.

League Office – Wild cards

Lino DiCuollo: Former senior VP of competition and player relations — MLS headquarters

Success –– Limited. Helped chart new rules and MLS collective bargaining agreement while at MLS headquarters.

Transfer/roster budget record — This would be the first time DiCuollo would be in the front office of an MLS club but not his first time negotiating international contracts. A central figure behind the scenes since 2005 in the MLS player department, DiCuollo set roster and budget guidelines, managed transfers and approved contracts for MLS clubs.

Bio — Currently a Senior Advisor at the Kapital Football Group. DiCuollo was an influential member of the league office player department as the longtime assistant to Todd Durbin. According to the Athletic, DiCuollo was considered for a top position in Montreal’s front office before remaining with MLS to finalize the latest CBA.

Likelihood — 2 of 10. Does FCC want to take a risk with someone who has not managed multiple facets of an organization? A potentially great hire in terms of understanding the intricacies of MLS, is DiCuollo equipped with all the skills to be a GM?

Alecko Eskandarian: Director of player development — MLS headquarters

Success — 2004 MLS Cup MVP and champion as a player for D.C. United. NASL Soccer Bowl Champion as an assistant coach in 2013.

Transfer/roster budget record – Eskandarian has not been a member of an MLS front office outside of his season as the technical director of the Philadelphia Union academy. He has however been a part of one of the best non-MLS clubs in the history of the U.S. that saw quality players such as Marcos Senna and Alessandro Noselli and others.

Bio — Eskandarian has over 125 professional appearances as a player including one appearance for the USMNT. His time in management comes as an assistant coach for the New York Cosmos from 2013-17 and as the manager of their reserve squad in the NPSL in 2015-16. He has since moved to MLS headquarters, where he is currently the director of player development. Eskandarian has championed for player health and safety after a concussion ended his career.

Likelihood — 1 of 10. I understand that Eskandarian’s credentials do not equal the others, but he is a well-respected individual that could benefit from being the second in command to a head coach/GM or VP role. He would bring a solid name with MLS headquarters experience to a role at FC Cincinnati which I believe could extend to a successful run for FCC.

Other Names

Ned Grabavoy: Technical director — Portland Timbers

Meghan Cameron: Assistant director of player personnel — Sporting Kansas City

Luiz Muzzi: Executive vice president of soccer operations — Orlando City SC

Chris Albright: Technical director — Philadelphia Union

Jon Scheer: Director of scouting — Philadelphia Union

Bruno Acosta: Director of recruitment & scouting — San Jose Earthquakes

Jaap Stam: Head coach — FC Cincinnati

Pádraig Smith: Executive vice president and general manager – Colorado Rapids

The post The ‘long-short list’ of FC Cincinnati GM candidates appeared first on Cincinnati Soccer Talk.

In an interview with Pat Brennan of the Enquirer, Berding said MLS experience would be a priority. I believe after seeing the success of Nashville along with Nijkamp’s difficulty navigating the MLS budget process, that experience would be a sound bet to right the Orange & Blue ship.

Berding also mentioned in the article that FCC would “find the right person and we will do it as quickly as possible.” According to a source in the club, it is believed this will be a fast process that will allow the new general manager-type role to evaluate the current football staff and roster.

To be fair to Nijkamp, he had to build a football organization from very little. The Dutchman had a Herculean task of launching an academy, hiring numerous staff, outlining common operations, learning how to navigate a league with unique rules and rebuilding a roster effectively twice (once his fault, once not). He succeeded in some of those areas while failing massively in others. Credit to him, this is a significantly different job that he took on and one I believe should be attractive to many candidates.

Pillars

Berding mentioned several pillars of success for the organization during his press conference. I will co-opt his term to outline areas I believe can be used to evaluate general manager candidates.

Success on the field: No ifs, ands or buts, FCC just told every applicant that you must win and win fast. The applicants will all have to come from an organization that is currently winning or has been a “winner” for a large part of the last five-plus seasons. I do love how Nijkamp stressed how he was able to “stretch a buck” due to his time at PEC Zwolle, but let’s not act like they were consistently at the top of the table in the Eredivisie. FC Cincinnati needs a proven formula for success with this hire. We need a winner.

Transfer track record: I could even go about breaking this into two additional categories: Efficient Spend and Big Money Spend. To be blunt, this GM will have to make somewhere between two to four splash moves this winter window. That doesn’t necessarily mean only inflows. The GM will have to potentially move some high-dollar players to get flexibility back into the roster budget. A substantial successful transfer history or league knowledge of designated player negotiations, domestic signings and U-23 players must be shown.

Coaching and football operation staff hires: This was not necessarily mentioned by Berding due to his commitment and support of coach Jaap Stam on Friday, but I would make a substantial bet that there will be a new coach on the touchline next season. I want to see the track record of input on any coaching hires or diversity among jobs where the “head of football” worked with different coaches. I would prefer that a GM and a coach have some relationship prior to FCC. We have seen the opposite fail miserably in places such as Atlanta and Miami, where big-name coaches come in and immediately feud with the front office. Working with a diverse set of staff and tenure with those people leading to winning is a great formula to get quick results in a league based on parity.

League experience: As I mentioned above, this is a tough league to walk into without a large depth of knowledge. No doubt this will change over time as FC Cincinnati cultivates and develops an operational chart that assists the GM, but right now the club needs someone who can walk in and be an expert of the language that is MLS. While tenure is all well and good, I do think having knowledge of many different philosophies will make the next GM well-rounded. Does this person need to have worked at five MLS clubs? No. I’d be just as happy with a person who has worked in several international clubs but also has that depth of experience/time to know MLS. The downfall of Nijkamp was his MLS roster budget mechanism usage. The club can’t continue to overpay for average players and needs to have someone who can maximize the budget with an ownership group that is willing to be a top five spender.

Relationships: This person will need to bring in seasoned MLS staff, coaches and players if the club truly wants to turn this thing around. Having spent time with U.S. Soccer, the MLS league office or time as an MLS player or staff member will help convince people to join the FC Cincinnati project. Let’s face it, FCC has a bad rap out there in league circles and will need some reliable, quality people in-house to jump-start success. Look at Seattle. It is a who’s-who of successful pros and league vets. Many of the standard-bearers in MLS have diverse and well-known people leading them. The club needs someone who will convince the top coaches, staff members and future GMs to join Cincinnati.

Look in the mirror

FC Cincinnati must evaluate what type of club it wants to be in the future. Does FCC continue to spend big on the international market, will the academy system be the bread and butter, or will there be a hybrid model? Will FC Cincinnati target players with a decent track record in MLS such as Geoff Cameron and Luciano Acosta, or will it chose to spend a fortune every three or four years on the next Wunderkind like Brenner?

I do believe that the league is on a precipice of a fundamental shift. Having a solid academy will be important, but as the rate of spend climbs, so will the need to deal in the international market. Will this club try to succeed with flashy signings like Atlanta and Los Angeles FC, or will they look like Sporting Kansas City or Philadelphia mixing youth, league experience and proven international players?

GM organization ‘types’

Organizational charts in MLS clubs are unique. No two are alike, but there are some common organizational structure themes.

Coach as GM/technical director with a strong “underling”: This was a common organizational structure in the MLS 2.0 era but does still have some place in today’s game. Peter Vermes (Sporting Kansas City) and Bruce Arena (New England) stand out as successful current heads of football while being the coach. Outside of Gregg Berhalter in Columbus prior to his time with the U.S. men’s national team, this method of leadership is dying out. There is simply so much going on now for this role that should you allow your coach to be GM, you absolutely must have an ace second in command. Vermes is paired with Brian Bliss, while Arena has Curt Onalfo. Not saying that this can’t be done, but those who want the coach to ultimately call the first-team and clubs personnel shots need to understand that it takes a special person and second GM type to really be successful.

Strong GM: I would classify this is as what Nijkamp was. He was the de facto leader at FCC next to Berding. This type, along with the one below, can be very similar, and ultimately I hope they are. The club needs a strong head of soccer with a pattern of success but also someone who has relationships to bring in capable people with MLS experience underneath him. In this organization, there is a clear head where all departments (technical staff, roster-budget, academy, scouting, etc.) report directly to. Whether a strong GM appoints an assistant, ultimately they have their hands in every pot actively.

VP/president of soccer operations and a GM: I view this similar to the partnership Garth Lagerwey and Craig Waibel have in Seattle or Dave Kasper and Lucy Rushton in D.C. There is so much going on in MLS right now including the addition of a reserve-team league, MLS Next academy system, an influx of high-profile players and more. It’s almost too much for one person to handle. Is it better that one person focuses on the macro and the other the micro? There is something to be said for setting a consistent philosophy of one person in the organization, but as a growing club and one with huge aspirations, why not go with two experienced leaders who are on the same page.

This is also the pot where I could potentially see a candidate from outside of MLS. Take André Zanotta in Dallas as an example. He has vast South American experience at Gremio and Santos but is partnered with Marco Ferruzzi, who has been with the club since 2004. Would you be comfortable bringing in an international VP/technical director if that person commits to working with an experienced MLS club or league office executive? I believe one of the downfalls Nijkamp had was not bringing someone with more league experience into his leadership circle.

Candidate Pools

Coach as GM: As previously mentioned above, this to me is a long shot. Berding wants to get a GM in sooner than later, and I don’t see anyone, including the likes of Vermes leaving his team prior to the playoffs. The best case would have been this move back in the summer or fall of 2020, luring Berhalter away from the USMNT, but even that would have been a difficult ask. I would love Vermes. I just don’t see him leaving the first-place team in the Western Conference mid-season.

Current GM: Let’s face it, everyone wants Lagerwey, but he isn’t coming to the Queen City any time soon. I could see several current MLS GMs/”head of football” come to FC Cincinnati. There are many clubs that do not have the facilities, budget, support of ownership and growth potential of FC Cincinnati. Could a GM of a club in the bottom of league spending like Houston’s Matt Jordan or Philadelphia’s Ernst Tanner think FCC is a better fit for their future goals? What about Elliot Fall in Salt Lake, who might be replaced when new ownership is installed? Surely a person with his pedigree of youth development would be attractive. Could Zanotta be fed up with trying to focus on pure development and sales of players and utilize his connections abroad to buy players. There are attractive options here.

Second in command: FCC fans are clamoring for experience, and while these people are not the de facto leaders of their clubs, they certainly have a significant pull. Many of us might recognize the name of Brian Bliss. The former Chicago and Columbus technical director has worked with Vermes to make Sporting KC a juggernaut. Another attractive name and one suggested by Matt Doyle is Will Kuntz. The second in command at Los Angeles FC has splashed some serious cash on the transfer market along with success luring MLS veterans. Curt Onalfo has partnered with Arena to turn the Revolution into a contender. Is he ready to lead an entire organization? The elephant in the room is former RSL GM and now sporting director of Seattle Craig Waibel. This would certainly give Cincy the credibility we crave, but can the club lure him from one of the best clubs in North America. I think most of this group, along with others not mentioned, are ready to take over the reins of an aspiring club. The question is, will they have the skill to navigate a quick roster retool?

League office: This is always a tricky pathway. FC Cincinnati is truly in a salary budget mess for this upcoming window. What better than getting someone who helps write the rules in MLS? There have been successful GMs with this experience like Tim Bezbatchenko (Toronto FC and Columbus), but also some huge failures like Nelson Rodrigues (Chivas and Chicago). It is difficult to really pinpoint names at MLS headquarters, but one name that jumped out to me was Alecko Eskandarian. Is he ready for a GM job? I’m not 100% sure, but I think he could make for an outstanding second in command. He brings a wealth of playing experience and has relationships in and around MLS and the USMNT program. There are many competent professionals in the league office that would bring a wealth of knowledge from Day One and could help repair the project.

Other: I am sure there will be one name floated out there that is a pure head-scratcher to us supporters. Could FCC decide to install a Moneyball mentality and grab a roster budget guru as GM? Does Jürgen Klinsmann stick his head out in his yearly quest to remain relevant and say he is worthy of a task? Could Stam throw his hat into the ring? What about Berhalter’s brother Jay?  Heck, let’s poke our fingers in the eye of Columbus and sign Tim Bezbatchenko! I’m sure MLS headquarters or Sportsology may have a name or two in this pile, but I hope the club stays away from a “splash” move here.

I will be putting an additional piece together highlighting some of these names for further consideration. I do agree with Berding that FCC will have its pick of applicants. There are plenty of quality domestic options for Cincy, and the new GM needs to get started quickly to clean up another mess.

The post The first step in the hunt for FC Cincinnati’s new GM appeared first on Cincinnati Soccer Talk.

Highlights from this week’s show.

On this week’s podcast, Seubs is back in the hosting chair along with Bryan, Brad and Bill.

We offered up our best and worst from the past week as FC Cincinnati drew two matches and had one tiny little pitch invader.

It was announced late last week that FC Cincinnati and GM Gerard Nijkamp mutually agreed to part ways. We discuss the ramifications of this move now and what it means for Jaap Stam going forward.

Before his departure, Nijkamp did bring in two new players in Tyler Blackett and Florian Valot.

We wrapped up the show this week by answering some of your Twitter questions.

Support CST!

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Subscribe to Cincinnati Soccer Talk

Don’t forget you can now download and subscribe to Cincinnati Soccer Talk on iTunes today! The podcast can also be found on Stitcher Smart Radio now. We’re also available in the Google Play Store and NOW ON SPOTIFY!

As always we’d love your feedback about our podcast! You can email the show at feedback@cincinnatisoccertalk.com. We’d love for you to join us on our Facebook page as well! Like us at Facebook.com/CincinnatiSoccerTalk.

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The post Nijkamp Departs FC Cincinnati appeared first on Cincinnati Soccer Talk.

FC Cincinnati (0-1-2, 14th place, one point) breaks in its new home at TQL Stadium in the West End on Sunday, with a 4 p.m. start time on Fox against Inter Miami CF (1-2-2, 11th place, five points). It’s a moment the club has waited for since its admission into MLS, though celebrations will be muted, with stadium capacity limited through COVID-19 pandemic protocols.

The club will delay inaugural celebrations until it can reach full capacity, FC Cincinnati president Jeff Berding said on Monday’s Cincinnati Soccer Talk podcast. On Wednesday, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine announced COVID-19 health orders would be lifted effective June 2, so the club could jump back to full capacity anytime thereafter, but there’s been no announcement yet for the June 19 match against the Colorado Rapids.

“This is Match 1 in the stadium (on Sunday), and on the 29th will be Match 2,” Berding said on CST’s Monday show. “But the inaugural game will be when we’re at 100% (capacity). We’re not doing a lot of festivities, we’re not doing a lot of pageantry. We’re not celebrating, so to speak, the match, because all of our season ticket holders are not with us.”

Supporters, however, are welcoming the chance to break in the new venue and be together again for the first time in nearly 20 months. Because of COVID-19, FC Cincinnati fans have not seen a home game in person since Sept. 29, 2019. There will be a march to the match, complete with a new route and new homes for the supporters’ groups. See our matchday guide for more information.

While coach Jaap Stam told reporters on Wednesday that his players haven’t talked about the new stadium, he said playing in front of a crowd — even a limited one — will make a difference after spending almost all of 2020 in empty stadiums.

“It can be a huge difference,” Stam said. “Even only 6,000 (fans) gives you a totally different atmosphere than without. It gives you a very positive feeling when the fans are pushing you forward. It’s an extra push for the players.”

Fans will be hoping that extra push can help the club live up to its big moment, something it always seems to do when the national spotlight shines on Cincinnati. The 2017 U.S. Open Cup run and inaugural MLS home match in 2019 come to mind.

This moment won’t come without its challenges. Out of the gate, FC Cincinnati quickly stumbled to the bottom of the Eastern Conference table — where it has resided for most of its MLS existence — in just three matches. After taking a 2-0 lead in Nashville to start the 2021 season on April 18, the club has conceded 10 unanswered goals in the last 258 minutes.

FC Cincinnati could be catching Miami at the right time. Since beating Philadelphia on the road, Phil Neville’s squad has drawn with Nashville SC and Atlanta United and just on Wednesday lost 2-0 at home to CF Montreal.

Miami will be looking to feed Gonzalo Higuain at the top of its 4-2-3-1 formation. Higuain has two goals but hasn’t always made the most of his chances. Attacking midfielder Rodolfo Pizarro can also be a threat. Midfielder Blaise Matuidi and defender Leandro Gonzalez Pirez anchor the defense, and fans will likely see a familiar face in Victor Ulloa, who has spent time in the midfield and at right back for Miami.

Here are three things to watch for in the match:

Can the offense end its scoring drought? FC Cincinnati scored two quick goals in Nashville to start the season, led by key additions Luciano Acosta and Brenner. Though the Orange and Blue have shown dangerous moments in the two games following, nothing has come of it. Acosta has been sidelined with an arm injury. He has been training this week, Stam said, but the club is still assessing whether he can play on Sunday.

What will the pieces at the back look like? With some new signings, there’s the potential for a personnel shake-up on the back line and in the net. Stam said new goalkeeper Kenneth Vermeer is expected to push Przemyslaw Tyton for the starting spot. Considering the 10 unanswered goals, will Vermeer be minding FC Cincinnati’s net on Sunday? Or will Stam give Tyton one more match before reevaluating? There could also be a new centerback pairing. Nick Hagglund and Tom Pettersson have started the first three games, but Gustavo Vallecilla is available, and the club just added Geoff Cameron on Thursday. Can Cameron, who would appear fit after subbing on for Queens Park Rangers in the EFL Championship on Saturday, slot in right away for Stam?

Can FC Cincinnati rise to the moment? Fans, though unsatisfied with the results of the first three matches, are excited for the TQL opener. Though there likely won’t be any official celebration, beginning play in a new stadium is a big deal. This will be a match many fans will remember for a long time. Just the novelty of opening TQL will draw casual eyes of potential soccer fans around the city to televisions. And setting aside the new stadium, three points in this match could go a long way toward turning around this early season.

How to Watch
4 p.m. Sunday, TQL Stadium
Local TV – WXIX Fox 19
In region video stream – fccincinnati.com/stream
Out of region video stream – ESPN+
Local radio – ESPN 1530
Audio Stream – iHeartRadio App

The post FC Cincy breaks in new home appeared first on Cincinnati Soccer Talk.

Highlights from this week’s show.

We’re thrilled to welcome Fulcrum Fives as our new Presenting Sponsor of the show this month. Register your 5-a-side soccer team today and use promo code SOCCERTALK to get 10% off your team registration! Be sure to follow Fulcrum Fives on Facebook and Instagram too for the latest updates on their new facility!

Bryan, Bill and I open up this week’s show with a conversation with FC Cincinnati President Jeff Berding. It’s a big week for Jeff, three years of blood, sweat and tears went into the opening of TQL Stadium. This weekend, fans of FC Cincinnati will finally get to watch a match in their own stadium. We talked with Jeff about the process, things to look forward to this weekend, the team in general. It was a great conversation and Jeff was very transparent as he usually is when he comes on. We can’t thank him enough for taking the time to come on the podcast.

Fastsigns Central Cincinnati is a preferred partner of Xavier Athletics and they work with many high schools, college and pro sports teams in Cincinnati, including Cintas Center, Nippert Stadium, Paul Brown Stadium, Great American Ballpark, The Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame, Fifth Third Arena and others. Stop into Fastsigns on Highland Ave. next to Lowe’s in Oakley and tell Mike Williams that CST sent ya. You can visit them online at fastsigns.com/352 or follow them on social media accounts @fastsigns352.

In Segment 2 we welcomed in Jared Handra, President of Die Innenstadt and board member of The Incline Collective to get some information about what they’ll be up to this year. For even more information, visit them online at dieinnenstadt.com as well as inclinecincy.com. Big thanks to Rhinehaus for their support of the show this week.

In a recent report by The Enquirer’s Pat Brennan, FC Cincinnati are in the process of signing former USMNT center back Geoff Cameron.

Don’t forget to get your Kings Hammer FC tickets! Use promo code “CSTKHFC” at checkout to get a 10% off single match or season tickets. Order online today at CincinnatiSoccerTalk.com/khfctickets

Support CST!

Want to help support Cincinnati Soccer Talk? Want to become an episode captain? Become a supporter today!

You can also help support the show by purchasing some shirts from our new T-shirt store! Head on over to cincinnatisoccertalk.com/shop.

Subscribe to Cincinnati Soccer Talk

Don’t forget you can now download and subscribe to Cincinnati Soccer Talk on iTunes today! The podcast can also be found on Stitcher Smart Radio now. We’re also available in the Google Play Store and NOW ON SPOTIFY!

As always we’d love your feedback about our podcast! You can email the show at feedback@cincinnatisoccertalk.com. We’d love for you to join us on our Facebook page as well! Like us at Facebook.com/CincinnatiSoccerTalk.

The show’s RSS feed is https://cincinnatisoccertalk.libsyn.com/rss

The post Talking Home Opener with FCC’s Jeff Berding and DI’s Jared Handra appeared first on Cincinnati Soccer Talk.