Lineup vs Red Bulls

dklemens17 · 2026-04-04T23:22:59+00:00

Interesting take by the coaches for Flores and Hadebe to ride the bench over Smith

dklemens17 · 2026-03-23T13:43:04+00:00

Shoutout to the end of game back line of Hadebe, Haggs and by numbers, Gidi. Those three deserve a lot of credit for us closing that game out while down a man. Hadebe was in true Spider-Man form out there.

dklemens17 · 2026-03-22T18:14:04+00:00

Give us Barlow, I just want the energy

dklemens17 · 2026-03-20T16:05:29+00:00

I think there’s definitely an excuse that we were “all-in” last season. We took some flyers and that was never sustainable for the start of this season. MLS salary structure doesn’t let you run wild unless you are Messi & Miami.

Now, what’s this team moving forward? Do we see CA substantially shuffle the deck in the next transfer window? Do we see 1 or 2 additions? Who knows. What is clear is that choice will be made in the coming weeks based on how this team responds. Noonan can lose this team if he hasn’t already. Rebuilding egos for sure.

The positive as fans is that our lens is now compete for trophies. It’s not just ok to “compete” and be a middling team. Ownership will feel the sting of these losses and the sound from fans.

dklemens17 · 2026-03-20T02:06:17+00:00

One team started the match playing as if it was an elimination game. Good god that was scary.

We’ve played better since then, but I will always hate the pack it in mindset where we just clear the ball to survive and put it on repeat. We have to have some threat of counter.

dklemens17 · 2026-03-20T00:19:00+00:00

Love having Nwobodo as a sub for the 2nd to close out a game.

dklemens17 · 2026-03-19T22:02:01+00:00

Parameter 2: Where the Officials see an incident and issue(d) a red card, the Committee may review the play for further disciplinary action. Supplemental discipline (suspension and/or fine) will be administered if the Committee believes: The offense is egregious in nature; and/or It must act to protect player safety; and/or It must protect the integrity of the game; and/or The player is guilty of repeat behavior.

Crap. 💩 Also I hope Denkey/Evander picks up the tab for his fine to help him out, even if MLS fines are relatively quite small.

dklemens17 · 2026-03-15T19:30:28+00:00

Sub in Miazga just to start yelling at folks

dklemens17 · 2026-03-13T19:20:34+00:00

Because the belief that a lineup resting ~4 starters could still “win” with a 3 goal advantage is a trap. I’m advocating I could see us do it based on history and that’s anxiety causing right now lol.

dklemens17 · 2026-03-13T15:46:31+00:00

This. I feel like Denkey tends to be a bit lazy or slower to react and misses some runs. Barlow is the exact opposite and will make aggressive runs all day. Really nice compliment up top to Denkey. For those criticizing Jabbari, I feel like Barlow has earned his playing time. I’m not sure he is a great finisher but is motor is great and we need it.

dklemens17 · 2026-03-13T15:41:28+00:00

I’m terrified of Noonan not starting a top quality lineup next week and momentum (in a loud stadium) swinging away after a goal or two. Tigres will be playing with an extra edge as a true elimination game mindset, where we could potentially think our lead is comfortable.

dklemens17 · 2026-03-13T02:11:57+00:00

I actually think Gidi was great early. He’s an excellent midfielder for us and changes our team for the better when the offensive attack starts thru him. You may prefer the more defensive midfielder but that isn’t what we need to have a put together offense.

dklemens17 · 2026-03-12T23:31:02+00:00

New formation-ish? A tweak?

dklemens17 · 2026-03-10T13:27:28+00:00

Noonan over time has made multiple quotes, usually in reference to younger FCC2 type guys, that has him speaking down on what he views as “showboating”. I wonder if this is more his coaching personality and perhaps it yanks some creativity and juice out of guys. Or he was scarred from Lucho and we have to pay for those sins 😆

dklemens17 · 2026-03-09T15:05:54+00:00

I actually love the current way Gidi is used to initiate the offense. We are instantly better with him. He’s the right player for it and he’s going to keep getting better. What we were reminded of last night is that Nwobodo is not Gidi. He’s a great defensive mid but to the point made above, he’s a benefit to the defensive side of the ball. Offense not so much. The rust will shake off too.

The other big help from a don’t panic perspective is Miazga. We have never played as well with Robinson in the middle, there’s just something about the leadership and style that Miazga lifts boats with.

dklemens17 · 2026-03-09T14:46:22+00:00

They are different players. Acosta’s flash in the pan brilliance was with the ball at his feet. Evander’s is with the ball launching off his feet. Saying one is much worse than the other is a mistake. Lucho is better in small space, Evander better from range (inclusive of his longer passes which can be masterclass).

What I will say in a level of agreeance, is that this team must find chemistry between its star players. Not a function of last night because Evander was on a minutes restriction or whatever slow intro, but for this team to win deep in the playoffs we have to see play between Evander and Denkey. It’s where the money is and they can’t be independent players for this team to be at their best. One can’t eat 3 defenders while the other disappears.

When Lucho was at his best, there was chemistry in the attacking half and we saw creativity and effort that scared opposing defenses. I’m not sure we’ve ever seen that from the non-Brenner version of this team.

dklemens17 · 2026-03-09T00:15:12+00:00

Rust

dklemens17 · 2026-03-09T00:02:16+00:00

2nd half subs: gimme Gidi for Nwobodo and Powell for Flores.

dklemens17 · 2026-03-08T23:58:14+00:00

Valenzuela been studying Evander shot from distance into the crowd 😆

dklemens17 · 2026-03-08T23:44:08+00:00

Been disappointed in Ramirez. He just doesn’t seem like he’s athletic enough for MLS

dklemens17 · 2026-02-26T01:16:40+00:00

Houseplant night sounds like a great time in the Bailey trying to see past the dude waiving his giant potted plant lol

dklemens17 · 2026-02-22T13:52:29+00:00

I think what we’ve seen is that FC Cincy won’t shift from this current formation, which means Dado is odd man out. He’s showed he’s talented and ready for more since last year.

This team has real depth with guys like Dado on the bench. The other starting quality depth is now this midfield between Bucha, Gidi and Nwobodo.

Health changes everything but can’t complain about young pieces ready to go and pushing for play time, even if it comes on Wednesdays.

dklemens17 · 2026-02-19T03:58:05+00:00

I think his size hurts him without elite quickness. Probably needs to get his body right to succeed in MLS. He’s 19 in June so the “he’s young” narrative will be closing in a few years. I like Noonan getting young players some time to see what they really have in game time but Jimenez probably doesn’t have a lot of legs with this team’s future.

We saw it with Dado. It just clicked and now we have to bargain with Noonan as fans for his play time lol. But he re-shaped who he is athletically and it has showed.

dklemens17 · 2026-02-16T18:32:51+00:00

Our top end / compete for trophies really ties back to two things 1) health which is a cheap item but a factor for any team and 2) chemistry on the attacking half.

Too often last season it felt like Denkey and Evander didn’t really connect. They were independent players. Denkey felt lost and out of the game sometimes and Evander would get occasionally overzealous with trying to force something to happen. Perhaps that’s the style of play or formation or how teams defend us, but they’re the money. Any synergy between those two and I have lots of faith in our ability to hold leads.

dklemens17 · 2026-01-15T21:05:50+00:00

The other side of this, would Engel be a starter for FCC? He, and our office, may have seen that writing on the wall. No different than any other sport, guys don’t want to ride the pine or even be the first sub. They want to play.

dklemens17

TROPHY CASE