The Flyin Lion: FC Cincinnati Podcast

FC Cincinnati’s attack stalled in a frustrating 1–0 loss to Toronto FC at TQL Stadium on MLS Matchday 3, and on this episode of the Flyin Lion Podcast we break down what went wrong—from the starting XI choices to the lack of movement and chance creation in the final third. We react to Pat Noonan’s blunt postmatch comments, dig into the match stats, and discuss what changes could spark the attack. We also cover Evan Louro’s contract extension, the loan addition of Fabian Mrozek from Liverpool F.C., and what FC Cincinnati’s current GAM situation means for roster flexibility. Plus, we check in on FC Cincinnati 2 and Matt Miazga’s return to minutes, and preview a huge week ahead with a CONCACAF Champions Cup clash against Tigres UANL followed by a league matchup with the New England Revolution.

FC Cincinnati fans hear him every matchday breaking down the tactics on ESPN 1530 — now broadcast analyst Kevin McCloskey joins the Flyin Lion Podcast. Kevin talks about his journey through the game as a player, coach, and executive before stepping into the booth with Tommy Gelehrter, shares stories from the early USL days of FC Cincinnati, and explains what preparation looks like before every broadcast. We also dive into the current state of FCC, the most important offseason move, what it will take to win a trophy this season, and Kevin’s perspective on the future of MLS, plus some rapid-fire questions to close it out. If you love FC Cincinnati and behind-the-scenes insight from the broadcast booth, this episode is for you.

FC Cincinnati’s week showcased both extremes of a long season, opening with a historic 9–0 demolition of O&M FC to secure a 13–0 aggregate victory — setting a club scoring record and the largest goal differential ever by an MLS team — before falling in their first road test of 2026 at Minnesota United, where cold conditions and missed final-third execution proved decisive. After dominant attacking displays midweek, FCC controlled stretches of play on the road but lacked the sharpness and aggression needed to capitalize, a point emphasized by Pat Noonan postmatch. The result feels less like alarm and more like a checkpoint, sharpening focus on creativity, rotation decisions, and response as Cincinnati now prepares for a Champions Cup Round of 16 showdown with Tigres UANL.

FC Cincinnati open the 2026 season with two convincing wins, starting with a dominant 4–0 road victory over O&M FC in the CONCACAF Champions Cup, their third straight year in the competition, behind goals from Tom Barlow, Kévin Denkey, and a brace from Ayoub Jabbari. FCC then returned home to a sold-out TQL Stadium to defeat Atlanta United on MLS Matchday 1, extending their unbeaten run in home openers under Pat Noonan with late goals from Denkey and Nick Hagglund, though the night was shaped by Evander’s early exit with hamstring tightness. We break down the performances, tactical takeaways, and key stats, discuss the outlook on Evander’s status, and preview what’s next with the Champions Cup return leg at TQL and an upcoming MLS trip to face Minnesota United FC.

The road to silverware officially begins for FC Cincinnati as we kick off the 2026 season with a full preseason recap, kit review, and season predictions. We break down matches against Brooklyn FC and Orlando City SC, highlighting encouraging attacking moments, lingering defensive questions, and key lineup experiments. We also give our in-person thoughts on the new Seven Hills Kit, discuss mixed fan and media reactions, touch on roster rumors and depth concerns, and preview a massive opening week featuring the Concacaf Champions Cup opener vs O&M FC and MLS Matchday 1 against Atlanta United, along with full competition and award predictions for the year ahead.

Favian Renkel joins us to lead the big-picture MLS season preview while we also break down FC Cincinnati’s first preseason win, a 1–0 result over Detroit City that raised as many questions as answers. Denkey stayed reliable from the spot, Bryan Ramirez made an encouraging first impression after joining the squad, and FCC showed some intriguing tactical looks that could point to a dual-playmaker setup or Evander pushing into a false 9 role — though final-third creativity is still a concern. Heavy rotation gave us a peek at depth battles across the roster, and off the field, the leaked 2026 kit has fans split, sparking another debate about club identity and whether orange should finally take center stage.

FC Cincinnati played to a 1–1 draw with Houston Dynamo in preseason match No. 2, leaving mixed feelings about progress versus preseason illusion. A rotated lineup struggled early under pressure, but Denkey stayed in form — first with a bicycle kick called offside, then scoring by capitalizing on a defensive mistake. The second-half group created chances, including a strong look from Bucha, yet FCC conceded late again in the 88th minute. Roman Celentano and Pat Noonan both pointed to gradual tactical growth, especially in building out from the back and testing midfield partnerships, but issues remain with handling pressure and creating consistently in the final third. Denkey’s form is a bright spot, Evander’s influence is still developing, and Miazga’s absence is noticeable, while Jabbari was held out and younger players continue to develop. Off the field, FCC are reportedly adding Liverpool goalkeeper Fabian Mrozek on loan, the club has launched a partnership with FC Porto, FCC2 signed Mathias Vazquez, and Cincinnati was ranked fifth among MLS teams most likely to win Champions Cup. Preseason continues February 7 against Detroit City FC.

FC Cincinnati’s preseason comes with major uncertainty as European reports link Kévin Denkey to Napoli, forcing the club to consider a potential blockbuster sale just weeks before the season while already adjusting to Brenner’s exit. On the field, FCC showed encouraging structure in a 105-minute preseason draw with New England, with Denkey scoring, strong early buildup, and heavy rotations aimed at fitness and tactical evaluation ahead of Champions Cup play. Pat Noonan emphasized higher expectations and experimentation, with injury updates on key players, while the club also added winger Bryan Ramírez, made loan and roster moves, and kept an eye on wider MLS news—making it a busy stretch both on and off the pitch.

FC Cincinnati’s offseason finally kicked into gear with the signings of Tom Barlow and Kristian Fletcher, adding much-needed depth and upside to the attack. We break down what Barlow brings as a high-work-rate, big-bodied striker and why Fletcher is an intriguing buy-low move as he works back from ACL surgery. We also react to Luca Orellano’s multi-million dollar transfer to Monterrey and the latest on Bryan Ramirez, who is reportedly in Cincinnati with visa issues delaying his official announcement. Chris Albright’s comments on Jabbari being signed as a starter, the midfield being set, and the backline still needing work spark a larger roster conversation. We dive into the full preseason schedule in Florida, key dates leading into the season, and what the early calendar looks like with Concacaf and MLS openers. Plus, we cover the Paul Walters loan, new player numbers, FCC2 signings, and around-the-league MLS news to get you fully caught up heading into preseason.

We break down FCC’s long-awaited roster movement with the signings of hometown veteran Kyle Smith and 16-year-old Homegrown Ademar Chavez, react to Bryan Ramírez’s near-complete move from LDU Quito, and dive into the latest twists in the Luca Orellano saga. We also analyze how the roster is shaping up ahead of preseason, what’s still needed before the season and CCC begin, and where another striker or defensive help could fit, plus touch on FCC2 updates, former FCC players, some wild national media takes, and around-the-league MLS chaos — all while thanking everyone who took part in the 615 Soccer survey and continues to support our coverage.