The Cincinnati Union?
The Union’s success over the last few years has led to some teams trying things ‘The Union Way”.
One team, FC Cincinnati, is taking things to a very odd level.
They say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. However, FC Cincinnati’s quest to be like the Union is getting very weird.
The Union’s success has been led by a great coaching staff, front office officials, and homegrown players. The Union built all of that themselves. Given the Union has amassed the most points in all of MLS over the last 3 seasons, it shows their system works. If a system works, teams will try to copy it.
However, Cincinnati isn’t really building their own system; they are kind of just taking everything they can from the Union and hoping it works just as well.
Some Moves Make Sense
Some of Cincinnati’s moves to be like the Union do make sense.
They hired former Union assistant Technical Director Chris Albright as their GM. Chris did great things for the Union, and his name has been thrown around often as the next big GM hire.
The same can be said for who Cincinnati hired as their new head coach, Union assistant coach Pat Noonan. Noonan, another staple of the way the Union ran things, was said to be getting calls about being a head coach soon. So it is no surprise that Cincinnati went with Noonan.
Moves that Were Just Odd
Around the end of the MLS season, it was revealed that Cincy wanted to make a run at Jim Curtin and lure him away from the Union.
Now, this isn’t weird because Curtin is a bad coach, or it wouldn’t fit; Curtin is one of the top coaches in all of MLS. This was weird because why would Jim Curtin leave a stable role in Philadelphia. Especially with a team who was just a COVID outbreak away from a possible MLS Cup. Just go to a Cincinnati team that has battled for the last spot in MLS every season of their existence.
I know some believed Cincy’s willingness to spend money could entice him, but if Jim Curtin is going anywhere else, it won’t be in MLS. Curtin has often said that the next step of his coaching career would be overseas.
Quite Possibly the Weirdest Move of Them All
News broke that shocked Union fans.
Photo: FC Cincinnati
Cincinnati has signed former Union defender Ray Gaddis to a 1-year deal, with an option for 2024. Ray Gaddis had retired as a member of the Philadelphia Union before the 2021 Season.
Gaddis was a vocal leader in his tenure for the Union. He also amassed the most games played and minutes played in Philadelphia Union history.
Gaddis is a great leader and a great defender. SOmething a Cincinnati team that had a historically bad defense in 2021 could use.
Gaddis did play one of his best seasons in his career in 2020, which made his retirement even more shocking.
However, I am not sure that Ray Gaddis, coming off of a year without playing, will help take Cincinnati to the next level.
It will take some time to get used to seeing Ray Gaddis in something other than Blue and Gold.
It’s Not That Bad…
Cincy’s goal of the building like the Union isn’t bad. IT worked for the Union, and Cincinnati needs to do something different.
Ever since coming into MLS as an expansion team, they have been dreadful.
The Union should feel flattered that other teams are trying to create success the ways they did, but Cincinnati is getting very weird about it.
Featured Image: FC Cincinnati
Discover more from Philadelphia Sports Nation
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
