Monday Takeaways (3/10/25)

A viable secondary option for FC Cincinnati plus the return of Luca Orellano to the starting eleven

Photo by Clay Banks on Unsplash

All stats from FBref unless otherwise noted

FC Cincinnati took care of business against Toronto FC en route to a 2-0 win in the West End. It might’ve taken longer than it should have for the Orange and Blue to find its breakthrough, courtesy of a penalty by Kévin Denkey in the 71st minute, but FCC looked solid throughout the ninety minutes. Toronto rarely threatened, and though the Orange and Blue didn’t create a lot of great chances, the team created enough to get three points.

One Big Thing: Flexibility

With a must-win¹ game looming midweek in Monterrey against Tigres, Pat Noonan opted for a change in shape against Toronto. As far as I can tell, Saturday was the first time since the team lost 2-0 in Columbus in July 2022 that the Orange and Blue took the field in league play with just two starting centerbacks. Miles Robinson and Teenage Hadebe partnered at centerback joined by Lukas Engel and Alvas Powell playing as outside backs.

When asked about the change in shape in after the game, Noonan said, “Managing minutes was appealing, but it’s the personnel that you have. And looking at Toronto, what were some things we thought could be an advantage within that structure. I wouldn’t get too caught up in it. Each game, there are little adjustments, whether it’s a three-back, four-back, whether you’re building with your outside backs low or high, all these things.”

The game against Toronto certainly provided a good situation for Noonan to make those tactical tweaks. Federico Bernardeschi is a player who can still do lots of effective things but leading an aggressive, sustained press is not very high on that list. This allowed FCC’s four defenders and two midfielders time to pick the right pass to progress the ball up the field. Brian Anunga also benefited from the increased time and space in the middle of the field, showcasing much effective passing than he did against Philadelphia.

The Orange and Blue also looked to press aggressively after turnovers - and had another player up the field to aid in that effort.

Noonan concluded his answer about the tactical change, saying, “The game is always changing, and it always looks different. It’s trying to find advantages with the personnel you have.” The telling part of this answer to me is that Noonan finally has the personnel to make this kind of an adjustment.

When Lukas Engel’s signing on loan from Middlesbrough was imminent, I wrote that having a player more comfortable operating in a more traditional left back role might provide more flexibility in team shape. Swapping out a centerback for another attacker isn’t going to rewrite the DNA of how FCC wants to play. There will be tweaks in how the team moves the ball up the field into the final third and how defensive transitions are dealt with but the core identity will remain the same.

With no extenuating circumstances and with a healthy roster, the Orange and Blue’s Plan A still seems to be a shape based on having three centerbacks on the field. It just maximizes the players on the roster. However, being able to put together an effective Plan B, in this case a 4-2-3-1 missing multiple starters, is something Noonan hasn’t been able to do in his tenure in Cincinnati. It worked on Saturday and I’ll be watching closely to see how it goes the next time the Orange and Blue are forced to switch things up.

Another Thing: Luca’s Back

Luca Orellano’s his first start in Orange and Blue in 2025 also deserves some analysis. I’m on the record stating that Orellano has huge upside as a full-time attacker in 2025 and Saturday both reinforced my expectations while bringing me ever so slightly back to Earth.

I still think Orellano is going to be really, really good. His ability to beat players on the dribble is elite and was on full display on Saturday. There were moments where he already seemed to have good chemistry with his teammates, even new arrivals, despite limited run so far in 2025.

Going forward I’ll be keeping an eye on a couple things: his shot selection and how the relationship between FCC’s attacking trio develops.

Orellano’s three open play shots came from an average of a little more than 23 yards from goal. Yes, he nearly scored one, forcing a save from Sean Johnson dropping the ball at Corey Baird’s feet who saw his rebound effort crash off the post. However, long distance shots aren’t great options. Yes, Orellano scored two goals from midfield and a couple from outside the box last season but on a team with more offensive firepower, a speculative shot from distance almost certainly means an opportunity elsewhere.

None of Orellano’s shots against Toronto really fell into the “that was a really bad choice to shoot” category but it’ll be something to keep an eye on going forward.

On Saturday, Orellano was more than happy to drop deep - or float centrally - to find the ball. In contrast with the relatively disciplined positions taken up by FCC’s attacking line early in the season, Luca’s willingness to go wherever was necessary was a change. When we see Evander and Orellano playing together, it might take some time for them to figure out who should drop when needed to provide another option in midfield and who should stay higher up the field. Any issues can and should be sorted out just by more time on the field together but it might just take some time.

The Denkey-Evander-Orellano trio leading the Orange and Blue’s attacking line should be capable of some jaw dropping stuff this season and beyond. However, developing that chemistry won’t be an overnight process. Patience will be key.

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It’s NWSL Season

This week marks the opening weekend of the NWSL season. I wrote two season previews over at American Soccer Analysis. The first, a look at what 2025 might hold for Racing Louisville should be online today followed by one for the Chicago (formerly Red) Stars’ season tomorrow. In my view, ASA’s season previews² are the best in the business - check them out if you’re already a fan or are looking to start watching. And if you aren’t watching, you should be.

1. or a draw where each team scores more than one goal, I think?

2. my own excepted