When FC Cincinnati head coach Jaap Stam points out his club had a tough schedule to begin the 2021 season, some will write the comments off as excuse-making.
In fact, there's strong evidence to support Stam's claim. Most teams in Major League Soccer would have had their hands full with the fixture list FCC was dealt.
Stam's assertion will be even stronger after FC Cincinnati on Saturday hosts Eastern-Conference leading New England Revolution (4-1-2) at TQL Stadium for a 3 p.m. kickoff.
Like every other opponent FC Cincinnati's faced in 2021, New England was an MLS Cup playoff qualifier in 2020. The "Revs" also advanced to the Eastern Conference final and are showing in 2021 last season's playoff run, which included an away upset of Supporters Shield winners Philadelphia Union, wasn't a fluke.
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New England is the best team FC Cincinnati will have faced in 2021 in terms of its record, and perhaps the Revolution play the best soccer too. But for Stam, New England is just another addition to a long line of quality opponents FCC's had to contend with in the early days of the season.
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"Up to now, we've been facing several very good teams," Stam said. "If you look at Nashville the first game - doing very well last season (and) playing with players that have been playing all of last season, so no changes. Same for New York (City FC) – no changes, so getting used to each other already the whole season last season. Same for Orlando, same issue. No changes, good team (and) good quality. And now, of course, Montreal. Several changes, new coach but still a very good team, very good players, physique but also quality-wise in what they can do.
"This team again, New England, they're doing, like you're saying yourself, they're doing very well. They've got ability. Players that have been used to playing together as well and that's what we need to deal with, and then if you look at these teams we have been facing and where we are, we still have to make a couple of steps because there's new players coming in ... New players and players in different positions as well. Sometimes, ourselves, we're playing in different systems as well. That's what I like. We need to be able to do that as well to make it, at times, difficult for the opposition as well."
Exactly how Stam plans on attempting to make things difficult for New England is open to a little bit more speculation than in weeks past.
After consistently playing in a 4-3-3 setup for most of the young season, Stam switched Cincinnati into a 3-5-2 to great effect for the eventual 2-1 win against Montreal.
Playing as it did against Montreal, fullbacks Ronald Matarrita and Joseph-Claude Gyau became wing-backs and were unleashed down the flanks. Both players were effective and had arguably their best games for the club.
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Caleb Stanko was introduced to a Stam starting lineup for the first time since Sept. 12 and played as a center back, although he said Thursday he viewed his role as closer to that of a midfielder at certain times.
Stanko spoke to the merit of playing in the 3-5-2 and correctly noted that the formation has yielded steady results for FC Cincinnati dating back to the early days of the Stam regime at the MLS Is Back Tournament.
So, while the 3-5-2 isn't exactly foreign to FC Cincinnati, it's not consistently deployed.
With FC Cincinnati needing results at a time when its fans are clamoring for tangible signs of improvement, it's possible they could role out the 3-5-2 again against New England.
Of course, Stam didn't tip his hand regarding tactics during his weekly news conference at TQL Stadium, which was his first in-person, group media session since he was hired in May 2020.
"We've got our ideas about what we're gonna do against (New England) but like you're saying, they've got a good team and also a team that's been working together for a longer period," Stam said. "Maybe one or two new players within their roster but a good side like you're saying with a lot of pace and a certain physique. The quality of play as well in the midfield and experience, and that's what we've seen and we need to deal with that. When we play at home, we want to show ourselves to the fans again and we're looking forward to do it."
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The Game
Kickoff: 3 p.m. Saturday, TQL Stadium
TV/Radio/stream: WSTR Star64/ ESPN1530/ FCCincinnati.com (in-market stream), ESPN+.
Series info: FC Cincinnati and New England have split their all-time series with a shared 1-1-0 record.
Odds: New England (-110) is favored against FC Cincinnati (+240), according to BETMGM.com.
FC Cincinnati
Record: 1-3-1, four points; 14th place in Eastern Conference
Goals for: 6
Goals against: 14
Coach: Jaap Stam – second season as FC Cincinnati coach (5-16-5)
Projected starting lineup:
Kenneth Vermeer, goalkeeper
Ronald Matarrita, left back
Gustavo Vallecilla, center back
Geoff Cameron, center back
Caleb Stanko, center back
Joseph-Claude Gyau, right back
Yuya Kubo, midfielder
Luciano Acosta, midfielder
Allan Cruz, midfielder
Jurgen Locadia, striker
Brenner Souza da Silva, striker
New England Revolution
Record: 4-1-2, 14 points (first place in Eastern Conference)
Goals for: 10
Goals against: 7
Coach: Bruce Arena – third season as New England head coach
Projected starting lineup:
Matt Turner, goalkeeper
Brandon Bye, right back
Andrew Farrell, center back
Jonathan Bell, center back
DeJuan Jones, left back
Matt Polster, midfielder/winger
Wilfrid Kaptoum, midfielder/winger
Tajon Buchanan, midfielder
Carles Gil, midfielder
Arnór Ingvi Traustason, midfielder
Gustavo Bou, forward
Player to watch: Geoff Cameron. Cameron, who was honored with an MLS Team of the Week nod for his performance last weekend against CF Montreal, has been a great watch in his first two appearances for FC Cincinnati. His play has been equal parts technical and gritty, and his leadership qualities are shining brightly. He's also contributing to the attack and had an assist on the equalizing goal for 1-1 against Montreal. Cameron has mostly been a rock defensively, too. It's probably not a coincidence FC Cincinnati best 90-minute showings have occurred since Cameron signed for the club after the English Championship season ended and he joined from Queens Park Rangers.
Noteworthy: Speaking to Stam's assertion that FC Cincinnati's had a tough schedule to begin the 2021 season, its five previous opponents this season have a combined record of 11-8-13. All five teams, as well as New England, qualified for the 2020 MLS Cup playoffs and with exception to ninth-place Inter Miami CF, all are back in playoff positions in the Eastern Conference.
Also noteworthy: FC Cincinnati might initially look unfamiliar on Saturday when it lines up for the opening kick against New England because it won't be wearing its familiar colors. FC Cincinnati will don "PRIMEBLUE" kits as part of a one-off, league-wide promotion in MLS. FC Cincinnati's tops will still be orange and blue, but the shades of the colors will be noticeably different from the club's usual colorways.
New England will also be wearing a version of its jersey in the PRIMEBLUE style featuring blue and white coloring. The PRIMEBLUE shirts are made with 50% Parley ocean plastic — up-cycled plastic waste intercepted on shorelines and coastal areas, according to MLS.
The kits will be worn by all teams in MLS this week. Clubs received either the orange/blue or white/blue colorway of the kit.
Prediction: New England 2, FC Cincinnati 1.
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