Queen City Press Podcast

FC Cincinnati opened preseason training last week, headed to Florida on Monday and now is two days away from its first exhibition match against Austin FC on Friday. The roster still has holes but the regular season is almost a month away, so the Orange and Blue keep plowing forward, as do we. In this episode, we discuss the latest bits of news, kernels of popcorn, if you will -- in more of a strai...

After a quiet first four weeks of the offseason, FC Cincinnati signed free agent centerback Miles Robinson on Wednesday morning and by afternoon had finalized a deal to sell Brandon Vazquez to CF Monterrey for a guaranteed $7.5 million.  So, we dusted off the microphone and dove into the news of the day in our first episode of 2024. It wasn't the usual format, but we discussed both moves and the s...

FC Cincinnati is in full offseason mode, but we are officially putting a bow on the 2023 season with a recap of our (mostly) best moments and individual highlights. In this episode we break out some of the defining moments leading up to the Supporters' Shield clinching win and hand out our own individual awards like "most overlooked" and "most improved" players. Then, we answer a few "mailbag" que...

FC Cincinnati saw its season come to an end in hellacious fashion with a 3-2 extra-time loss to the Columbus Crew in the Eastern Conference final. The Orange and Blue came up one game short of MLS Cup. We discus the loss, look ahead to the offseason and spotlight Yuya Kubo, who has been a solid depth piece but is at the end of his contract. Pat Noonan provides the Quote of the Week, and we ask fan...

FC Cincinnati was missing three starters due to injury or suspension but managed a 1-0 win over Philadelphia Union on Saturday in the Eastern Conference semifinals with a sturdy performance from the defense.  Now the Orange and Blue will be without Defender of the Year Matt Miazga for the remainder of the playoffs, due to the MLS Disciplinary Committee's decision to suspend him three games, effect...

It's finally match week! Long after FC Cincinnati completed its first-round series against New York Red Bulls with a penalty shootout win on Nov. 4, the Orange and Blue is finally in full preparation mode for the Eastern Conference semifinal against Philadelphia Union on Saturday. In this episode, we discuss the matchup, as well as the news of the past two weeks, including Matt Miazga being named...

Three weeks ago, as FC Cincinnati prepared for the start of its second MLS Cup Playoffs berth, I wrote an in-depth feature on general manager Chris Albright to give fans a peak into what has made him into such a successful leader in his short time running a sporting department. The story included insight from Albright and Co-CEO Jeff Berding but also Philadelphia Union coach Jim Curtin and Houston...

FC Cincinnati advanced to the Eastern Conference semifinals with a shootout win at New York Red Bulls on Saturday but not without cost, as Obinna Nwobodo and Dom Badji picked up injuries and Matt Miazga's status is in question because of yellow card accumulation suspension and an alleged post-game incident with the officials. Miazga is accused of entering of the officials' locker room after the ga...

FC Cincinnati collected a 3-0 win over New York Red Bulls on Sunday in the first game of a best-of-three first round of the MLS Cup Playoffs, but the depth of the back line is hurting with news of Nick Hagglund's season-ending leg injury and Alvas Powell's continued absence from training while he's dealing with a leg injury. In this episode, Laurel and Eric recap the match and the overall health o...

FC Cincinnati closed the regular season with a 2-2 draw against Atlanta United on Saturday in what essentially was a meaningless game, aside from being a final tune-up for the playoffs. Now the postseason is upon the Orange and Blue, as they prepare for a best-of-three first-round series against the New York Red Bulls, starting Sunday at TQL Stadium. In this episode, Laurel and Eric briefly touch...

FC Cincinnati was off from competition last week but four players appeared in games with their respective national teams, and off the field the club was busy finalizing extensions for general manager Chris Albright and Pat Noonan. In this episode, Laurel and Eric discuss the international break, the importance of long-term deals for the two leaders most responsible for the two-year turnaround from...

FC Cincinnati announced Chris Albright's contract extension today but the latest episode of Queen City Press Podcast had already been recorded and sent for editing, so that will be a topic for next week. In this episode, co-hosts Laurel and Eric discuss FC Cincinnati's 20th win of the season, one that knocked Inter Miami CF out of playoff contention on Saturday, as well as the 2-1 loss last Wednes...

FC Cincinnati clinched its first MLS Supporters' Shield on Saturday with a 3-2 win at Toronto FC, and the club will lift the shield with fans in attendance at Wednesday's home game against New York Red Bulls. In this episode, Laurel and Eric discuss the win and the significance of the Shield, plus, look ahead to the final three matches and how Pat Noonan might approach lineups, specificially Wedne...

FC Cincinnati finalized a contract extension for Luciano Acosta on Friday and then he put up an MVP-worthy performance Saturday to help the Orange and Blue to a 3-0 win over Charlotte FC. Now they are a win away from clinching the Supporters Shield with an opportunity to do it this Saturday at Toronto FC. Co-hosts Laurel and Eric recap the win over Charlotte, discuss the significance of Acosta's d...

Luciano Acosta's contract extension has been confirmed since we recorded this last night, but enjoy listening to speculation on why FC Cincinnati was having a press conference with him. In this episode we recap the two draws at Philadelphia and Montreal, discuss the partnership between Acosta and Boupendza, yellow card concerns and look ahead to the Charlotte match Saturday.  Our Player Spotlight...

FC Cincinnati didn't fare so well after its last break in action, but the Orange and Blue should be almost full strength when they return to play Saturday at Philadelphia. At the time of this recording (Wednesday, Sept. 13), it was unclear the status of three players away for international duty but it appears Junior Moreno and Santiago Arias are full go after returning to training Thursday and Aar...

Editor's note: At the time of this recording, it was unclear if Aaron Boupendza was going to be playing for Gabon in its AFCON qualifier Saturday, but his call-up was confirmed Monday. With a comeback win at Atlanta United last week, FC Cincinnati clinched its playoff spot in just 26 games, the second fastest a team has punched that ticket in MLS history. LAFC in 2019 and 2021 qualified in 25 game...

FC Cincinnati bounced back from a difficult week where two results didn't go its way, and this time collected a dominant 3-0 win over New York City FC on Saturday. The game provided some reassurance that FCC was not in fact on a downward spiral and has not yet reached its peak.  Eric and Laurel, the husband-wife co-hosts of this podcast, discuss the victory and what it meant for the team, as well...

FC Cincinnati bounced back from a disappointing shutout loss at Columbus Crew SC to take a two-goal lead over Inter Miami CF in the U.S. Open Cup semifinals Wednesday, but Lionel Messi's delivery to Leo Campana on a pair of set-piece goals enabled the Herons to force the game into extra time and FCC eventually fell 5-4 in penalties. In this episode, Laurel and Eric discuss the ups and downs of the...

FC Cincinnati has been off from games since losing in penalties to Nashville SC in the first knockout round of the Leagues Cup on August 4, but the Orange and Blue are back in full swing with a pair of big games in a four-day stretch. The away version of "Hell is Real" against Columbus takes place Sunday, and FCC turns around to host Inter Miami and Lionel Messi in the U.S. Open Cup semifinals on...

FC Cincinnati's chances of a quadruple were squashed with a Round of 32 exit in the Leagues Cup, but three other trophies are still on the table for the Orange and Blue this season.  As the team now sets its sights back on a Supporters Shield race and the upcoming U.S. Open Cup semifinals, QCP Podcast co-hosts Laurel and Eric recap the shootout loss to Nashville and look ahead to how FCC will use...

FC Cincinnati beat Chivas in a matchup between the top teams in Major League Soccer and Liga MX, respectively, and now move on to face Nashville SC in the Leagues Cup Round of 32, though the opponent wasn't yet known when this podcast was recorded Monday night. Laurel and husband co-host Eric discussed the odd two-day game against Chivas, plus  briefly talk about what’s next. This episode also div...

Alec Kann sealed FC Cincinnati's penalty shootout win over Sporting Kansas City on Sunday in Leagues Cup play when he made a save in the fourth round of kicks to end it, 4-2, after the Orange and Blue had to come back from deficits twice just to get any points. In this episode, Laurel and Eric, the spousal hosts of Queen City Press Podcast, recap the wild game that saw FCC go down 2-0, equalize wh...

Despite the ups and downs of the past week, winning and losing a game 3-0, FC Cincinnati heads into a big matchup Saturday with recognition of three all stars. The wife and husband team of Laurel and Eric begin this episode recapping the MLS All-Star Game selections and others from FCC that could have been in that mix as well. Then, we'll discuss the win against Toronto from last Wednesday, the lo...

FC Cincinnati took three days off last week without a game to play, as part of the international break, but they are set to begin the second half of the season Wednesday against Toronto FC. In this episode of Queen City Press Podcast, the wife/husband tandem of Laurel and Eric recap the first half of the season, preview this week's games against Toronto and D.C. United (Saturday on the road) and s...