00:00:00
Speaker 1: The Cincinnati Bengals have played two preseason games, won them both, and they've played four regular season games since FC Cincinnati last won a match. The Orange and Blue currently on the outside looking in of the Eastern Conference playoffs. They're back in action against Atlanta State. On Saturday night, it's a road tilt for FC Cincinnati. They're about to be really busy because they have that makeup game coming up. They have a midweek game next week. They have the hell is real match against Columbus. But first things first, without Evander, according to our friend Laurel Fahler at Queen City Press, the orange and blue hits the road to take on Atlanta. Nate Bucati, our friend from Apple TV, has the call and he's he's with us now.
00:00:39
Speaker 2: It's not going well right now. Nate, I'll be honest with you. How are you?
00:00:43
Speaker 3: Doing good, Mo. Thanks for having me.
00:00:46
Speaker 4: I guess I'm also trying to figure out why Joe Burrow doesn't think the Bengals offense needs any balance, you know, but that's a different story for a different time, isn't it?
00:00:54
Speaker 3: It is. It is.
00:00:55
Speaker 1: Yeah, I'm trying to figure that out, much like Pat Noonan's got to figure out how to beat Atlanta without his best player.
00:01:02
Speaker 4: Yeah, and also how they're going to put some things together defensively because if they don't sort out their defensive issues, it's going to be a really sad ending to the season for FC Cincinnati and the worst year that he's had since being at the helm. So that's the number one job. Yes, obviously losing Evander to injury right now is bad news. at a time when you, when you don't need any bad news, uh, you listed off, you know, the stretch they've been on without a win, but, uh, you know, they, they brought some players in to try to help with that defense. Uh, we'll see if those guys are ready to really, you know, fully contribute. It took them a little, a little longer to get those players in. And I think they would have wanted to, uh, but they're here now. So we'll, we'll see if they can, you know, provide some serious relief to a team that used to always be known for some real defensive prowess. And this year they've, uh, been one of the worst defensive teams in all the major league soccer, unfortunately.
00:01:55
Speaker 2: Yeah, they have.
00:01:56
Speaker 1: And I think when we've talked about it for much of the summer, it was, well, they're just going to have to ask Evander to do more, which, okay, fine.
00:02:04
Speaker 2: But when you don't have them, that's kind of hard to do.
00:02:06
Speaker 4: Yeah, there's only so much you can ask one guy to do. You know, I mean, score goals, that's great. But when you're conceding three or four a game, So it's hard for any player to outscore that kind of defensive, you know, lack of production, so to speak.
00:02:22
Speaker 3: So, yeah, they.
00:02:24
Speaker 4: Need some other guys to step up. They need some guys in the midfield to step up. They got a lot of guys that were just off on international duty that are coming back as well. But I will say this, they're playing an Atlanta team that have not exactly been cruising this season either. In fact, they're right toward the bottom of the Eastern Conference table. Now, you'll probably stop me as a Cincinnati person and say, yeah, well, we played the last place.
00:02:49
Speaker 3: Team in the East last time out in Montreal, and.
00:02:51
Speaker 4: That didn't turn out well for us. So I'm not saying it's a layup victory or anything like that, but it's certainly a game that Cincinnati will feel they can win and need to win.
00:03:02
Speaker 1: Can a team come from the bottom of the table in the playoff hunt, once we get to the playoffs, if FC Cincinnati is there and actually contend to win the East?
00:03:13
Speaker 3: Yes.
00:03:15
Speaker 4: We've seen a team in 2015, I know that was 11 years ago now, but in 2015, the Seattle Sounders were in last place at the summertime, made a couple of additions, and went on to win MLS Cup. Um, when people had them dead and buried for even trying to make it to the playoffs.
00:03:35
Speaker 3: So can that happen?
00:03:37
Speaker 1: Yes.
00:03:39
Speaker 4: Obviously, I wouldn't advise people to take out any loans to put money on it. Obviously, it's a very long and difficult process. If you want to build the case for Cincinnati, I think what you would point out, first of all, is you do have an MVP caliber player leading the way in Evander if and when he comes back from injury. You've got a star striker in Kevin Denke. They've added some pieces defensively. If they can get the defensive issues sorted out, They score goals with the best of them.
00:04:10
Speaker 3: So, you know, that would be the recipe. If they can find a way to.
00:04:14
Speaker 4: Fix their defensive woes, they can make themselves, you know, a team that's a contender in the East.
00:04:20
Speaker 2: Massive opportunity for FC Cincinnati.
00:04:22
Speaker 1: Ten matches to go starting on Saturday night with a tilt against Atlanta.
00:04:26
Speaker 2: Nate Bucati, who.
00:04:27
Speaker 1: Started the season with me in studio, it's a while ago.
00:04:31
Speaker 2: It's a long season. Has the call on Saturday night.
00:04:33
Speaker 4: And you know who they played that day?
00:04:35
Speaker 2: See, you're going to make me do this off the top of my head, aren't you?
00:04:38
Speaker 3: It's an easy one. They're playing who this weekend, Atlanta.
00:04:43
Speaker 4: Yeah. They opened the season with Atlanta. I didn't, you know, and I was like looking back through my notes going, Oh.
00:04:48
Speaker 2: Wait a second.
00:04:49
Speaker 3: I have this matchup.
00:04:50
Speaker 4: Now both teams have changed a lot since then. So, uh, you know, it's, that's, that's going to be a real interesting study in contrast to which team has changed the most of which team has changed for the better.
00:05:02
Speaker 1: Yeah, I'm looking forward to it. It's it's getting dire. We're typically in early October. We're talking about like, can they win the supporters shield? We're talking about, you know, where are they going to be at the top of the Eastern Conference? Can this team win the East? And now it's just sneak their way. And this is not what we're used to, Nate.
00:05:20
Speaker 4: No, and listen, I understand when you're used to something like that, too, and then things go in a different way.
00:05:28
Speaker 3: The fans get upset, and that's a.
00:05:30
Speaker 4: Good thing because you want fans who care and fans that have expectations. My last time in Cincinnati, we were getting ready for a game that got canceled.
00:05:40
Speaker 2: Because of weather.
00:05:41
Speaker 3: So I'm anxious to see Cincinnati actually play again.
00:05:44
Speaker 4: Good thing is we're in a dome this weekend. So if they have to cancel this game, there's really a problem. But listen, Pat Noonan hasn't forgotten how to coach. You know, he's one of the one of the best coaches in Major League Soccer. He's matter of fact, I think he's real and clear eyed about the problems that they had. And it's one of the things I really appreciate about Patton. And we just had a conversation with him, you know, getting ready for this game earlier today. And and he doesn't pull any punches. You know, he owns the problems that the team has had. And I think that's always a good thing because I don't think I'm of the belief that you can't fix problems in life if you don't accept them and acknowledge them.
00:06:26
Speaker 1: Right.
00:06:27
Speaker 4: If you don't believe there's a problem to solve, then there's then you.
00:06:31
Speaker 3: Have no chance of solving it.
00:06:32
Speaker 4: And so I think Pat Noonan is still one of the top coaches in Major League Soccer. He's got a challenge on his hands that he hasn't had in Cincinnati before. And the thing that I think is most disturbing is the effort level that they put out there against Montreal last time out. Because that was the first time that Pat basically said, Uh, the, the, the desire wasn't there, you know, the, the, the, I'm looking back at the words he used, um, and desire. I remember I specifically wrote down was one of them that he said after the game that was, you know, uh, lacking. And that usually is not the case. Energy was another one of the words he used and he called it confusing. So, um, You know, that's something that he's got to tackle. You wonder if this international break maybe is a chance at a reset button since the, you know, the team's had a couple of weeks to try to sort some things out. On board the new players they've added defensively and in the midfield. And then, you know, a couple of players that have been gone on international duty. Maybe everybody comes back with a little bit of a fresh perspective. And the good news is you got a game in hand on most of your competition. You've got, you're well within striking distance of the playoffs. And you got enough time to do it. Now, you know, the tough part is going out and doing it. But, you know, I would never bet against Pat Noonan's side.
00:07:49
Speaker 3: I'll tell you that much.
00:07:50
Speaker 1: No, it has felt like it hasn't felt like a Pat Noonan coach team, but I still I'll defer to his track record. Hopefully the weather doesn't impact your travel. Have a great call on Saturday, Nate. Thanks so much.
00:08:02
Speaker 3: Thanks a lot for having me, Mo. Appreciate you.
Speaker 1: The Cincinnati Bengals have played two preseason games, won them both, and they've played four regular season games since FC Cincinnati last won a match. The Orange and Blue currently on the outside looking in of the Eastern Conference playoffs. They're back in action against Atlanta State. On Saturday night, it's a road tilt for FC Cincinnati. They're about to be really busy because they have that makeup game coming up. They have a midweek game next week. They have the hell is real match against Columbus. But first things first, without Evander, according to our friend Laurel Fahler at Queen City Press, the orange and blue hits the road to take on Atlanta. Nate Bucati, our friend from Apple TV, has the call and he's he's with us now.
00:00:39
Speaker 2: It's not going well right now. Nate, I'll be honest with you. How are you?
00:00:43
Speaker 3: Doing good, Mo. Thanks for having me.
00:00:46
Speaker 4: I guess I'm also trying to figure out why Joe Burrow doesn't think the Bengals offense needs any balance, you know, but that's a different story for a different time, isn't it?
00:00:54
Speaker 3: It is. It is.
00:00:55
Speaker 1: Yeah, I'm trying to figure that out, much like Pat Noonan's got to figure out how to beat Atlanta without his best player.
00:01:02
Speaker 4: Yeah, and also how they're going to put some things together defensively because if they don't sort out their defensive issues, it's going to be a really sad ending to the season for FC Cincinnati and the worst year that he's had since being at the helm. So that's the number one job. Yes, obviously losing Evander to injury right now is bad news. at a time when you, when you don't need any bad news, uh, you listed off, you know, the stretch they've been on without a win, but, uh, you know, they, they brought some players in to try to help with that defense. Uh, we'll see if those guys are ready to really, you know, fully contribute. It took them a little, a little longer to get those players in. And I think they would have wanted to, uh, but they're here now. So we'll, we'll see if they can, you know, provide some serious relief to a team that used to always be known for some real defensive prowess. And this year they've, uh, been one of the worst defensive teams in all the major league soccer, unfortunately.
00:01:55
Speaker 2: Yeah, they have.
00:01:56
Speaker 1: And I think when we've talked about it for much of the summer, it was, well, they're just going to have to ask Evander to do more, which, okay, fine.
00:02:04
Speaker 2: But when you don't have them, that's kind of hard to do.
00:02:06
Speaker 4: Yeah, there's only so much you can ask one guy to do. You know, I mean, score goals, that's great. But when you're conceding three or four a game, So it's hard for any player to outscore that kind of defensive, you know, lack of production, so to speak.
00:02:22
Speaker 3: So, yeah, they.
00:02:24
Speaker 4: Need some other guys to step up. They need some guys in the midfield to step up. They got a lot of guys that were just off on international duty that are coming back as well. But I will say this, they're playing an Atlanta team that have not exactly been cruising this season either. In fact, they're right toward the bottom of the Eastern Conference table. Now, you'll probably stop me as a Cincinnati person and say, yeah, well, we played the last place.
00:02:49
Speaker 3: Team in the East last time out in Montreal, and.
00:02:51
Speaker 4: That didn't turn out well for us. So I'm not saying it's a layup victory or anything like that, but it's certainly a game that Cincinnati will feel they can win and need to win.
00:03:02
Speaker 1: Can a team come from the bottom of the table in the playoff hunt, once we get to the playoffs, if FC Cincinnati is there and actually contend to win the East?
00:03:13
Speaker 3: Yes.
00:03:15
Speaker 4: We've seen a team in 2015, I know that was 11 years ago now, but in 2015, the Seattle Sounders were in last place at the summertime, made a couple of additions, and went on to win MLS Cup. Um, when people had them dead and buried for even trying to make it to the playoffs.
00:03:35
Speaker 3: So can that happen?
00:03:37
Speaker 1: Yes.
00:03:39
Speaker 4: Obviously, I wouldn't advise people to take out any loans to put money on it. Obviously, it's a very long and difficult process. If you want to build the case for Cincinnati, I think what you would point out, first of all, is you do have an MVP caliber player leading the way in Evander if and when he comes back from injury. You've got a star striker in Kevin Denke. They've added some pieces defensively. If they can get the defensive issues sorted out, They score goals with the best of them.
00:04:10
Speaker 3: So, you know, that would be the recipe. If they can find a way to.
00:04:14
Speaker 4: Fix their defensive woes, they can make themselves, you know, a team that's a contender in the East.
00:04:20
Speaker 2: Massive opportunity for FC Cincinnati.
00:04:22
Speaker 1: Ten matches to go starting on Saturday night with a tilt against Atlanta.
00:04:26
Speaker 2: Nate Bucati, who.
00:04:27
Speaker 1: Started the season with me in studio, it's a while ago.
00:04:31
Speaker 2: It's a long season. Has the call on Saturday night.
00:04:33
Speaker 4: And you know who they played that day?
00:04:35
Speaker 2: See, you're going to make me do this off the top of my head, aren't you?
00:04:38
Speaker 3: It's an easy one. They're playing who this weekend, Atlanta.
00:04:43
Speaker 4: Yeah. They opened the season with Atlanta. I didn't, you know, and I was like looking back through my notes going, Oh.
00:04:48
Speaker 2: Wait a second.
00:04:49
Speaker 3: I have this matchup.
00:04:50
Speaker 4: Now both teams have changed a lot since then. So, uh, you know, it's, that's, that's going to be a real interesting study in contrast to which team has changed the most of which team has changed for the better.
00:05:02
Speaker 1: Yeah, I'm looking forward to it. It's it's getting dire. We're typically in early October. We're talking about like, can they win the supporters shield? We're talking about, you know, where are they going to be at the top of the Eastern Conference? Can this team win the East? And now it's just sneak their way. And this is not what we're used to, Nate.
00:05:20
Speaker 4: No, and listen, I understand when you're used to something like that, too, and then things go in a different way.
00:05:28
Speaker 3: The fans get upset, and that's a.
00:05:30
Speaker 4: Good thing because you want fans who care and fans that have expectations. My last time in Cincinnati, we were getting ready for a game that got canceled.
00:05:40
Speaker 2: Because of weather.
00:05:41
Speaker 3: So I'm anxious to see Cincinnati actually play again.
00:05:44
Speaker 4: Good thing is we're in a dome this weekend. So if they have to cancel this game, there's really a problem. But listen, Pat Noonan hasn't forgotten how to coach. You know, he's one of the one of the best coaches in Major League Soccer. He's matter of fact, I think he's real and clear eyed about the problems that they had. And it's one of the things I really appreciate about Patton. And we just had a conversation with him, you know, getting ready for this game earlier today. And and he doesn't pull any punches. You know, he owns the problems that the team has had. And I think that's always a good thing because I don't think I'm of the belief that you can't fix problems in life if you don't accept them and acknowledge them.
00:06:26
Speaker 1: Right.
00:06:27
Speaker 4: If you don't believe there's a problem to solve, then there's then you.
00:06:31
Speaker 3: Have no chance of solving it.
00:06:32
Speaker 4: And so I think Pat Noonan is still one of the top coaches in Major League Soccer. He's got a challenge on his hands that he hasn't had in Cincinnati before. And the thing that I think is most disturbing is the effort level that they put out there against Montreal last time out. Because that was the first time that Pat basically said, Uh, the, the, the desire wasn't there, you know, the, the, the, I'm looking back at the words he used, um, and desire. I remember I specifically wrote down was one of them that he said after the game that was, you know, uh, lacking. And that usually is not the case. Energy was another one of the words he used and he called it confusing. So, um, You know, that's something that he's got to tackle. You wonder if this international break maybe is a chance at a reset button since the, you know, the team's had a couple of weeks to try to sort some things out. On board the new players they've added defensively and in the midfield. And then, you know, a couple of players that have been gone on international duty. Maybe everybody comes back with a little bit of a fresh perspective. And the good news is you got a game in hand on most of your competition. You've got, you're well within striking distance of the playoffs. And you got enough time to do it. Now, you know, the tough part is going out and doing it. But, you know, I would never bet against Pat Noonan's side.
00:07:49
Speaker 3: I'll tell you that much.
00:07:50
Speaker 1: No, it has felt like it hasn't felt like a Pat Noonan coach team, but I still I'll defer to his track record. Hopefully the weather doesn't impact your travel. Have a great call on Saturday, Nate. Thanks so much.
00:08:02
Speaker 3: Thanks a lot for having me, Mo. Appreciate you.
