The Flyin Lion: FC Cincinnati Podcast

FC Cincinnati defender Alvas Powell joins the show to talk about his journey from Jamaica to becoming one of the fastest players in MLS—and yeah, we had to ask if he’s actually the fastest in Cincy and what would happen if he raced Speed. He breaks down his career, the transition to MLS, and how his role has evolved into the dynamic outside back fans see today. Having been part of multiple eras, Powell gives real insight into how m...

It’s been a rollercoaster week for FC Cincinnati—going from a historic 3-0 advantage over Tigres UANL to a complete collapse in Mexico, then responding with a chaotic 4-3 comeback win over CF Montreal despite going down a man after Miles Robinson’s red card. The fight and resilience were there, but the same defensive issues and costly mistakes remain, leaving the bigger question: is one emotional win enough to move past the Tigres ...

It was a week that showed both the ceiling and floor of FC Cincinnati. Just days after a historic 3–0 win over Tigres UANL in the CONCACAF Champions Cup, led by a two-goal, one-assist performance from Kévin Denkey at TQL Stadium, Cincinnati followed it with a disastrous 6–1 loss to the New England Revolution in MLS play. On this episode of the Flyin Lion Podcast we break down both matches, including the dominant high press vs Tigre...

FC Cincinnati’s attack stalled in a frustrating 1–0 loss to Toronto FC at TQL Stadium on MLS Matchday 3, and on this episode of the Flyin Lion Podcast we break down what went wrong—from the starting XI choices to the lack of movement and chance creation in the final third. We react to Pat Noonan’s blunt postmatch comments, dig into the match stats, and discuss what changes could spark the attack. We also cover Evan Louro’s ...

FC Cincinnati fans hear him every matchday breaking down the tactics on ESPN 1530 — now broadcast analyst Kevin McCloskey joins the Flyin Lion Podcast. Kevin talks about his journey through the game as a player, coach, and executive before stepping into the booth with Tommy Gelehrter, shares stories from the early USL days of FC Cincinnati, and explains what preparation looks like before every broadcast. We also dive into the curre...

FC Cincinnati’s week showcased both extremes of a long season, opening with a historic 9–0 demolition of O&M FC to secure a 13–0 aggregate victory — setting a club scoring record and the largest goal differential ever by an MLS team — before falling in their first road test of 2026 at Minnesota United, where cold conditions and missed final-third execution proved decisive. After dominant attacking displays midweek, FCC controll...

FC Cincinnati open the 2026 season with two convincing wins, starting with a dominant 4–0 road victory over O&M FC in the CONCACAF Champions Cup, their third straight year in the competition, behind goals from Tom Barlow, Kévin Denkey, and a brace from Ayoub Jabbari. FCC then returned home to a sold-out TQL Stadium to defeat Atlanta United on MLS Matchday 1, extending their unbeaten run in home openers under Pat Noonan with lat...

The road to silverware officially begins for FC Cincinnati as we kick off the 2026 season with a full preseason recap, kit review, and season predictions. We break down matches against Brooklyn FC and Orlando City SC, highlighting encouraging attacking moments, lingering defensive questions, and key lineup experiments. We also give our in-person thoughts on the new Seven Hills Kit, discuss mixed fan and media reactions, touch on ro...

Favian Renkel joins us to lead the big-picture MLS season preview while we also break down FC Cincinnati’s first preseason win, a 1–0 result over Detroit City that raised as many questions as answers. Denkey stayed reliable from the spot, Bryan Ramirez made an encouraging first impression after joining the squad, and FCC showed some intriguing tactical looks that could point to a dual-playmaker setup or Evander pushing into a false...

FC Cincinnati played to a 1–1 draw with Houston Dynamo in preseason match No. 2, leaving mixed feelings about progress versus preseason illusion. A rotated lineup struggled early under pressure, but Denkey stayed in form — first with a bicycle kick called offside, then scoring by capitalizing on a defensive mistake. The second-half group created chances, including a strong look from Bucha, yet FCC conceded late again in the 88th mi...

FC Cincinnati’s preseason comes with major uncertainty as European reports link Kévin Denkey to Napoli, forcing the club to consider a potential blockbuster sale just weeks before the season while already adjusting to Brenner’s exit. On the field, FCC showed encouraging structure in a 105-minute preseason draw with New England, with Denkey scoring, strong early buildup, and heavy rotations aimed at fitness and tactical evaluation a...

FC Cincinnati’s offseason finally kicked into gear with the signings of Tom Barlow and Kristian Fletcher, adding much-needed depth and upside to the attack. We break down what Barlow brings as a high-work-rate, big-bodied striker and why Fletcher is an intriguing buy-low move as he works back from ACL surgery. We also react to Luca Orellano’s multi-million dollar transfer to Monterrey and the latest on Bryan Ramirez, who is reporte...

We break down FCC’s long-awaited roster movement with the signings of hometown veteran Kyle Smith and 16-year-old Homegrown Ademar Chavez, react to Bryan Ramírez’s near-complete move from LDU Quito, and dive into the latest twists in the Luca Orellano saga. We also analyze how the roster is shaping up ahead of preseason, what’s still needed before the season and CCC begin, and where another striker or defensive help could f...

FC Cincinnati’s offseason remains unsettled, headlined by the unresolved Luca Orellano saga — from Monterrey’s rejected bid and reports of agreed personal terms to stalled negotiations influenced by the 30% sell-on clause owed to Vasco da Gama. With his future unclear, FCC have emerged as favorites to sign Bryan Ramirez, a 25-year-old LDU Quito winger viewed as a potential replacement despite mixed reports on fit, while als...

Carter Chapley breaks down the latest FC Cincinnati news heading into the 2026 offseason, including Dominic Kinnear’s departure, Ayoub Jabbari’s permanent signing, and Alvas Powell’s return. We discuss Brenner’s loan ending, Chris Albright’s roster comments and interest in Luca Orellano, plus the ongoing Álvaro Barreal–Santos transfer situation.

We also cover Teenage Hadebe’s Zimbabwe call-up, FC Cincinnati’s MLS SuperDraft out...

We broke down a massive week across FC Cincinnati, MLS, and the USMNT — a stretch where roster movement, offseason windows, and major tournament draws all landed at once. We covered Lukas Engel not returning to FC Cincinnati, the growing MLS interest in Dado and whether the club should sell, loan, or hold, and the nearing announcement of Barreal’s permanent move to Santos. We discussed why a Brenner return is looking increasingly u...

The 2025 FC Cincinnati season is officially wrapped, and we’re breaking down the key roster decisions, season takeaways, and what’s next heading into 2026. Fourteen players hit the offseason with expiring contracts—FCC exercised options on Miazga, Hadebe, Anunga, Jimenez, Momba Dem, and Louro, while declining Smith, Marczuk, Kamara, and Kubo (who gets a huge thank-you after six unforgettable seasons). Negotiations contin...

FC Cincinnati’s playoff run ends at home in the Eastern Conference Semifinals, and in this episode we break down everything that happened on a frustrating night at TQL Stadium. We discuss the atmosphere with the light-up wands, Speed’s appearance after being Ruler of the Jungle, and the incredible Tifo paying homage to Denkey, Brenner, and Evander. From there, we dig into the lineup decisions — Ender getting the start, Engel not lo...

FC Cincinnati prepares for a massive playoff showdown as Lionel Messi and Inter Miami come to TQL Stadium, and we break down what the Orange & Blue must do to advance. We also dive into MLS’s historic 2027 schedule overhaul, explaining how the league will shift to a summer-to-spring calendar. Recap an eventful international window for FCC players — including Miles Robinson’s wild USMNT match, Ender’s standout game for Venezuela...