While the historic rise of FC Cincinnati has hit a snag, replacing Alan Koch with assistant coach Yoann Damet gives hope the season can be saved. 

From USL champion to Major League Soccer expansion team in less than a year, the Orange and Blue have proven things can be done in a hurry. 

Now FCC has to prove it can once again get it done on the field, a place where the team has suffered lately — scoring an MLS-low eight goals while falling to 2-7-2 overall. 

FCC began the season with a resounding home win over Portland and followed it up with a huge road win over the New England Revolution, but the party stopped there as the Orange and Blue haven’t won in their last seven matches. 

Koch was relieved when FCC returned home from a dreadful road trip which saw the squad lose three matches without scoring a goal. He had been adamant in recent weeks the squad needed to improve its roster to succeed. Koch spent the offseason picking up players but recently grumbled to media and management that the team needed more talent to win, a complaint which caused friction in the locker room.

With veterans such as Fanendo Adi and Kenny Saief preaching for change in practices, formations, and lineups, GM Jeff Berding stepped in and handed Koch his pink slip.

Berding said the reasons for Koch’s dismissal had nothing to do with wins or losses but rather more with the club’s culture at the moment. 

“After a series of recent issues and a team culture that had deteriorated, we determined that it’s time to make a change to return to a club-centered focus to the team and as a result, we dismissed Alan Koch as head coach of FC Cincinnati,” Berding said in a press conference Tuesday after relieving Koch.

“This decision is not driven by recent results themselves, but rather the underpinnings that have led to those results. We have not come close to maximizing the talent we have in the dressing room this year, nor have we seen a foundation being built that will set us up for success this year and into next year.” 

Berding also has to accept part of the blame for the team’s struggles, as well as a new-found reputation for quick hooks for releasing Koch after 11 games and before him John Harkes. 

Berding said in his press conference the team has the talent to win and that the move was made to improve the culture in the locker room, so now the pressure falls to Damet, who woke up Tuesday as an assistant coach and didn’t finish a cup of coffee before being named the youngest coach in MLS at 29 years old. 

Berding said an immediate international search will begin for the club’s next coach but noted he has the utmost confidence in Damet, who has been the top assistant for the club since 2017.

“I am confident Yoann will immediately infuse the locker room and soccer staff with a positive energy and team approach," Berding said. “He is respected and trusted and will lead the hard work that gets the best out of the players.”

The one positive for FCC is a rabid fan base who continues to support the team in huge numbers at temporary home Nippert Stadium while the $250 million West End Stadium is being completed. 

FCC fans have shown their toughness, standing and chanting through rain and cold. FCC averages almost 28,000 a game, third-best in MLS.

Cincinnati is known for its fickle fan bases. The Bengals paint the town orange and black in good times and callers flood the local call-in shows demanding heads in bad times. 

The Reds might throw quite a party for opening day but a recent crowd failed to draw eight thousand people, showing even die-hard Reds fans won’t spend money to attend Great American Ballpark and watch a poor club.

FCC hasn’t had to experience negativity from its fans yet, but the club has always been successful. 

The fans will get their say — and the team’s response — on Saturday, hosting the Montreal Impact. 

So with a new coach, new attitude, die-hard fans, and the bulk of the season left, FCC has plenty of time to right the ship. But at some point the players themselves are going to have to take charge. 

Koch didn’t have any issues with media having open access to players and practices but that has changed with Damet taking over, which is a good thing.

Media can now watch the first 15 minutes of practice, and as the assorted media left the pitch Wednesday the players were huddled up with their new coach talking. 

Nobody is going to get this done from the bleachers; the players in that huddle are either going to back up Berding’s claims the talent is present to win or prove Koch right that additional help from outside is needed.