BJ Callaghan just inadvertently set up the goalposts for fans to determine if his first full season at the helm of Nashville SC is a success or a failure.
He wants
Nashville SC
to be a team that scores 50 goals every season minimum.
50 goals.
50 gets you to the playoffs. 50 means you're a competitive team. One that must be taken seriously when the ball enters the attacking third.
50 goals or bust.
This is BJ's first full season rodeo as the head honcho at any stop he's been in his coaching career.
He's had the full length of the 2024 offseason to assess the team's needs and communicate his vision to Mike Jacobs. The team has made multiple additions and subtractions. All in the hope that they have solved for X.
The only question left to answer for the fans is just what "X" is.
After a scoreless preseason draw with Charlotte FC, BJ Callaghan gave his remarks and answered a question that I've had for weeks. He was asked what formation he ran.
BJ Callaghan is apparently not much of a "shape" guy. This moment stood out. It felt like the first time I was hearing the real BJ and not the one that's been media trained to be likable so fans would feel comfortable after Gary was sacked.
Here's what I think we will see on BJ Callaghan's road to 50 goals this season:
Toward the end of 2024, Nashville started to change. It was hard to notice if you were thirsty for points like we were, but I saw it. The team started to slow down when they got to that attacking third. They started to think.
They were really looking for opportunities instead of panicking.
The results of this newfound patience showed through in our possession stats.
MLS.com's Matt Doyle wrote this on Sep 26, 2024:
"the average time of their possession sequences has climbed from the bottom third of the league into the top third. As such, they've collectively become a much more effective progressive passing team through midfield."
I believe that new additions like Tagseth and Najar will surely reinforce this change in the team's attacking mindset. We may even get more gems in younger guys like Pacius if they are allowed to really look for goals and not instructed to blindly cross it into the box.
Creating Turnovers in Dangerous Areas. Here is where Gary and BJ are somewhat similar. They rely on the opponent to make a mistake.
Here's the difference.
Gary was content to sit back and let the mistakes come to him through organized defensive play. Gary was a fisherman who didnt like to play with the bait (i mean ball) much.
BJ invites a little chaos with a higher line of engagement and encouraging more guys to get in on the fun.
More risk. More reward.
Edin Halilović from Total Football Analysis was quick to note that Callaghan's high-pressing system has already shown promising results, with Nashville making 22 more counter-pressing recoveries and 17 more high regains in his first six games compared to the previous six. This was of course in 2024 after BJ had completed his first 12 matches in charge of the Coyotes.
BJ Callaghan's goal is to force more turnovers in the opponent's defensive third and then consistently punish them for it. "Consistently" being the most important part of this equation.
I will always be convinced that wingbacks who can dribble and find critical passer are better than speedster who don't do anything but streak up the side of the pitch. See latest Andy Najar footage:
BJ seems to be placing his faith in guys like Najar who has shown a smooth touch and ability to dribble past defenders. He's also looking at Juliane Gaines for his speed and passing techniques. The way BJ described his preferred style for the Charlotte FC game made it seem as if he looks at the fullbacks to provide a passing lane for the midfielders or even as another option to help Hany, Edvard, and Sam find goals.
Okay, so far we've got increased patience leading to higher possession and a higher (riskier) line of engagement leading to more turnovers closer to the goal.
What else does BJ think he needs to get 50 goals out of this team?
It's not rocket science.
At one time Hany Mukhtar was the reigning MLS MVP and dubbed the most efficient player in MLS history.
What went wrong?
He had too much of a target on him. He was too out in the open. Pair that with a lack (or absence) of competent midfield play and you've got Hany in the middle of no man's land. The last edition of nashvile only had one game plan – hold the defense down long enough for Hany to score.
These recent signings leads me to believe that BJ plans to find ways to cover Hany's tracks.
It shouldn't be obvious anymore who is going to take the shot for Nashville. Everyone should be making runs. Everyone should be finding ways to get behind the opponents. Everyone needs to get in on this new attacking philosophy.
Tagseth
Acosta
Brugman
Najar.
All of these guys have been brought in because they are confident enough with the ball at their feet in the midfield to slow down the game and find the next FORWARD pass. They are here to keep the action away from our backline and closer to the opponent's goal. They are here to make you forget about Hany...until it's too late.
I think BJ is gearing us up for sneaky Hany goals.
The goals that make you believe magic exists in GEODIS Park.
50 goals isn't a crazy number to hit.
But if all of these pillars of BJ Callaghan's soccer philosophy come through then we may be in for a comeback Cinderella story.
I'm tuned in and ready to witness every step of it.
Goal Countdown Starting now:
50 Goals Until Playoffs