BJ Callaghan seems to have been able to impress his philosophy for how the team needs to be moving with and without the ball. Now he's ready to ramp up the intensity. Playing against lower division teams can provide an interesting challenge for top-tier sides like Nashville SC.
It may be preseason, but a team like Lexington SC, known for their penalty shootout win against One Knoxville SC in the USL Jägermeister Cup, was definitely looking for an upset.. They too are a young organization with their sights set on developing into a top-level contender.
In other words, they had a chip on their shoulders.
To beat teams like this the current iteration of Nashville SC has to be a team that carries a relentless attitude.
Because they had a piss poor 2024 season, NSC can only get hardware this season by winning the Open Cup or the MLS cup.
Of those two I think we can only really win the Lamar Hunt Open Cup this year.
No leagues cup. No CCC.
Sam Surridge's 3 goals in the first 45 minutes of play assuaged my fear that we can easily dispatch teams in the USL and lower.
First Assistant Coach, John Bello, has spent most of this offseason reigniting a fire in the Coyotes camp. He is teaching them how to compete again. Last year was tough, and the guys definitely tried to compete, but there were too many games where they just looked deflated or lost.
The Coyotes need to learn how to use their fangs again and make opponents respect their bite.
This new idea of what being "uniquely Nashville" might actually be catching on with the new signings.
Tagseth is a workhorse who plays like there is no next game, and
I'm loving it.
Nashville SC's right side is transforming into a reaper squadron.
Look at this graphic created by the guys over at Six One Five soccer. This was the teams lineup in the first period of play against Lexington.
Mukhtar, Tagseth, Yaz, Najar are all anchoring down the right side of the pitch. I'm actually salivating at the types of passing sequences that this group can & already has come up with.
Last year it felt like Hany either didn't have the proper chemistry with his supporting cast, or he simply was just playing on another level that they couldn't keep up with. Now he's got real observable talent backing him up.
The right side of the pitch has impressed during this preseason run. Hopefully, this is a key piece for Nashville SC's return to relevance in 2025.
Joe Willis is still the undisputed number one. But it will be interesting to see if that changes throughout the season. The battle for number 2 has given us fans a reason to be excited. New signings Xavier Valdez and Brian Schwake both acquitted themselves nicely against Lexington, with Valdez getting a convincing diving save and Schwake saving a penalty from a sloppy Shaffelburg foul to keep the clean sheet on the day.
We all know that the team needs to figure out what the transition plan is for life after Joe Willis. The future is looking bright here.
Sam Surridge got a 45-minute hat trick.
Sam Surridge was a Super Man.
I love seeing this guy score. Is it just me, or does anyone else feel like when Sam does score, it comes in bunches?
The only problem is that there were multiple times in the regular season last year where we turned to Sam during big season-determining moments, and he was nowhere to be seen. So while it's encouraging to see Sam banging three on a USL Championship team, I need to know that he will be Superman in the regular season too.
After a disappointing 2024 campaign, Nashville SC looks to be building something special under BJ Callaghan's leadership. The preseason has shown us glimpses of what could be: a deadly right-side attack, promising youth prospects, solid goalkeeper depth, and a Superman who can still light up the scoreboard. The new signings are bringing both swagger and work rate, while the coaching staff is instilling a much-needed fighting spirit back into the team.
While preseason results against lower-division teams shouldn't have us planning the parade route just yet, there's genuine reason for optimism. The team seems to be finding its identity – that "uniquely Nashville" style that the front office is trying to push through. With a revamped roster, a clear tactical vision, and a blend of experience and youth, the Coyotes might just have the right ingredients to bounce back in 2025.
Every NSC fan knows, the real test will come when the regular season kicks off. For now, though, it's good to see our boys showing some fangs again.