How Nashville SC's 2022 roster decisions herald beginning of the end for its core
Drake Hills- Nashville SC key contributors Dax McCarty, CJ Sapong, Teal Bunbury and Alex Muyl agree to new deals.
- Though Nashville's team ranked as the oldest in Major League Soccer for most of 2022, it found continual success, making a third straight playoff appearance.
- What Nashville's natural evolution looks like at selective positions in 2023, and beyond.
Nashville SC captain Dax McCarty is returning in 2023 on a new one-year deal, the club announced Monday when revealing its 2022 roster decisions.
Center forwards CJ Sapong, Teal Bunbury and wingers Jacob Shaffelburg and Alex Muyl agreed to new contracts. All but Shaffelburg are guaranteed them for 2023, with club options for the 2024 season. Shaffelburg has signed a new four-year deal with Nashville, through 2026, with an option for 2027. Last week, Nashville acquired Fafa Picault from the Houston Dynamo for up to $250,000 in general allocation money, if Picault meets certain performance metrics.
Nashville exercised 2023 club options for Joe Willis, Jack Maher, Luke Haakenson, Elliot Panicco, Josh Bauer, Ahmed Longmire and Taylor Washington.
Robert Castellanos, Koze Donasiyano, Bryan Meredith and Will Meyer had their 2023 options declined. McCarty originally had his 2023 option declined as well, for the sake of a fresh deal under different contract terms. Defender Eric Miller is out of contract and will enter free agency.
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Nashville is one of just three teams in Major League Soccer in which the core of its team has played at least 80% of possible minutes over the past three seasons. In Nashville's case, that's nine players — including McCarty, Sapong and Willis. The New England Revolution and Orlando City SC are the other two clubs. But the reality Nashville is facing is the eventual transition from some of its most senior players to the youth developing in reserve.
Nashville roster overview
MLSsoccer.com reported in May, prior to the arrival of 22-year-old Shaffelburg and 26-year-old Shaq Moore, that Nashville had the oldest roster in the MLS, with an average age of 28.1. After inserting Shaffelburg, Moore and Picault, Nashville's roster is about 27.5 years old. Its MLS veteran approach has largely equated to winning, posting point-per-game averages between 1.4-1.6 each year.
But heading into 2023, McCarty will turn 36 and Willis 35. Moore and Randall Leal may be the two players under 30 in a given starting lineup. By position, we break down where the beginning of the end is approaching: Nashville's spine.
Goalkeepers
Nashville has goalkeepers for the present and the future — both of which are in contract years next season.
Willis swiftly became one of the best goalkeepers in the MLS after Nashville acquired the 6-5 stopper from Houston in the 2019 MLS Expansion Draft.
He ranked top five in goals against per 90 minutes for 2020 (0.96, fifth) and 2021 (0.97, fourth). He finished third during last year's goalkeeper of the year race, trailing Andre Blake and the winner, Matt Turner. But a handful of goal-giving mistakes last May and June made way for Panicco to briefly take hold of the starting spot.
The 25-year-old made his Nashville debut on May 25 against Louisville City in the U.S. Open Cup Round of 16. He started four games total in 2022 and notwithstanding his costly mistake in July against the Portland Timbers, Nashville believes Panicco — who it traded up in the 2020 MLS SuperDraft to get to No. 13 overall — has proven himself to be a starting-level goalkeeper in MLS.
Central midfielders
The central midfield has depth, but it's where the change of the guard may appear first.
McCarty's games as a starter are slowly dwindling by the season. He started all but two in 2020. That total jumped to four in 2021 and eight in 2022. That number will likely grow with Sean Davis entering his second season, coupled with an expected healthy Anibal Godoy. Brian Anunga, who will turn 27 next year, is also coming off the bench.
Center forwards
Next season may be Aké Loba's last chance to join or succeed Sapong and Bunbury, who enter 2023 with a combined 25 years of MLS experience. Sapong will be 34 and Bunbury 33.
Nashville is banking on the duo leveling up from their combined 10 goals from 2022. Nashville has 24-year-old Ethan Zubak as a reserve striker, but he contributed to one goal in 431 minutes across 15 games this year.
For stories about Nashville SC or Soccer in Tennessee, contact Drake Hills at DHills@gannett.com. Follow Drake on Twitter at @LiveLifeDrake. Connect with Drake on Instagram at @drakehillssoccer and on Facebook.