Nashville SC mailbag: MLS playoffs, scouting Orlando City SC and looming roster questions

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Two years in Major League Soccer. Two years playing in the MLS Cup Playoffs. Nashville SC begins its postseason push Nov. 23 against Orlando City SC at Nissan Stadium.

Ahead of the first round matchup, I answered questions posed by supporters, as Nashville tries to best its Eastern Conference semifinal appearance from one year ago. Questions below were lightly edited for clarity.

MLS Cup Playoffs: Everything you need to know ahead of Round One.

Leaving a legacy: Why CJ Sapong's impact on Nashville SC could last forever.

A historical season: What Nashville SC's regular season finale meant in MLS history.

What is the status of (Daniel) Ríos return? What do you believe to be the deciding factors that breaks the draw between our clubs? Is there any tactical wrinkle you see either club doing? Does CJ have any words of wisdom heading into the playoffs? – @NSC_Scott

At the end of the regular season, Daniel Rios (left ankle) was still not 100%, according to coach Gary Smith before the New York Red Bulls match on Nov. 7. For context, the concern is that same ankle kept Rios out for the first nine matches of the year.

Tactically, against Orlando City SC in the MLS Cup Playoffs, expect Dax McCarty to return to his starting spot in central midfield. God forbid player injuries on international duty (Walker Zimmerman, Randall Leal, Anibal Godoy, Alistair Johnston), that elusive 3-4-3 shape should hold and so should the starting lineup.

I'm not happy with the SC being moved to the Western Conference....Great thing of being in the Eastern Conference was built-in rivalries with Atlanta, Cincinnati, Columbus and Chicago. Now the closest rival is Austin. Those teams, when visited here, brought some fans…@JMKIII58

MLS moving Nashville back to the West makes little sense. The league wants 14 clubs in each conference next year, as Charlotte FC comes aboard. But why move Nashville – your best expansion team since Los Angeles FC sprung forth in 2018 – instead of, say, Chicago Fire FC?

Nashville's rivalry with FC Cincinnati dates back to their USL days. I wouldn't call Columbus Crew a rival, per se, but the two make for exciting soccer. Atlanta is the big brother nemesis, obviously. But let's not forget Orlando and New York City FC. Nashville grew its dislikes for those clubs organically. A match against NYCFC even came to blows.

The challenge is to name one rival for Chicago, a club that has not made the playoffs since 2017. The debatable answer is St. Louis City SC, a 2023 expansion team which hasn't kicked a ball yet in MLS. For Nashville supporters, the hope for a return to the East comes in two years, when St. Louis presumably joins the West.

I’m assuming (Jhonder) Cádiz is done in Nashville. What type of player should we pick up with his (designated player) spot? A player with a similar style (big, target center forward) or someone else entirely? – @oasysrhyno

Offseason wonder No. 1 should be Cádiz' open designated player slot in 2022. The center forward's loan from Portugal's SL Benfica will expire in December, but there shouldn't be a dying urge to replace him during the winter transfer window. After all, two of Nashville's three DPs (Cádiz and Aké Loba) couldn't even break into the lineup this season.

I'd like to see a faster, more athletic center forward come in — one with a higher defensive work rate in a high press to match hardnose goal-getting abilities. There's a reason why CJ Sapong has reigned as the top No. 9 most of this year.

My sleeper choice is a technically savvy, box-to-box central midfielder. For the sake of comparison, think Columbus' Darlington Nagbe or Seattle Sounders' João Paulo – but younger.

Is (Rodrigo) Piñero real? Does he actually exist? — @SoManyShirts

Offseason wonder No. 2 takes center stage. Two matches played in 2021, totaling 10 humble minutes. Rodrigo Piñero should play with an entire bag of chips on his shoulder going into next year.

Nashville's Young Designated Player (Under-23) required a reported $1.7 million transfer fee. The MLS game was faster, more physical than the 22-year-old winger expected, coming from his native Uruguay. It doesn't help that the league's leader in distance covered per match, Alex Muyl (12.67 kilometers/7.87 miles), plays in front of you.

Not to mention, Luke Haakenson establishing himself as one of the biggest steals in the 2020 MLS SuperDraft.

Who will start in the back in addition to Zimmerman, Romney, Lovitz, and Johnston? And what about in the midfield along with Godoy? – @bennett_222

If the 3-4-3 persists, Jack Maher will play Zimmerman and Romney on defense. As I mentioned above, a brief return to the field on Decision Day and an international break will be enough time for McCarty to take back his central midfield role.

How will Gary (Smith) shut down (Daryl) Dike? – @nscsupporter

Orlando's Daryl Dike is a handful at 6-foot-1 and 220 pounds. His 10 goals only tell part of the story.

The Lions are a lethal counter attacking team and Dike's ability to hold the ball up and releasing it for Nani and Chris Mueller to run off of him causes havoc. When pressing Orlando, you have to eliminate Dike as a direct passing option. Eliminate his touches to the middle third of the field.

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.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: A Nashville SC mailbag for MLS Cup Playoffs and scouting Orlando City