Nashville SC made waves recently with the signing of free agent midfielder Sean Davis. To get more info on Davis, we spoke with Mark Fishkin, who covers New York Red Bulls for the Seeing Red podcast. Make sure to follow him on Twitter @MarkFishkin for the latest in Red Bulls news.
Ben Wright: For starters, what is your initial reaction to Davis leaving? He’s been at Red Bulls his entire professional career and has been the club captain for the last couple seasons. Was this a surprise, or did it feel inevitable with recent RBNY departures?
Mark Fishkin: Given New York’s recent track records with team captains, I was shocked to see Davis leave. Sean follows a recent tradition of team captains (Dax, Sacha, Luis Robles, and now Sean Davis) to either be sent away from the club or choose to leave via free agency. Davis was the first homegrown captain of the team, and to leave the club voluntarily was a downer, to be honest.
BW: On a big picture level, what kind of player is Davis? What are some key strengths/weaknesses?
MK: Davis is a central defensive midfield destroyer in the mold of Dax McCarty, but at the same time a different player from Dax. Davis has a engine that does not quit. He played every single minute for New York in 2021. He has a great football mind. That said, going forward and connecting on that initial pass can be a challenge for him. Given Nashville plays a less hectic style than New York’s, it may benefit Davis’ play.
BW: He’s played with Dax McCarty and Alex Muyl before, and everything looks like he’ll be a good fit in Gary Smith’s system. How do you think he’ll fit in?
MK: Davis should do great. He’s a consummate pro, and a quick learner.
BW: McCarty and Anibal Godoy have been the write-in-pen starters for the last two years. Davis played every minute for RBNY last year and reportedly took a pay cut to move, so it doesn’t seem like he’s coming to Music City to be a depth piece. From what you’ve seen, do you think he’ll beat out McCarty or Godoy on the depth chart, and how do you expect him to be used?
MK: I agree wholeheartedly that Davis will expect to start for Nashville in 2022. Davis and McCarty played together in 2015 and 2016 in New York, so the two can co-exist in CDM. Can’t say the same for Godoy. It’s a nice problem for Gary Smith to have.
BW: Off the field, what do you expect from Davis in a new city and new team?
MK: Given Davis chose Nashville, I expect him to dive in with two feet to explore the city and all that Nashville has to offer. He has former teammates on the squad, so I think his transition with be an easy one. He’s a terrific player and person. Nashville is lucky to have him.
BW: And lastly, where can our readers find your work?
MK: You can find me on twitter (@MarkFishkin) and at the Seeing Red Podcast (@SeeingRedNY) where I’ve been covering RBNY since 2010.
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