MATCH REPORT: The substitutions will not be televised

In a 1991 interview with PBS, the Chicago-born poet and musician Gil Scott-Heron said that his now-widely celebrated track "The Revolution Will Not Be Televised" referred to "the fact that the first change that takes place is in your mind.”

Sadly, the influential lyricist (and son of the first Black player to appear for Celtic Football Club) passed away in 2011.

Yet one must wonder, if he were still alive today, what would Mr. Scott-Heron have made of the fact that not only the first, but all of the subsequent changes made by John Hackworth in Louisville City’s 4-0 loss to Nashville SC on Saturday took place inside our minds? Indeed, so too did the entirety of the match— which is probably for the best.

It’s another enigmatic, closed-door fixture against top-flight opposition that we City fans are left to ponder, but this time one with a less agreeable scoreline. Coach Hackworth noted, “we certainly need to have an answer for our performance today,” following the defeat in a match broken in three, 30-minute periods to maximize squad rotation.

An early set piece goal from former US international and Chicago Fire forward C.J. Sapong gave the hosts the lead on 6 minutes, but it was midfielder Hany Mukhtar who ran rampant, tallying a brace and an assist within the first 18 minutes with a quick penalty and another from open play. A fourth goal came from an unnamed Nashville trialist on 59 minutes.

Despite the forgettable performance, there are a few interesting points to be drawn from the match.

In an interview in the first episode of the recently re-launched Soccer City Radio, Hackworth mentioned that the squad had been experimenting with new formations (including in the c*ncinnati friendly) and a possible shift away from the club’s traditional 4-3-3. This photo, released by the club at the start of the match pictures a very plausible first XI that would seem to show a continuation of the formation we're used to seeing:

Also noteworthy is the start for Chris Hubbard, which could indicate that the veteran keeper is set to get the nod between the sticks.

Of course, for now all of this is nothing but conjecture. We’ll have to wait until April 3rd’s match against NISA’s Chattanooga FC (which will be played in front of fans) to get our first real glimpse of the squad.

Before then, City continues their MLS road show, traveling to the Lone Star state to face league-newcomers Austin FC on Thursday in two, 70-minute matches and Houston Dynamo on Sunday. Currently included in the traveling squad are new Academy signees Carlos Moguel and Joshua Wynder, alongside the team's most recent arrival in goalkeeper Parker Siegfried.

One would expect the Ohio State University and Columbus academy product to compete for the second spot behind Hubbard and fellow newcomer Simon Lefebvre, who has since began training with the first team after his visa was cleared earlier this month. After brief spells with League One’s South Georgia and most recently NISA champions Detroit City, it’s difficult to see the 24-year-old walking into the starting lineup, but at this level (and especially with goalkeepers) nothing is out of the question and we could have our hands on a hidden gem.

Although Hackworth seemed to strike a somewhat stern tone in his post-game interview with the club, personally I don’t think there’s reason to be too concerned. To be a coach of his caliber, you have to hate losing— even in friendlies against opposition with a squad valuation over eight times greater than your own and while tinkering with new formations and tactics. For now, it’s good to catch any snags in the line away from the eyes of opposition scouts before the start of the 2021 USL Championship season, a competition managed by an organization seemingly locked in a fierce display of brinksmanship with the club to see who can hold out longest before releasing the fixture list or this season’s new kits.

An early loss to superior opposition can even be a healthy part of the preseason preparation process, helping to send a necessary shock while there’s still plenty of time to right the ship, to mix two completely unrelated metaphors. But come May (presumably), a real match will come— one with three points at stake.

And in that one, there will be no re-runs, brother. It will be live.

UPDATED: An earlier version of this story incorrectly identified Tyler Gibson as Wes Charpie.