Louisville City FC’s players often speak of a lengthy offseason and eagerness to return to the pitch. Since last playing a United Soccer League game in October, they’ve had plenty of time to study up on opponents.
Even still, Saturday’s foe remains a mystery.
Rival Saint Louis FC will arrive to Louisville Slugger Field for a 2 p.m. kickoff with a different coach, the former Major League Soccer boss Predrag RadosavljeviÄ, and just four returning players from a roster that missed the USL playoffs last year.
“It’s a whole new squad, a whole new coach, and a whole new philosophy,” said LouCity coach James O’Connor. “…For us, it’s very much a case of focusing on what we can control in this particular game and then trying to maybe elaborate on some of the things that we think they may do — but then being equally open-minded to what we see and what happens in the game.”
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Other than that, LouCity will focus on executing its own game plan. With O’Connor, that typically means keeping possession with a purpose.
A returning core of players from last year’s Eastern Conference finalist have had nearly six weeks of preseason training to mesh with a handful of newcomers, among them Louisville native Richard Ballard, USL veteran Brian Ownby and Devon “Speedy” Williams, who played last year for league champion New York Red Bulls II.
“We’ve been really pleased,” O’Connor said. “I think when you bring in a new group, a third group if you’d like, I think there’s a little bit more experience than what we were looking for and our expectations. The new guys that have come in have really settled in quickly with what we are trying to do.”
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Where LouCity’s newcomers may fit into Saturday’s starting lineup remains unknown, though there’s opportunity. Defenders Sean Reynolds and Paco Craig will sit out after receiving red cards in the final game of 2016, while midfielder Mark-Anthony Kaye is away on international duty with Canada’s U-23 national team.
The shakeups don’t quite compare to Saint Louis FC’s roster turnover. New signings include goalkeeper Devala Gorrick, formerly of the USL’s Colorado Springs Switchbacks, as well as Konrad Plewa (New York Red Bulls II), Christian Volesky (Rochester Rhinos) and Octavio Guzman (Sacramento Republic FC).
The last time Saint Louis’ RadosavljeviÄ — known commonly as Preki — coached a full USL season he won a title in Sacramento in 2014.
“We’ve watched some film on former teams,” said LouCity defender Tarek Morad, “so if they play a similar style of play that we’ve seen then we’ll be prepared.”
After coming down to the last of four meetings in 2015, the Kings’ Cup rivalry between LouCity and Saint Louis wound up lopsided in 2016. LouCity took a 2-0 victory at Slugger and 5-1 win on the road.
The two teams also opened their inaugural seasons against one another, with LouCity prevailing by a 2-0 score. There were many unknowns then as well.
“It’s very tough,” said Williams, the newcomer in the midfield, “but it’s all about our organization and our preparation, and I think we’re as prepared as we can be for the game.”
