One of the regular features at Dirty South Soccer in its early days was called The Daily Dirt, a rundown each day of the latest links around the web discussing Atlanta United, domestic, and international football. I figured that with us expanding our written content at Scarves and Spikes, why not bring it back? Here we go:
Atlanta United
MLSSoccer.com is rolling out its season previews and Atlanta United had its name called. Per Matt Doyle:
For the first time in forever, they’ve got a roster whose pieces fit together in a coherent way. On paper they’re not just a collection of talent, but an actual team.
Here’s hoping Doyle’s onto something. I have to agree with him: it’s hard not to be optimistic about this group, a preseason loss to Sporting Kansas City notwithstanding. Meanwhile, all of MLSSoccer.com’s stable of experts have Atlanta making the playoffs, finishing as low as 7th and as high as 1st in the East (cheers, J. Sam Jones).
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Little roster nuggets from Doug Roberson from Monday:
In order to buy down Stian Gregersen and Bartosz Slisz, the club will need to use GAM to get them below the league maximum ($651,250). How much GAM is needed isn’t known at this time, but it might not be out of the realm of possibility to see some assets flipped for GAM over the next few days.
Also…he’s back.
MLS
The big news surrounding MLS regards the U.S. Open Cup, where a reported “hybrid” format for 2024 is set to take place, per ESPN’s Jeff Carlisle:
The source indicated that complete details are still being ironed out, but the decision to have a tournament in 2024 has been made and what will likely gain final approval is a hybrid type of tournament with not every MLS team participating. The precise level of team participation from MLS and USL clubs is still to be determined.
This continues an ugly back-and-forth between MLS and the U.S. Soccer Federation — MLS threatened to only allow its Next Pro teams to participate before USSF pushed back. As far as which MLS clubs will participate, that remains to be seen.
Carlisle also sat down with Don Garber for a Q&A, and, naturally, Lionel Messi came up:
It’s important to remind ourselves and everybody else that having arguably the best player of all time in our league says a lot about where MLS is, and how far it’s come over the years. And I don’t think Miami is stopping, right? Signing Luis Suárez and putting together a bunch of guys that Leo has played with for so many years, I think is fun. It’s exciting. And I think we’re going to see just more energy, and lots more attention in Year 2.
–MLSSoccer.com picks their Cup, Shield, MVP, and Golden Boot winners for 2024, among others.
-Here’s one star to follow at each position, from Joseph Lowery. (MLSSoccer.com)
-The sell-off begins in South Florida: Gregore is headed to Botafogo in his homeland of Brazil after 2 seasons with Inter Miami. (Inter Miami CF)
-Minnesota United are reportedly on the verge of hiring Manchester United assistant Eric Ramsey, who’d become the youngest head coach in MLS history (31). (Star-Tribune)
-This is a great piece from Wilfried Nancy on Black History Month, as he reflects on his life in the game months after becoming the first Black head coach to win MLS Cup. (MLSSoccer.com)
-Rankings! Ben Wright runs down all 29 MLS kits. (Broadway Sports Media)
–Kai Wagner will not serve a suspension to start the 2024 season. (Philadelphia Union)
-Four D.C. United supporters’ groups have staged a protest following the club’s preseason trip to Saudi Arabia. (The Athletic)
USMNT/USWNT
The latest from USMNT players in Europe. (NBC Sports)
Paul Kennedy previews the USWNT’s W Gold Cup kickoff against the Dominican Republic. (Soccer America – $)
Here’s John Babiak’s preview, as well. (Burgundy Wave)
What to Watch
Concacaf Champions Cup
St. Louis CITY vs. Houston Dynamo, 8 p.m. ET, FS2/FOX Sports App; ViX (Spanish)
Saprissa vs. Philadelphia Union, 10 p.m. ET, FS2/FOX Sports App; TUDN/TUDN app (Spanish)
Concacaf W Gold Cup
United States vs. Dominican Republic, 10:30 p.m. ET, Paramount+; ESPN+/ESPN Deportes (Spanish)
UEFA Champions League Round of 16
PSV vs. Borussia Dortmund, 3 p.m ET, Paramount+; TUDN/UniMas (Spanish)
Inter vs. Atlético Madrid, 3 p.m. ET, CBS/Paramount+; Galavision/ViX/Univision Now (Spanish)
So what’s the soonest we could buy down Saba? Summer window with the presumptive sale of Almada?
I’m still not sure. Based on what Doug is saying, it seems that bringing in Gregersen and Slisz means that we can’t buy down Saba or else one of those other two guys has to become a DP.
Almada’s successor will be the next DP we can sign according to Doug.
The other impact players we could bring in will have to be U-22s if Sosa and/or Ibarra’s purchase options are picked up by the teams they are playing for on loan.
I suspect we’re probably not buying down Saba/high TAM of choice until Sosa and Ibarra are off the books completely. Once that happens though, we’d be free to sign a 3rd high level DP of Giakoumakis/Almada level.
Fun read! Can’t wait for the 24th.