The force was stronger with Minnesota United at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Saturday night, as they defeated Atlanta United in their first match of May. Unfortunately, this result comes after a handful of rather disappointing results throughout April, and the question begins to arise: if you can’t win at home, what’s going on? Here are your final whistle thoughts.
The team felt like an independent, not a collective
Atlanta United had opportunities, but the play felt very disorganized and choppy. Some of this could be attributed to the winger switch, but that’s a lazy excuse for players occupying the same spaces and wayward passes to nowhere. Once again we’re having the chat about finishing chances, and with the attacking talent this team possesses it’s tough to come up with any rhyme or reason.
Also, what’s been a stalwart defense throughout most of the season gave up a couple of cheap goals, and suddenly Atlanta was fighting a huge uphill battle both on the night and in the standings. The team is on a skid, no two ways about it, and they have to do something to get it right. As I type this, Minnesota almost scored on a throw-in near the box where a player was entirely unmarked, and it’s simple, fundamentals like that which are inexcusable. The squad needs something to boost their confidence, get them out of the rut, and help them realize they’re not playing as a collective at this point.
The Saba/Mosquera switch
Perhaps the weakest point of Atlanta United’s attack in the past few matches has been the left wing. Edwin Mosquera has been solid, especially when he’s come on as a sub to run around tired legs, but the injury to Xande Silva and Tyler Wolff struggling to produce has definitely cramped some of the team’s attacking prowess.
This match saw Mosquera start on the right wing, with Saba on the left. A solid chance came in the 32nd minute when Caleb Wiley found an on-running Saba down the left, but he scuffed the shot and was slightly offside regardless. The new pairings definitely had some slight growing pains, as it was obvious there were moments where the wingers and fullbacks weren’t on the same page, but it did provide some fresh air. Atlanta saw some early success playing deep to Saba and Mosquera, and Mosquera looked especially impressive with some of his decision making and his work rate.
The majority of Atlanta United’s chances were created from the flanks, and though the final product wasn’t the best, credit where it’s due for trying to alter something that wasn’t working in the past few matches. Kudos to Saba for getting the goal that he honestly deserved…and was long overdue for.
The Result
That’s three home matches where Atlanta hasn’t secured a win, in fact, two of the last three at home were losses. For a place that’s supposed to be a fortress, it’s certainly not feeling that way as of late. When Saba’s goal went in and the Benz erupted, it felt like the comeback was on and the crowd did everything they could to push the Five Stripes to a result. The chances came hot and heavy, including a shot off the bar, a sequence that consisted of four corners in a row, and an Almada free kick just outside the box. The seven minutes of stoppage just weren’t enough, though, for an awakened Atlanta to snag a point in the standings.
And here we are, unfortunately starting off May exactly where April finished. This team has a quick turnaround to play Charlotte Independence in the U.S. Open Cup on Tuesday but they desperately need to get it together.
Let us know what you thought of the match down below.
I think Pineda will make a fantastic Assistant Coach. From his interviews he comes across as a very technical manager and understands the tactics of the game. He’s also player friendly. What he appears to lack is to inspire a team to play great football.
Body language suggests Pineda is lost for resolute ideas and many players appear disengaged/disinterested. In my opinion, we fans should prepare now for the likely rebuilding process.
After I re-watched the game, there were several takes of AU players with bad body language and seeming to recriminate each other, especially after the 2nd goal. I hope it’s just my take and reading too much into it.
I noticed some of that body language during the match. And a couple of personalities on the team are definitely prone to potential snowballing in that respect.
Fwiw didn’t read Pineda’s body language as lost for resolute ideas, his body language was more so someone experiencing a lot of nervousness/discomfort/embarrassment.
I remember when we hired Pineda, we knew we would have him for a while no matter what. We wanted someone who would be with the team more than 1-2 years, and we needed to show that the org wasn’t the problem and we didn’t sack every manager we hired. Ultimately, the org was kinda the problem, we fixed that, and now we have had stability for a while. If we replace Pineda, it’s nice that nobody is going to say “Atlanta is where coaches go for a year before being fired”.
So now Wolff out for several weeks with MCL. Winger depth was shallow before now becomes critical. Does coach have it in him to change formation or style to mitigate this weakness or plug even worse parts into the system ? We were fortunate that when this happened to our center backs our depth and scouting had great pieces (morales and Cobb) to step in. Do we get wacky and put Wiley up top and Hernandez in back with instructions “ do not cross midfield”
Ouch. Is Silva close to back yet?
He was listed as questionable on Saturday and I believe he’s been training on his own for about a week.. (not 100% sure)
Very well said.
Well-said. Pineda is lost. How does Bocanegra still have a job? Change needs to happen NOW. U of FL AD said it years ago regarding firing a football coach midseason, “That which will happen eventually should happen immediately.”
And how has Gator football done since? You know anyone who’s worked there? Toxic program with a contingent of seriously toxic and rude fans who show up to berate coaches at QA and pretend they’re good at something other than tailgating.
As a gators fan (though I went to UGA, so at this point idk what I am. We had a 66% natty win rate while I attended so they should probably pay me to come back and get my masters… and I really only watch soccer the last decade… anyway) they have a complete organizational and cultural problem that needs overhauled. They’re very similar to us in 2020: a few stellar players, world class facilities, no leadership, and no accountability organizationally.
Yeah…I’ve known folks in the program for a long while…it isn’t any kind of exaggeration…it’s toxic and a factor in the underperformance. Word gets around and most of the best coaches aren’t interested in the dysfunction and hostility.
Also worth noting, UF and AMB Group are very different orgs. Say what one will re: AMB, it’s inaccurate to say there’s no accountability. The targets, approaches and/or results might not be to everyone’s liking, but employees do have performance targets, reviews, etc. Would agree it is definitely an err on the side of employee friendly, benefit of the doubt culture.
Side note: with Williams, Cobb, and Morales ALL playing way better than expected, it suddenly doesn’t make sense to have a DP CB. This is a good problem to have, but I’m curious if we are able to buy down Gregersen, and if not whether we sell him within 2 years. He’s still the best CB we have, but we really don’t have a significant drop from our starting CBs even to our 4th string CB, and depending if Morales shows consistency even 5th string.
Gregersen is only a DP to offset his TAM hit. Once we get the books settled, he’ll likely be bought down. Not to mention that he looked well worth the price in his playing time before injury.
Higher priority would be getting Abram off the books or renegotiate a lower contract.. He’s making $550k as a backup CB.
That’s good to know, I couldn’t remember if he was below max TAM salary or not. He has been good so far!
I don’t mind having a proven, international experienced, good CB at 550k. He’ll continue to push Cobb/Morales to improve and make them fight for their minutes, and we’ll know we have proven depth in case of an injury crisis. He’s 130k below the TAM threshold too. I’d rather take the known quantity than take a risk trying to sign someone else for ~200k less.
It may be premature to start talking about manager changes but Hamburg sacked their coach, Tim Walter, a few weeks ago after they fell to 4th in Bundesliga 2. 1.82 PPG over 3 seasons at HSV, goals scored and allowed similar to 2017 and 2018 AU.
Atlanta will NEVER EVER again hire a name manager. If Pineda is ever fired, he’ll be replaced by another first time manager who was an MLS assistant because the number one goal in the org is that Boca’s ego must be satisfied at all costs and no more will he ever agree to hiring a manager who won’t be his obedient thrall. Garth doesn’t care what happens, so there you go.
Agree!! Bocanegra is a piece of s**t. Just ask Tata his opinion of him.
Having watched nearly every game for HSV for the last 3 years, no thanks. There is a reason Walter was sacked. Walter’s insanely rigid insistence on playing out of the back through the press and on every single occasion, even when opposing managers were using it against him was maddening to watch. It was like the early years of Pineda x10. He was also infamous for blowing big games. In many ways, he is a lot like Pineda. The point is to move away from that style of coaching.
This is just one of infinite reasons I’m not a big time soccer coach, but what is it with coaches and their systems? There’s not one system to rule them all, but there are definitely systems that work better with your personnel and systems that don’t. Why are coaches so fixated on their particular system? I would love to have a manager who tries to fit the system to the strengths of our personnel. I have no idea what that system is, but it sure doesn’t seem to be whatever system Pineda is married to.
Pardon me while I go philosophical on you all. I have some random, disturbing thoughts about our club that I would like to get your reactions to.
The last several games we have looked like a mid table team, which is exactly where we are in the standings. If we looked like a mid table team with higher ambitions that would be easier for me to accept.
Well said
Founding Member and STH here too. MBS was surprisingly full last night given our poor run of form. I think the attendance figures are giving the FO a false sense that things aren’t so bad. However, I think there’s a rapidly approaching cliff where folks like us will finally throw in the towel. If/when that happens, we’ll most definitely look like just another MLS team.
Disagree wrt 1 (think they’re just taking a slow and steady path) and only partly agree with 2. I more so agree with 3…we’re stacked at center back…we have some options up top….the midfield has some serious gaps and, in as much as I’m a big Lennon fan because of his work rate, the wingback play has been spotty. Point being, this is defn not the best roster in the league by any stretch. It could continue improving in the next couple of seasons. I’d characterize it as a work in progress with some good long-term potential for stability and performance.
We are 10th out of 14 in the East. “Mid-table” would be an upgrade at this point.
Football is science. Rebel, Atlantistas!!
Things happen as they are supposed to. Limited coach, limited roster, limited ambitions from the management = what you are seeing. There is nothing to be surprised about. I am not surprised at all.
What I can´t understand is how ownership allows this. You have a brand, created a huge following, have the stadium, the infrastructure, and settle for this?
I can´t understand the level of freedom that management has, in that no one holds them accountable for anything. Supporters could be making themselves heard in games, booing, and this really causes change. We would be ferocious by now, if we were in your place.
Clubs go through ups and downs, this is football, and everyone oscilates,. BUT, you had your amazing moment in 2017, 18, and then never had the same Sturm und Drang again.
The league expanded a lot, but the same mentality, the so caleed parity is still hanging over clubs, justifying mediocrity. On the other hand, I watched Miami devastate another team yesterday. That´s what I mean by ambition. They got Messi, but they brought in some very impressive players. Did you see Rojas? This guy was wasting away at Corinthians, and Tata brought him. Everyone is talking about Messi, but did you see what HE did? And he came on a loan, I believe. There is talent, no one is scouting, and there is no coach to make it all work.
This whole thing can change very fast. But, not with the current management. It is not just the coach, it is management. The players, and team, are just a consequence.
Appreciate your opinion. Only going to address #3 because the other ones could be plausible.
In defense of our roster. I think if you gave this team a manager like Wilfred Nancy, Tata Martino, or another manager with more tactics we would be in the conversation for top 3 team in the league. I seemingly over reliance on almada is, in my opinion summed up in pindeda’s comments the other week about “he’s one of the best. Who am I to tell him what to do?” (Paraphrase). Pineda is giving them poor tactics and almada is trying his best to make something happen.
Give them a better plan, switch up the formation (two at the top from the start?), and adjust accordingly and we aren’t having this convo.
Generally I agree and have said some of the same things before. It’s good to see others pick up on this.
1) Yes, the hiring of Pineda was certainly full proof that the ambition to be the biggest club in the Americas and have a spot on the world stage was GONE, possibly forever. I say that the team’s goal now is simply “Just make the playoffs”. I was furious about the org clearly giving up on bigger ambitions, but I can’t make Eales give a crap nor can I make Boca give a crap, so I resigned myself to the fact that being just another MLS team is the reality of AU going forward.
2) Eales leaving should have been a huge plus. We brought in a new guy well qualified for the job with major MLS experience and what did we get? A guy who loves Boca just as much as Eales ever did. Any fans expecting Garth to save things are sadly wrong.
3) Unfortunately there will never be another Almada. Garth has promised us that future DPs won’t cost as much, will be older, and probably won’t be guys who realistically have sell on potential.
This is a really weird season so far in MLS by the way, especially in the East. Nashville’s whole thing, for better or worse, was “We play defense”. Now they don’t. Orlando basically brought back everybody except one CB and now most of the roster plays like they are ice hockey players who are playing soccer for the very first time. On paper, they should have one of the very deepest rosters in all of MLS and instead every match ends with the question “Can anybody not named Duncan McGuire actually play this game?” New England shouldn’t be THAT bad, but they are. They brought back most of the players who counted. And Toronto didn’t change much beyond getting a manager who didn’t suck and they have rocketed to the top parts of the conference.
My solution is FIRE BOCA and I promise that NOTHING WILL CHANGE FOR THE BETTER until this happens.
I don’t believe that the ambition is gone, but it has been severely tempered by a number of moves that looked great on paper (and were near-universally celebrated by fans when announced) and ended up being giant mistakes that tore down the foundation and swagger of the entire organization.
After the Heinze fiasco, with a team in open revolt, a roster with no focus, and zero culture or identity, they decided to pull back and get things under control. Pineda’s mandate upon hiring was likely to get the team back under control and instill a culture and identity into the team. Arguably that part has been wildly successful as the players are fully behind Pineda as a manager, and the team has shown a belief in themselves that was missing during the FdB and Heize years. If he is unable to take the team to the next level (as it currently seems), then GL will find a proven manager that can do it.
Bringing in Garth is another long-term decision. He is not one to make splashy signings, but to build an organization that can be a consistent performer. That’s why he prefers his DPs, the most important players on an MLS squad, to be players that are battle tested and can be counted on to bring results every year.
It has been a very difficult time for the club since 2018; there have been many, many lessons learned about risk, reward, and believing hype vs reviewing data. They have realized that without a solid foundation there is no way to be the continental contenders they have always wanted to be. And now we are watching that build happening. I don’t think that GL is afraid to spend big if he is given the go-ahead, but he is definitely not looking for the next hotness because that’s not how you become a contender. Once a team gets to that level, then they can start to bring in the “young DP” looking to Europe.
Bocanegra has been a constant subject of discontent by fans and ex-players. The general opinion in certain circles is he is a lying snake. I tend to agree that he needs to be severed.
Things looking strangely familiar: 2023, 2022 rerun? Some positives: we didn’t give up a goal in the first half; we didn’t give up a third; we totally controlled possession; we limited their chances; didn’t rain on the way out.
They are familiar because we’re in the same position: the only real on-field leader is stuck in goal. Without Williams or Gregersen to organize the back line and push the team forward, this will be the result.
It sucks greatly that both of our organizing CBs went down, but thems the breaks. I’m hoping we run a 3-5-2 on Tuesday with Morales-Greg-Cobb along the back to get his fitness up. The youngins can handle the running, and he can keep things moving. Do that, and we’ll probably cruise to victory even if the rest of the starting XI is mostly the kids.
I don’t think it will happen, but Pineda needs to go. He was an uninspiring pick when hired, and he has accomplished nothing. There’s still plenty of time to recover this season, and maybe Pineda can get us into the playoffs, but the team has never really looked like trophy winners in his time here.
This roster should be getting better results at home.
Getting rid of GP at this point is maybe considered by the FO too much of a gamble. Slowly AU is being brought to the Falcons modus operandi. I just don’t see them making a move anytime soon; so sad…
Man, when someone throws out the Falcons comparisons, reminding me that this is basically the same organization, my depression drops from bitter disappointment to forlorn hopelessness.
Something is broken, and I don’t think Pineda knows how to fix it.
Minnesota is a good team. We are a good roster.
Saba should not have been on the left so long, we clearly didn’t get crossing opportunities. We shouldn’t have played out of the back as much. Almada shouldn’t have to carry the ball 40 yards to transition us into attack.
Almada played great. Slisz was MOTM. Guzan had a good game. Cobb was good again. Saba was good once he got to his correct side. Mosquera always puts in the effort. Giako was frustrated but dangerous. Abram was good outside of the time he ran into Guz. Muyumba was ok (I sometimes think he would be better on the wing than our depth options). Lennon and Wiley struggled to make an impact.
If I remember correctly, Saba prefers to play on the left, so he has the ability to cut in, but has been playing on the right because Silva also prefers to play on the left.
He was a like-for-like replacement for Araujo, a left footed inverted winger who can cut in and shoot. So yes, and no; he cuts in from the right o ro his left foot usually
Almada looked mediocre. For what he’s paid and what he is supposed to do, less than mediocre. GG’s attitude blows and he looked ineffectual…guy is borderline dirty and a flopper. Mosquera looked woefully inconsistent. Wiley meh with a terrible turnover leading to a goal. Muyumba’s passing wasn’t too good and he got dunked on on their goal. Slisz did look good, as did Cobb…Abram did ok. Saba was working. Pineda could have done better.
I thought he was very good, great diagonal balls, fearless attacking drives, all over the field. He still doesn’t have a teammate with a good first touch. We needed those quick one touch combinations to break the low block, like Miami did to Redbulls.
Respectfully disagree…many runs were aimless, often predictable or the execution lacks. As always, he ebbs and flows and has flashes…none of that is to say he doesn’t do anything well because he does…but that kind of inconsistency just doesn’t cut it in a conductor role.
And also agree, some of it is lack of some outlets, but also in part it’s the system and where players are positioned and his initial touches. But often it’s his being predictable and/or off target 65% of the time and playing some really great or at least really productive balls the remainder of the time. There were times when he was literally reducing space. What’s more, he doesn’t present as a leader or orchestrator on the field…isn’t providing direction (maybe partly age).
That could be good play from a left midfielder maybe…for what he’s supposed to be, imo the play is often average or subpar.
And again, not a personal critique…maybe he is indeed still exhausted from the intl play and lack of rest, etc. Just isn’t cutting it as the center piece of an offense…and to be sure, some other under performers as well. Defn not “the” problem…just one of a number of them.
I actually think we’ve looked pretty decent on the whole in most of our games with some unlucky results. This one didn’t look great.
I think Pineda is making Almada look bad. The team doesn’t look ready…ever. When we win, it’s due to 1-2 players stepping up and doing something special. That’s not sustainable.
Not sure I entirely agree but maybe to some extent. Regardless, he doesn’t look great nor very good on the whole. And he did look better last year (though still inconsistent and not an effective leader). Definitely more he could be doing irrespective of Pineda. It’s not too inconceivable that neither is great in their role.
Let’s take our varying personal assessments (and game announcer personality cult hype) out of the equation for a moment…why do we think he didn’t get a decent European deal? And possibly the best (and not great) offer was from a second tier league? Is it because European clubs aren’t sophisticated enough to tell that this is all the coach making him not great? I’m going to give them a little more credit and suggest he’s just not there yet. Pretty sure if it were just a coaching issue they’d recognize the upside.
Well, I think the economy is not doing that great. Many European teams don’t have the money and are having to sell. In addition, what AU is/was asking seemed too steep (35 mil?) Think about where we would be without him playing… probably very near the bottom. In any event, even if we suck, I still enjoy watching Almada play. His ball control, vision, dribbling skills, quickness are hard to beat.
I don’t think the economic situation in Europe is all that catastrophic…not enough to affect deals for mid tier players…would think the opposite would be true, value players that haven’t been developed would get more looks. Did he even get any European offers?
As for where we’d be…I presume we’d add another DP for similar money. It’s not like he’d just disappear from the roster with no additions. So when I think of where we’d be, think it would be at least where we are now, more likely slightly better, esp if we acquired two reliable midfielders for the money.
I don’t disagree he’s fun to watch sometimes. Doesn’t mean he’s the best option. Different strokes for different folks.
We’re very near the bottom now, five points ahead of dead last in the league, 12 points behind first.
For context, last year teams like Monaco were paying a $30mil transfer fee for guys like Folarin Balogun. I’d have figured there would have at least been some offers closer to $20mil for a central midfielder if teams recognized the value. Hopefully I’m wrong and he comes around…
Legacy STH and this was the closest I’ve ever come to walking out of a match
I was about to say “what about 2020?” But then realized nobody was there during 2020 lol
Honestly – I feel sorry for the players. We love our team and players; they deserve a better coach!
We need another starting quality winger. The drop off from Silva to Mosquera/Wolff is too big, that whichever side they’re on can’t unbalance the defense, making it harder for the rest of the offense
In general, we need to get more accurate with our passes, which also means being more in tune where each other is. That’s on Pineda to be getting consistent patterns of play up the field to prevent wingers from running into dead ends and to be getting his players to practice accurate passes.
Rios has been giving good minutes, why not let him start out left over the Mosquera/Wolff sophie’s choice.
I thought the same thing, I considered he’s a back up strike maybe can’t play wing, also I have to take into consideration that GP may not know any better.
We need a new manager. Full stop. Pointless to sign more talent when the manager is inadequate. A better LW wasn’t going to change this outcome.
I think the bigger issue our coaching. But we could use another player to fill the role Etienne was supposed to. I expect the FO will address that this summer.
I think if we’d played like the last 10 minutes, we beat them badly. Our coach doesn’t know how to instill aggressive and determined play; WAY too passive. You break down a low block by sofocating the opponent and playing with speed, eventually they break down. Pineda’ substitutions were the right ones but WAY too late, they needed to happen at halftime. Simple,
we were Outcoached again
Not watching another game until I hear the words, “Pineda is dismissed”. We are totally lost and he has zero answers!
Yes. It’s time. Sorry. I want it to work, but this cannot go on forever. Are we really a Big Club? No. Of course not. This is a middling club that caught early fire. And I’m over it. And I imagine I’m not alone.
Well, I followed my college football team during many 1-10, 3-7 seasons for many, many years, then they stared winning and won 2 CF Championships. Coaching did it. Don’t give up and just vent your frustration here.
Pineda out. This roster is too talented to be playing like this.
Maybe our roster is not as good as we think plus our coach is probably in the mediocre category
Roster is defn not as great as some people think…there’s potential but some big gaps. Pineda might be an average coach in some respects. Also possible it was a good fit for the transition and is taking positive steps in ways that are not evidenced in the table. Not an argument against moving on to the next phase if necessary…
How many more excuses does Pineda get? It’s not going to get better when we have guys go on international duty in the summer.
Exactly. We squandered an important stretch where we have all (or most) of our best XI and got very few points out of it.
I’m not making excuses for anyone, but both of our starting CBs and our starting LW, and our starting striker have been out most of the last 5 matches. We haven’t had a first-choice lineup since the Chicago match on March 31. We absolutely should’ve done better over that stretch, but we definitely didn’t have all (or most) or of our starting XI available.
This is correct. If you’re not 15-16 deep, you’re not going to last the season. In any league.
I will say this….I think Pineda is the problem with this roster. As much as I dislike Boca, where’s the hole?
GG – obviously
Almada – let him cook
muyumba – solid
slisz – love what I see so far
gregersen / williams – solid and trusted
cobb / morales – some young mistakes but high ceiling
lennon – defensive flaws but solid offensively
wiley – this is pineda putting a leash on him
guzan – needs to retire
saba – a wildman….not a possession player, but can create!
silva – being misused in possession, let him run!
mosquera – another square peg being stuck in the round possession hole
wolff – I don’t see it
firmino – why isn’t this guy on the field? put him on the left for all I care…he could even help with the possession obsession
fortune – has taken a step back but played great against charleston
dax – should be a sub every game, especially if we’re winning…his talent (and slow legs) were so obvious in the open cup
hernandez – why is he here?
So, goalkeeper. Although he hasn’t “hurt” us. And backup fullback – which should be a vet.
Is this the 2018 / 2019 super team? No. But, it’s not 10th place, either.
Speaking of….you have the template. Just write the top 16 guys down from that team, and find a like for like. DP here. TAM there. Done.