One look at the community player ratings from Atlanta United’s 3-2 loss to D.C. United, and it’s clear that fan frustration is really boiling over.
Most of these were submitted right after the match ended, so naturally discontent was at its peak at that point. Some of you, after sleeping on it, still dropped low ratings. That’s not to say it wasn’t deserved, but it’s interesting to see the psychology behind it (I guess).
Man of the Match: Saba Lobjanidze – 6.17
He caused the fluky own goal to net the second goal for Atlanta United and was generally OK throughout the match. As we’ve mentioned, Saba hasn’t had the best luck finishing, and while he didn’t have a ton of chances on Saturday, he can probably be considered the “best of the worst”, so to speak.
Community Player Ratings
Brad Guzan: 6.15
Brooks Lennon: 4.42
Noah Cobb: 4.83
Luis Abram: 4.08
Caleb Wiley: 4.17
Bartosz Slisz: 5.25
Tristan Muyumba: 4
Thiago Almada: 4.5
Saba Lobjanidze: 6.17
Edwin Mosquera: 2.75
Giorgos Giakoumakis: 4.08
Dax McCarty (SUB): 5.75
Xande Silva (SUB): 5
Daniel Rios (SUB): 4.64
Nick Firmino (SUB): 4.36
Gonzalo Pineda: 1.25
my game summary: a mid table team embarrasses a mid table team in their own house
this is pretty much what i expected to happen, unfortunately. i’ve been trained by pineda.
at this point, it’s clear we have the talent (have had since summer of last year) to be competitive for and in the playoffs (outside the top 4). but we have manager that still doesn’t know how to be a manager, and a front office that has been perfectly fine to let things limp along
Oh look, Gonzalo Pineda’s 1.25 rating is only slightly higher than his Points Per Game (PPG) ratio,1.09, during his entire tenure here.
Pineda is a nice guy, but we didn’t hire him to be a nice guy. We hired him to win games and bring us back to a status as a big club. And he is failing spectacularly at that going on 3 seasons now.
He’s at the “are you a good coach” point in his career. He put the player into his system, and they figured it out. The additions made the team better, although we didn’t exactly roll into the playoffs.
Now teams are fully up to date on Pineda ball. And, it’s not exactly a new system. They not only have us matched up, but they tilt their offense and flow where they want it to go.
So, now you’re Pineda and you have to adjust. Adapt or die……he has not adapted. He has gone with the “do my system better and we will overwhelm them.” But this isn’t City or Liverpool. You can’t just play people off the field. You need to attack their weaknesses. See what they are giving you, or what they are taking! And then adapt your game flow to maximize your openings.
Given that he is using at least three players dead wrong, forcing them into the ole round holes, I have my doubts he will ever be able to pivot.
I watched the “highlights” last night. Based on everyone lustily yelling “Guuuuuzzzz!!!” at the final whistle, I’d have to say Greg was Man of the Match.