Just like that, it’s matchday again. This time, maybe we aren’t wishing it had come so soon.
Tenth in the East Atlanta United (3-5-3) is back now in the unfortunately familiar territory of years past. Glimpses of a team capable of going toe to toe with any in the league have faded after injury setbacks, and now lackluster performances have snowballed into something more unfamiliar- three consecutive losses at home for the first time in team history. Bluntly, things aren’t great.
On short turnaround from Saturday’s 3-2 loss to D.C. United, it’s a tall ask to think Atlanta United’s turnaround will begin with a visit to a red hot FC Cincinnati (7-2-3) tonight. Cincy look for their fifth straight win, welcoming an Atlanta side that hasn’t found victory on the road since August of last year. The two side have already met less than a month ago, with Cincinnati finding a win in Mercedes-Benz Stadium by coming back quickly from an Almada goal by responding twice within five minutes to win 2-1.
The Five Stripes will certainly need to improve from recent performances on both sides of the ball. Stian Gregersen will be welcomed back with open arms off the injury report, but it remains to be seen how much time he’ll see as he comes off of concussion protocol. Giorgos Giakoumakis has been held scoreless in his last four appearances, and Atlanta will need to get their star striker on the board sooner than later to find success. Gonzalo Pineda’s hot seat will only get hotter if Atlanta fall again, maybe unjustly in a match that’d be difficult encounter for any squad in MLS. It may look insurmountable, but a turnaround’s gotta start somewhere.
Kickoff from TQL Stadium is advertised for 7:30 PM ET, with actual kickoff approximately 10 minutes later at 7:40 PM. As always, the match is also streaming on Apple TV as a part of MLS Season Pass. Radio coverage is provided in English on 92.9 The Game and in Spanish on La Mejor. Jump down to the match thread in the comments below to chat about all the pre, during, and post-match action from Ohio.
Atlanta United’s Lineup:
FC Cincinnati’s Lineup:
How to Watch:
Venue: TQL Stadium, Cincinnati, Ohio
Kickoff Time: Wednesday, May 15th; 7:40 PM ET
Available TV/Streaming: Apple TV+ (with MLS Season Pass subscription)
Available Radio: 92.9 The Game, La Mejor 1600/1460/1130 AM
This thread will be your match thread. We don’t have many rules here. We just ask that you don’t insult each other personally and treat each other with respect. Debates can get heated and that’s fine, but name-calling and petty insults will get you banned. If you see a comment that you feel is out of line, please report it and it will be dealt with.
Watched the highlights… while the score wasn’t “bad” for an away game loss against a good team, the three things that concern me most are 1) our players’ demeanor on the field the last several games (lots of verbal and physical gestures of frustration), 2) our lack of goal scoring opportunities per game, and 3) our consistency in falling asleep on defense and allowing at least 1 bone-headed goal against us every game (often times moments after we score).
To mean, these three observations indicate low morale, lack of focus, and confusion on the collective tactical scheme… all of which are the responsibility of the coach to address and fix. If was just a player execution problem (I.e not being ‘clinical enough’ on our chances, it would only occur in a game or two and sporadically. Not for 7 straight games!
Bottom line – I have lost all confidence in Pineda and his ability to address any of these issues and I do believe the players have too.
Beyond the field, we have quickly become a club without a clear vision and lack the fortitude to do something to change it. If Garth allows this to continue much longer, Atlanta United may cease to exist. We deserve better as fans.
One shot on goal. This is fine…
Man they obviously haven’t given up on Pineda. They fought harder than ever at the end of the game
The players play hard for each other. I think they’ve lost faith in whatever the hell it is that Pineda wants them to do. I sure have.
I mean there are no signs that he’s lost the lockerroom unfortunately. If they’d just say something we’d have a new coach for Saturday and save the season
Yeah, I know what you’re saying, and credit to them for playing hard. But either they’re not following Pineda’s script, or the script is horrible. Maybe a bit of both.
I reiterate: they are 100% playing as they’ve trained under Pineda. They are bought in to that style; they like that style. Their biggest problem is that they are not being nearly clinical enough in their connections and that’s on the players. They know it, but fixing it is something they have to do themselves.
I really hope you’re wrong. If you’re right it is such a big problem on so many levels.
How so? They were doing great the first 5 matches. The only change since then is they are disjointed and not making those final balls count, and every striker who started to get in form then went out for 3-4 matches.
In the back line, the biggest issue I see is that I would expect Abram to be better given that he’s a regular call up for Peru. With Stian to keep things tight it is much better so hopefully he’s good for 90 sooner than later. Cobb is doing great considering his age; as well or better than Miles at the same stage in his career.
I wish I shared your optimism, but I don’t. We’ve been in a rut for three years and I see no improvement on the horizon.
20 seconds left and Abram passes backwards. Unbelievable.
Came to post this. He wasn’t under real pressure either. It’s just ingrained. Must. Possess. At. All. Costs.
I yelled at the screen on that one. My wife (who is mostly soccer illiterate) even said “ They only have a few seconds left , why is he passing backwards ? “
Guzan is better at the long ball than he is. It was the better play, as I seriously doubt he could hit the ball Guz did.
I hope Asad scores
Get a new coach and blow it up. I mean complete rebuild. We’ve been working towards this Pineda roster/system for three years now, and—incredibly—we’re worse off than when we started.
I don’t think the roster needs to be rebuilt again. These guys need a real manager.
It takes at minimum 3 windows to flip your starting XI in MLS. So you’re advocating for, at minimum, two years of rebuilding after spending three years doing the exact same.
I get you’re frustrated but that seems like a really poor roster and team management strategy.
I know. Frustrated hyperbole. There’s some talent here, if we had a coach that could use it.
What would a new manager do differently? Who is playing in the wrong position or is not is a place where they can be effective? Which player combination would be superior to what we’ve seen so far given who is available?
“Different” does not necessarily mean “better” as we well know (FdB, Heinze).
But there’s a little more to it than just setting a formation and telling which players to line up where. As for what a new manager could do differently—who knows? But it’s unlikely to be worse than what we’ve been seeing for the past three years.
But hey, if you think Pineda is doing a terrific job, then more power to you. I hope you enjoy the rest of the season.
This team can’t even do what it is usually good at it: meaninglessly cycling the ball through the backline.
Can we ever go forward and stress the defense ? We get a steal or advantage and once we hit half field we stop and pass backwards instead of pressing and maybe finding someone out of position on defense
Whoa man, I’m pretty sure what you described is illegal.
To what end? FCC was never really caught out. If the options are “immediately give it to the opponent” and “hold up to try to break them down”, it’s not a difficult call.
Most of the time they tried a ball over the top or to break lines, the pass was off sometimes by a hair but often by a fair margin. They are trying to play smart soccer, which is good, but they just aren’t connecting consistently enough to really get the attack going.
Mosquera is just not a good option anywhere.
He’s awful. Zero technical ability. Fast AF but it’s wasted.
I am trying to think of a word that describes our “strategy” and I am failing
You can’t describe what doesn’t exist.
They’re just toying with us. Totally in control.
We now have GG playing like he is the number 10. Just everything about this team is off.
Dax looks tired. Where’s Muyumba?
We have no offensive plan other than cross into the box for GG’d head. Even if that is a good way to get goals, it is so predictable.
Yeah. That’s super low percentage at this level. High school tactics. We so rarely work through the middle in the final third.
Wingbacks starting to tuck in too much again. Giving too much time and space out wide.
They were able to avoid the second goal, but really need to figure out wtf they’re doing in attack. Somewhat understandable that it’s “boot and pray” with Almada out but it’s not sustainable.
They aren’t out of it yet, but they need a spark in the attack. If they can tie it up, and avoid giving up a second, I feel like they have a path to eeek out a win. But they have to start the half strong and absolutely can’t give up a second.
Trade that money stealing Almada. Worthless for the price tag. This team is worst than Sunday Rec league play. #FrustratedFiveStripes #WhereIsTheFire #PinedaOut #BocanegraOUT
Almada is the biggest chance creator on the team by a wide margin. He felt something and went out. Shit happens. Hopefully it’s just a tweak and he’s not out for too long.
Acostas tattoo on his left leg make it look like it was a transplanted leg.
Do they have a bad field? There’s been a ton of players down
This team can’t even pass the ball correctly.
Is it me, or does our pressing seem better since Almada went off?
He is busy sitting in the corner eating candy. Not a good look.
Everyone seemed to have a more clear understanding of where to be, offensively and defensively.
Agreed.
Hard to score if you don’t even have a shot on goal – XG should have other numbers than zero in it
Okay so they’re moving through our press easily. What is it they do that we’re not able to do to beat the press?
I think it’s that they’re disciplined and well coached on how to beat the press. And, our press is disorganized and gets us out of shape. Teams have been walking through our “press” all year. The same things keep happening over and over, and Pineda can’t fix them.
As for why we can’t beat it, I don’t know, but we don’t move much on offense. We are predictable, and do little to pull the other sides defense out of shape. And we play WAY too slow, which lets their defense get set.
Makes sense, seems to be at least 75% scheme and training
I know this is dumb, but Pineda’s outfit us making me irrationally annoyed.
Yea it’s one of those things that would be quirky if we were winning but just another sign that he’s an idiot since we’re not doing good
Silva looking good so far
Putrid. They’ve given up on Pineda.
To be fair, it’s hard to blame them. He obviously has no idea of how to coach this team up.
WTH are you talking about? There is zero evidence that the team is anything but 100% with Pineda and his game plan. They are responding immediately when Pineda gives instruction.
That’s weird, I wonder what’s wrong? He’s walking fine but obviously something isn’t right
He got clipped a few minutes before, but it didn’t look like much.
Doug is saying he isn’t going to the trainers, just sat down on the bench
Just saw the replay… to me, it looks like he just quit. Good be wrong, but he walk and body language almost came across as someone that would rather quit than lose. Time will tell.
Yea it looked like it, but pros just don’t have that bone in their body. If they did they’d never make it to the pros. It’s weird that he didn’t go to the trainers, but in sure there’s a reason
Injured his pride?
We are so f’ed.
Looks like a 4-4-2 with GG and Almada up top and Saba and… Fortune (?) on the wings.
Wtf?
At least they’re trying something different
Damn. That was just bad, bad soccer.
Oh look. A bad giveaway in a terrible spot. A wide open attacker on the far side. Goal.
Who gave it away?
Almada. Got his pocket picked by … let’s see … Miles Robinson.
Also where the fuck was Wiley or whoever had that wing?
Nicely done Cobb
Well nevermind I guess
Is Yaka okay? I had to step away
Alright well this game is it as far as this season goes in my opinion. We have to take 3 points full stop. I’m already out in Pineda but if he can get a result today the. We’ll see
so what formation is Atlanta even running today? 4-3-3 with Almada playing wing? or 4-3-1-2 with Saba playing like a shadow striker behind GG?
0-2
Cincy has given up the fewest goals in MLS. I doubt they hand one over to us.
quick aside – I don’t see any more MLS points for us before the end of May…..0 for 4
And Charleston is a back to back mid week game, so Pineda will probably trot out a B team that loses
Normally I’d say punt that USOC game but we aren’t going to win the league games. We can probably beat Charleston, though.
I mean, Nashville is in a bad place this year. We’ll have a chance against them, even though it’s on the road…
I would totally agree
But we just lost to DC at home
Nashville is in a REALLY bad place right now, even bad enough that we can beat them. In some ways their situation is similar to ours – coach seems out of ideas and his message is getting stale.
We Built the Palace, But the King Never ArrivedRemember 2018? Atlanta United was lightning in a bottle. We sold out every game, our chants echoed through the streets, and MLS finally had a team that could hang with the best. We were supposed to be a dynasty. We had the talent, the fans, the damn bounce house in the stands!
But here we are, another season fading faster than Josef Martinez’s magic. We keep getting promised a reload, a rebuild, a magical new direction, but all we get is disappointment. The players we love get shipped out, the tactics are a mess, and the FO seems more interested in jersey sales than trophies.
Where’s the identity? Where’s the fight? This isn’t the Atlanta United we fell in love with. This is a team sleepwalking through games, leaving us fans with nothing but a hollow feeling and another empty beer cup.
We deserve better. This city deserves better. We built a palace, but the king never arrived. Maybe one day… but for now, all I have is despair.
#FrustratedFiveStripes #WhereIsTheFire #PinedaOut #BocanegraOUT
Pretty much sums up pandemic-to present
#blueandyellowjerseysout
#mintcityforestjerseyout
#bringbackkingpeachjersey
Concrete
I have to ask in all honesty – WHEN did anybody in the front office EVER promise a reload or rebuild? I truly don’t remember that ever coming out of the mouths of Eales, Garth or Boca. Even when Boca did his egomaniacal teardown/rebuild after the 2019 season, there was no real explanation from the front office for why so many players were sent packing. Boca did claim that he supposedly “had” to get rid of Gressel because of salary cap issues and to their discredit, some of the writers at the old DSS site actually bought that one for a while, but everything else was never really justified or explained at all. All I can tell you is that I’m not the guy who decided that Matheus Rossetto simply had to have a 4 year guaranteed contract at TAM money. I can’t think of a single player who was here as long or longer and contributed less.
Everything went to Feces Town when Tata left and Eales made it clear that he was 100% OK with that because he’d rather have Boca anyway. To me, the whole org seems built around the principle that Carlos Bocanegra must get 100% of the credit if we win and they’d rather not win than for that to not happen. I watch because I love MLS and Atlanta United is my team, but I don’t really expect much anymore.
Your charge that the front office is more interested in jersey sales than trophies seems dead on the money to me. Although I do think they deliberately botched the release of the new blue jersey, but I don’t feel like going into that.
I was saying that on Dirty South two years ago. I was saying hubris before Felipe wrote his piece in the athletic. You’re right. It’s sad. Atlanta United is Dexy’s Midnight Runners and 2018 is their Come on Eileen (ask your grandparents). We got lucky, babe. One hit wonders.
Hey, I have a monopoly on weird, melodramatic poetic comments on the state of the team! I’ll let it pass this time…
But hey, at least those of you who drink also have beer lol
I believe it was the home game against Cincy when we were up 1-0 (briefly) that the halo board showed the “live” standings putting us in third place. Good times.
1-3 final, Marcelo Gallardo avail ?
Let’s break out Uncle Arthur’s checkbook for Thiago Motto – before he eventually goes to Juve
never really understood why we are so bad at defending set pieces. you get time to set up your defense, it is quite mind boggling…can’t imagine Atlanta winning tonight, maybe a lucky draw
In dark times, it is a hallmark of the human race to hope. To reach for the light when there is none in sight. But sometimes, there is no light. The clouds aren’t obscuring the sunlight from coming through; the sun is dead. Gone. There is nothing but to drift around in a storm before being consumed by the black hole that encompasses our entire existence. No point steering the ship, we’re dead men walking. Let the waves crush us.
0-9 Cincy
I find this comforting. Thank you.
Eh you’re forgetting the frustratingly well taken stoppage time goal from Mosquera.
1-9 Cincy
Sometimes the light at the end of the tunnel is actually the headlight on the pain train coming your way.
r/im15andthisisdeep
I’m going to watch, but I’m not going to like it.
As others have pointed out, including people who write for the official MLS website, we’ve been bad as long as we’ve been good now, so the Five Stripes haven’t been “champions” in a long time now.
ATLUTD has been bad longer than it has been good.
Same Coach still in charge….I’ll read the box score and might watch the highlights.
I predict we loose 1-3.