Well…what’s new? Atlanta United lost again, this time at FC Cincinnati (1-0). Here are some after-the-whistle thoughts:
What’s the prognosis of Thiago Almada and Giorgos Giakoumakis?
The big story of this one is the early exit of Thiago Almada, who came off in the 16th minute in favor of Xande Silva. Apple TV didn’t show exactly what happened, but Almada was shown walking toward the locker room at halftime with his lower shin taped. We’ll have to wait for official word on what happened, but to me — and I’m not a doctor — it didn’t look that serious. Again, that’s without any info on the nature of the injury. Stay tuned.
Giakoumakis, meanwhile, was forced out due to a concussion but looked in rough shape throughout the latter portions of the contest. We’d assume that he’s out for Nashville SC as he is likely to be headed to concussion protocol, on top of an apparent hamstring. He left with his goalless skid now at five matches (which, frankly, isn’t fully his fault).
That first goal Atlanta United conceded…
I mean…just take a look.
It’s an incredibly naive, and inexcusable, goal to give up. Where’s the focus and defensive awareness? Basically every player that needed to be involved in potentially preventing that from going in assumed that the ball was going out of play. Next thing you know, Kevin Kelsy makes it 1-0.
Just shocking from Atlanta United, and partially symptomatic of the form this side has been mired in for weeks. I’m frustrated even writing about it.
Seven in a row winless in MLS, and still…no wins away
Atlanta was always going to be up against it at a challenging TQL Stadium against the Supporters’ Shield holders, a team that featured the reigning MLS MVP and a stingy defense. You needed to come out on the front foot and immediately put Cincinnati behind the eight-ball.
Instead, the defense fell asleep in giving up the opener — and against Cincinnati, a 1-0 deficit feels much, much wider. That’s not to mention your attack barely gave Roman Celentano much of a challenge throughout the evening.
That’s now seven in a row without a victory (not counting U.S. Open Cup) and no wins away from Mercedes-Benz Stadium. As Giorgos Giakoumakis said on Saturday, things at this point are “embarrassing” — and right now, it’s trending to get even worse.
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While I’m a homer as well, I’d challenge the largest fan base claim… feel like some of the LA teams likely have a bigger fan base, or the pacific northwest ones
They are offering discounted tickets to home games. Not interested. Team is boring. At this point how can a team be so disorganized.
I heard Doug on his podcast saying he’s not interested in cheap tickets or declining attendance, like it’s not part of the story. He’s wrong. It is THE story. The team losing hurts, but losing money kills. And nothing is a given. They could easily kill the goose laying the golden eggs.
The chicken and rice was what got me!!!
Nashville just fired Gary Smith. Who do you think is next?
If, after the single worst spell of matches in club history, we lose on Saturday to a team that just sacked their manager… it damned well better be GP!
I know who I want to be next.
I’m not a lip reader, but while Almada was down on the ground, it looked to me like he was saying ”ya sabes, a la mierda esta mierda.”
He is part of the problem…..
It is like watching a Frank DeBoer team but without that DeBoer offensive flair 🙄
Tranquilo!
Hard to tell on my phone, but who was it that you could see completely leaving his man and running towards the already congested and covered near post? Cobb?
Slisz if I remember right
Pretty sure Slisz was on the goal line at the back post watching it go by.
Shit team
Do we officially suck yet?
Didn’t watch since I was out of town at a special function, just looking at comments now… not encouraged. Don’t think I want watch replay. Can it get worse? We’ll find out Saturday.
Sadly – I have full confidence that it will get worse. Man, I hate saying that!
We need to have a serious conversation about whether we were better or worse when Almada came off.
He was off after 15 minutes. It is hard to make a judgement with that short of a time. And it is hard to view as some massive or medium improvement given that we had one shot on target.
Its a tough question to answer, for sure.
My personal opinion was that we looked like more of a team once he was subbed off, even if the team that was left wasnt all that great.
It seems opponents are content to let Almada play hero ball, so Im basing that not just off this game but the past 2-3 games.
I was encouraged to see Stian back and for Silva to start. Its good to see some key pieces come back into the fold.
Going to be an interesting summer transfer window with the Almada situation.
In a vacuum, a narrow road loss to Cincy isnt too bad. But hard to be excited about much of anything, especially with Almada and GG potentially nursing injuries.
The team was awful. They had 1 SOT and Giako couldn’t get service. How is that better?
Don’t let the score line fool you as a “narrow loss”, Cinci controlled that game almost perfectly.
Everything feels forced and predictable with Almada right now.
So even though the overall quality dropped, resulting in scrappier play, I felt the patterns of play were more dynamic without him, again, even if the quality wasnt there.
We always look better in attack later in the game, because we are chasing a result, and the opponent has been all too happy to concede some possession, sit in a low block, and absorb.
How much more of the same before the General Managers says its time for a change?
Pineda CANNOT continue to be our HC!
We have 51% possession and get 1 shot on goal?
We have Luis Abram sleeping on defense, and he is our DP?!
Where is Wiley and Lennon? Do they recall crossing the ball maybe?
Giakoumakis is slowly but surely turning into a diva!
We need a coach with a presence!!!
Abrams is not a DP. Gregersen is a DP, but the idea he will be bought down at some point.
Gregersen is not a DP either and it’s Saba who will be bought down at some point, maybe. Remember, the main reason Miles Robinson bailed was the front office flat out refused the make him a DP, so they aren’t going to bring in an outside CB as a DP either.
Club Roster Profiles (as of May 1).pdf | Powered by Box
And yet the club did, in fact, make Gregerson a DP.
Remember, paying straight DP salary to Miles is different than dealing with Gregerson as a DP with amortized transfer fee plus salary.
I didn’t’t watch live but I stopped around the Lucho freekick in the first half. I mean we were just being toyed with. I remembered one sequence where they just played three simple passes and were free with the entire other side of the field. I turned it off at that point and decided to just look at this score which surprised me.
I notice that many of the goals we concede throughout is one or two midfielders pressing. Or all for that matter, and the defensive line doesn’t step up. There is often just a huge gap in the middle and all hell breaks loose. There were numerous times (at least when I was watching) that Lucho and others were given ample time and space in this 10-20 yard gap in the middle. Unacceptable. Even terrible teams aren’t allowing this type of space.
Scratch that, we are a terrible team.