Atlanta United traveled up to the land of country music, PBR, and neon honky tonks on Saturday and played to a 1-1 draw against Nashville SC. It was a step in the right direction for a team that’s been struggling, and no matter what kind of form the team is in…a point on the road is a point. They did it without two of their DP’s in a moment where they absolutely needed everyone else to step up – and the soccer was better – but three points are so badly needed right now.
The Lineup
When it’s not working, you change it up, right? Understandably, some of this came from the calf injury to Thiago Almada and the hamstring injury to Giorgos Giakoumakis, but the key in this one was Caleb Wiley being unleashed early and Xande Silva stepping up in the second half on the wing. That could’ve happened regardless of whether the two DP’s were injured or not. The young Atlanta native caused havoc on the left wing; it’s a position which has struggled mightily this season to be as productive as they should be, and Caleb looked strong when not having to worry as much about defensive responsibilities.
Nick Firmino was also a live wire, especially early on, and it just felt like the Five Stripes came out to play in this one – which is a far cry from the past few prior matches. The integration of Stian Gregersen back into the lineup was also huge from a defensive standpoint. The first half PK by Nashville was fluky because it was 100% a dive by Hany Mukhtar as Lennon and Guzan were defending, but it be what it be. In terms of the starting XI that was fielded, it’s hard to argue.
That being said…the team has to start taking shots instead of trying to force the easy goal by working it to the number 9 at the 6-yard box. Slisz clearly felt the same way, and after his goal, the team just seemed inches from scoring the go-ahead goal.
Bartek Slisz
This man has low key been the most in-form player for Atlanta United over this rough stretch of matches, and admittedly, most of the season. He and Gregersen have been exactly what Atlanta United needed coming into 2024. Gregersen’s injury hampered the conversation a bit, but when these two are on the field, it’s good.
His goal came at such a crucial time for Atlanta United. The conversation of the first 45 minutes was “where are the shots?” The Five Stripes were making headway into the final third but then it all fell apart, but Slisz changed the channel in the second half by just putting a silky boot through a recycled ball by Tristan Muyumba.
I don’t have a ton to say other than sometimes this game is as simple as putting the ball towards the freaking goal and seeing what happens.
The final ball
It’s lacking. And to be fair, this happens when a team is struggling. It’s the equivalent of overthinking things. Slisz’s aforementioned goal was a result of just going for it, and it’s that kind of spontaneity that throws defenses off their game. They fully expect, at this point, for Atlanta to tiki-taka their way into the box, but it just hasn’t been working for Atlanta lately. A shot from outside the box left everyone shell shocked, and it did the job.
Do it more. Shake things up. Be unpredictable. Regardless of what happens with players, coaches, and front offices in the future, don’t be tied down by being one-dimensional.
The 17’s
Y’all were loud and everyone heard you. Trust me. Everyone. That a way to show out regardless of how this team is playing at the moment. I got nothing else other than that’s how you show out for an away day.
Let us know what you thought of the match; it was a wild one, regardless of the scoreline, but in your opinion are the Five Stripes trending in the right direction, regardless of how much?
Really mad about the PK call. Mukhtar was already doing his best Superman impression when the (very minimal) contact came from Brad.
Not totally mad about the result, though. Seems pretty fair based on the play on the field.
What do we think on Morales vs Cobb? I think both have a lot of promise. After Cobb got manhandled by Benteke and was caught off balance on the play that lead to the penalty, I’d like to see Morales get a start.
They are different styles of defender. I like both and think they could be a great CB duo for us or could be the young foundation of a CB trio with Gregersen. I want to see Morales start with Gregersen on Tuesday in Charleston and get plenty of opportunities to show he and Cobb deserve more minutes than Abram.
Given how in the very recent past Atlanta did the following…
1) Told us how great George Campbell was for multiple years and then when he finally played for us, went “F it” and traded him for a trash amount of xAM.
2) Drafted Josh Bauer, a guy rated the best CB prospect available at the time in the Super Draft, played him at the 2s for one year and also went “F it” and simply released him. Nashville picked him up in one of those re-entry drafts. I’m not saying he’s a Miles Robinson clone, but damn, he could have been a useful spare part here. He played on Saturday against us by the way.
So with crap like that being The Way in Atlanta and why I am HUGELY skeptical of Atlanta’s commitment to young players they ever develop, yeah, Cobb and Morales are way better than I had any right to expect. I only hope they get a chance to actually develop here instead of the play ’em for a year and then give up on ’em stuff that usually goes on. Because of how Cobb acted, I’m guessing he’ll be out of the rest of the season, so I would like to see Morales get those minutes that would have gone to Cobb. As Grey points out, starting against Charleston is a really good idea.
Context on point #1 is that Boca had us so jammed up against the salary cap (with subpar talent) that our only option was to sell Campbell for whatever xAM we could get because he was the only player anyone would actually give us xAM for…
Should have won this one 1-0. Do all the Pineda haters actually want us to loose so they can pile on him and hope he gets sacked? To go on the road in this league missing your top two players and get what should have been a 1-0 win shows he is not as incompetent as everyone thinks.
We were lucky that one pass from Shaffelburg was heavy through the box and they also had a header that should’ve gone in. It should’ve been 2-1 or 3-1. Second straight game with one SOT. Our goal was a nice strike by Slizs but that’s a low percentage look.
In a vacuum, sure a 1-1 road draw is solid or even good but there’s no sign of real improvement. It’s 8 games without a win and we’re outside the playoffs at a third of the way through the season.
Sure we were missing Tiago and Giako. Nashville had an academy coach on their sideline. A coach with zero experience on a senior club sideline. I’m not rooting against AUFC but a chance needs to be made while this season can be saved. The roster is pretty good and can be made better next window. Go get a coach that has proven they have more in their bag than possess and hope something happens.
The game could have gone either way but the Pineda Out crowd is comical especially to anyone with coaching experience. I’d guess most of them have never even played competitive soccer yet some are diluted enough to think the team is scouring social media for their coaching tips. It is the stereotypical angry sports fan caricature. Grumpy, grumpy, grumble, grumble, pass the mozzarella sticks.
I think it comes down to what the club’s ambitions are? You don’t have to have “coaching experience” to see that this team is not playing with a clear philosophy, that the team is tactically naive, that some of the best (and highest paid) players in the league are either looking mediocre, or have little chemistry with the rest of the team, or both, and that the defense is a shambles. Where does the buck stop? You don’t have to have played “competitive soccer” to come to the conclusion that this club is content with mediocrity
“Shambles” huh? Glad you are nowhere near the controls. This team had a lot of work to do, including likely finding a new manager and definitely including resolving some roster issues. But some of these assertions are hysterical and silly.
What about those who 1. do have coaching experience and 2. have played competitive soccer and still aren’t convinced Pineda has the acumen to actually get results on even a semi-consistent basis? You want to have a go at them too? Still not sure why you want to die on the Save Pineda hill so badly. His best coaching reign was back in September 2021, shortly after he took over. Since then, he’s be poor at winning games. Fans are allowed to want to see improvement. The squad has been turned over a couple times during his tenure and we’ve yet to see the results expected, dare I say required, at a club of Atlanta’s size.
Who said anything about saving Pineda? Who said fans aren’t allowed to do what they want? Nice work with the strawmen, though. Think you are missing the point, which is more about how to build a team and run a business and how to express views without resorting to hysterics and absurd claims, like the defense is in shambles or that the organization is apathetic, or that the coach is so clueless that he can’t grasp elementary concepts etc. Fans have the luxury of mouthing off without any real world constraints. And certainly sounds like some Pineda critics could use some of the “name calling and insults” advice. It really has devolved into disrespectful behavior.
To be clear there are some valid critiques and I most definitely did not suggest he’s the future. That doesn’t justify some of the one sided, toxic stuff being directed at the guy. It also doesn’t validate some of the criticisms, like faulting him for injuries or blaming him for not being an a$$ towards his players or lacking the knowledge to recognize he just needs some more 1v1 drills with Wiley and so on.
Just here to say I appreciate your level-headedness. Carry on.
“Just here to say I appreciate your level-headedness. Carry on.”
SWEEP THE LEG!!!! 😡😤🤬😠
The idea that Pineda doesn’t grasp basic concepts is incorrect. His issue is fundamentally the opposite. He is playing complicated with uncomplicated players. He is not putting players in a position to succeed. He is consistently trying to put square pegs in round holes.
And, let me just add, moving Wiley up to LW, ahead of Xande, so we could play Ronald Hernandez, does not inspire confidence.
I will always root for Atlanta United to win. Since day 1.
Great post. I’d also add that it sure seems like whether people have liked Pineda or not (or the other coaches we’ve had), everyone still wants to win. I really don’t think there’s anyone actually rooting against the club. At least not the overwhelming majority (gotta account for the ass-end of the bell curve). Kind of funny that Tony G is talking about strawmen when he’s building a few of his own.
That was totally a dive on the PK, and I’m not sure he was touched later when he drew a foul just outside the box, although they didn’t show a replay. I wish GG would get a call every time he went to the ground; maybe he just needs to be more theatric about it.
Saba does so much so well, and is probably my favorite player, but he really needs to work on finishing shots. So many times he’s in position for a shot and either misses the net or gets nothing on it.
GGs problem is that he goes down too often on hold up plays with a defender right on his back and refs just aren’t calling that. And he can get reckless in his challenges, which I think is a symptom of us not being able to get him good service, but that’s another tangent..
Better than a loss. Yeah, a non-loss. Maybe the team can build on it. Maybe not.
I’m still Pineda out.
Got a tie while missing two DPs and the third only able to play 60. Out of all other context, this would be a good result. But given everything, and still the lack of any concrete idea of how to attack in the final third, it doesn’t really feel like we have turned a corner.
Nashville also had a youth coach at manager. We should’ve probably lost 2-1 or 3-1.
One could argue that goes to show you that the manager may not matter as much as people think.
Just here to challenge thought patterns.
Or
the manager can’t really help a team. especially once the ball starts rolling….but they can certainly hold a team back.
Or…
A world class manager, like a Pep, can make a world class difference. And an awful manager can make a difference. And everyone in between is just sort of blah
well…..I would say it’s much, much harder to be a positive influence on a professional team than to be an anchor.
Much better performance. We’re flaccid without GG, but better
Did not see one flop this match. Not one. I’ll take it.