Ronny Deila has said in the past that he felt coming into the 2025 season that Atlanta United was too nice. That was a sentiment Bartek Slisz mentioned during Tuesday’s training session, not long after a mix-up with Tristan Muyumba on the training pitch that got social media buzzing. (The two eventually made up.)
Needess to say, there’s frustration in the Atlanta ranks after a three-match home stand saw them capture just four out of a possible nine points. Through eight games, they’re just 2-3-3, the worst start in club history. Can a trip to the Philadelphia Union get their season back on track?
Get ready for Atlanta United at the Philadelphia Union
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The book on the Philadelphia Union
They have a new coach in Bradley Carnell after showing Jim Curtin the door in the offseason. Carnell, of course, led St. Louis CITY SC to a tremendous first year in MLS before his ouster after a 3-7-10 mark in 2024.
He’ll be charged with getting the Union back to the playoffs and back among the MLS elite. One player that won’t be part of those plans, though, is Daniel Gazdag after his trade to the Columbus Crew. It clearly was a business decision on the part of Ernst Tanner and Jay Sugarman — Gazdag’s contract was up at the end of this season, with an option for 2026 — but it doesn’t make it any less disappointing for Union fans frustrated with the direction of the club.
Tai Baribo (six goals) has had a hot start to the season but has cooled down recently. Bruno Damiani (a club-record signing at just over $3 million) has eventually worked his way into the starting XI over Mikael Uhre, who is in the last year of his deal. Jovan Lukic and Danley Jean Jacques make up a midfield that previously was patrolled by Jack McGlynn and Jose Andres Martinez. They also brought in Indiana Vassilev, a former Carnell player in St. Louis.
We only saw a few matches out of another new Union signing, Ian Glavinovich, before the centerback tore his meniscus, so Olewthu Makhanya will take up that role beside Jakob Glesnes.
Atlanta United injury/availability report
We still won’t see Derrick Williams, who hasn’t trained as he continues to recover from a hamstring injury. There’s been no indication as to the severity of it, so we can only assume it’s week to week.
Other than that, it’s a clean bill of health for the rest of the team.
Atlanta United predicted starting XI at Philadelphia Union
Prediction: Philadelphia Union 1-1 Atlanta United
It will look much better collectively for Atlanta, who I think will manage to get out of Chester with a draw in a hard-fought match.
Lets see what happens this week with ATL UTD against a real goalkeeper (Andre Blake) since we couldn’t capitalize on our numerous chances last week against the NE Rev. When you play against someone such as Andre Blake standing in between you and the back of the net, then making the most of your scoring chances is an absolute must! I hope Deila and Co. have stressed that to the players all week and it translates to on the field play. In addition, there needs to be more urgency from the team for the full 90 mins whether we are down a goal (or) up a goal because until ATL UTD can develop a killer instinct when ahead (or) tied to put opponents away (especially since Garth said this past offseason ATL UTD was supposed to be an offensive juggernaut) and keep their foot on the gas, then every team in MLS should look at a match against ATL UTD at the very least as a team that they can keep up with & win (or) draw vs. lose.
Yeah, I’m afraid we can’t expect positive results at this point without making an adjustment to the on-field lineup and formation. Everyone sees it except Deila. What is it with these “die by the system” coaches in modern soccer? Just recognize when something isn’t working after 8 games. He makes adjustments mid game so it’s not like he’s incapable – no one is telling him to throw everything out the window, maybe just try putting Miggy where he’s actually playing.
[…] Atlanta United at Philadelphia Union: Match preview, predicted lineups, and score prediction […]
Muyumba has been performing better than Slisz lately. I would replace him at the least in the line up above.
But I’m an advocate for playing the match against your specific opponent. In this case, Philly has been very good and I would favor a 3-5-2 with Miggy moving up top with latte and Saba replacing Lennon. Or Saba moving up top with latte, Miggy playing the 10 and alexey dropping next to Muyumba or Klich in the deep midfield (with a 3rd centerback, it could help the fact that alexey isn’t that great of a defender)
Either way, I would employ them to be much more of a counter attacking team than a possession team. This group looks really good when they’ve done this and has the speed to break lines and go more direct IMO.
My Take..#59…off the bench…he does not start, he is a liability on defense, and he does not hustle. Miggy at the 10…with silva and saba…Amador, sliz, Lennon,
Abram, gregersen and edwards….
I think that works..as slisz can move the ball ..and help defend..Amador and Lennon can track back..
Hoping that’s not the starting XI. Obviously things are working the way they want so why not change it up a bit?
Latte
Xande — Almiron — Saba
Miranchuk — Klich
Amador — Abram — Cobb — Lennon
or
Latte
Xande — Almiron — Miranchuk — Saba
Amador — Klich — Lennon
Abram — Gregerson — Cobb
It’s obvious we don’t have a strong presence in the midfield, so beef it up.
It’s striking to me that their club-record signing is so low, yet they have been better than us since 2017 in almost every measure on the pitch.
WDL is 108/71/90 395 pts for AU, 117/69/83 420 pts for PU
PU Goals For 453, AU Goals For 437
PU Goals Against 333, AU Goals Against 363
Differential, PU is +120, AU is +74
We do have the one championship.
Yes, agreed….. the Union have been fairly great for a long stint. It also definitely doesn’t hurt and can only help those #s above when you have a great player in between the sticks in Andre Blake.
This week, we have heard incredible support for the young homegrown players on our team from coaches and Atlanta United legends like Michael Parkhurst and Dax McCarty. Though it may be on-brand for me to say this, I am increasingly of the “play the kids” mindset.
Ajani Fortune should be starting in our midfield. Noah Cobb should be starting on our backline. Will Reilly should be getting a lot more opportunities with the first team than we have seen so far. Matt Edwards should be rotating through the fullback positions more frequently because I do not believe Amador is back to fitness or sharpness yet. Luke Brennan should be one of the first guys off the bench.
Their talent and mindset are there, and they should have every opportunity to succeed and lead this team.