I’d love to be able to write one of these with my stereotypical and trademark positivity, but this Atlanta United vs DC United match didn’t do much for my emotions other than to fill me with a sense of despair. I love this team, I just wish I saw that feeling reciprocated in the pitch. Right now what I see are players who are rudderless, floating through matches where their body language exudes frustration. I’ll always stick to my manta of not judging someone’s motivation, but this Atlanta United squad has talent that is being wasted. Here are some final whistle thoughts from the nation’s capital.
Aimless
The Five Stripes are a bad team. It pains me to say this but the football just isn’t coming together. I don’t feel that it’s for a lack of trying, but it feels more like a lack of discipline. Players never seem to really know what their teammates are doing, other players float all over the pitch while others stand in place like statues. The defense rarely gets involved in the attack, and the attack is far too predictable to be effective.
It just seems that there’s a disconnect between the talent and what’s being instructed, and while a 0-0 draw is a point, it’s not exactly heartwarming considering DC is also a bad team.
Defense/The “kids”
Give Efrain Morales and Will Reilly all the props. They both came away with yellows for some necessary challenges, and Efrain continues to be Benteke’s kryptonite. If the tenured players on this team could just show a fraction of the heart that these kids show, along with guys like Noah Cobb, Luke Brennan, et al, my first point would be moot. Again, I won’t judge players’ motivations, but what we can visually see on the field and at the training ground isn’t exactly comforting.
A clean sheet is cool, though, it’s just more fun when the $50 million worth of attacking players on the pitch also make something happen besides one pass shot on goal. This game basically looked like a kick about, and it’s just unacceptable.
Let us know down below what you thought of the match.
I recall Garth mentioning that the winter windows were notoriously difficult to bring players in, so now that its summer, Im sure we’re on the verge of a few big signings to turn things around right?
Oh, we already have the third most expensive roster in MLS and dont want to bring anyone else in?
Well, shucks.
This was the worst demonstration of soccer I’ve seen; 22 players wondering what to do with the ball and total chaos in strategy and cohesiveness. Especially after having attended a couple of Club World Cup matches where one can see the beauty of the game. High school matches have more attractiveness than this. At some point we have to admit these players don’t want to play for this coach or this coach doesn’t know what to do; embarrassing. Glad I sold back my remaining tickets.
Couldn’t agree more. We were spoiled these past couple weeks with the level of talent and skill played in the Club World Cup matches at MB. In was in awe of the beautiful game being played. On a scale of 1-10, with PSG and Munich at 10 and 5yos playing soccer at a local park at 1, Atlanta United this year are no better than a 3 or 4. They are actually closer to a group of 5yos aimlessly kicking a ball around the field then they are to a skilled professional team. Its very very sad and infuriating (!!). I will not waste another dollar on this team. Unfortunately, I have tix to the Charlotte game and cant give them away.
Aimless is the correct adjective. The lack of cohesion is shocking. I’d start be sitting Almiron and Lennon until they can be moved or released. Good to see Morales and Reilly – they both are more than suitable replacements. I thought they both played well.
Reilly was truly a bright spot. Morales did well to hold Benteke, but from other aspects we’ve seen of his game, he’s probably not ready to get the nod to start consistently (although maybe this season he would be with the quality we have currently).
Two pathetic teams with flaccid offenses snoozing themselves and fans to a 0-0 banality. What an interesting counter programming MLS has provided us. On the day we get the nirvana of PSG vs Munich and Real Madrid vs Dortmund, the league that claims they are “closing the gap” gives us the Crapfest that was Atlanta United vs DC United.
I mean this in the most serious way: what in the actual fuck do these guys work on during training? Every week looks worse than the week before it. They’re either not working on what needs work, or they’re working on it and it still results in piss poor performance. In either case, that’s squarely on Deila and I can’t wait for the day we never hear his name again… along with quite a few players.
The truly scary thought is that they *are* doing what they practice. I mean, we keep seeing the same aimless tactics week after week. Eventually we should conclude that is what they’ve been trained to do. SMH
Another in a long line of crapfests.
I looked at the rest of the leagues scores and told the wife we were watching the worst game of the day.
Almiron needs something. Idk if that means he needs out, but that was hot garbage from one of our “best”.
Latte looks like he’s lost steam. Don’t know if that’s quality of service being lacking (he had some chances) or manager frustrations.
Miranchuk wasn’t great this game either. Nothing solid, but I saw some vision in some of his attempts.
The rest of the team followed the same suit of one of those three. So yeah, shit sucked
WHAT are you seeing on the training ground?
This team is just bad in all phases. No heart. No desire. No discipline. No imagination.
Nothing