Atlanta United returned back home to Mercedes-Benz Stadium after a ridiculously long absence thanks to the Club World Cup. I was truly hoping for some semblance of the beautiful game that fans got to watch during that tournament, but what we witnessed was something akin to a drunken uncle brawl. Atlanta, however, was the unfortunate recipient of one of those incredibly slow, wound-up haymakers – you know the ones – but rallied to pull a 2-2 result where both guys fell over before anyone was decided a winner. Here are your final whistle thoughts live from Atlanta!
Miguel Almiron captain
For the first time since November 8, 2020, an Atlanta United lineup that had Brad Guzan available did not see him wearing the captain’s armband.
We saw Miguel Almiron with the actual captaincy this past weekend due to Guzan’s injury as they played to a 1-1 draw against Toronto FC, plus he’s served as Brad’s vice-captain all season, but this was a very interesting change. And to be fair, it could simply be that Guzan needing to wear a mask interfered with his ability to shout at his teammates, but it could also be an interesting changing of the guard. If anyone deserves to step in as the captain, it’s the other guy who helped put a start over the crest. I only wish it had led to a better result.
Insert Twellman “What are we doing” gif here
The game started with Atlanta causing a good turnover, progressing the attack, creating a solid opportunity, and then turning and getting dunked on via an olimpico within 90 seconds. It’s simply mind-numbing how this team finds ways to destroy their own destiny. In fairness, the other initial 20 minutes of the first half saw the Five Stripes at least get into dangerous spots, but then that dried up as the half droned onward. The reset to 1-1 in the second half off an Alexey Miranchuk goal gave some life to the squad, but there are still far too many moments of indecision, poor passing, and general lax behavior.
The young guys…again
Efrain Morales started once again for Atlanta United at center back and played a heck of a match. He played with confidence, and despite a couple of mistakes when he got a tad too enthusiastic and was pulled out of position, it was nice to see some pure hunger. We’ve been saying it for a long time – play the kids – and now is as good a time as any to make that happen. They bring something the rest of the team has been lacking, and that’s some passion. If Atlanta United is going to lose, at least go down in a blaze of glory.
Luke Brennan and Will Reilly tie right into this topic. They stepped in and played with much more zest in a match where Atlanta’s urgency was severely lacking as the game marched on AND WILL REILLY SCORED THE GAME TYING GOAL. With anything less than a win tonight, though, Atlanta’s playoff chances went from having their nose above water to trying to breathe through a straw, so there isn’t a whole lot to lose at this point by just playing. the. kids. Just do it.
Let us know down below what you thought of the match!
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Does any other team team give up as many silly goals like AU?
No
Our team name should have been changed this season to ‘Atlanta Entitled’. Too many high paid princesses that don’t want to grind it out in MLS.
The best hopes moving forward are to recruit, coach, and play those that have actually something to prove and earn on the field.
I had the good fortune to go to several games in England over the past couple of seasons and a thing that really struck me watching Premier League and Championship teams in person is that almost universally, the players knew what they were going to do with the ball before they got it.
It was so striking live because you could see all of the preparation that went into receiving the ball – head on a swivel while the pass was coming to them, small body adjustments to allow the first touch to put the ball and their body in position to make their next move, a clear understanding of the game state at that specific moment, etc. Obviously it didn’t always come off, but there was almost always some intentionality around the first touch and the immediate move. That is… not what I’ve seen from Atlanta United since De Boer was coach.
The problem, of course, is that that really comes down to coaching and practice design, and we haven’t had a coach since De Boer that could actually do those things (note: what De Boer wanted them to do with that first touch was stupid, but they at least knew what it was). I don’t know why we can’t get someone who can just simplify the game for the players and let them do their thing. It seems like we always get these people with some sort of grand philosophy and that gets in the way of making the game instinctive, fast and incisive. Just absurd.
I love Guz and I haven’t been the “bench him” type since it feels like he’s not really at fault for a lot of those silly goals – but it’s time to accept the reality that even though he is still starting quality today, the day is coming quickly that he won’t be. I agree with playing the kids, and that includes Hibbert. I don’t know if he’s the planned successor at this point, but even if he is going to be held onto as a backup, he needs minutes. The season is a wash, so what does it matter if it’s Guz or not? It’s not like HE needs the experience.
Watching in the stadium tonight, I think I’ve been underestimating just how bad this team has become (which is amazing that I had room for more disappointment). Aside from the goals which of course were great to see, so much of the play was aimless and really hard to watch. Many times that Chicago was attacking, they were not even playing fast but consistently found hole after hole after hole to exploit in our third. It feels like we just watch the other team play and hope they’ll eventually lose it to a heroic defensive moment.
When we DO attack, it’s mostly boring and uninspired. Even when there is a nice couple passes strung together, it just immediately dies with a pass back to the defense. I don’t claim to be a psychic but when I saw that cutting horizontal pass that ultimately turned into a goal, I shouted out loud “YES THAT’S CREATIVITY” and felt that little tingle you get watching a promising buildup. If we could only do that consistently and see less of Miranchuk just skying balls to nowhere, LL making awful first touches, and Miggy failing to make successful 6 yard passes, we could be in business once again.
You hit the nail on the head, so many times it feels like the team is like…one tweak from being good and it just won’t happen.
As for Brad, I don’t disagree, simply because of the point you made about his successor getting minutes. But he’s going to play until he absolutely can’t anymore and I can’t say I blame him
I was kind of surprised that Guzan played yesterday. I would have given him more time to recover. Don’t know if Hibbert would have made the saves on either of the goals that were given up or allow more goals than Guzan did yesterday, but it was still worth giving Hibbert a few more matches.
I’m not sure Hibbert would have given up the first one. Guz could have easily stepped up to grab it, although that really isn’t what he does these days. Hibbert seemed a bit more aggressive on balls crossed in.
Move Latte Lathe to left wing. Put Thiare as striker. Let Almiron play wherever the hell he feels like since he seems to do it anyway. Oh and keep that captains armband on him. Put Hibbert in goal. Our defense just seems to play better when Guzan isn’t there. Maybe he intimidates them too much or they just rely on him too much. Give those youngster more time on the pitch and limit Lennon’s time to 45 minutes. Slisz plays better without Klisch but Miranchuk is still a box of chocolates. I want to keep Saba on the field I just don’t know where. And a lot of the time I don’t think he does either. You can send the check to the email below.
I’ll tell them to add on a bit extra cause you’re spot on lol
I agree w alot said. But bench Miranchuk he sux – relative to what he was brought in for, for that goal well…. finally …. dude…you need to do a lot more, as far as this coach he needs to lift the team not deflate them that includes giving the players more effective information to work off of like effective attacking patterns not just a hell bent high press that stifles and compresses your mf and attacking third space. We all know what you work on shows up game day – glaringly no Ws should be a freaking wake up. Issues are broad to me a mix player , coach organization , this is a frustrating batch at all levels. Im not all negative though , see some positives- to create a winning culture is not easy and hard individual and team work is required at every level. I remain optimistic things will improve.
I haven’t gone back to rewatch in order to verify my observations (and I won’t cause watching the broadcast was penance enough) BUTT it did seem that at times there was more fluidity in the positioning of our attacking players. LL was out wide a couple of times while Amador was inside, Almiron was everywhere (as you said), Saba likes to venture inside anyway, Miranchuk was… I assume he moved around. This was a positive for me. So don’t correct me if I’m wrong, I WANT TO BELIEVE.
SO I like your suggestion of putting LL out wide. He needs more space for his “ahem” muscular touches.
Deila talks but does not back it up. Too many players are not earning their spot on the pitch. Play the youngsters who at least are trying and see what we have in then for 2026. Those outgoing players, Abram, Lennon, Guzan etc., need to ride the pine.
And that’s the thing…it’s mainly because the kids need the time at this point, not even because the others may be on their way out. They’re hungry, let em eat