Well that game rapidly went downhill.
Atlanta United dropped its second of “10 straight cup finals” after a 3-1 defeat against the Colorado Rapids. Yeah, this was a tough one to watch and an even tougher one to write since I genuinely struggled to come up with my risers for this game.
Without further ado, here’s what I came up with.
Risers
Enea Mihaj
But Henry, how could one of your risers be a defender when this team conceded THREE FREAKING GOALS???
Although Atlanta allowed multiple goals in this game, there isn’t one that I would truly blame on Mihaj. I thought he paired well with Stian Gregersen throughout the first half, keeping Colorado to one shot on target, which unfortunately ended up being the goal.
By the way, if you go back and watch Colorado’s first goal, Mihaj cuts out a pass that was directed at Rafael Navarro. The ball then bounces to Saba Lobjanidze, whose controller must’ve disconnected or something because he just STANDS THERE instead of clearing the ball. The Rapids win it back, pass it around a bit to draw the defense forward, and find Darren Yapi in space to finish.
The 26-year-old Albanian international also intervened in the play that eventually led to Colorado’s third of the night, covering Yapi’s run and clearing the ball away from him. However, the loose ball is picked up by Calvin Harris (no, not the DJ), who then works it inside the box. While Mihaj’s clearance isn’t the best, it bought the team time to get back and close down incoming attackers. They left one wide open at the top of the box, and guess where Harris’ pass goes?
A look at the stats reveals just how much work he did in that game: He won three of his four aerial duels, made 10 defensive contributions, and even supported the team’s efforts going forward with 13 passes into the final third, more than anyone else on the field.
So far, Mihaj has looked like a good signing and someone who could be a stabilizing presence for this backline. Let’s just hope he can keep it going.
Alexey Miranchuk
Geez, Alexey. I kind of wish you had started scoring bangers every game a little earlier in the season.
The Russian midfielder just can’t stop scoring all of a sudden, with six goals in his last eight games across all competitions. With this rhythm, it’s hard not to have him as a riser.
Insert Filip Dujic meme
HOWEVER! His chance creation wasn’t very good in this game. In fact, it was nonexistent. He had zero key passes, zero dribble attempts, and just 0.11 expected assists after playing the whole 90 minutes. Luke Brennan, who entered as a substitute for the final 18 minutes, got over six times that.
He did have a very good defensive clearance… on his own teammate’s tap-in. I would include the clip in this article, but y’all have suffered enough.
So for now, Alexey, you are a riser… but we are watching you.
Luke Brennan
Look what happens when you play the kids and don’t ship them off to Montreal at the first sign of them fulfilling their potential!
Luke had a very short cameo at the end of this game, but did more in the final third than anyone short of Alexey with his golazo. Literally minutes after entering the game, he created Atlanta’s best chance of the game, only for Miranchuk and Muyumba to create one of the most infuriating moments in Atlanta United history.
Brennan is enjoying a breakout season with the first team and probably should have some more goal contributions than he does. Oftentimes, he’s just the most fun player to watch on this team because you truly don’t know what he’s going to do. His silky smooth dribbling and exciting penetrating passes create a welcome spectacle in the middle of an emotionally draining season.
Hopefully, he continues to get more minutes, especially given Atlanta will likely be mathematically eliminated from the playoffs in a couple of weeks.
Fallers
Miguel Almiron
I’m still waiting for Miggy to have a truly above-average performance after returning to MLS. For a guy who cost an estimated $12 million transfer fee plus an $8 million salary (third highest in MLS), you would expect him to elevate this team. That just hasn’t happened in 2025.
The 31-year-old Paraguayan international had a slow start to the season, but seemed to have gotten a small boost when Ronny Deila made him the new team captain around mid-July.
Then there was this game, where Miggy was just awful. He created nothing, completed a mere 67% of his passes, and had just two shots in the game (none on target). I thought Ronny Deila took way too long to sub him out, as it became quickly evident that it just was not his night.
I really want this homecoming to work out for Miggy, I really do, but this season has left much to be desired of him. I would argue the team might benefit from benching him in the next game to run Saba on the right (where he’s much better!) and Brennan on the left. Perhaps Miggy can gather some confidence going up against tired legs for a bit.
Juan Berrocal
In my last column, I talked Berrocal up as if he were a reincarnation of Miles Robinson, but he gave a very Alan Franco performance in this game.
Immediately after coming on, he gave away a free kick in a dangerous spot before committing a very unnecessary penalty to give Colorado a 2-1 lead.
And then he did nothing redeeming. He lost all three of his duels, had zero tackles or recoveries, and registered a mere 6 defensive actions.
Do I think this means Berrocal is a complete bust? No. This was just his second game with a new team in a different league. We saw a lot of positives from him in his debut last week, and I still think we’ll see that shine through in these last games of the season. The good news is, if he doesn’t show signs of improvement, the club can send him packing back to Spain once his loan expires.
Hopefully, this game was the exception and not the norm.
Brad Guzan
I’m not saying Brad could’ve saved all three goals…
… but surely a goalkeeper can be reasonably expected to reach that?
A penalty is tough to save, but if you dive the right way and get a hand to it… surely you can push it away?
Oh, man… you’ve got to get to that one.
Brad Guzan is going on 41 years of age. That is WAY past the age that most footballers retire at. He’s held onto the starting goalkeeper role for years, but partially because there hasn’t really been anyone to challenge him. Rocco Rios Novo was probably the closest one before this season, and he wasn’t great here.
However, this season, there is a new challenger! Jayden Hibbert has started two games this season, the 1-1 draw at Toronto and the 4-1 win over Atlas. Both times, he looked very positive, displaying fast reactions, good footwork, and MAKING SAVES!!!
That’s right! The young goalkeeper on the roster has done the thing that goalkeepers are paid to do! Including NINE SAVES AGAINST ATLAS!!!
Guzan’s contract expires at the end of the season, and he has no option years left. He likely leaves the club at the end of the season, which leaves Hibbert as his likely successor between the sticks. This is why I don’t get Deila’s hesitancy to play Hibbert. You might as well give him some minutes to get more MLS experience in preparation for next season. The writing’s on the wall for this season, so you might as well treat the rest of these games as early preseason for 2026.
If this really is Guzan’s last season, he deserves a send-off for being a club legend. Let him say goodbye to the Atlanta United faithful on Decision Day against D.C. United, but other than that, he doesn’t need to be starting anymore this season.
What do you think of my picks? Let me know in the comments, and be sure to share who your Risers and Fallers are for this match!
How did the new midfielder look?
Hard to say. Our first wave of subs hurt more than they helped and Alzate didnt come on until the second wave.
He looks very composed and tidy on the ball but at a point in the match where it didnt really matter.
As you’ve pointed out numerous times, the definition of insanity is being displayed by Deila. He is stubborn to a fault, slow to substitute, makes weird substations and has not improved the teams overall performance one iota.
This team is heading for a disastrous 2026 with another, “we waited to long” firing unless something miraculous changes
A goal without a plan is a dream. I have to believe there is something else at play here that we’re unaware of but it is very questionable how he goes about making decisions. Same starters = same results. Insanity, as you called it, is on full display though. The playoffs are within reach, if you have 5 ladders, 3 people who’s backs the ladders stand on, a muddy pit where those people are standing and a bunch of fly swatters smacking you left and right as you try to reach for it. We need to be real, the season is over, we don’t get to the playoffs, we have people on the team who need minutes, give them the minutes and let them battle. You literally have nothing to lose anymore, let the young guys get minutes, let them shine, let them show you what they’re capable of, give the senior team some rest, make them work on touches/dribbles because it’s obvious they need it, and ride the rest of the season.
I always go back to the question I asked Deila earlier in the season about how he chooses between Miggy and Miranchuk to start at the No. 10 in different games. He seemed angered by the question and asked me, “How many times has Miggy ever played the 10 in his life?”
I was speechless, so much so that someone had to jump in and answer, “a lot.”
Deila followed up with, “Where?”
Another stunned silence
“… here… six years ago…”
Add to this the fact that Miggy has said numerous times that he prefers to play the 10. To me, this shows that he doesn’t fully understand his players and/or he doesn’t know how to get the most out of them. He definitely seems very set in his ways and it’s starting to show a detrimental effect on some of the individual players and the team as a whole.
THIS!
Everyone is saying let’s play Miggy at the 10, but does he really have the wheels/stamina for it anymore (Mira isn’t as fast as Miggy – but Miggy’s been much sloppier on the ball imo)? His speed is what made him what he was when we won the cup, but that was many moons ago and age takes it’s toll (ask Brad).
Forgive me if i’m wrong, but didn’t Deila try him at the 10 for a handful or a couple of matches?
I would say the most egregious error is playing inverted wingers. Saba does better on the right and at least produced when he was in that position. Why not try? That is literally all we can do for the rest of the season.
Being a winger has definitely hurt Miggy. He like others needs to work on their ball control and dribbling. However, he’s better at getting on the ball and moving it around and getting the attack going, he just needs to get back into that drivers seat. He’s been a 10, but not with a good supporting cast of players around him…that and a system that works. I’ve been saying since the beginning there seems to be a conflict between the players & their strengths and this system Deila is trying to implement. The two aren’t in sync.
Miggy started at CAM vs Dallas, with Miranchuk on the bench. We drew 1-1 with Miggy scoring our lone goal via PK. I know there were a couple other games where Miggy was playing centrally with Miranchuk deeper but I don’t remember if Miggy was actually a 10 with Miranchuk as an 8 or Miggy was a SS with Miranchuk at CAM.
Looking at their miscontrols and dispossessions, Miggy and Miranchuk are about even on the season. Miggy is a touch higher in both metrics. But you look at their progressive actions and take-ons and Miggy is far superior. Miranchuk can’t dribble past anyone. Miggy has a better take on percentage, and on nearly double the attempts. I’d have to guess Miggy logs more miles AND more high intensity runs per game than Miranchuk. There’s no data to back that, just eyeball test. I do know that Miggy recorded the third highest in-game speed on the team (behind ELL and Matt Edwards) this season. Mira maybe beat Williams, Klich, and Guz.
They are going to have to find a way to make the attack work with Miggy involved next year. He’s not going anywhere on nearly $8m/season. Miranchuk’s transfer fee paid plus salary make him the most likely DP to get moved. ELL is going to be a huge loss to sell, and I’m not certain we’ve seen his best, either. I think moving Miranchuk out for a high-caliber LW and slotting Miggy in centrally might be a good approach to open next season. We aren’t likely to overhaul the entire attack. Not at the pace this FO moves. We also probably need a starting GK and two starting FBs, plus depth along the formation.
I know there was a good number of games where Miggy played as SS with Miranchuk at the 10.
Personally I think we should see it flipped.
For me, it isn’t so much that he’s not played Miggy at the 10 enough all year as it is that he had absolutely no idea that Miggy had ever played the 10 before.
Oof. It’s not the glaring omission of not knowing what Miggy did here previously, but Almiron plays CAM for Paraguay a decent bit as well.
Lmao😄 did someone really say “here 6 yrs ago”?!? That is hilarious!……and kinda scary😔😬
I did not know this. This is bad. Really bad. Like stealing JoBu’s rum, bad.
Except that when we have started Miggy at the 10 this year, he still really hasn’t done anything. As you point out above, he’s simply been a bust and I don’t think it matters where he plays.
Plus, are you actually arguing to switch miranchuk given the run of form?
Definitely not. Miranchuk has been in good form lately and he deserves to play. If anything, I suggested in my column that Miggy is the one benched for now so we can see Brennan and Saba on the wings. I will say though that Miggy has had some really good moments when he finds himself centrally. He has only gotten two chances at the 10 this season by my count. If Miranchuk’s can’t keep up his form, I would be open to trying Miggy at the 10 some more.
I’ve had my ups and downs with Guzan over the past couple years – and I still love the guy. Done a lot for the club, very genuine and friendly with the fans, seriously just seems like a good dude with a huge soccer legacy.
HOWEVER. It’s time. A lot of people, myself included, are saying a lot of goals aren’t his fault… And that may be true, but that doesn’t mean a keeper CAN’T keep them out. He just isn’t one that can now.
I can understand wanting him to go out with a bang (though not a playoff bang) but we have to be real here with where we are. The players all know it’s all about what’s best for the team so Guzan would be fine with Hibbert playing the rest of the season but I have to think Deila has something else going on. He can’t be inept, so it’s something else.
But yes, Brad, it’s time. Thank you for everything, you are a club legend and you have poured your heart and soul into this team and we appreciate it all.
Delia is apparently in denial about the playoffs being out of reach. I can think of no other reason to keep trotting Guzan out there until, as you say, the final game.
Technically we can still make the playoffs, we just have to win every single game for the rest of the season 🙄
Even then, we still might not make it. We are effectively out of the playoff hunt. Time to start experimenting with the lineup and to see if Hibbert can be the man next year. I appreciate the hell out of Guz for what he’s done with AUFC. Hell, it’s not like he’s been the weak link undermining our overall season. Not even close, but Saturday showed his floor as a player now, and it’s bad. He deserves to start the last home match and to get a proper send off. He’s been pure class and a great professional since he arrived.
This season is cooked, it’s time to look to 2026. I also think Deila should try sitting Miranchuk, playing Miggy at CAM, Saba at RW, and Brennan at LW to see if that can invigorate the high press. Miranchuk has been on a bit of a goal streak, but his defensive effort and recorded actions are far off what they need to be for a CAM on a high pressing team. He just doesn’t have the pace or work rate required.
The unfortunate thing is that, even when this team is officially eliminated from the playoffs, I doubt Deila makes any major changes to the lineup unless forced.
But I agree with trying the Brennan-Miggy-Saba attacking 3 behind the striker. I think that puts all three of them in their best positions. I’m interested to see how it will look.
And where do you play miranchuk? The only guy actually scoring for us.
I’ll attempt to iron-man (opposite of straw-man) the argument for benching/selling Miranchuk based on what I think I’ve heard. Though to be clear I’m not particularly for this course of action.
I think the idea here is that although Miranchuk is the only one scoring, he’s also the only DP we have any chance at moving – we can’t sell Miggy instead (cause we overpaid for him, doesn’t that look familiar), so our options are either to continue as is with suboptimal play, bench Miggy and handicap ourselves with effectively 2 DPs, or find a way to optimize Miggy, which might mean moving Miranchuk on to find a different DP that fits better.
Miranchuk’s success is kind of isolated to him, as opposed to facilitating the rest of the team like originally envisioned. He prevents us from being able to play a high press due to his lack of speed. And although he’s been playing better with Miggy, his presence still puts Miggy out of theoretical best position, which puts Saba out of theoretical best position, which puts Brennan on the bench.
It is *possible* (not even probable, I think we need a different coach to make it that) that taking Miranchuk out unlocks the rest of the players, becoming much more effective defensively as well as play a style more conducive to the rest of the offensive players. But it’s a heck of a gamble to make, made on little evidence.