Well, that was straight up awful. Absolutely atrocious by Atlanta United in the U.S. Open Cup, a.k.a. the one significant chance they’ve had at a trophy in years. The team stayed down in the central Florida city after the 1-1 draw on Saturday in league play, but unfortunately all hopes that they’d improve in a more meaningful match were answered in the first 15 minutes. Here are the final whistle thoughts from the Mickey Mouse city after a terrible 4-1 loss.
Tactical changes
I won’t sit here and act like the tactical changes that Tata Martino made are entirely at fault. They certainly didn’t help, but they were exacerbated by an unwillingness of players to do their jobs, whether because they were confused or they were incapable.
Players on the backline were thoroughly out of position, as were players in the midfield. The amount of space between Atlanta’s “center backs” and the deepest-lying midfield players when Atlanta was in the attack was quite literally an acre. Orlando was able to hit on 1v1’s against Jayden Hibbert, even a 2v1 at one moment, all evening long. It was truly a tactical mismatch for the Five Stripes and one to which the players never adjusted.
Players
If you’re not going to commit to playing the entire game, you don’t need to be here. I don’t care if your position is water boy, if you aren’t putting 110% in the defense and the attack, you have to go. It’s one thing to make mistakes, it’s another entirely to sit around and watch someone go up for a free header in your own box or witness your entire defense get hammered while you and 5 other players watch from the attacking half.
There are a drastic set of moves that need to be made in the summer and one can only hope Chris Henderson, Mauricio Culebro, and the rest of the front office can make them happen. This tactical change just showed that the team appears incredibly one-dimensional and can only be at their best when they don’t have to change much of anything.
I’d love to dive more into how bad this one was but honestly, those two points basically sum up the entire season so far. Fans have an absolute right to be sickened by how bad Atlanta United played in this match. Barring Jay Fortune, Cooper Sanchez, and Saba, I struggle to find a player that showed much heart in this one. Forget playing well, because no one did that, but the spirit and the desire to play for the badge over the chest was missing tonight. Cancel the flight for the players and make the drive back up I-75 from Orlando, since that’s what the three fans who made the trek down there have to do.
Let us know below what you thought of the match.
Saba gives effort, but he’s regressed. He does not appear to be an MLS-level player anymore. Lath is the worst signing in club history, and that will probably be true for decades to come.
We’ve gone from the best team in the league to a squad that has maybe 5 or 6 guys that would start for half the other teams in the league. Sad.
Very sad.
There were too many backups playing in a formation that the team doesn’t play well. The amount of miscommunication was preseason level, which makes sense given how many of today’s starters barely play, let alone with each other. Also, do you remember when LL rode the pine and Miranchuk played the false nine and they won. I do. There’s a remarkably high correlation between poor results and LL starting. It’s almost like playing down a man. The opposite is true of Galarza.
I think it was also the first time Atlanta ran a 4-4-2 formation all year. I could be wrong, but running out 4 traditional fullbacks is not ideal
The last time ATL United played four fullbacks, the play looked similarly rough. I recall Matt Edwards being a big part of that debacle too.
I think we’re past the wait and see point; how many more losses before Tata and/or Chris are out?
Tata just returned here and has a history of success with the club. Henderson, on the other hand, should be feeling a good amount of pressure to right the ship this upcoming transfer window. The players he picked last summer (and the decision to mostly stand pat this past winter) have been bad for the club.
The trading of Cobb and Morales are reasons to be fired. Then replacing them with worse and more expensive players. Criminal.
I think Tata wanted to lose the game. Starting Hernandez at CB and running a high line…