Atlanta United defeated Sporting Kansas City 3-2 in a friendly on Thursday morning at the Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Training Ground. Sure, it doesn’t count in the standings, but it provided several talking points as both teams were able to stretch their legs ahead of next week’s return of MLS action.
Latte Lath at wing, Miranchuk at ST: short-term experiment or long-term solution?
Atlanta United needs a winger after Saba Lobjanidze’s trade to Real Salt Lake. Can I interest you in Emmanuel Latte Lath?
We’ve certainly seen Alexey Miranchuk, who moved in as striker against SKC, up front for Atlanta in the past. What we haven’t seen is Latte Lath on the left, with his last start there (per Transfermarkt) coming with Middlesbrough on September 24, 2024 against Preston North End. Is it a move to finally unlock his potential? Is it a stopgap solution until Atlanta finds a permanent option?
Either way, it’s something Tata Martino and Latte Lath discussed before the season, Martino said after the match.
The homegrowns played a big part
Atlanta United’s homegrowns were involved in all three of the teams’ goals: Jay Fortune’s golazo tied things at 1-1 in the opening session before Cooper Sanchez’s tenacity in front of the net put Atlanta up 2-1. In the final session, Luke Brennan was key in ATL UTD 2 winger Cameron Dunbar’s match-winner.
Fortune, as I’ve said numerous times, has the opportunity to be a foundational piece for this club. His contract does end at the end of the season, and when asked by Scarves and Spikes on Monday about an extension, Chris Henderson said that discussions between the club and Fortune’s representation are in process. Sanchez, who, like Fortune, was highlighted by Henderson on Monday, is also out of contract at the end of the season but has options for 2027 and 2028. Brennan’s deal is up in December 2027, and I’m sure fans agree he’s not seen nearly enough opportunities with the first team.
The word “sustainable” has been used by both Henderson and Mauricio Culebro in recent weeks, and having players like Fortune and Sanchez (and, to a lesser extent, Brennan) in place long-term is a step in that direction.
Paulo Díaz, Júnior Alonso in the house
The two players who have been linked with Atlanta United the most were present for this one. Nothing’s official yet, but according to reports, Alonso’s deal with Atlanta is for three years.
Those are two of the “up to five” players Henderson mentioned Atlanta could be bringing in during the summer window. Could we see Alan Velasco, a reported target, in an Atlanta United uniform? Is a long-awaited No. 6 on the way? How will the club use its vacant U-22 slot? We’ll see what Henderson and Culebro have in mind.
Let us know what you thought of the match (who stood out, who didn’t) in the comments.
If we must keep LL and play him, the wing is worth exploring. Not sure Miranchuk is the striker here, maybe that’s for Sergio or Cayman and have Mira as the 10. We know miggy will be the RW, though I still don’t see him as a winger. But maybe he and Mira can rotate RW/AM.
I agree with everything but not Luke…while he was involved, he’s just not dangerous enough.
Cooper and Fortune better have renewed contracts. Those are kinds of players that would ultimately end up as starters or depth at another club and come score against us at the Benz.
I like Brennan when you compare him to the abysmal performance of our current or recent wingers, but we can and should do better. See if you can keep him for cheap as depth, but for the love of God, please sign some attacking talent that will get us some goals. We are drowning in attackers that can’t attack.
Cooper has two more option years, so he isn’t going anywhere. Unless the team decides to sell him for pennies
Luke Brennan plays hard and shows some flashes of creativity, but he’s not starting quality. I think you hit the nail on the head, the wing play has been so bad for us that he appears better than he really is when he comes on. He’s still developing. He’s a nice depth piece, but we need attacking help to replace Saba (who worked like hell, but just wasn’t that great).
Didn’t watch, so the only context I have is this update. It would not really seem that Miranchuk at striker and Lath on the wing “worked” since neither were directly involved in any of the goals scored. Do you have an impression of how that pairing worked in the run of play?
Didn’t watch the whole thing either, but the little I saw Latte Lath worked ok at wing, at least better than him doing nothing up top (low bar though). He got the assist to Fortune’s goal, and it gives him more room to use his main asset of speed. I didn’t see much interplay with him and the full back though, and I didn’t see any crosses in the short time I watched.
Thanks – I didn’t watch at all. Didn’t realize he had an assist; maybe I missed it in the article.