So long, Rocket Ronnie.
The Five Stripes have made a second move on this final day of the MLS transfer window, sending the long-tenured player to the Portland Timbers for $50,000 in 2026 General Allocation Money and up to an additional $100,000 in 2027 GAM with incentives. The trade comes after the earlier signing of midfielder Giuliano Galoppo, who joins the team on loan from River Plate.
Hernández joined Atlanta United prior to the 2021 season, initially on loan from Scottish club Aberdeen. Hernández made his debut on July 3rd, and scored his first goal for the club shortly after on July 21st in a 1-1 draw against FC Cincinnati. The Venezuelan right back was brought in on a permanent deal that offseason, and has gone on to make 97 total appearances for the club across all competitions in his over five years with the club.
In his time with the Five Stripes, Ronald Hernández proved to be a versatile option in the back line, a Swiss army knife of a player who was able to step into the squad when called upon. Hernández was, until now, the most veteran player on the Atlanta United roster, and his value was shown through his ability to remain with the club through six different managerial stints (counting Rob Valentino’s interim tenures as two).
This season, Hernández hasn’t had a starting role in the roster, with Tata Martino’s U-22 fullback additions making his service less in demand. However, recent injuries to the Timbers’ fullbacks Brandon Bye and Juan Mosquera has made him a valuable add for the remainder of this season and potentially beyond.
Barring any further moves from Atlanta United, this marks the thirteenth total player movement in what has been a busy summer transfer window for an organization that has shown how it feels about the state of the season. Hopefully, greater things are still on the horizon for both Hernández and for the Five Stripes.
Also. News came out on the us open cup announcing all 27 MLS teams will be playing again next year. I know this has been a split opinion on this platform, but I for one am happy to see it. It is the base for a stronger ecosystem in this country long term and (sorry if you don’t agree, I really don’t mean anything personally, but…) Leagues Cup f$&*g sucks! It just actually does.
As winners of the USOC in the past, and it being a tradition in every other country, I hope we take it more seriously next year. I’ll be at every Kennesaw match up (even if you name someone like Hernandez the team captain – no offense Ronnie, but what the hell was that coach doing? That was your first appearance in the roster that year and you were given the pressured responsibility of captain?!?!
😳🙄😂) I digress.
Thank you for your service Hernandez. I didn’t hate your play, and am a bit confused by the move given that you can give depth to both left and right full back positions.
I mean, no offense, but I certainly didn’t see you as a Centerback or even a team captain? (Wtf?!?!?) as a some past coaches did… and I think when you were mistakenly asked to play those roles it tarnished your value in some fans’ eyes – but you always seemed like a great dude and I hope you succeed in Portland. I’ll be keeping tabs on you, Godspeed and best wishes.
Current player depth (I think)
GK 2: Hoyos, Hibbert
CB 3 (4): Alonso, Diaz, Mihaj, (Jacob)
RB 2: Jacob, Edwards
LB 1 (2): Baez, (Chong Qui)
CDM 3 (4): Amaro, Gill, Reilly, (Jacob)
CM 5: Fortune, Sanchez, Muyumba, Galoppo, Alzate
CAM? 2 (3): Almiron, Miranchuk, (Pita)
W 2: Picault, Brennan
ST 3: Embolo, Santos, Togashi
I thought this transfer window was decent until this last day. It’s so painfully obvious, especially in this last game, that we’re lacking in wingers, as well as fullback depth. Yet for some reason we have 8 players to cover 3 spots. And the amount of dead weight on this team is ridiculous.
completely forgot about Chong Qui, he sort of dropped off after the MCL injury during preseason. Do we know what is up with him?
Tata doesn’t run wingers. He runs attacking fullbacks.
I’m going to partially refute you with: Asad, Villalba. An argument for Gressel – he definitely wasn’t a RB, he was more of a RW that got converted to a RWB, when he wasn’t playing CM. Taylor at Miami.
You make a good point, but regardless, we’re missing some dynamism and speed on the attack, the sort of thing you normally find in wingers especially in a 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1. I don’t care if they come in a different position, but we need that.
Depth is super important. I had a different thought exercise in seeing this season out to the next window. Tata tends to stick with who he thinks is his starting 11 as much as possible.
That said, I think he is expecting to have a 4-3-3 (4-3-2-1) which could look good…
Embolo
Miggy – Alexy
Amaro – Galoppo – Sanchez (or Muyumba)
Baez – Alonzo – Diaz – Jacob
Hoyos
As someone so wisely said in another thread, we just have to “wait and see”. If Embolo pans out AND Amaro and Galoppo are upgrades from Gil (who has been great) and 1 of either Sanchez or Muyumba… there is a good chance that we have an exciting starting 11 to build on going into the off season. What has impressed me so far is the amount of moves for starters that have changed since the beginning of Tatas season is astonishing. But… “we just have to wait and see”.
Man, our roster before Lagerway was bad, he turned that into absolute trash.
IF Tata is looking to do a 3-5-2 I could see him bringing in Edwards as a RWB and pushing Jacob to the right sided cb
Embolo – Miggy
Amaro – Alexy – Galoppo
Baez – Alonzo – Diaz – Jacob – Edwards
Hoyos
I would really hope not. Jacob has proven to be a good RB, Edwards still needs time. That feels like a waste of a player at that point. I like the other analysis where we do 4 in the back, push the FB’s up, let Amaro sit just above the CB’s and control the middle/wings as the play dictates.
Yeah, it also seems like a waste to have 8 CM/CDMs, most of which are above average, and we’re choosing to sit one more of them so that we can play both Edwards and Jacob.
This formation is a lot less of an issue when we don’t have both Miggy and Miranchuk on the roster.
Fair. The 3-5-2 is not ideal given the roster. Edwards is not my hill to die on. But tata has shown with Atlanta, Mexico and his stint with Miami that he does like to have that as an option to fall back on. Not sure how else he achieves it now without Ronnie unless he finds another CB or tries a winger ala Brenan in a wb role (not advocating).
Did the window close on getting gressel back? He actually would be a great fit in this alternative formation.
Edwards definitely needs more time. I think as a serviceable wing back, given slightly less defensive reponsibilty that could be favorable to him. But I do agree with your hesitation. As bad as he has been on defense, he seems wrongfully skilled as an attacking wing back.
I get it, but I also don’t get it. This gives us zero full back depth unless the plan is to move into a back 3 and utilize wingbacks or just simply a heavy midfield (3-5-2?).
Do we even have enough CBs for a 3-5-2?
Tata’s system values a true CDM over centerbacks. He wants his centers to stay home and distribute. He wants his fullbacks to push forward to overload the wide areas in attack. He wants a defensive destroyer CDM to drop back and provide the third back line defender against counters. AU still needs CB depth (obviously), but that’s not Tata’s priority right now.
no wonder Hernandez didn’t play LB last weekend. I just can’t believe they could not pick up a veteran LB or CB option with some MLS experience anywhere…It is a lost season anyways, hopefully they pick up a LB and CB during the winder window.
13 player movements and it feels like we still havent had materially changed the core of the team. Maybe Im projecting.
The more movement, the better I guess.
Seeing Galarza end up at Inter Miami stings. Thats a player movement I wish we wouldnt have had.
It tells you just how poorly our contract web has been woven that we “couldn’t afford him” but Miami somehow can.
Is Miami giving players advertisement deals on top of their contracts? How are they “affording “ all these players?
Messi discount?
As much as I loved Galarza’s heart, I hated his chippy, over-aggressive play, AND his horrendously inaccurate shots. We definitely needed a little aggression, but that dude was an a-hole. See Paraguay – World Cup.
cant wait to see Embolo Saturday! Hopefully Amaro too.