Same Ole Atlanta United 2020

[lethalweapon3]

Kicking off just now, Atlanta United is a touch short-handed, particularly along the backline and maybe at forward, but they know a win can move them back in the Playoffs side of the Eastern Conference table. Can they fend off their nephews, the MLS Cup Finalists Orlando City SC, in their building one more time (3:30 PM Eastern, Univision, 92.9 FM in ATL)?

 

Let's Go United!

~lw3

[lethalweapon3]

Is this team any good? We won't really know for sure even if Atlanta United comes through tonight versus Inter Miami CF (7 PM Eastern, FS1, 92.9 FM in ATL).

The Five Stripes (3-4-0 W-L-T) have won thrice, all against clubs that, like Miami, did not exist at this time two years ago (2-1 at Nashville on February 29, 2-1 versus Cincinnati on March 7, 2-0 versus Nashville on August 22). We will have a better sense if the newly formed visitors go off at The Empty Benz like Orlando City SC did this past Saturday.

Nashville just clean sheeted Miami at home, 1-0, three days ago, but if The Herons (1-6-0) can get by Atlanta's uneven midfield and sneak in a goal, all bets are off. (Here's hoping the ink hasn't dried enough to have their newly signed star, striker Gonzalo Higuain from Juventus, suiting up this evening.)

At least for now, today's the last scheduled "home" game. Last week's rescheduled match in Fort Lauderdale will have United on the road for three matches in the space of eight days, beginning Saturday in the newly confident Lions' den at Orlando City.

Coming off the first-ever flop versus Orlando (hope Josef didn't watch that match), ATLUTD will need a bounceback performance from Pity Martinez and relentless pressure on crafty Miami goalkeeper Luis Robles from Brooks Lennon or Jurgen Damm (with Ezequiel Barco still questionable) at the other wing, if they intend to keep Miami in a vice.

 

Let's Go United!

~lw3

[lethalweapon3]

I Pity the Fool that... well, yeah.

~lw3

[JayBirdHawk]

WOWZA!!! did not see that coming.

$18 million is a bonanza price.

[macdaddy]

11 minutes ago, JayBirdHawk said:

WOWZA!!! did not see that coming.

$18 million is a bonanza price.

What?  geez i guess we're tanking?   do players get a say in this?  I don't know that much about the business side.   

[JayBirdHawk]

Just now, macdaddy said:

What?  geez i guess we're tanking?   do players get a say in this?  I don't know that much about the business side.   

Tanking? There's no tanking in soccer! At least I don't think so

Listening on the radio.  That's how it works - develop the players and then sell them off.

They are still looking for another player to fill Pity's spot and to make the playoffs.  Maybe it's time for Barco to play more minutes?

[lethalweapon3]

Ha-ha, Orlando City! Turns out, the loathely Lions can't even keep a bad team down.

With just its second stoppage-time goal in team history, Atlanta United staved off an unprecedented second consecutive loss to their emerging rivals, stealing a point in what's likely to be a final escape from the Magic Kingdom. Now, Atlanta will try to prove that Orlando is the most formidable Floridian foe, as the Five Stripes finally take on Inter Miami FC in their Fort Lauderdale building tonight (8:00 PM Eastern, Fox Sports South and 92.9 FM in ATL).

The season for our football club has been pockmarked by one critical personnel departure after another, and the lack of know-how was evident for the better part of 90 minutes down in O-Town (fans? inside the stadium? in this epidemic?). A Saudi Arabian club just poached Pity Martinez, and now it appears Atlanta (3-4-2 W-L-T, 8th in MLS East) may struggle to embargo Ezequiel Barco, the subject of a mega-millions offer by Spanish side Sevilla, the reigning Europa League champion.

The urge to mothball Barco, showcasing the forward before pulling him in Orlando for new Mexico arrival Jurgen Damm, likely outweighed any sense of disappointment by ATLUTD manager Stephen Glass in his would-be attacker's play. The announced substitution last Saturday, early in the second-half of what was a scoreless contest, did not sit easy with Ezequiel, who groused his displeasure openly to Glass as he exited the pitch.

But more production, either goals or useful setups in the offensive box, is sorely needed in what could be Barco's final appearances with Atlanta, the likelihood growing as Damm gets up to speed and Saturday's header-hero Adam Jahn serves as a useful alternative. Especially while facing last-place expansion side Miami (1-6-2 W-L-T, six goals through nine games, but only 11 allowed), for the once heralded 21-year-old, it is time to remind Atlanta, and any potential suitors out there, literally what the fuss was all about.

 

Let's Go United!

~lw3

[lethalweapon3]

Futbol! If you can stomach it, Atlanta United has yet another battle with an expansion side, going back at it with Nashville SC up in the Music City (8:30 PM Eastern, Fox Sports Southeast). The Five Stripes are seeking to get their first win in five matches. Adam Jahn gets the forward spot in the Starting XI over Cubo Torres, but they'll need way smarter midfielder play than we saw down in Miami to avoid yet another humbling defeat.

The extended schedule for the rest of this month dropped earlier this week. Home games next Saturday and the following Wednesday versus Inter Miami CF and FC Dallas, respectively. Then it's a trip up to Soldier Field to take on Chicago Fire FC on the 27th.

Let's Go United!

~lw3

[lethalweapon3]

Inter Miami CF may still be in last place in the MLS East (2-7-2 W-L-T), but they're not laying down for anybody. They're hunting for their first MLS road victory tonight at the Benz (7:00 PM Eastern, Fox Sports Southeast and 92.9 FM in ATL) against Atlanta United (3-6-2 W-L-T), but they have not lost a road game by more than one goal, including a 0-0 draw here on September 2, and a 2-1 defeat at in-state rival Orlando SC last Saturday.

The Herons won their second ever match down in Fort Lauderdale against Atlanta, and now they can vault the Five Stripes on the MLS table with a victory today. Atlanta is still smarting from a 4-2 loss to yet another expansion team, Nashville SC, last Saturday. They again need better all-around midfield play, particularly out of Brazilian central midfielder Matheus Rossetto and Eric Remedi, to sustain possessions and stop the jailbreak runouts opponents have enjoyed in recent months that overtax a decent defensive unit and goalkeeper Brad Guzan.

 

Let's Go United!

~lw3