Five Takes On The Five Stripes

The one where we played the Crew but did not say adieu

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1: In the first 20 minutes we would, on occasion, win the ball back. We could have done with a little more emphasis on what comes directly after winning the ball back. I’d like to see us be more direct in those moments. 

2: We got started when we stopped and started. We’re not really a team that enjoys a stop start game but neither is Columbus. So we tried it out for size and it fit pretty well from the 18th minute on and we got the all important first goal. 

*For me this essentially means we frustrated them. Something we failed to do last time and must do again on Sunday. 

 

3: Giving up a goal at the worst possible time is nothing new to Atlanta. Responding immediately? That kinda isn’t but we are here for it. 

*Getting a yellow for the Spidey mask I stupid. Especially when MLS is tweeting out photos of it. 

4: Missing a sitter is ugly. What followed was beautiful. Georgios grabbing his man and amping up the crowd into chants of SILVA! 👏 👏 SILVA! was a really special moment. Still gotta score there but I love the togetherness. 

5: We needed a performance. We got it. At least in the second half. GG was on another level. Even with the late conceded goal, it should give Columbus plenty to think about between now and Sunday.

5 aside Episode 4

1: Saudi Arabia set to host World Cup 2034

2: Modric, Suarez and Giroud. A good thing for MLS?

3: MLS end of year Awards

4: Random reoccurring thoughts

5: MLS NEXT PRO's experimental rules

The one where it felt like we are always stuck in 2nd gear 🥺

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1: The Crew is so good in transition. If you don’t win the ball on the first or second pressure attempt, they’re gone. They take the initiative really well and just always looked primed and ready to take advantage. They invite pressure but get out of it. 

2: In the first half we decided our best defense would be defense. Absorbing and defending while showing virtually no interest in counter attacking wasn’t the best approach. That’s not football the ATL way. 

3: Find someone who loves you as much as Atlanta loves giving up a goal at the worst possible time. If we had been able to get out of the first half 0-0 we might’ve been able to carry on as we were. But one mistake against a very good Crew and that plan goes right into the trash. 

4: Perhaps it should’ve been trashed from the jump. I really think Pineda took us away from who we are and how we aspire to play. Subbing Muyumba at the half was about the only thing Pineda got right tonight. Can’t risk losing & losing him & face another match down a key player.

5: One Hernandez was very good. Another not so much. I don’t know what Ronald was thinking in that challenge. I also don’t know why he doesn’t come to the ball from Xande, poor as it was. He just looked out of sync. He hasn’t had the reps so that adds up. 

5 aside Episode 3

1: Atlanta has a Michelin star (it looks nothing like a star)

2: USWNT still struggling

3: The Braves need starting pitching

4: The Hawks not starting out great

5: Last minute ATL themed Halloween costume ideas

5 Aside Ep: 2

Five things to to know for the week ahead. 

1: A new Station Soccer mini pitch is opening

2: Nick Firmino's first team contract

3: One of Atlanta United's staff lost their apartment in a house fire. Here is the go-fund me link if you'd like to contribute. https://shorturl.at/aqxKN

4: San Diego FC rereleased their crest and it's definitely a crest

5: Josef will not be staying at Miami.

The one where Almada was not mellow and saw double yellow

1: In the first half we accosted Acosta. I lost count of how many times he had the ball taken off his feet. But then we back off of one challenge & he finds Powell who finds Badji for the goal. In the post season we have to be better at closing down high quality threats like that

 

2: For all his offensive prowess Caleb can be a defensive liability. Sort of a problem for a defender. He’s still giving too much space to his man on the wing & you just can’t get wrong sided & lose an aerial duel to the shortest player on the pitch. 

 

3: Losing Almada was the worst thing that could’ve happened in a fairly low stakes match. We now miss him for the first round. We lacked real discipline tonight. We nearly lost two players for the first round. We knew what was at stake and what was important. It’s disappointing and it’s not the first time it’s happened with Thiago. 

 

4: I know we may get frustrated with repetitive coach speak but I really feel like tonight came down to those little moments that Gonzo so often likes to reference. Lapses in concentration, STUPID fouls. They were our undoing tonight and may be our undoing in the playoffs. 

 

5: I know many of us were scoreboard watching tonight, trying to assess who would be our preferred opponent. Not sure it matters now that Thiago is out. I was thinking Orlando over Columbus but Disney FC has the best away record and Columbus is quality. 🤷‍♂️ No good options.

5 Aside: Decision Week

Caleb and USA U23's Olympic Pursuit

USMNT 3-1 Loss to Germany 

Playoff Scenarios for Atlanta on Decision Day

The Unified Team

Franco Ibarra's return

The one where we drew with the Crew but it was still too few

1: I get why Caleb took the position he did to cut off incoming balls to Gressel but when those balls find Jullian, good grief. Gressel only needs half a yard to cross in a quality ball and Caleb gave him more than that. 

 

2: We attempted to apply pressures in Columbus’ half we just didn’t win the ball off of them nearly enough and the few times we did, we didn’t launch into a meaningful attack after. 

 

3: It’s a little jarring to play a team like Columbus only a few days after a team like Philly and it showed. Columbus passed at 91% and won 8 corners in the first half alone. That should tell you everything you need to know about how effective we let them be. They kept the ball on the ground and moved it around effectively and we didn’t do enough to break up their rhythm. Credit to our defense for a few good moments and some key tackles because without those, it’s 2-0 Columbus at the half. 

 

4: Even with Miles scoring the winner and even with the goal we conceded I think MOTM goes to Guz for me. Maybe his distribution wasn’t the best at times, but his gloves kept us in this one. 

 

5: This was billed as a an exciting match where both teams wanted the ball. Well it was exciting (and frustrating in equal measure) but I only saw one team that wanted the ball. Try as we might, we just could not get the ball off their feet. I give Columbus a lot of credit. They did not change their approach one bit at any time. Even kicking off directly after our equalizer, they were quick, aggressive and progressed the ball quickly on the ground. They basically played the type of game we like to play. They looked a contender for MLS cup and we looked like maybe we’ll get out of the first round. 

The one we are at the end of our wits with Alex Chilowicz

1: That was a handball. The game changed from there. 

 

2: I’m honestly surprised Philly didn’t score on us earlier in the first half via taking advantage of us not being switched on. We looked reactive to everything. The very definition of not being switched on. Philly figured us out. Play quick against the slower team. 

 

3: We transitioned into our old form of having no transition, either direction. The 2nd goal is shambolic and inexcusable. I don’t think Chilowicz called the players over for a discussion. If that was the case then he should absolutely stop the play and call for the ball to come back. It looked like our guys simply chirping and if that’s the case, I’m so tired of it and we do it too much.  If you’re gonna do that, someone better be standing in front of the ball preventing the kick. It’s embarrassing and unprofessional to give up a goal in that manner.

 

4: Credit to the boys for having a proper go of it in the 2nd half. Edwin showed up big again from the bench. I stand by last episode’s take on him. It’s a shame the same team didn’t play in the first half but is nice to know we have game changers on the bench. 

 

5: We’re at our best when we keep the ball on the carpet and move it quickly. The 2nd half showed the fans that and it should show the players that. We have go to remember that, especially when things aren’t going our way via giving up a soft or flukey goal or a call not going our way. We aren’t going to get back into the match by getting away from who we are and what we do. 

 

The one where we stand on guard for three

1: Those whipped in balls from Saba are really difficult to bring under control but if you can do it, you’re probably going to score. 

 

2: Didn’t much care for the manner in which we conceded but I did like our response. The goal looked like we were looking for a call from the ref. Hamdi just had so much time and space, I’ve got no other explanation. But we went right back to work. Couldn’t find an immediate goal but we didn’t hang our heads. 

 

3: Left, right and center. We utilized the entirety of the pitch, which is something we did not do in DC. The right was still preferred but we did a good job of keeping Montreal guessing which lead to them being disorganized often. 

 

4: Pretty good introduction for Jamal getting a player sent off 😆. Every new player is contributing in seriously meaningful ways and every old player has raised their level to match. The FO has hit an Acuña level home run with this window. 

 

5: Edwin Mosquera has faced serious adversity. He barely saw the pitch last season in a difficult moment, gets loaned out to a team that doesn’t want him and comes back in yet another difficult moment. He deserves all the credit for putting the word, blocking out the noise proving all the doubters, myself included, wrong.