2018 season, team and lineup thread

Tata has suggested we'll all know his future within a couple weeks, with the popular suspicion being that he's considering either the Argentina and Colombian positions or staying put in Atlanta. If I had to put money down it's likely an even split between the three. We know he would enjoy being closer to family but he's said in the past that going back to a relationship with the Argentinian Federation may prove difficult given how the two sides parted in the past. Colombia is certainly a top option among Conmebol nations, deep with talent and support, so I imagine Tata is weighing how much he'd control there and how closely it might play out to his past in Argentina - ie: Frought with office politics souring the experience.

One thing we know for sure, Tata is wanted in Atlanta, is very well paid, and is truly enjoying that he's not being hounded by the media. He says it's the most relaxed and rewarded he's felt coaching in some time. So if he wants to stay the team will keep him pretty much until he retires. Whether or not that's enough for him we shall see.

As an Atlanta fan keeping Tata is our #1 priority.

 

While no official figures have been stated, other than a quote from Tata noting he'll be paid less at Atlanta than the $6M he was making at Barcelona, we have heard from insiders that his wages would equate to among the best paid players on the team, which would put him in the $1M range. Given how the club have performed since I suspect owner Arthur Blank would be willing and able to pay $1.5M or more to keep him. He's that valuable a commodity to the team right now and the step down from him in terms of coaching candidates is quite severe.

Now, whether or not that's enough to keep Tata happy in Atlanta vs. elsewhere only he can say.

 

I'm confident Blank and Company will do their part to keep him. Whether or not their offer will be enough to keep him I can't say but from my fan's perspective I think he's worth $1.5M easy. Now if the allure of something closer to Argentina or with bigger international profile is stronger than that kind of money then I'll wish him well. But as of today I'd say he's 60-40 leaning toward staying. So long as we don't lose him because the team is playing low-ball then I'm okay with it.

I do think if he sustains this success for another year or two there is a good chance a prominent European club makes him a serious offer that will surpass anything a national team could pay him. Possible replacement for Simione?

 

News outlets today saying Atlanta has officially offered an extension and that the decision will be made by October 1, per contract terms.

 

I emailed Doug Roberson @ AJC about the matter. His reply: "I don't think money will be an issue. It'll be desire." I take it to mean the club will pay him what he wants, it's just a matter of what does Tata wants to do.

 

According to Univision Martino is giving the discussions with Atlanta full attention and opportunity. Via English translation it sounds like he'll stay provided they come to an agreement, so at least the decision may be exclusive to Atlanta and not based on outside pressures.

Can't ask for more than that.

 

Didn't see that one but I imagine it was similar to the AJC story this week about him - Passed over by other teams in the draft, now looking like a steal, great complement to Tata's style and Almiron's play, etc. He is a great player for this team and I'm thrilled to have pieces like him, Guzan, and now Bello who should be here for a few years. But Gressell's crossing is amazing and his spacing on the right is beyond his years, so the dude could well find himself in Europe in a couple years.

 

I'm pretty sure you can't make a 1st team appearance without having a contract, as part of the Players' Union terms. I know Carleton has a contract.

 

I would agree, and the earned suspension has nothing to do with that rating. I didn't expect him to be Giovinco but I did expect something more dynamic than what we've seen. He's woefully predictable, sometimes so off on his own he's disrupting the team play, and because of those traits he's not the offensive contributor that Asad was. I'm sure he will get better, the question is by how much and how soon?

More importantly, if he was bought as part of the solution to losing Miguel at season's end then I would truly worry about that as a Plan A.

 

Almiron listed as week-to-week according to the press, which suggests at the least he'll be okay for the playoffs. I doubt he'll play against Chicago, which should be fine. Not easy, but if Atlanta is all they're cracked up to be then they should be able to do the job without Miguel in a home match against the struggling Fire. If we're lucky the Red Bulls drop points against Philly and the Toronto match becomes essentially meaningless, and then maybe Miggy gets additional rest.