What I’d switch to for next game... ————Martinez———— Pereira—-Carleton—Gressel ——-Nagbe——Remedi——- Shea———————Pogba ———-LGP—Robinson—— —————Guzan————— Bench: Kann, Parkhurst, Escobar, Larentowicz, Pity, Villalba, Gallagher
Well Villalba picked up a knee knock off that rash foul by Kemar Lawerence at the end of the last match, so expect to see Pereira in the line per your wish.
Pogba is a left-footed cb, has he ever played as a WB, much less on the right side? If we rest Escobar I imagine we'd start Parky @ RB.
I'd really love to see Nagbe thrown out as CAM. No one can handle the ball in tight spaces as well as he can, and with teams bunkering as much as they have been against Atlanta, he'd have the best chance to hold onto the ball and make those tight passes.
I wanted that for a long time, however, people (much smarter than I) have looked at the statistics and have shown Nagbe isn't as valuable in the offensive third as he is in the other 2/3s of the field. Below I linked an article from his time with Portland. At that point he had a career high of 7 assists (not that many in MLS terms), but his value is maintaining possession in the back where he gets the defense out of tight situations. We really need Pity to come alive. I don't think our attack is going to be good until we find a way to make him effective in our scheme (even if we need to change our scheme). We started to click then Barco got called to international duty. Recapture that with our current squad and all is good. Of course We have to pray Copa America and the Gold Cup don't decimate our squad in late June. https://www.stumptownfooty.com/2015/1/29/7937061/from-the-stump-busting-the-nagbe-myth
I've heard that before, and if the opposing team plans to actually attack I agree. But if they're just going to bunker in and the majority of the game is going to be played close to their goal, then I think it's better to have Nagbe's skills closer to goal. While Barco is gone. When he comes back that should be Barco's spot. I know they're trying to get Pity to play the 10, but I think he'd be much better if they moved him back to his natural position on the left.
AJC is reporting 8 players are on the MLS All-Star ballot. The listed Atlanta United players are goalkeeper Brad Guzan, defenders Michael Parkhurst and Leandro Gonzalez Pirez; midfielders Ezequiel Barco, Julian Gressel, Pity Martinez and Darlington Nagbe; and forward Josef Martinez. Centerback Miles Robinson, who was just named to the preliminary roster for the United State’s Gold Cup team, is not on the ballot. Ironic that Miles was snubbed despite obviously being one of best CB's in the league this season and Parkhurst is on the ballot with limited playing time.
Apparently the media selects the players, which shows how much they know. Each team gets 8 players on the ballot and one player from each position must be selected.
But Roberson didn't get a vote and he is the media that covers Atlanta, even Twellman criticized the selection process. Any media that actually covers MLS would have selected Miles. So right now I don't buy what MLS is selling.
Why doesn't Doug Roberson get a vote? Let me guess, that tool Steve Hummer gets to vote for us. Not sure why the AJC even lets Steve Hummer write about the 5 Stripes because it is obvious he knows nothing about the game and sometimes I wonder if he has even seen a match.
AJC reports that Julien Gressel and Gordon Wild now have green cards and Anderson Asiedu has been released. I am not sure what that all means, but I am guessing it frees up some international room to sign someone when the summer transfer window opens up.
Sorry to see Asiedu gone. I think these first rounders should at least get a year to prove their mettle. Gressel and Wild getting green cards does indeed free up international slots. Maybe we can get Gressel full citizenship one day and he can be yet another German-American on the USMNT. He's been in the US for a long time now.
What I loved about Anderson was his attitude. You could tell he was just excited to be given a chance. I am sorry it didn't work for him, but that kid is going to do something special with his life.
For tomorrow’s game with Barco, Villalba, and Martinez Out. GK Guzan RB Escobar CB LGP CB Robinson LB Parkhurst M6 Remedi M8 Nagbe RM Gressel LM Pereira CF Pity FW Vasquez Bench: Kann, Pogba, Gallagher, Shea, Larentowicz, Meram, Williams
With the way Vazquez has been playing recently in the Open Cup, I definitely like him up top with both J.Martinez and Villalba out. Really not a bad third option at striker.
FdB already confirmed Vasquez is starting. Atlanta should press for the win since Toronto's main contingent is off playing at the Gold Cup.
Atlanta isn't selling Pity unless they can break even on him, and I doubt that would happen. My guess would be for the winter, since it's very possible Barco could be headed out then.
News from MLSsoccer is that Emo Hyndman is on his way to Atlanta. Personally, I think that move could be huge. We need depth in the midfield, and Big Red is getting old.
Wiki lists him at 5'3", but a) Wiki's been wrong before, and b) 5'3" ain't gonna make him an aerial threat, either... I can still see Romario soaring above a bunch of taller Swedes late in that 1994 semi to score the game winner. But no, it doesn't happen much. Part of me is thinking 121 pounds isn't going to help a lot, either. MLS is not a skill league, and opponents might just Britbarge him out of the game. Maybe just rumors, we'll see.