I don't have much confidence here. In fact, this has the potential of being the worst loss of the season. I expect Petke to go into ATL and play very conservative and look to just park the bus. Maybe we'll open it up a bit at moments, but getting into an open game with this ATL team would be suicide. I am curious to see, given the situation, if we actually adjust tactics a bit and maybe even formation. Five in the back wouldn't be a terrible idea. Nor would truly not playing a nine. I think going out with our usual 4-2-3-1 is going to give far too much space for ATL's most dangerous players, so something has to change.
I think that this game, like the last against Minnesota, could really tell us what kind of team RSL really is at the moment. I really hoped that RSL would come out and put pressure and keep up the unselfish play that helped spark them to scoring goals in bunches but alas that was not to be. Pass the damn ball Plata. So this game I'm expecting ATL to really lay the wood to RSL. So that means... Who the hell knows. I don't expect points from this game, or the next, but I have been wrong so many times this year. Win or lose I will be happy if they play with passion, composure and just a little bite. Not like the second half of the last game where it looked like they got bit and were suffering from offensive rabies or something equally as ridiculous.
Sadly, this is how I am feeling lately about MLS as a whole. Are we past the point where a small market team can be competitive, or should I just adjust my expectations to being happy we even have a local team? Should I think the team can win or just enjoy seeing Zlatan, Schweinsteiger, etc. come to town once a year in a past-their-prime swansong world tour? I'm afraid that we've hit the era of teams with bigger bank balances dominating every year.
Good points, but it's been fun (-ish) to see guys like Zlatan and Timmy come to town and get their lunch handed to them. RSL 1 - 4 AUFC.
Using your hockey stick as a weapon to inflict as much damage and punishment that you can on an opponent. Often heard being yelled by drunken hockey fans (is there anything else) at hockey games. See "lay the lumber on an opponent".
Relieve the Battle of Bunker Hill and bunker, bunker, bunker. Park that bus and not move it for any reason and hope for a goal on a set piece. 1-1 tie.
So are you suggesting it was the smell of urine that lead to victory at bunker hill? I hope they tell ATL to piss off too.
We can't bunker this team; we aren't good enough. That's Olave-Borchers-Beckerman 2010-Wingert-Russell territory, not Glad-Besler-Beckerman 2018-Lennon-Herrera territory.
This game will end our brief time with positive goal differential, and any hope of getting it for the rest of this season. At least this is the attitude I am carrying for this one... embrastsu
Hey, if the Icelandic national team can make the World Cup by playing bunkerball, RSL can win a game in Atlanta by doing the same. Have the team play a flat 4-4-2 and watch all the Iceland World Cup games to get in idea of how to play it.
I guess I don't see what the smell of urine has to do with the battle of bunker hill but then maybe I don't know the whole story.
Iceland uses their academy setup to develop an identity from the youngest ranks all the way to the top. We... well, in the most simple of terms, do not do that
ATL looked vulnerable yesterday in San Jose But then came back from 3-1 down and won 4-3. So... Yeah, hopes are small of anything in this one but an absolute beating
Not to get everyone's hope up, but.....Atlanta has a better record on the road than they do at home. Their home record is 8-2-4 and their road record is 10-3-2, so there is a slight possibility that RSL could steal a point or even win. So, if we just hold hands, say "I believe in fairies" and click our heels together three times, RSL will win by a score of 7-0.
ATL supporter here - here’s how you beat ATL. Take a page from DC. Defend with 32 players - all eleven, the bench, the coaching staff, the coach driver, the equipment manager, their moms. Then counter. ATL struggles with the bunker. ATL’s game against SJ was an anomaly. We played a 4-3-3 for the first time, trying for a unique combo that might get all marquee players on the pitch at the same time.
I can't think of a time RSL was ever good at bunkering though. Even when we had the best defense in the league, we'd still look sketchy trying to bunker for more than the last 10-15 mins of a game.
Nevertheless, the very reason why ATL’s home record is less impressive than their away record is because they struggle to break down any defensive posture. Doesn’t matter the team. On the road, teams HAVE to attack, which is the kids of death against us.