Toronto FC vs. Atlanta United FC BMO Field, Toronto, Canada June 26, 8:00 PM ET Fox Sports South ATLUTD.com preview here. AJC.com United page here. Hey, campers! Remember how Atlanta United plays in a league in addition to various cup competitions?! Yeah, that MLS thing! Turns out the league is still in season, and our very own Five Stripes have a bona fide game in said league! Go figure. Atlanta travels to the Great White North to take on Toronto FC. The Reds currently sit in 7th place in the east, coming off a loss at Dallas this past weekend. Like many teams this month they're adapting to the roster impacts of players away on international duty, plus the team is still resetting their identity after last season's ignominious fall from defending MLS Cup champ to missing the playoffs. Despite the loss of Seba Giovinco, however, TFC's issues are not on offense (where they've scored 26 goals in 16 matches) but rather on defense (28 goals surrendered). TFC features an experienced defence, but one that is aging and not the fastest. As a result TFC is winless in 8 games. For Atlanta they are coming off the back-to-back US Open Cup wins and looking to continue their strong league form, which has seen them rise to fourth in the eastern conference table but with games in hand. If they're to win, though, they'll have to do so without Barco, Villalba through injury, Josef through Copa America, and Escobar through card accumulation. Coach Frank de Boer has already said Brandon Vasquez will start at striker, and Julian Gressel is also expected to return. The home fans in Toronto are likely to be restless and the scene a mix of rowdy and painfully subdued, but it's a road game nonetheless and the hope is Atlanta hasn't gotten rusty. In the absence of their speedier attackers look for the Stripes to play a different style of attack than normal, likely one based on longer through balls and getting a more true 3-man front into the offensive third. The question is who becomes the main man in the middle to complement Nagbe in driving the attack: Gressel? Meram? Pity? If one of them can make the runs in the center of the pitch that will reshape the defense then the Stripes should be good for a goal or 2.
I'd rather see Pity on the wing and Gressel in the middle for this one. Or maybe Carleton in the #10 spot. But I'd rather have Gressel on the field out of position than on the bench. Toronto haven't looked good this year, and with Bradley and Altidore on international duty, they're even worse. It would be a shame not to win this game.
Always appreciate the previews. I still say Pity should be wide with Barco in the middle, but FdB disagrees. Especially with Barco out, we'll see Pity there. I'd like to see Carlton get a run out at CAM, since I think he's better in the middle than out wide. Get him some minutes to finally prove one way or another if he can play. You can still funnel everything to the left to let Pith run things, and lower the responsibilities on Carlton.
Me: Why the hell does Atlanta only have six subs? Does the team not have enough money to fly up Andrew? Mike Conti: Andrew Carlton couldn't make the trip because he lost his passport. Me: ......
12' Gressel receives a nice through pass from Eric and has a nice shot from just outside the box. Atlanta needs to improve their passing and possession.
These Toronto counters down that side are very troubling. But we fortunately get the equalizer. Now lets settle down in the back. Until that PK call the ball has been bouncing TFC's way everytime.
He's lucky he's very talented. If he was even an above-average talent, he'd have been sent packing by now.
Maybe he should let is mom keep those important documents in a safe place for him? How can you aspire to be an international player if you can't keep track of your passport?
Toronto is running everything do our right flank so far. FdB is going to have to make some adjustments at the half.