We need to play Atlanta the way we did at the start of the 2nd half against LAFC our midfield needs to put a lot of pressure on their midfield to deny service to their plethora of attacking talent. They're not great defensively, we just need to win the ball over in good spots.
That used to be true but maybe not so much anymore. Their 1st game Martino tried Larentowicz as a cb against Houston and they lost 4-0. But since they ended that experiment they have allowed only 2 goals in 4 games.Three of those matches were against weak teams (DC,VAN,MN) so those might not mean much. But I watched them play LAFC and - for that one game at least - their defense was one of the best I've seen in MLS. They always had #'s back and were tight and compact for the entire match. LAFC's Vela, Rossi and Urena did ok in the midfield but once they got to ATL's final third they never found any space to work in. At all. LAFC were limited to 1 shot on goal, 6 shots total.
Honestly, I thought Larentowicz was done when he left the Galaxy. Props to that guy for still playing well in MLS.
ATL UTD supporter here - lurking - just wanted to say that Big Jeff has become a legend in his short time at ATL. We love him! The Immortal One.
Would love to shut these mother!@#$%s up, frankly (no offense to our visitor). They are like the new Seattle.
LAFC wasn't winning the ball back in good spots. Atlanta do a good job of pushing the ball up the field and if they lose the ball in the opponent half they have time to get numbers behind the ball. If you put pressure on them up high and turn the ball over (think Llegets goal against LAFC) we'll create a lot of dangerous chances.
4-4-2 and counter. If Sigi can keep the squad organized like he has been and keep up the press our best bet is to sit and counter
Sounds like Gio was training yesterday? Seems a pretty healthy roster right now for the first time in forever.
I want us to set up in the 2014 Y formation. With Kitchen sitting deep and Jona playing the Sarvas role. Lleget pinching like Husidic did to help keep numbers in the midfield and Romain playing the LD role of dynamic threat out wide. Maybe we can revive Tiki Taco and show New Seattle how it's done.
Statement from the LA Galaxy on the passing of LA Galaxy Academy player Tommy Mark: https://t.co/mneSAvn2D1 pic.twitter.com/HC4aFbavdi— LA Galaxy (@LAGalaxy) April 18, 2018
U13 player. Died in his sleep apparently. So tragic. He was actually an LAFC U12 player last year (one of their leading scorers) and switched to the LA Galaxy Academy for this season.
The #LAGalaxy have been training once a week on the main stadium field which is not a typical practice. Sigi Schmid says that the practice is necessary to give the team's newcomers a chance to learn the sightlines and the space of the field.— Adam Serrano (@AdamSerrano) April 19, 2018 I saw this last week and was curious why.
Nice to see we got 3 out Chicago. Not a very good team to gauge our progress by but I'll take the 3. The real trial by fire is against Tatas boys. Young and hungry and their first match not withstanding a killer of a team and the current boogeyman of the league. Even their older players have found a new lease in the case of Larentowics and Nagbe. No. 2 in the East vs No. 2 in the West but those numbers lie. One is a marauder, the other a work in progress. Time to circle the wagons and hope for the counters. Our scorers need to score. Ola has to get into the act. Zero turnarounds at mid because this is where they kill you, crisp passes and go easy on the long passes. Our D, well, they can do the best they can. Not crazy about starting Ibra. His best effect is coming fresh off he bench in the second but the pressure on Sigi to start him given his draw is gonna make it almost impossible. He is 36 coming off massive injury to that knee and the year of inactivity. Just saying. Now lets see if we can wipe that constant smile off Almiron!
Would be great, but I don't see us pulling it off with this squad. We seem like a more direct team, which plays to our strengths: Zlatan's height, Ola's poaching, Romain's crossing etc. Might be better for us to absorb and counter; play smart and try to win the ball in good areas and get off to the races with numbers. Would be a nice time for Jona to have an excellent game.
To me, nycfc, Toronto and Atlanta are the class of the league. Kc and NYRB are next tier. Then we’re in the next tier with several others and heading up. Saturday is a real test. I’m excited to see how it goes and it kills me I can’t be there in person.