Lots of rumors flying over at Dirty South Soccer, Twitter, and the Atlanta United Fan page on Facebook. Nothing official, just a lot of speculation: https://www.dirtysouthsoccer.com/
Sounds like the starters did good today. 4 goals to 0 during the first half of their scrimmage with Philly. Philly hasn't been in training as long as Atlanta, but still isn't a bad showing. Emerson played the Nagbe spot. Wonder if the position is his. He's getting paid like it should be. I feel like his defense isn't good enough, he's more suited closer to goal, but would love to see him prove me wrong.
This is also the first job he's had since Ajax where he's been given the time to remake the squad to his style. On his previous stops he was axed before he could really make any changes to the squad. That could of course mean that he isn't good enough at changing his tactics to suit his players, and we certainly saw some of that at the beginning of last season. But now he's had multiple transfer windows to make the squad his. Last year felt like a hybrid between Tata and him. However the club ends up this season, it's FdB's. I'm interested in seeing how they look once the season starts. If the team doesn't make the playoffs I'd make it even odds he gets fired. However, half the teams in MLS make the playoffs. We have Josef, Barco and Pity. Barring some serious injuries, I think Atlanta makes the playoffs just fine.
FdB can get us to the playoffs, no problem- that's the very least we should be expecting now that he has most of everyone that's still around on the same page, following the purge. But we need to finish the job this time. We got two big breaks last postseason when NYC and LAFC went down, and we didn't take advantage of them. And I still think there has to be some hope. I can't imagine that a professional FO would put this roster out there as is for anything resembling an actual competition, based on nothing more than two preseason matches. They need to get the rest of the real talent as soon as this CBA is cleared up.
DSS saying we're "in advanced negotiations" with Matheus Rossetto from Paranaense. Well, there's one dude Tata would never have wanted... a Brazilian.
Interesting take on what the national media thinks of what’s happening to our Atlanta United. http://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2020/...-turbulent-offseason-plus-sebastian-blanco-cj Forward to 8:46 if you want to hear the Atlanta United take.
Yes interesting, if by interesting you mean Extra Time crew can parrot the Atlanta United fans that they know and talk to. Not really any real insight on why players were traded or sold, the cap pressures the team is under, or the model the team is building. What is really interesting is on the same page as ExtraTime is an article praising LAFC for trying to duplicate exactly what we are doing. https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2020...bs-coming-their-young-stars-its-all-part-plan
Why are they assuming it was FdB who said he didn't want those players in the team and building it to his liking? It was already said by LGP, Gressel and the FO that the moves have to do with the way the salary cap and MLS is structured (which IMO is dumb) not because of FdB. These players either couldn't get a raise or we needed to make cap space to bring in "cap space friendly" players.
The guys who didn't get a lot of time under the FdB system were expendable. Tito was one of them. And some who did were as well. All players and staff are expendable, really. Real talk, managers can on occasion be more comfortable with the players they have a hand in bringing aboard, league titles or not. The FO didn't bring Frank in to be Tata v.2, so it is what it is. We can develop and sell and maybe move into a 20K seater, lol MLS' rules ******** everything up for every team that doesn't have a cheapskate for an owner. The goal here is to keep all the teams around, even those that don't or can't spend. If you have no pro/rel, that cheapskate owner has to be kept happy. It's a single-entity league, all set up to prevent quality from rising to the top as consistently as it does in real footballing nations (and thereby angering fans of penniless teams). The worst thing they've done IMO is eliminate the two-legged playoff format. No one is penalized for being cheap, as they should be.
Meh. Rant over. Let's get who we get and finish where we finish. Rowd- uh, only occasionally and even then cautiously demonstrative at this point, and still proud!
For those that are interested, tomorrow's scrimmage vs. the Swedes can be streamed live: https://www.atlutd.com/live
Team makes the Villalba transfer official. Hopeful this means the signing of Brazilian Matheus Rossetto is imminent. We all knew Tito was gone, but the team doesn't seem to like to make the announcement until the ink is dry. Next question, now that Tito is going home are the other Paraguayan's rumored to be linked to AU still coming?
I don't think so. It seems they are headed to Miami at least according to the latest rumors. Doug Roberson has a good thread on twitter about the whole saga and it boils down to Atlanta showed interest, but is planning under the current CBA, and thus can't afford them. Their agent has then used this to push an agenda.
That is an interesting thread. Thanks. The league and players really need to get this f'ing CBA done. It is insane that we can't sign players we've scouted and uncovered and then an expansion team with a blank slate can swoop in pick them up. If Miami does sign them I hope they turn into complete busts.
FWIW, Nashville SC and IF Elsborg played to a scoreless draw in their scrimmage match. The only thing to take away from that practice session is the kits in the Swedish league are horrendous, with NASCAR like sponsorship logos on every inch of the uniform. https://www.nashvillesc.com/post/20...s-first-taste-match-action-preseason-friendly
Watching Atlanta play against the Swedes, it certainly seems that building from the back is going to be option A this season. Also looks like they'll be primarily playing 3 in the back.
I was discussing the P-b-P on the other thread and noted the same thing. A lot of composure working it out of the back. I was pretty impressed. It was also just nice to see players actually on the pitch again.
Appears Eales is at it again. Matteus Rossetto is coming to Atlanta. The right footed, Brazilian, CM is rated at around a million bucks per transfermarkt. Villalba's transfer haul would align nicely here. 23 years old and was not getting a ton of game time in Brazil's Serie A. Here's to hoping a change of scenery will do him well
And so it is! Atlanta United back training in Marietta this week, we'll see how quickly Rossetto gets to town with CONCACAF Champions League growing on the horizon. https://t.co/v5lrSn8WKH— Justin Felder (@Justin_FOX5) February 3, 2020
Apparently he is pretty versatile and can fill in a number of positions. I am sure Darren and Carlos are done yet. Welcome to the ATL Matteus!
Agreed. Sounds like he's a good guy to have on the bench who can play multiple positions as a sub, and you don't have to make a bunch of changes by necessity because of a bad fit. Not a bad piece to have.