Nashville City vs Atlanta United GEODIS Park, Nashville, Tennessee Friday, July 17, 8:00 PM FOX, Apple TV MLS Match Preview AJC's United coverage ATLUTD.com Soccer with Doug Substack Gold home page Player Availability No suspensions. Injury reports here. Team Form ATL (3-2-9) CLB 2-0 ATL ORL 4-1 ATL (USOC) ORL 1-1 ATL ATL 1-2 LAG NSC (10-3-1) NSC 2-1 CFGNY NSC 3-2 LAFC NER 0-3 NSC ~ After a summer full of hot temps and watching all the World Cup action, surely now you're ready to watch... whatever it is we're calling Atlanta's play these days! Maybe it's footie. Anyway, apparently the soccer "gods" at MLS thought it would be great for ratings to slot Atlanta in a national TV spotlight game just in front of the World Cup final weekend! Or, perhaps, more correctly, they knew Atlanta would provide fine fodder to help the Nashville home crowd be rowdy and loud all night. Yeah, that sounds more apt. Nashville has lost only once all season and currently leads the Messi, er, Eastern Conference. Among eastern contenders not armed with Apple's payroll, they've most looked like a fully composed and hungry team. Sam Surridge and Hany Mukhtar combined (15) have more goals than Atlanta as a team (14). Just, ow. But hey, Miggy's back! * sighs * I honestly expect Atlanta to be better this half of the season. Tata and staff have been working to assess the team (ostensibly more realistically, now) with an eye toward achievable improvements. They now know Saba's not in the picture and the younger players should be more on track with what the coach wants and expects. Atlanta did beat SKC in a friendly the other day, which isn't much but it's better than losing to such a poor side. The new defensive signees aren't (I believe) expected to contribute this week and possibly the following week, but that's at least help that's on the way. Regardless of expectations this season, time now to watch how Tata proves he can turn the squad around by first helping these guys play cleaner and sharper before we get true DPs in the winter. Vamos, Atlanta!
I'll be in the car the whole game, but apparently it'll be on Sirius so I'll get some radio soccer. On the road in Nashville sounds like a miserable time right now. I'll celebrate a 0-0 draw, but I'm expecting a multi-goal defeat.
You know I think we have reached a critical mass of S. Americans. I think this is where we turn things around...And this time I mean it.
According to ESPN FC, your lineup is as follows: Almiron Fortune, Miranchuk, Brennan, Sanchez Muyumba Baez, Mihaj, Jacob, Edwards Hoyos Um, okay.
I think Apple had Miranchuk up top with Brennan and Almiron on the wings. No Gregersen (?), is he injured.
Also, in the world cup - Almiron seemed more positionally sound on the wing than with Atlanta. I hope it carries over.
Pretty sure we'll see Alexi up top, not Miggy. The lack of depth at winger right now is really concerning. I know Gunner you're optimistic about the second half, but the schedule in the second half is much harder than the first, so without significant improvements in the squad I don't have much hope. I hope you're right.
Think he got a knock the last day or so. The FSF guys have said they think Jacob is better suited at CB. Guess we'll see tonight.
Also, no Azate on the bench. I know the club doesn't want to use their buyouts (lord knows why) but out of all the salaries they have to get off the books, his might be the most immediately pressing. I know the DPs make more and aren't great, but at least they play.
Also, if we are going be lousy the second half of the season, for gods' sake, I want us to be goons. I want payback for the 40ish fouls a game we took during our prime years. I want us to call up the entire 2s because everybody is out for yellow card accumiliation.
First 6' and Atlanta has looked fair. Edwards makes a nice run and 1-2 but his cross is poor. Later Miggy leads a counter and gets off a shot but it's blocked right away.
24' 0-0 Atlanta looking fair with the pressure up high and composure passing in the back, as revealed by the fact nothing much has happened on either side. Which beats falling behind.
I love the point and smile to the referee by Muyumba. Also, come one, Muktar literally fell over Tristan's leg - no cleats. I've done that on hard tile and spent less time on the ground.
31' Orange slices for everyone. Nashville controlling more of the game since the 10' mark. Not sure if its because Jay left the game, or Nashville just coming more into the game.
41' and Atlanta has their best chance but simply too many bodies in the box as Almiron tries to score from 8 yds.
That was certainly a half of soccer. Tata said he wanted to see improvement in the boxes. Clean sheet so far, but as far as in the attacking box....not quite.
HT: 0-0 I'll take it. Some better than average passing by Atlanta, especially in terms of their one-touch passes. Not exactly threatening, but they don't look like a side that is 13 spots below Nashville in the table.
Brennan so close! Great save by the keeper after Brennan sneaks behind his mark to receive just outside the goal box.
Think its telling that the first real chance came from an opportunity down the middle. Nashville doing a good job forcing Atlanta down the wings, and there's just no targets to cross to. Atlanta getting bodies, but just don't have the size.