Five Takes On The Five Stripes

1: Marcelino is a Number 10+. Chance creator. Chance finisher. Dribbler. Back a Brinks truck up to his house and lock him in as long as we can. The only “criticism” I have is maybe go down when you’re fouled in and around the box. 

2: This was an outstanding defensive performance. Calm and controlled throughout nearly the whole match. Even when NYC had chances, which wasn’t often, we never panicked. There were no wild clearances. We played out of the back, found outlets and sprung the attack. Truthfully most of the time we were winning the ball back before anything could even develop anyhow. Alan Franco was outstanding. 

3: Some things never change and Cubo is one of those things. Largely invisible and when he did have the ball at his feet, it wasn’t long before it was taken off. Having a solid back up for Josef next season will be very important. To give him a little credit, he did have a shot that wasn’t completely sky’d and he didn’t do anything horrifically bad. 

4: Was it a foul? Look, we had ample opportunities to kill the game off and we just couldn’t get that 2nd goal. As it got closer and closer to full time and the more chances we didn’t convert I just felt like something has gonna happen for them off a fluke or set piece. And it did. 

5: I’m really happy we’ve been able to be threatening and find goals without Josef. I’d make the case that we actually looked better before Josef came on. Look, sometimes the ball just won’t go in and this was one of those nights. I think we are still in a good spot. The grind continues. It was always going to. 

1: Terrific pressing from us in the first half. We were smothering the ball and forcing turnovers frequently. Honestly the pressure was really good in both halves. We were great at keeping the ball in the foot’s half, and attacks always seemed to be in development and the chances started coming at the end of the first. 

2: Moreno’s absence was a huge factor. We were missing that link up play and Rossetto didn’t really provide it. We saw Barco and especially Josef dropping back trying to link things up. When Moreno isn’t available we need Rossetto to be more involved and get forward a little more. 

3: Ever see a boat fly? Barco’s confidence is soaring. He’s trying some audacious stuff and if it doesn’t always come off, boy is it close. He just didn’t have the support he needed tonight. Apart from the goal created by the combination of Mulraney and Araujo, he was the sole chance creator out there. Unfortunately with Josef out for the entirety of 2nd, there really wasn’t anyone to get on the end of the chance creation. That’s a problem Gonzo will have to solve. We still don’t have a great like for like replacement for Jo or a different way of scoring when he’s not out there. Tho, Barco damn near put the team on his back and drew us level towards the end. He really put in a shift. 

4: Bello needs to be better in the final third. He’s been great in receiving the ball and continuing to develop the attack but that last pass from him or shot needs to come sooner. Be more decisive Bello, please and thank you. 

5: Jake Mulraney was terrific again. He hasn’t seen a ton of minutes over the last few months so it’s great to see him be so impactful. Also, has his footwork always been that good? He’s known to us for his speed and energy but he ain’t half bad on the dribble either. 

1: Miami was playing super compact. It was difficult to break down for the first 30 minutes but then we started to find ways through by being a little more direct and incisive. I was pleased with the set piece productivity again. No goals, but there were a handful of half chances that looked really good. Barco also put ANOTHER ball right on target. He’s really trying to dethrone Kratz. I would’ve like to seen us drive into the space more than we did. We have dribblers who just didn’t dribble much tonight. 

2: Brooks was so good in the first half. He was a big reason why Miami didn’t come down our right much at all. He was cutting off passing lanes, and positioning himself really well to be right where we needed him to be in dangerous situations. His usual freakish levels of endurance were once again on display. 

3: This is a really important win for us and not just because of our position in the table. It’s our first win over Miami. We tend to struggle with teams who sit a little deeper and play compact. We get frustrated. We start taking wild shots (there were a couple) and then we get exposed on the counter. The defense was pretty rock solid tho and we found a way tonight, even if that PK was….questionable. Full credit to Gonzo, smart, if not a little risky, effective subs that paid off. Jake coming on for Anton changed the game. 

4: Santi played his role to perfection tonight. His passing was pinpoint. He neutralized threats before they developed into attacking plays. He was really good on the half turn and, he even had a few half nutmegs. He just looked really great, really mature professional performance from him. He looked like a solid veteran leader out there tonight. 

5: 100/124. After recovering from an ACL. That is prolific on a level this league has never seen. 

1: I was really surprised by the lack of energy and intensity, especially in the first half. I mean Philly wants to play a slower game in general but that doesn’t mean we have to match that. Passing sequences were slow without much verticality. Even without Josef’s intensity I didn’t expect it to be as plodding as it was. 

2: I guess Gonzo went into the locker room at half and said, that’s it, no more cake! The quality of play was raised but not the pace really. At least we were better with the ball and kept it in the unions half.  But, even with better control  of the match, we didn’t have a lot of clear opportunities. 

3: Guz is the only reason it was only a 1-0 score line. The back line looked out of sorts. Miles especially was lacking, which was another surprise. To be honest, no one really showed up. Much of the struggles might be chalked up to not having Alan Franco due to yellow card accumulation. Gonzo did mention that this last Thursday’s training session wasn’t sharp. Maybe one too many cake smashes. He’ll have to figure out how to approach balancing training and rest with the squad. How to balance kind of being the fun positive energy guy with also being demanding. Balancing that is probably made even more complicated because of the issues with Heinze. 

4: Rob Valentino wasn’t with the team and hasn’t been for the past few days due to Health and Safety protocols. Coach Pineda mentioned his absence as making things more difficult. That’s a little curious for me. I mean, is Rob’s absence that much of a factor? Is he really that spark? I only bring it up because Gonzo specifically mentioned it as being a factor. That’s odd for me. 

5: This was a weird and kind of concerning match. I can’t really point to anything tactically speaking that was a problem. We didn’t play badly persay, we just didn’t really play at all. Under Heinze we could point to exhaustion and even questionable tactics, but the players always showed up. So this was pretty weird to witness. Hopefully this is just a weird blip. No more cake smashes until the energy is back. 

1: This started out looking like a game being played on short rest. Energy was low and it just looked sluggish. The schedule is brutal. You’re gonna have games like that. It’s unavoidable. So how valuable is it to have someone who can bang them in off free kicks and get your side up early? This is the Barco we paid for. This is the Barco that was hyped. This is the Barco we hoped for. Al is forgiven. Barcolazooooool!

2: Bello has got to calm down a little when he’s running at goal. He had a few clear cut opportunities that have to be goals. And then of course right as I was writing this take….he scores 😆. He was in the right spot and at exactly the right time for the tap in so that’s good and now hopefully the IQ and split decision making keeps progressing. His skill and and strength is not in question. 

3: Really not interested in hearing any more negative talk about Guz. He’s still got it. He’s quicker than you’d think. He reads the game well. For the most part he makes good choices. His distribution isn’t perfect but who’s is? He’s still a great shot stopper too. A Goalazo is a Goalazo and no keeper stops either of those goals from DC. 

4: We are taking our chances. This is one of the biggest differences with this club now and this club two months ago. We had been creating chances. We had SOG. We just couldn’t convert and now I half expect half the chances to end up into the net. What a difference a BBQ and some water can make. 

5: Araujo is a game breaker. A stat buffer. Coin it however you want. You felt the momentum and energy shift when he came on. No one has come out firing so quickly like he has. We have some players that are finally having their potential truly unlocked but no one has come so good so quickly. 

1: It was coming and today it happened. Luiz is a damn baller. Really happy to see him find the net today. He’s been so close so many times. I fully expect this to unlock a bevy of goals. He’s a technically gifted player who’s great on the ball, an excellent passer, he can dribble, he can shoot. I’d probably be better off listing the things he can’t do just for times sake. I can really see him becoming one of the leagues best players. 

2: Tonight we did something we normally struggle with, breaking down a back 5. We did that by trying some balls over the top and getting an early goal doesn’t hurt either. Cincinnati at this point can’t afford to drop any more points if they wanna play soccer in November so they had to come out of thier shell. That just left them even more exposed all night and we exploited the space they gave us. 

3: #ThatMyUnited. This is what we remember. This is what we want. We’re back. Actually I’d make the case that we been back since that W in Columbus. You know me, I don’t like to be hyperbolic, but i argue this isn’t just being back, this is better. Did we take a cue from the Biden PR team? It certainly appears so. 

4: It’s the boat show, it’s the Josef show, it’s the Araujo show…..still isn’t the Cubo show 😂 but damn, it’s all the shows. We posses so much attacking threat from so many different ways and from so many different players. I know Cincinnati is crap but keeping the opponent guessing is going to propel us into a good playoff spot. 

5: In addition to recent player acquisitions, looks like the FO finally got the coaching hire right and for all the criticisms we’ve laid at their feet (justifiably so) they deserve recognition here. Pineda in combination with Rob has instilled joy and belief into the squad. He’s getting the intangibles right. The engagement with the fans, the community, the social media content, al this stuff matters in this league and to this club. Happy footballers makes for quality play, and we gettin it. 

1: If/when Miles leaves, it’s George Campbell’s job. His progress has been really similar to Miles’ in fact. He’s developed, he’s had time with the 2’s, he’s taken his opportunities well with the first team and made the case for himself. He needed a big performance tonight and he was absolutely immense. The goal is just the cherry on top. 

2: Someone check the crest, since when does Atlanta United defend well against dead ball/set piece situations and then score off of them as well? I don’t care if it’s officially going down as an own goal, that ball in from Barco was beautiful and created the goal. Two weeks off and developing some cohesion and understanding amongst the players does wonders. 

3: The interchange in the midfield and quick transitions was so much better. Passing was clean, quick and crisp. More importantly it was meaningful. We created space with our movement off the ball and we looked threatening every time we went forward. 

4: So Moreno doesn’t get the call because he doesn’t go down because it’s not his style and he’s that strong. So Moreno doesn’t get the call when he does go down. I’m confused. It literally took him being sandwiched between two Orlando players in the 79th for him to get a call. PRO continues not to protect creative attacking top tier players in this league and it’s infuriating. Rivas was very inconsistent in his calls and the line for what constitutes a yellow was moving all night. 

5: I would make the case, that this was our best game of the season. I would also make the case that water is wet. This was a full team full 90 performance. 3 goals and a clean sheet  against a top conference team who had really had no serious chances all night is outstanding. We were threatening and creative in our attack. Tricks and flicks. Layoffs and overlapping runs. It was all on display tonight. Beautiful win. Important performance for the team and Pineda. We’re still on a really good run here. Gotta continue it on Wednesday. With Josef and Miles back in the lineup I feel very good, and you should too. 

1: A one, a two, a one two three FOUR! The last two games may not have been the prettiest but we are finding ways. Moreno continues to be a key reason for us finding points. He broke out the Gorilla Glue on the goal tonight rooting the DC keeper to the spot. Couple that with an assist and chance creations. Moreno is a complete player and he’s our best signing since Miggy. 

2: Gressel created and solved a lot of problems. I miss having him here. I think Lennon is a technical upgrade in a lot of ways. His stamina and fitness is other worldly, but that connection between Gressel and Josef was special and it’s something that just hasn’t developed between Josef and Brooks as of yet. 

3: We need Josef to be arriving in the box, not standing there waiting for the ball. The ball from Moreno is exactly what Josef needs more of. Give him half a chance and more than half the time he’s gonna take care of business. It’s good to see him scoring but he’s still not at his most lethal just yet, but he’s trending in the right direction at just the right time. 

4: Araujo is a baller. He wants to make a splash right out the gate. He has no fear and he exudes confidence. Maybe a little too much at times. I’m looking forward to seeing what he will continue to provide and it’s been very good so far. The ball he delivered to Josef should’ve been finished. Still, maybe he could take a few less shots from 25 yards out?

5: George Campbell put in a great short shift tonight. He lost his mark on one set piece that thankfully wasn’t converted, but every other time he was called on, he answered. He’s coming along in a big big way. 

1: Hell of a good day for the unity kit. Something is happening here. The play is coming together. There’s an understanding and UNITY amongst the squad. The movement on and off the ball is so good. Everybody looks like they are on the same page. Hell they look they are on the same damn sentence. The schedule continues to be packed, but the opponents we face with a long string of home matches sets us up very well to have something to say this season after all. I think Rob Valentino deserves a ton of credit for getting things turned around and set up well for when Pineda steps in. 

2: The play out of the back was soooooo good today. A couple nervey moments but all around, cool, calm, and confident. We controlled the play for the overwhelming majority of the match and limited LAFC to the occasional counter attack and set piece opportunity. Walkes did a fantastic job taking Vela out of the game. 

3: Speaking of set pieces, our defending against them was much improved today. The clearances were really good. We didn’t just clear balls. So often we actually just played a good ball out and immediately went forward. 

4: Josef loves going out on his boat and he went sailing again today. This is the Barco we all want to see. His work rate and his effort has never been in question. His consistency and decision making has, and that’s really come good since his return from the Olympics. If he can continue to play like this for the remainder of the season, moving him on should be no problem. He may even give the club something to think about. 

5: Rosetto and Miles get my vote for men of the match. How much more at ease do we all feel with Miles on the backline? It allows us to play out of the back like we did so well today. Rossetto has been a big part of that too. I lost count of how many times he won the ball and neutralized a counter attack. It just feels like so many players are having their true potential unlocked. We can only hope the transition over to Pineda is smooth. With Rob staying on and Pineda’s full recognition of how important he has been, I think it will be. 

1: Barco out there making my takes look like crap. Hey I love being wrong. I will say that this does fit his profile perfectly. He’s hot and cold. More often cold but I’ll take the hot version right now. Also full credit to Barco for letting Moreno take the 2nd PK.  He would certainly be within his rights to go for the hat trick. So, well done Barco, my only concern is that so often we see the boat catch fire, burn too hot and too fast and immediately sink. I hope that doesn’t happen over this next long stretch of home matches. 

2: Having Miles back has had a tremendous impact. The attack had been starting to click but then we started leaking goals. Miles presence helped shore up the defense, at least in open play. 

3: Are we trying to set a record for goals conceded from set pieces? We could actually learn a thing or three from how Columbus defends set pieces. If Nagbe hadn’t been on the back post off of one of our corner kicks, Hernandez scores. Honestly if that kick had been taken against us, I think we look at that ball rippling the net. Also…..I think Kann saves that, and maybe the penalty. I do like Kann over Guz just in terms of shot stopping ability. Guz did have a good stop on the free kick in the 40th that was just outside the box, so that may be a little harsh. 

4: Something that really stood out in this match was how often we kept the play alive. Positioning was better to win second balls, and deflected/saved shots so we could have a 2nd and even 3rd bite at the Apple. Too often an attack has developed, it falls apart and then it comes back the other way. We were much better at winning the ball back in the attacking 3rd. 

5: Almironeno. Marcelino is balling out. He’s playing with freedom, joy and confidence. His work rate is tremendous. He’s connecting the play. He’s taking shots. He’s converting penalties. Boy it’s taken a minute but is he ever coming good. What a time to turn it on too. The chase is on.