Thread by @FelipeCar

Back from a short vacation with some thoughts on Atlanta United: 🧵

Anyone looking for positives has to dig deep into the data to find a morsel.

There’s no bite in midfield. Slisz isn’t athletic enough for this league. Trust Ajani Fortune. The backline is slow, disjointed.

There is so little flair across the board. Fans applaud the basics. A good switch of play. A decent cross. A spell of possession. A transition moment.

The team’s six-year search for a play style and team culture makes attacking players resort to hero ball.

“We dominated the game.”

Atlanta United isn’t a favorite in any game they walk into. Most doses of professional pressure shatter this team. The FC Dallas equalizer…woof.

The team is forced to celebrate a 4-3 comeback win when every single flaw was on full display.

“They’re a high-spending team.”

This has become ATL’s brand statement to the masses. New merch, improved in-house video production, same average squad.

Everything feels like a business decision and that’s intentional. Will it pay off? Lead to titles?
nytimes.com/athletic/43368…

True success is measured on the field and that part has become a Bermuda Triangle for Atlanta United. They’re lost. Players have a good performance, then relapse. Rinse and repeat.

Most games feel like a mid-table match of little consequence. Unless Messi is on the other team.

Ronny Deila demanding that his players show heart, leadership and a collective mentality tells you everything about the locker room. It’s an entitled group.

Almirón was signed (among other reasons) to instill a hard-working culture because that was missing. Think about that.

Talent acquisition has to improve.

Almirón will settle in and redefine his role in the league but he needs help creating. Latte Lath is a good signing (an expensive one) and there are promising young players coming up.

But those are not a standard-setting measures.