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Matchday Musings: Atlanta United
A slightly too lighthearted look ahead to the Red Bulls' upcoming fixture
Pepsi is better than Co-
No, I'm sorry. I can’t say that even in a half hearted attempt to upset the good people of Atlanta. At the end of the day, I am a man of principle and honesty. I may make broad statements about random MLS teams and fanciful predictions that end up being hilariously wrong, but dear reader I will write nothing in these musings that I don’t truly believe in. So no, Pepsi is not better than Coke. Even though the differences between the two soft drinks is practically negligible, one is just somehow objectively better than the other. So breathe a sigh of relief Atlanta, you are spared from my whimsical wrath this week.
Bulletin Board
There’s really no way to put a positive spin on the Red Bulls’ 2-1 loss to the Chicago Fire. New York went on the road against arguably the worst team in the Eastern Conference and deserved to walk out without a result. Sports gods in general are famously cruel and uncaring pantheons, but the soccer celestials must have taken particular glee in having Tom Barlow get on the scoresheet against his former team. The Red Bulls have found no answers at the striker position, and while Barlow was never an elite attacking player, watching a forward the club let walk in free agency put Chicago up 1-0 felt like walking barefoot over a floor covered in legos. As of this morning it’s been more than 2 months since the Red Bulls’ last win. The team isn’t so much limping towards the playoffs, as much as they are being slowly pushed towards the postseason in a wheelchair. The team has its fair share of problems, but a stat from GiveMeSpots’ Tom Bogert puts the spotlight on a lot of what went wrong over the last 3 months: in their last 15 games without Emil Forsberg, the Red Bulls have 2 wins, 10 draws, 3 losses and have only scored 16 goals. It’s been a very rough Summer in Harrison, but tomorrow is the Autumn Equinox which means Fall will finally be upon us. More importantly Forsberg is expected to return to action for next weekend’s derby against NYCFC, and may even be available tonight. Can the return of the Red Bulls’ best player single handedly turn the season around? To quote Matt Groening’s second most iconic work, “all I know is maybe.”
No team in MLS has had as busy of a Summer transfer window as Atlanta United. Thiago Almada was sold to Brazilian leaders Botafogo for a league record fee, Designated Player Georgios Giakmomakis was sent to Cruz Azul, and rising star Caleb Wiley signed with Chelsea. In total Atlanta recouped an estimated $50 million for those three players, giving them what might just be the largest war chest in MLS history. That kinda money should make Atlanta fans optimistic about their future, but on the flip side, that does mean some of the best talent in the league is no longer playing in Georgia, and Atlanta has struggled in their absence. they did manage to grab a surprise 2-2 draw in their last game against Messi’s Inter Miami, thanks largely in part to Alexey Miranchuk, who Atlanta signed from Atalanta (no relation), scoring an absolute stunner for his first MLS goal. Despite their struggles, the Five Stripes are currently only one point out of a playoff spot, which basically makes every game from this point on a playoff game if they want to keep their season alive.
Atlanta will most likely line up in a 4-3-3. The club has lost almost all of its creativity in their Summer selling spree, but while the talent is no longer there, they still have some notable threats. Miranchuk, Polish midfielder Bartosz Slisz and full back Brook Lennon make for a very impressive combination alongside the right side of the field. Expect Atlanta to try to build their attack through that flank for almost the entire game. That should be a tough position battle for John Tolkin and the midfield to contain, which in turn could end pinning Tolkin in the Red Bulls own third of the field. But if the Red Bulls can contain that trio, then Atlanta doesn’t really have much going for them in any other part of the field. Hopefully this is the game where the Red Bulls can finally stop their slide, and build up something resembling momentum heading into rivalry week.
Stats Circle
New York Red Bulls MLS record: 10-13-6 (5th-E) Atlanta United MLS Record: 8-8-13 (11th-E)
New York Red Bulls MLS Result: 1-2 vs Chicago Fire Atlanta United Last MLS Result: 2-2 vs. Inter Messi
New York Red Bulls Top Scorer: Lewis Morgan (12) Atlanta United Top Scorer: Saba Lobjanidze (7)
Oddly enough this is the first matchup between the Red Bulls and Atlanta this season. The Red Bulls have already played every other Eastern Conference team at this point, and have played most of them twice. The two teams will face off again in just two weeks on October 5th in Atlanta.
Fun Fact: Atlanta United’s starting goalkeeper, Brad Guzan, is the last active professional player from the United States’ 2010 World Cup roster.
Player To Watch
Dax McCarty
Out of respect to a legend, this week’s Players to Watch section is limited to only one man; Dax McCarty. While he may currently wear an Atlanta United jersey, there are few players in New York history that have represented the Red Bulls as well as their longtime former captain. Dax announced his plans to retire at the end of the season bringing an end to a storied 19 year career. His 198 appearances are the fourth most in club history, and from 2011-2016, New York fans watched him grow into one of the league’s most elite midfielders. Dax stood as the key cog in two Supporter Shield winning campaigns, but more than that he was one of the strongest leaders the club has ever produced. Everyonce in a while, if a team is extremely lucky, they might just find a player who truly excels in both the tangible and intangible aspects of this game. When you find a player like that dear reader, you better cherish them as much as you can, because one day, much sooner than you may think in the moment, that player will hang up their boots and walk into the sunset for a well deserved rest. Tonight will be Dax McCarty’s last game in Red Bull Arena, and when he leaves the field for that final time, it’ll be the end of something that was truly special. Thanks for the memories Dax, if you approach the next step of your life with the same dignity, determination, and that never back down attitude that defined your playing career, then I’m sure you will excel at whatever comes next.
Side Notes
Appropriately the Red Bulls will be officially honoring Dax McCarty before the game begins, once warm ups are concluded.
While a victory over Atlanta wouldn’t 100% guarantee the Red Bulls a playoff spot, there are six separate scenarios where they clinch their record extending 15th consecutive appearance.
Prediction
It isn’t pretty, but the Red Bulls grind out a 1-0 victory.
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