2018 Record: 21-7-6, 69 points. Won MLS Cup.
Coach: Frank DeBoer
Key Additions:
- Brek Shea – Left-back-Midfielder – free agent signing previously with Vancouver
- Brendan Moore – GoalKeeper – discovery signing previously with Fleetwood Town, League One
- Dion Pereira – Midfielder – free agent from Watford, EPL
- Pity Martinez – Midfielder – transfer from River Plate, Argentina
- Florentin Pogba – Center-back – free agent from Gençlerbirliği, Tukey
- Anderson Asiedu – Midfielder – SuperDraft
Key Departures:
- Mitch Hildebrandt – GoalKeeper – option declined
- Sal Zizzo – Defender – option declined
- Oliver Shannon – Midfielder – option declined
- Andrew Wheeler-Omiunu – Midfielder – option declined
- Greg Garza – Defender – traded to Cincinnati
- Miguel Almirón – Midfielder – transferred to Newcastle United
- Chris McCann – Midfielder – waived
The Big Question: Can Atlanta United match last year’s dominance under Frank DeBoer
After two dominant years under Tata Martino, there is a new manager in town: Frank DeBoer. There are plenty of doubters based on his failure at his last two stops. For those looking for the positive, they harken back to his success in the Netherlands with the Ajax. He started in the academy and a had successful four-year run as the parent club manager.
Even without the resume question marks, DeBoer brings his Dutch approach versus the Argentine approach that Martino operated under. Captian Michael Parkhurst spoke to this when he was quoted, “the cultures are just so different.” This change will take some time to adjust as will the changes to the systems that DeBoer is looking to implement.
It would not be a surprise to see Atlanta come out of the gate slowly. Particularly with the fixture congestion of CCL play, there is plenty of evidence that the focus will be on success in the international tournament at the expense of results in the MLS schedule.
Area to keep an eye on: The kids?
The departure of Miguel Almirón opens the door for Ezequiel Barco to shine. Last season Barco struggled under the pressure of learning a new club, a new country, off-field distractions and having a style that was not well suited to complementing Almirón. This is his opportunity to step into the limelight. The addition of Pity Martínez will compliment his style of play. A new coach and a fresh start will be a shot in the arm for the 19-year-old.
Another departure opens the door for another less heralded teenager, George Bello. The trade of left back Greg Garza provides a chance for the 17-year-old homegrown to win a shot at getting meaningful minutes. Bello was out for a long stretch last summer with an injury and came back to start a match late in the season and scored a goal in his first start.
Another young player likely to see more minutes is the 21-year-old center back Miles Robinson. The 2nd draft pick in the 2017 MLS Super Draft spent time on loan in the USL for the Charleston Battery and ATLUTD2. He cracked his way into the line-up last season for a few minutes but this could be a break-out season for the Generation Adidas athlete. He has a huge upside as a defender, however, Martino was not comfortable with Robinson’s ability to play with the ball at his feet and help distribute out of the back. He will have his chance to show the new manager that his time under Martino has improved his distribution.
Outlook: They are the odds on favorite to win the MLS Cup.
The expectations are astronomical for this club. The depth in the attacking front with Tito Villaba and Romario Williams coming off the bench combined with the maturation of much of the midfield and defense with time spent playing in the USL, there is plenty of skill.
With talent and depth, Atlanta should be challenging for hardware in every competition they are in. This squad is capable of living up to the pressure, the hype, and the expectations. They are the odds-on favorite to repeat for the MLS Cup. The Supporters Shield is a possibility, barring slow start or an early exit in the CCL tournment.
