RED, BLACK & BLOG: Assessing Atlanta United at the international break

Jay Riddle and Tanner McLeod are both avid soccer fans and well-known supporters of Atlanta United. The duo, along with a couple of other surprise guests, will be writing a weekly (or whenever they feel like it) blog. Feel free to comment below. Thoughts on the match? Thoughts on the blog? Let us know.

Time…

When your team is winning, it feels like the matches fly by. On the flip side, when you are losing, time can feel like it goes on forever; each second, each minute, each match dragging into hopeless infinity of despair and darkness. This is fandom; always remembering that “fan” is short for “fanatic.”

Right now, Atlanta United are firmly experiencing the latter. The matches have been drab and frustrating affairs for the players, the fans and yes, even Frank de Boer, who knows this is not what he wants to see from his team. However, this international break should provide everyone time to reflect and review everything that has gone right, wrong, and what can get better from the first seven matches.

Let’s begin our assessment with the head man himself: Frank de Boer.

For any new coach, a solid preseason with your whole squad available is ideal, especially when implementing a new system. It is also useful to have matches once a week so you can train and practice the new system while building upon what you did well in the previous match. Frank de Boer had neither the time nor the squad available to him to properly prepare his players for the upcoming fixture congestion.

Atlanta United began preseason with Miguel Almiron still a member of the squad, not entirely certain as to whether he would still be a Five Stripe when the transfer window closed. Add to this the loss of key defensive player Franco Escobar to a long-term injury and you’re not off to a great start. The new manager also had to deal with rumors about Darlington Nagbe’s future, a player whose ability on the ball is key to how de Boer wants to play. In addition to uncertainty over his squad, de Boer also had to deal with a very unique challenge: the CONCACAF Champions League. Instead of having time to prepare and train his players in his system Atlanta United was playing two matches a week with long travel to boot. This far from ideal scenario wasn’t helped by substandard pitches, horrible weather and less than stellar officiating. All of these obstacles combined to make life very challenging from the get go for the defending MLS Champions and their new manager.

Now, while de Boer has had these challenges to deal with they do not entirely excuse him from what has mostly been dull, slow, uninspiring football. On top of some very odd quotes in his press conferences, de Boer has not exactly endeared himself to the supporters. Calling your fans spoiled, lost in translation or not, won’t win the hearts and minds of such a passionate fanbase. Squad rotation seems to be an unfamiliar concept to de Boer but maybe there is a reason for that. After matches, de Boer has stated multiple times that he needs time to train his players in 11v11 sessions so that they can learn his system in a setting similar to what they will encounter on the pitch. Could it not then be reasoned that de Boer hasn’t rotated because he sees the matches as ersatz training sessions? FdB keeps fielding similar lineups featuring the same players because he knows the only way for them to learn is to play, fail, watch the film and learn from their mistakes. This culture change could explain much of the players visible frustrations on the pitch.

Failing at something is never fun, even when it is something new, and especially when it is something you love. These frustrations are highlighted even more for passionate players like Josef Martinez, whose mindset is winning and that’s it. Although, with his frustration, the reigning the MLS MVP still has 4 goals in 7 matches, which isn’t a bad way to start a season. This stat is even more impressive when you consider he is lacking the service that he requires to be the deadly goal-scorer that we have all witnessed.

Pity Martinez hasn’t exactly had the best of times since making his record transfer from River Plate to Atlanta United. Some people, including myself, have been a bit critical of his performances. Too often Pity looks as if he is on a completely separate wavelength from his new teammates or he is just trying to do too much. That being said, Martinez also has the most valid of excuses to not be at his best as he has barely had a rest since winning the Copa Libertadores. After winning the second leg of the final in Madrid River Plate were off to the Club World Cup in the United Arab Emirates where they didn’t perform at their best. As soon as River were knocked out Pity was on a jet to Atlanta. His 5 a.m. arrival in Atlanta was first documented by Atlanta United Fan TV and was then featured on networks around the world. Martinez has had maybe two weeks of rest at best. This is crazy. Pity has just finished competing in what can be considered the most grueling cup competition in the world and now he is in a new country where he doesn’t speak the language, with new teammates, a new system, and a new manager. All the while separated from his family back in Argentina. Oh and he’s also inherited the No. 10 shirt and the lofty expectations that come with it. Made famous for Atlanta United by the previous player, who also happens to be its most beloved. Martinez is not the first nor will he be the last player to struggle to adapt in these conditions. These things take time. While being the first MLS player to be called up to play for the Argentina National team is an incredible accomplishment, he desperately needs rest and time to train with his new teammates. This is not an ideal situation but once he gets settled in Atlanta United fans will see the best from the reigning South American Player of the Year.

On the other hand, one player who has shown fantastic growth so far under Frank de Boer is center back Miles Robinson. After the nightmare in Costa Rica against Herediano, I questioned why Robinson was being played in the middle of a back three in defense. I questioned if this was a position he could even play, but boy was I wrong. Since that first night in Heredia, Robinson has continued to grow in confidence and shows signs of improvement in each match. His performances against Cincinnati, Monterrey and Philadelphia were all outstanding earning him two “Man of the Match” awards.

Miles Robinson is quickly becoming one of the best defenders in all of MLS. This earned him his first MLS Team of the Week selection and a call up to the United States Under-23 National Team. Routinely shielding his opponents off the ball, making incredible tackles, and even clearing the ball of the line, Robinson has earned the praise of USMNT Head Coach Gregg Berhalter. The 22-year-old is showing a calmness and composure that normally isn’t seen in many defenders in this league. All that being said, there is an old saying in soccer that “form is temporary but class is permanent,” Robinson is in good form but he will need to continue to put in performances like he has in order to cement himself as a top defender both at Atlanta United and in MLS. This development takes time but with how things have been going for him I wouldn’t bet against Robinson going forward.

I still am someone who is very wary of Frank de Boer, but the more I take a step back and look at things objectively, the more I realize that I need to be patient with him. I believe everyone should. It hasn’t been the best situation for a new coach to begin life at a job that could ultimately make or break their career. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: Frank de Boer MUST succeed in Atlanta. He has to if he ever wants to manage at the top table in world football again. In order for him to do so, he needs time but more importantly he needs support. He needs the Five Stripe faithful to continue making Mercedes Benz Stadium a fortress in MLS. What he doesn’t need is boos and calls for him to be sacked. Not yet. Atlanta United are on a quest to become the largest and most successful club in this country’s history. You know what that takes…

Time.