There’s been no shortage of rumored transfers, in and out, for Atlanta United. Heck, that’s been true from day one. But the big question heading into the 2021 season is how can the Five Stripes put a disastrous 2020 behind them and return to their elite status?
That’s a question posed on the most recent episode of Extratime, one the Armchair Analyst, Matt Doyle, tackled himself.
To understand the team’s needs in 2021, there has to be a look back at why 2020 was such a failure for Atlanta. The issue in attack was clear when former Golden Boot winner Josef Martinez was lost for the year following ACL surgery. Those goals just don’t get replaced.
With Martinez expected to be fully healthy, Doyle said the attack should be just fine.
But the bigger issue, Doyle argued, was the other side of the ball. The combination of Eric Remedi (the subject of a reported departure) and Mo Adams struggled at defensive midfield, Fernando Meza wasn’t a like-for-like replacement for the departed Leandro Gonzalez Pirez and Miles Robinson "regressed" after a Best XI season in 2019, Doyle said.
Atlanta conceded 30 regular season goals and were a -7 in goal differential in 2020, finishing 12th in the 14-team Eastern Conference.
"I think for Gabriel Heinze the focus has to be on fixing that spine," Doyle said. "If you’re poor at defensive midfield, or at least below par at defensive midfield and center back, you’re not going to win many games. Part of that is better overall structure and a more coherent one through 11 approach, which is not something they had under Frank de Boer at any point I don’t think. The other part of it is just upgrading the talent."
Which takes us to Heinze’s current situation and myriad players (most from Argentina) linked with Atlanta United. The club have signed veteran forward Lisandro Lopez as attacking depth and are reportedly interested in young defensive midfielders Franco Ibarra from Argentinos Juniors, and River Plate’s Santiago Sosa and were in pursuit of center back Hector David Martinez before River swooped in with an offer.
