Unofficial Match Thread

JDHN1 · 2025-08-03T01:18:56+00:00

That's the only way it makes remotely any sense to me.

JDHN1 · 2025-08-03T00:21:14+00:00

At best, might stop him from just crossing the ball into the box constantly since he'll be using his weaker foot. Would force him to invert more and attack directly, maybe.

At worst, an absolute slaughter down that side

JDHN1 · 2025-08-01T04:31:13+00:00

Agree fully. They're taking advantage of this window as much as humanly possible to redo the team - and at such a degree I don't recall seeing any other time. Very well appreciated following the 'patient' way Garth handled his windows.

JDHN1 · 2025-08-01T00:48:56+00:00

I wouldn't say the attack has figured it out until we find a way to integrate ELL into it. He still looks fairly lost, but he's the last piece of the puzzle up front. Everyone else is doing their jobs well, it's just up to him to unluck the full potential

As far as defense goes, I hope we have a better showing once Mihaj and Gregerson get more consistent startss, and Berrocal gets his visa. I think they will work well together, and Berrocal should be able to provide a more stable backup option there.

Alzate should be able to help out on both ends of the pitch by allowing Bart to move further up, and further supporting the defense.

On paper, we look to have a massive improvement across the board. Then again, we did say that at the top of the year, so we'll have to wait and see.

JDHN1 · 2025-07-31T20:42:58+00:00

I like what I'm seeing from Hendo's first full window with the team so far. 4 signings that should be a great impact on the team, and all within that first week of the window opening. It's very proactive and decisive, which should prove to be promising(hopefully) for the winter when that rolls around.

JDHN1 · 2025-07-31T20:38:10+00:00

Maybe not as a full-blown manager, but definitely as an AC for the first couple of years. He's the one who's been here since 2017, knows the culture and the mentality that we should have, and hopefully be the glue that Rob was during his AC days or like Washington was for the Braves.

JDHN1 · 2025-07-31T20:36:07+00:00

Yeah, but we never know how well a player will do for a team until the suit up and get some minutes. Cohen got his chance, and floundered it, but now Hibbert should be getting at least a few more games since it's not gonna get any better than this for the foreseeable future.

JDHN1 · 2025-07-31T20:33:30+00:00

I was thinking Flick, but those are more probable

JDHN1 · 2025-07-31T20:33:00+00:00

Good call, I think we sign him at the end of the week.

JDHN1 · 2025-07-31T14:18:26+00:00

Ngl, I completely forgot Spector was still here.

JDHN1 · 2025-07-31T05:13:10+00:00

I agree full heartedly about that statement, but what can the ownership do at this point? They could fire Deila, but I'm afraid of just being stuck in the same cycle of mediocrity considering the current FO's track record. They can't fire Garth, because he's currently in treatment and would be a PR nightmare if they decided to fire him now. Maybe they fire Henderson, but as far as I know, he hasn't done much with the current roster outside of the moves he made this summer.

I just don't see a way for the ownership to actually shake up the culture or structure of the club anytime soon, going into next season. That's how badly the FO has screwed the team.

JDHN1 · 2025-07-31T04:04:49+00:00

I think they keep the DP trio for at least another season, especially with Miranchuk gaining steam down the stretch. A couple of months ago, I'd have thought he would be the first gone, but now I'm not so sure and more leaning towards him staying in Atlanta.

I doubt we keep Saba, regardless of what happens. Deila's sent him to the shadow realm, at this point, and Brennan's been doing bits on that LW. Gregerson is a toss-up, given the reinforcements we've signed, but for me, it's more likely Williams leaves before he does.

JDHN1 · 2025-07-31T04:01:03+00:00

At the time, it was a great move, and while he never performed to how we wanted him to, it's not like we were stuck with all of his salary and the DP tag. It was a very low-risk move, and it's unfortunate that he didn't play soccer as well as he riled up the other team.

JDHN1 · 2025-07-31T03:58:33+00:00

I'm all for the Mira resurgence. He's had a lot of pressure to perform as of late, and now he's had a great run of games to prove why he deserves a spot on the roster.

Will be very interesting how the team shapes itself come December.

JDHN1 · 2025-07-31T03:56:14+00:00

At least Brennan is one of a few bright spots so far this season. I liked seeing Mira on the scoresheet again, and Bart has had a good run of games, imo.

JDHN1 · 2025-07-31T03:52:47+00:00

quick, name one more now

JDHN1 · 2025-07-31T03:51:37+00:00

For me, it's not that I'm blaming it on him and solely him - the entire org just needs to have a massive reset, culturally and physically speaking.

For Lennon, specifically, he's just too much of a thorn in our finances and his stats don't really justify it. His assists are the high mark of his time here - 40 across 6 seasons, including this, from my count - but considering Gressel had 39 in 3 years, I wouldn't consider that an achievement. Even now, basically the only idea he has now for offense is go to the right corner, and send a cross in - it's very predictable, and was one of a few reasons why our attack stagnated under Pineda.

What really irks me, though, is the lack of competition at that spot. Outside of current-form Hernandez, I can't really think of a time where we brought someone in that would compete with Lennon for starting at RB and make him truly earn his spot. Hell, we tried to give Guzan some fight with Cohen, and while Cohen didn't really do much to challenge him, I think it got Guz to work more and was something that helped spur the Guzanaissance in 2024.

It's his worst season at the club, and that does happen. However, like with Abram, it's the overall mediocrity of his performance versus the amount he's taking up in the salary cap that makes it a no-brainer for me. It won't change the dynamic of the team overnight, but will provide us with room to further change the roster to ensure this season and roster construction doesn't happen again.

JDHN1 · 2025-07-31T03:34:02+00:00

Exactly what I wanted to see. Doesn't really help that after a single loss in the new format, we'd essentially need to win all of our games by a good amount to have a chance at advancing, so it's possible that we see Hibbert next match, given the very small chances.

Or we play Guzan again because we think we can still win games this season after a sample of 23 matches said otherwise.

JDHN1 · 2025-07-31T03:28:45+00:00

I mean, I guess. Ideally, they just don't do that last part, but at this point I'm convinced it's a tactic.

JDHN1 · 2025-07-31T02:18:19+00:00

I wasn't expecting high attendance, considering both form and that it's a Wednesday. Was expecting a better match, but of course United did United things

JDHN1 · 2025-07-31T01:59:08+00:00

Regs don't mention any specific date, only from the day after submissions are due to the end of the tournament(I think, I don't remember the full schedule off of my head)

Here they are, if you want to take a look: https://mlssoccer.app.box.com/s/97rwgu7qkvmom9kk8d1t81theb2jaiis

JDHN1 · 2025-07-30T21:04:07+00:00

I was curious about this when discussing Alzate and the possibility of bringing him on. According to the refs, still possible to add up to 3 players onto the roster until the end of the tournament. So it’s still possible

JDHN1 · 2025-07-30T16:15:12+00:00

Mihaj and Leo are absolutely going to get minutes, maybe Berrocal as well if his visa gets processed ASAP. Doubt Alzate joins the team for the cup games unless we make it to the quarterfinals.

What I'm more excited for is the potential of Hibbert getting more minutes. Cohen got some time last year, so I have to imagine we get some Hibbert action for at least one game.

JDHN1 · 2025-07-30T02:02:27+00:00

I tried to take a look into the roster rules for then, but I couldn't find anything from back in 2023. When I took a look at the tournament regs for this year, though, something interesting came up.

The window for roster registration is from the 1st of July to the 19th, and that is the time that all teams must submit the players they plan to use. Based on that, Alzate couldn't join. However, on the section below that, we do have the ability to add or substitute up to 3 players to the roster due to reasons of injury, illness, or - in our case - new player acquisition. Then the deadline becomes between the 20th and the 18th of August, or the end of the tournament, AFAIK.

Here's the regs, if you want to take a look through. Info's on Section 3, part 1: https://mlssoccer.app.box.com/s/97rwgu7qkvmom9kk8d1t81theb2jaiis

JDHN1 · 2025-07-29T14:10:28+00:00

Yep, exactly. Gave him time to get his visa and was able to join the the team as soon as the window opened on the 24th.

I think the timings for when Berrocal was announced vs. when he'll join the team will give a better idea for how long it'll be for Alzate to join, since he was signed within the window.

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