Who will start for Atlanta United in Sunday’s game at Sporting KC?
This lineup may be of importance because the team is about to start a season-defining stretch of playing eight games in 29 days. Atlanta United has eight points, trails seventh-place NYCFC by four points and first-place Philadelphia by nine points, but has three games in hand.
Whomever manager Frank de Boer chooses for Sunday’s game, and whatever the formation, is likely going to be the one that is used in most of the next games because he and his assistants aren’t going to have a lot of time between games to make impactful adjustments. Most of the time between games will be spent travelling and on recovery, with the remaining time spent on scouting and working on what was learned in scouting.
The team has shifted to a formation that features four men at the back, with at least one defensive midfielder.
So, that is going to be the basis for the formation selection and players who I think will start Sunday.
Here we go:
Goalkeeper Brad Guzan
Right fullback Franco Escobar.
Centerback Miles Robinson.
Centerback Leandro Gonzalez Pirez.
Left fullback Brek Shea. George Bello’s status remains a bit of a mystery, but it doesn’t seem likely he is going to start Sunday. He first needs some minutes with Atlanta United 2 to get back into game shape.
Defensive midfielder Jeff Larentowicz. I think he is playing too well to take out of the lineup.
Defensive midfielder Darlington Nagbe. What is true of Larentowicz is true of Nagbe.
Wide midfielder Julian Gressel. He’s not going to come out of the lineup.
Wide midfielder Pity Martinez. They need to get him going, so he will stay in the lineup.
Attacking midfielder Ezequiel Barco.
Striker Josef Martinez.
So, I think that Michael Parkhurst, Eric Remedi and Hector Villalba won’t be in this lineup, but I do think you are going to see them rotated to the upcoming games as the minutes and travel start to pile up.
Tell me if you like the formation and the personnel.
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