The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Doug Roberson (@DougRobersonAJC) breaks down Atlanta United’s schedule by month in this series. First up is February (which has just one game) and March:
Feb. 29 at Nashville SC
Time/TV: 8 p.m. FOX
Stadium: Nissan Stadium.
Last year's record: Not applicable
Last year's meetings: Not applicable
Notable changes: Well, everything. While Inter Miami has received most of the focus on its signings, lack of coach, and stadium construction, Nashville has quietly taken care of its business. Manager Gary Smith has MLS experience (and briefs to tie Atlanta). Its roster is quite full of players with question marks, such as David Accam, Dom Badji and Abu Danladi. But if they come good, this team could be better than many expect. The midfield is led by veteran Dax McCarty and Designated Player Hany Mukhtar. Joe Willis is a solid goalkeeper. The backline includes U.S. international Daniel Lovitz.
Doug's thoughts: I love the city of Nashville. Love it. Have loved it since I covered the Georgia basketball team for the Red and Black when I was a student in Athens. This year's slate of road trips isn't as great as last year's because there's no Seattle, Portland or Vancouver. Nashville should be No. 1 on your list. If you get a chance, try and go to The Chef and I. The Ryman, of course, is a must-see. Hot chicken is the food of choice in Nashville. Be careful. Don't be brave. Hot means hot. You can stay anywhere, ride-share downtown, and there is lots within walking distance.
Oh, and this should be three points for Atlanta United.
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March 7 vs. FC Cincinnati
Time/TV: 7 p.m., FSSO/FSSE
Stadium: Mercedes-Benz Stadium
Last year's record: 24 points; 12 at home, 12 on the road
Last year's meetings: 1-1 draw on March 10 at home and 3-1 win on Sept. 18 away
Notable changes: This was one of the worst teams in MLS history last season, its first. But it started to gain some traction in the final third after ownership realized it had vested itself in the wrong general manager and wrong coach, who selected many players that everyone else could see weren't going to work, especially for the price paid to acquire. New general manager Gerard Nijkamp and manager Ron Jans are sensible and seem to have a long-term plan. The team added former Atlanta United striker Brandon Vazquez, who with consistent minutes has the potential to be a very good player in MLS. It added former Philadelphia midfielder Haris Medunjanin, who isn't the quickest cat but can unlock a defense with a pass and is good at free kicks. The club added Swedish centerback Tom Pettersson, who should be an upgrade on the enigmatic Kendall Waston. It also added versatile defender Saad Abdul-Salaam.
Doug's thoughts: If Atlanta United is focused, this should be three points. It will be interesting to see if Jans tries to take the bunkering approach that worked in the final third and expand to a more free-flowing attack that focuses on forward Emmanuel Ledesma.
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March 14 vs Sporting Kansas City
Time/TV: 7 p.m., FSSO/FSSE
Stadium: Mercedes-Benz Stadium
Last year's record: 38 points; 25 at home, 13 on the road
Last year's meeting: 3-0 win on May 5 away
Notable changes: This may have been the most disappointing team in MLS in 2019. Injuries decimated the squad. It allowed 67 goals, second most in the league, and scored 49. But this is a club with ambition. It went and signed striker Alan Pulido from Chivas for a club-record transfer fee of more than $9 million. Pulido is a bonafide scorer who could take a lot of pressure off the defense. The club also brought bought Khiry Shelton and added depth to a very slow defense with Croatian centerback Roberto Puncec. There is a lot of talent on this squad. It just has to stay healthy.
Doug's thoughts: Because this is a home game, this should be three more points. However, much will depend upon how healthy Atlanta United is and where it is mentally after the first round of the Champions League. If it has advanced, it will likely play Club America in Mexico City just a few days before this game. That's a tough ask. Manager Frank de Boer rolled out the same starting 11 over and over at the beginning of last year's season. If he does that this season, Atlanta United's legs may be gone for this game.
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March 21 at Chicago Fire FC
Time/TV: 3:30 p.m., UNIV
Stadium: Soldier Field
Last year's record: 42 points; 31 at home, 11 on the road
Last year's meetings: 2-0 win on June 1 at home and 5-1 loss on July 3 away
Notable changes: Everything. New name (Chicago Fire Football Club). New ownership (Joe Mansueto). New stadium (Soldier Field). New city (Goodbye, Bridgeview). New crest. New kits. It's exciting. Except… what's not new: as of today the team has no coach nor does it have any Designated Players. Nor does it have Bastian Schweinsteiger, Dax McCarty or Nemanja Nikolic. That's not good and leaves me with not a lot to write about with this team. I should point out that this team played Atlanta United off the SeatGeek field last season.
Doug's thoughts: Three more points, for starters.
This is among my favorite cities in MLS. Fantastic food. Fantastic culture. If you get a chance, eat lunch and admire the views from Cindy’s on top of the Chicago Athletic Association building, and walk around the inside of the building. I prefer Gino’s East pizza, but you can’t go wrong with any choices. Have a beer atop the London House. It’s got great views of downtown. There’s so much to see and do. Hopefully, the weather will cooperate. My father-in-law has a favorite story about studying in Chicago. He walked out of the building and simply had to walk up the block to enter another building. Because of the wind, he couldn’t. He had to walk around the block in the other direction to avoid the head-first gale. Here’s hoping the weather is slightly better.
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