Atlanta United turned its season around in July with the decisions made by interim manager Rob Valentino and then by Gonzalo Pineda to change its formation, bouncing between playing three centerbacks and two.
The moves, combined with a decision to ditch former manager Gabriel Heinze’s man-marking style to a zone-defending style, helped solidify the defense and spark the offense. The team earned 38 points in 21 games and advanced to the MLS playoffs, where it will play at NYCFC on Nov. 21 in the first round.
Now, Pineda may be mulling another formational switch. Based upon the team’s play in the past three halves in which it switched to playing two centerbacks and two fullbacks, with the third centerback replaced by a midfielder, the team’s offense turned from sluggish to spirited.
On Sunday against Cincinnati, in the first half in which it played five at the back, the key stats:
Goals: 0
Shots: 5
Shots on goal: 1
Chances created: 2
In the second half, after Pineda switched to four at the back and inserted an extra midfielder at halftime:
Goals: 2
Shots: 13
Shots on goal: 3
Chances created: 12
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On Oct. 27 against Miami in the first half with five at the back:
Goals: 0
Shots: 5
Shots on goal: 4
Chances created: 3
In the second half after a switch was made at halftime:
Goals: 2
Shots: 8
Shots on goals: 4
Chances created: 6
On Sept. 29 against Miami with five at the back in the first half:
Goals: 0
Shots: 9
Shots on goal: 3
Chances created: 7
Against Miami in the second half after a switch was made at halftime:
Goals: 1
Shots: 10
Shots on goal: 4
Chances created: 6
Each time in the past three instances in which the team had a full half, it scored after the switch. Perhaps of more importance, the offense looked more lively once the extra midfielder was put on to help connect the defense to the offense.
Adding that extra midfielder gives Atlanta United’s midfield shape. It also provides width because it allows the wingbacks, George Bello and Brooks Lennon or Ronald Hernandez, the freedom to advance from the backline and up the field when one of the midfielders has the ball. The wingbacks know that one of the other midfielders can drop back if needed and provide cover should the attack break down -- and a wingback isn’t able to get back in time.
Martinez’s winning goal against Cincinnati is an example of that width. Lennon, playing as a fullback, passed it centrally to Luiz Araujo, who plays it out wide to the right to Jurgen Damm, who came on as a second-half sub. His cross was deflected into the air by a Cincinnati centerback. Martinez hit the volley and scored the goal.
When the team plays without that extra midfielder, when Araujo received the ball, there likely wouldn’t have been a player where Damm was to receive the ball.
“The team feels alright with a back five and the buildup is good but today when we switched the principles are still there and we were good on the ball and we didn’t need that third center back to be dangerous so I can go both ways, one thing is tactically and the other is the quality and the application of the players and that’s what made the difference tonight,” Pineda said after the Cincinnati game.
When playing with just two midfielders, or three if you count the attacking midfielder who sometimes doesn’t drop back, Atlanta United’s formation can become narrow and stratified. The front three or four stay high up the field, the two central midfielders, typically Matheus Rossetto and Franco Ibarra or Santiago Sosa, sitting in front of the centerbacks and the wingbacks staying in line with the centerbacks. There are holes on the field centrally between the front three or four and two midfielders, and in front of the wingbacks.
When Atlanta United’s midfielders win the ball, or receive the ball, because passing lanes forward to the attackers are clogged by opponents, they typically go sideways or backward because that’s where an open teammate, one of the wingbacks, can be found. The wingbacks must stay back to be that outlet.
When the wingbacks can’t get up the field, when Barco or Moreno do receive the ball and look up, there may be only two teammates ahead and as many as five defenders.
Pineda has said many times that he prefers to play with three centerbacks because it keeps the defense solid and creates numerical advantages against a team that plays with either two or one strikers. Plus, he has said it gives one of the centerbacks the freedom to step forward with the ball, which forces a defender to react and can create space for a teammate. But that doesn’t happen frequently.
Pineda has also said that he prefers to have Sosa on the field when the team plays with two centerbacks because Sosa has experience dropping in and playing as a third centerback or fullback. Sosa has missed the past four games because of an injury. Pineda said last week that Sosa is trending toward being available for the playoffs.
Pineda’s preference isn’t specific to Atlanta United and its personnel. As an assistant at Seattle before he joined Atlanta United in July, Pineda was credited with working with Seattle’s Brian Schmetzer on switching to a back five as its basis formation for this season. Its something that team has rarely used other than in specific circumstances.
It may be odd to consider a formational switch going into the playoffs. There is precedent. Previous manager Gerardo Martino switched from two centerbacks to three and it helped the team win the MLS Cup in 2018. But that team’s personnel featured some centerbacks, Jeff Larentowicz, or wingbacks, Julian Gressel or Franco Escobar, who were naturally midfielders or fullbacks who were comfortable going forward.
Frank de Boer used two centerbacks to win the Campeones Cup and then switched to three centerbacks to win the U.S. Open Cup two weeks later.
Goalkeeper Brad Guzan said he has no preference for the formation because there are many factors.
“It’s also down to the opposition; it depends what the game is giving us,” he said. “It’s not that we’re just going to stick with this and roll it out time and time again. When things aren’t going well, we’re able to adjust, whether that’s four to a five, or five to a four. We’re able to adjust and make changes and I think those are signs of a good team that can alter their shape, alter their tactics and ultimately find a result. So, I wouldn’t say we’re better in a four or five. We’re at our best when we’re moving the ball, when we’re following instructions for how we want to exploit space, and when we’re playing unselfishly and circulating the ball in a real way that creates chances for us.”
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Atlanta United’s 2021 MLS schedule
Nov. 21 Atlanta United at NYCFC, 3 p.m., ABC
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