It was only for 30 minutes because that’s all the weather would allow, but if Atlanta United looked more aggressive playing in the 4-3-3 formation against Columbus, well, they were.
“Yes,” Atlanta United’s Leandro Gonazlez Pirez said. “Maybe we felt more comfortable with the situation.”
Atlanta United finished the game, which was unplayable in the final 60 minutes but not postponed, with 16 shots, five on goal. Both were more than in any of its four other league games this season. The team created three good scoring chances in the first half and looked much more like the team that last season won the MLS Cup than it did in its three previous league contests this season.
The better play coincided with manager Frank de Boer’s decision to use the 4-3-3 formation. It was the first time this season the team started a game with that system, but it’s one the players are very familiar with because it was one of two primary formations used by previous manager Gerardo Martino.
“We created more chances than we have in the past couple of games,” midfielder Darlington Nagbe said.
Players implied that the team will continue to drill the formation ahead of its next game at New England on April 13.
Within the 4-3-3 are two centerbacks, two fullbacks, three central midfielders, two wide forwards and a striker.
Gonzalez Pirez said the tactics that de Boer uses are the same as those used by Martino. How they use the press is different under de Boer than Martino, which is something the team is learning and fine-tuning.
If this is the formation that de Boer chooses to use going forward, it will require some tough choices. There are only two centerbacks and the team has three who are used to playing. Also it can use two defensive midfielders but will likely use just one so that more numbers can be used in attack. Not starting against Columbus were veterans Michael Parkhurst, the team’s captain, and Jeff Larentowicz. It was the first time in an Atlanta United league game that neither player started and the first time neither was used.
Though the team remains winless in MLS at 0-2-2 and is in last place in the 12-team Eastern Conference, it trails Orlando by just three points for the final playoff spot and there are still 30 games remaining.
“We are working, training hard, thinking on New England,” Gonzalez Pirez said. “These are more good things.
“We knew this year was going to be different. We didn’t necessarily expect this start. We would have liked to win a game. We are working hard as a group, trying to understand each other … and get results that we want. Even though we lost 2-0 (to Columbus), we did some things well. it’s something we can build on.”
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