Who will start for Atlanta United (1-3-2) when it hosts Colorado on Saturday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium?
I think you are going to see a lineup that will be very focused on offense. Very focused.
As such, I think the 4-4-1-1 the team has used may evolve for this game into a 4-1-4-1 so that manager Frank de Boer can, for the first time this season, start Josef Martinez, Pity Martinez, Ezequiel Barco, Hector Villalba, Julian Gressel and Darlington Nagbe.
The Rapids are as good an opponent as any to go crazy against because they are awful with 12 goals scored and a league-most 23 allowed for a league-high goal difference of minus-11. Just awful.
So, some of you are going to be upset and think there’s not enough focus on defense in this formation and personnel group.
At this point, with just five goals scored in six games, it may be time for Atlanta United to cut loose.
Here we go:
Goalkeeper Brad Guzan
Right fullback Franco Escobar, in for Michael Parkhurst to add speed to the flank.
Centerback Miles Robinson.
Centerback Leandro Gonzalez Pirez. I thought about this for a long time because I thought that de Boer may considering giving Gonzalez Pirez a game off with Parkhurst starting in this spot. And then I considered that if the Rapids are going to score, it may come off a set piece and will likely be scored by Kei Kamara with his head. So, Gonzalez Pirez is the pick to work with Robinson to deal with Kamara.
Left fullback Brek Shea. I don’t think George Bello will start for Atlanta United until he gets some minutes with Atlanta United 2.
Defensive midfielder Darlington Nagbe. Yes, I know that Eric Remedi is back. I know that Jeff Larentowicz is healthy. But as I wrote earlier: all offense.
Wide midfielder Julian Gressel. Gressel will play defense.
Central midfielder Pity Martinez. Martinez needs to improve his effort on defense.
Central midfielder Ezequiel Barco.
Wide midfielder Hector Villalba.
Striker Josef Martinez.
Tell me if you like the formation and the personnel.
