Difficult to trust Atlanta United’s imminent turnaround

Something has gone wrong again for Atlanta United, which sits in 12th place in the 15-team Eastern Conference with a 3-6-4 record heading into its home game Saturday against LAFC. The lapses in concentration that sank them last season (as well as previous seasons) have been joined this year by a new dysfunction: fizzy offensive production, a particularly infuriating weakness for a club known for its goalscoring prowess.

The Five Stripes, second in MLS in goals scored a season ago, have not scored three goals in a league game since their 3-0 win over Chicago on March 31, which was also their last victory against a championship opponent. During MLS’ eight-game winless streak, they have been held to one or no goals six times.

At just over a third of the way through the season, a club that made off-season roster changes to win this season has so far fallen far short of the mark. Frustration is mounting, both in the stands and within the team. Clearly something is not working properly and it may not be long before a change becomes necessary.

Manager Gonzalo Pineda has pointed to the injuries, and that is undoubtedly part of the equation that has contributed to true mediocrity. Off-season signings Stian Gregersen and Derrick Williams, veterans added to bolster the defense, have played 39 percent of the combined 2,340 minutes available in 13 league matches. Forward Giorgos Giakoumakis, tied for second for most goals in MLS last season, missed four of 13 and will be absent again against LAFC. Midfielder Xande Silva, a valuable mid-season acquisition last season, missed four league matches and was restricted to a substitute role in five others.

There have been four games in which at least three of the quartet of Gregersen, Williams, Giakoumakis and Silva started. Atlanta United is 3-1 in these games. In the other nine, at least three of the four were absent or did not start. The Five Stripes are 0-5-4 in these games.

Additionally, star midfielder Thiago Almada left the Cincinnati game on May 15 due to injury, missed the Nashville game on May 18 and is doubtful for Saturday. Pineda said he hasn’t experienced those kinds of injuries during his coaching career.

“It’s been a great test, that’s for sure,” he said. “Of course you don’t expect these (injuries).”

That said, it’s not just about injuries. Veteran midfielder Dax McCarty laid out the issues during a media session on Thursday. Categories where Atlanta United fell short, according to McCarty – confidence, sharpness, cohesion, patience and effort.

Certainly, not having essential players on the field can destabilize a team in all of these areas. But it is not obligatory.

Atlanta United, for example, have developed a maddening expertise in giving up cheap goals, often shortly after scoring theirs. This habit has continued this season, due to lapses in concentration. And often, it’s not just one player who stands out.

“It’s multiple individual errors that then give the other team good chances and then lead to frustration,” McCarty said.

After the 1-0 loss to second-place Cincinnati, in which the difference was a narrow goal in the first half, frustration was high and a players-only meeting was held after the match. McCarty called the team’s slow start to the game “unacceptable.” Goaltender Brad Guzan said “we need to roll up our sleeves and be f***ing men about this.”

These are issues that go far beyond injuries and that Pineda has seemed unable to resolve throughout his tenure, which began in August 2021.

In the best-case scenario for Atlanta United, the draw against Nashville SC and victory on penalties against United Soccer League team Charleston (in a US Open Cup match on Tuesday) will be in makes catalysts.

“I think it definitely starts in training – seeing the ball hit the back of the net – but nothing builds confidence like scoring goals (in matches),” McCarty said.

Perhaps the Five Stripes can follow through on their stated intention to get up early at LAFC and get the Mercedes-Benz Stadium crowd moving, and that can help secure a win against a team that has struggled on the road so far this season.

“We’re waiting for these few results to bring back those emotions, those feelings that we’re a really, really powerful team,” Pineda said.

But, at some point, if a team recognizes its flaws and cannot correct them, then it is not really a team that is truly on the verge of turning the corner and realizing its potential, but simply a team that can’t win.

How close is Atlanta United to this point?

It might be fair to at least give Pineda a chance with a healthier lineup. While Giakoumakis is absent on Saturday, Williams (absent since early April) could return next week. Silva could be back in the starting lineup on Saturday. Almada is questionable for Saturday.

But the club benefits from a break of almost two weeks after its June 2 match in Charlotte. And then there is a one-month break at the end of July/August for the Leagues Cup, the tournament between 47 MLS teams and LIGA MX (Mexican league).

If President Garth Lagerwey acted on Pineda, these would be logical windows.

Is Atlanta United a truly powerful team or just a team that keeps losing and promising better, only to lose again?

You would like to believe the first. Growing evidence suggests the latter.