Atlanta United are only in their second season in MLS, but already they are making strides,
with the second best start of any Eastern Conference side.
Coach Gerardo ‘Tata’ Martino, another from the Newell’s Old Boys production line
and a previous boss at Barcelona and the Argentina national team, has got his side playing vibrant,
attractive football.
They’ve been described as the “most dynamic side in MLS”, a reflection of their commitment
to attacking with width and at pace, especially from turnovers.
Atlanta tend to line up with a flexible 3-5-2, with Miguel Almiron acting as a playmaker
behind two forwards, Josef Martinez and Hector Villalba.
Jeff Larentowicz [LUH-REN-TOE-VITZ], nominally the central midfield partner of Darlington
Nagbe, tends to sit very deep, screening the back three and filling in the gaps out wide;
Nagbe is an energetic box to box midfielder, who gets up in support of attacking moves,
or drops deep to collect the ball from the centre backs or Larentowicz before spreading
it wide or driving forwards himself.
Width comes from the wing backs, with right-sided wing back Julian Gressel, last season’s
Rookie of the Year, especially capable of getting up and down the wings.
This means that defensively, Atlanta can comfortably settle back into a five man back line.
Ahead of this, Larentowicz tends to sit centrally, while Almiron drifts out and Nagbe pushes
up, creating a sort of 5-1-2-2 posture.
From this, Atlanta press, with both forwards working extremely hard to close down the opposition
defenders, while Nagbe and Almiron push up or out to press in the central or wide spaces.
This can mean that Atlanta almost press in a 5-1-4, with the wing backs moving slightly
forwards up to supplement this, and it’s testament to Larentowicz’s positional sense
and fitness that he can cover this energetic press.
It’s worth noting that the wing backs do not press especially high; instead, the efforts
are led by the square of four players up top, with the forwards slightly more narrow, and
the midfielders slightly wider.
They oscillate in the direction of the ball, while the back five stays as such, meaning
that Atlanta’s defensive posture is always sound except in the occasions when a team
can counter attack rapidly from the wide space.
It requires huge energy and discipline from the front four, but it also means that Atlanta
can defend most attacks with at least a man more.
In attack, Almiron is the spark, while Martinez tends to sit more centrally and Villalba works
the channels.
This is particularly true on the right hand side, where Gressel and Nagbe both push forwards
in support.
Atlanta are particularly good at attacking from winning the ball, bursting forwards so
that Almiron and the two forwards are alive to any counter attacking vertical pass from
Nagbe or the wing backs.
Atlanta will go back to Brad Guzan in goal, or the centre backs, if they cannot attack
directly at pace.
They are comfortable playing the ball around between themselves, with Larentowicz also
dropping in to show as a passing option, waiting for one of the wide players to come free,
or for space to appear out wide for one of the midfielders to push up into.
This means that Atlanta have a method of bypassing the high press, should they need to, although
they definitely are a side who like to play on the foot front and high.
Energetic, stylish, and with an interesting pressing system that demands a huge amount
from his midfield, Tata Martino’s Atlanta are great fun to watch.
With players of the dynamism of Nagbe, the positional sense of Larentowicz, and the attacking
and creative capabilities of Villalba, Martinez, and Almiron, Atlanta should be contesting
for a playoff place come the end of the season.
Atlanta United are showing that MLS is more tactically engaging and imaginative than some
give it credit for, and they’re prospering from
the approach.