Atlanta United are set to embark on a highly-anticipated 2024 Major League Soccer season.
There’s heightened expectations this time around for the 2018 MLS Cup winners, as CEO and president Garth Lagerway, alongside technical director Carlos Bocanegra, have worked tirelessly through the transfer window to bring in players ready to make an immediate impact while clearing out players no longer needed at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Head coach Gonzalo Pineda guided the Eastern Conference side to a sixth place finish and a return to the postseason after missing out in 2022. But there will be even more pressure on the former Seattle Sounders player to at least finish in the top four and mount a serious push for silverware.
Here’s everything you need to know about Atlanta United ahead of the new MLS season, including tactics, key players, and predictions.
Transfers in
|
Player |
Former Club |
Fee |
|---|---|---|
|
Bartosz Slisz |
Legia Warsaw |
$3.5m |
|
Derrick Williams |
DC United |
Free transfer |
|
Stian Gregersen |
Bordeaux |
$2.1m |
|
Dax McCarty |
Nashville SC |
Free transfer |
|
Josh Cohen |
Maccabi Haifa |
Free transfer |
|
Xande Silva |
Dijon |
Loan made permanent |
Transfers out
|
Player |
Club Joined |
Fee |
|---|---|---|
|
Santiago Sosa |
Racing Club |
Loan |
|
Franco Ibarra |
Rosario Central |
Loan |
|
Miles Robinson |
FC Cincinnati |
Free transfer |
|
Jonantan Vilal |
San Luis |
Undisclosed |
|
Miguel Berry |
LA Galaxy |
Trade |
|
Garrison Tubbs |
DC United |
$122k |
|
Erik Lopez |
– |
Released |
|
Machop Chol |
– |
Out of contract |
|
Clement Diop |
– |
Out of contract |
|
Amar Sejdic |
– |
Out of contract |
|
Matheus Rossetto |
– |
Out of contract |
|
Osvaldo ‘Ozzie’ Alonso |
– |
Out of contract/retired |
Pineda is set to take the touchline for his third full season in charge of Atlanta, as he’s guided the team to two playoff appearances since being appointed in August 2021.
In seasons past, Pineda liked to set his side up in a 4-3-3 with Almada playing in a more creative role to spearhead the attack. But Pineda opted to utilize a 4-2-3-1 formation in 2023, which was supposed to help crack down on the team conceding so many goals, but in reality, that never really happened.
Pineda’s side looked more fluid in the new system when compared to the old, but the drop-off in defensive play saw him switch to a three-at-the-back during the summer, which brought limited success. He reverted back to the 4-2-3-1 in August after their Leagues Cup exit, and the current setup helped them go on a streaking run near the end of the regular season to finish in sixth place in the Eastern Conference thanks in part to Giorgos Giakoumakis’ 17…
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at 90min EN…