With a speedy Atlanta United side heading to a very cramped pitch at Yankee Stadium (in some circles, measured at a generous 67-yard wide pitch) to take on NYCFC, here’s what you need to keep an eye (or two) on when the sides go at it late Sunday afternoon.
First, Atlanta United will be without Yamil Asad again for a match after this incident against DC United. Asad’s elbow is characterized as going after Lloyd Sam.
((HT: JogoBonitoUSA’s Twitter))
Which causes Atlanta head coach “Tata” Martino another juggling act with his starting XI.
The larger question surrounds the health of Jeff Larentowicz, who is still involved in concussion protocol after the Real Salt Lake match. If he can go, the midfield looks like a combination of Larentowicz-Carmona-Gressel. Or, with the success Greg Garza has had in overlaps this season, he could be moved up further into attack and Mark Bloom could make an appearance at the back if Larentowicz is a “no-go.”
Could be Chris McCann or Kevin Kratz in this spot for the midfield as well with Jacob Peterson probably out of the NYCFC match.
But the width at Yankee Stadium could be the answer for any Atlanta XI (notice the underlying theme here for a team that will be testing its depth).
The confirmation of the notion that the “time of possession” stat means nothing.
Under Patrick Vieira, NYCFC wants to possess the ball and work from the back. They want to string together a boatload of passes to work the ball forward (eventually) before taking advantage of their talent up front. Patience from Atlanta United on defense will be paramount.
On the flip side of that argument, if NYCFC turns the ball over, Atlanta United can work their M.O. of attack from the top on both sides of the ball. Attack. Transition. Close. So, as a rule of thumb, don’t get wrapped up in TOP. It’s what the teams do with the ball in this match when they’re hanging on to the ball in the attacking third that will matter most.
Atlanta United needs to shake off their missed chances in the match from last week, and as Chris McCann admitted earlier in the week, simply “put the match behind them” and not get wrapped up in what happened. It was a bad day at the office, and it was only one day at the office.
Bottom line is: Those kind of days do happen.
The line-up could be just as interesting for NYCFC at home.
NYCFC will still be without Matarrita and Khiry Shelton on the back line, but Atlanta United will be staring at the offensive firepower of Jack Harrison (recent) and Yangel Herrera (even more recent with his appearance in the Columbus match last week)…
Evidence below on what Herrera was a part in last week.
The action last week creates an issue with the future of Andrea Pirlo. But the Pirlo question won’t get an answer from Sunday. Does Pirlo come of the bench? Does Vieira play both Herrera and Pirlo for more firepower?
Maybe a lean toward the future if trends continue as they did against Columbus. And, well, David Villa, is David Villa, plus he is healthy.
Here’s how to watch the match on Sunday afternoon.
NYCFC vs Atlanta |
Sun, May 7 – 4:00 PM ETUSA: Univision (with SAP) & facebook.com (ENG)
Canada: MLS LIVEfacebook.com
Blackout: Canada
Blackout: USA
Next: The Express Lane: Atlanta United’s Weekend In 10 Items Or Less…
Late, later, latest news…
Good news off the pitch for Atlanta United is that scorer-extraordinare Josef Martinez is back at training and, maybe, two weeks away from returning to full pitch play