Atlanta United and Brek Shea: Progress stopper or versatile depth?

Atlanta United signed the much-maligned but formerly superb Brek Shea earlier this offseason. Will the 28-year-old be a progress stopper for George Bello or versatile depth?

It is a curious move when MLS’ best sign a much-maligned, oft-criticised, seemingly-past-their-best nowhere man who the fans were more than happy to see leave.

But that is precisely what happened when MLS Cup-winning Atlanta United signed former Vancouver Whitecaps winger Brek Shea to a one-year deal earlier this offseason.

Shea is far from the star that he was in 2011 and the Vancouver faithful were highly critical of him last season, many of them laughing when Atlanta, a seemingly well-run, intelligent club came calling this winter. But there is reason for the move.

The best teams in the league have depth and versatility. As Atlanta themselves have experienced with Julian Gressel, possessing players that can play and play well in several positions is invaluable. Whether Shea can play well is a question still to be determined, though I am intrigued to see how he fares when he has not asked to be the star of the show, as will be the case now he is in Georgia, but he is capable of playing all across the pitch.

Speaking to The Athletic this week, Shea stated:

"“I have played many positions. I actually have played almost every single one in my MLS career. A lot of times when I play those positions it’s because someone’s injured or they need help filling in and I can do that <…> When Carlos [Bocanegra] talked to me he said a left back in a four or a wingback or sometimes the left forward in a 4-3-3. It just depends on what is needed of me. But I’m up for anything to help the team and play.”"

That depth and versatility is all well and good, but if it comes at the expense of the development of younger, higher-ceiling stars, then it can be detrimental to the future of the team. Shea will likely be competing for the starting left-back position with Greg Garza now gone. But shining 17-year-old George Bello will push him hard, as Shea himself conceded:

More from MLS Multiplex

• Javier Milei Elected in Argentina: Potential Impacts on MLS and Signings of Argentine Players
• Orlando City and New York City FC in the Battle for Matías Arezo; Grêmio Enters Negotiations! Who Will Come Out on Top?
• USA, Honduras, Panama, and Canada Close in on a Spot in the 2024 Copa America
• De Gea Turns Down Al-Nassr’s Lucrative Offer: Speculation Points to Possible Reunion with Messi at Inter Miami
• Messi’s Magnetic Impact in the United States

"“There’s a lot of young guys here and I think I can help out <…. He’s [Bello] an unbelievable player and he’s just 17. He’ll have many many years at this level or higher.”"

New head coach Frank de Boer has given little indication as to who the starter will be. Not even the system is known, with an equal chance of Atlanta using wing-backs as there is more traditional full-backs. But Shea and Bello are the presumed first and second options down the left flank.

What de Boer and his staff will have to quickly determine is whether Shea is preventing the development of Bello by starting in his stead. If he is, then the former MLS MVP nominee must be dropped and the signing becomes somewhat futile. But if rotating between the two is the best selection policy and Shea is required in other positions because of injuries, then there is a clear path to this being an extremely astute move indeed.

Shea is far from the typical player that Atlanta would be expected to target. But as long as he does come in the way of Bello’s progress, he could end up being the perfect depth piece to round out the roster.