The gentleman pictured above could NOT come back any sooner for fans of Atlanta United…
Striker Josef Martinez is, probably, two weeks away from full game contact (nursing a hamstring injury), but his absence is more and more evident as The 5 Stripes were frustrated for most of the 90 minutes inside the pinball machine that is Yankee Stadium.
"“We have to keep in account that we played a good first six or seven games, playing two bad games doesn’t mean we will need to change everything,” head coach Tata Martino said. “We were simply outplayed by the opponent today.”"
Martino is correct in the one-game assessment. But there are some issues that need to be addressed…
Atlanta United seemed toothless up front…
There were very few instances where Kenwyne Jones was able to do what he was brought onto the roster to do on a weekly basis. There was one instance, late in the contest, where he was able to sky for a corner kick and get a head on the ball. The attempt was easily picked up by NYCFC keeper Sean Johnson- who, apparently, lobbied for the start against his home town team.
There simply weren’t enough opportunities for Jones to do what he was brought in town to do…
The absence of Yamil Asad on his one-match suspension and Jacob Peterson (still recovering from injury) were amplified. The limited options otherwise going forward on the attack were exposed.
The return of Martinez should help in that regard over and over again on the rush…
Yankee Stadium is, indeed, a special home field advantage for NYCFC…
To say their home in the Bronx is a band box might be an insult to bands…
Social media was less than kind to what looked like, at times, as one of those under-6 games where all you see is a scrum of kids kicking the ball around and getting nothing accomplished.
The novelty of NYCFC playing at Yankee Stadium has worn off...they need a proper pitch this is ridiculous
— Josh Wilson (@jwilson25325) May 7, 2017
every time i see nycfc play at home i get more and more frustrated with the dimensions at yankee stadium
— El Sergio (@sdelaes) May 7, 2017
But, in a 67-yard wide space (that’s the prevailing opinion), the team that’s used to it is far better at knowing how to handle what you have than the visitor.
And it showed…
Another short stretch caught up with Atlanta United, again…
First, NYCFC came out of the blocks in the second half in a way that Atlanta United fans are used to seeing their side address the second 45. Then, you have two goals in short succession where it appears Atlanta United was caught flat-footed (flat-cleated…?)
(the 1:50 mark starts the second half evidence below, thanks to MLS and UDN)
Atlanta United’s reputation seems to proceed them with officials and the yellow cards are mounting up…
While NYCFC had more fouls called against them (22-15), Atlanta United had more yellow cards (4-1). Accumulation could come up and bite this roster at a point later on in the season, which may not matter when everyone is around and healthy. But not everyone is around and healthy.
And, oh, David Villa showed why he is in fact David Villa…
Nothing like signing a contract extension.
Atlanta United is a team that has now suffered two straight 3-1 defeats and is trying to push forward with a match in Portland upcoming.
How do you shake off what has happened and how do you go forward?
Those are the questions the team is trying to address right now.