Atlanta United: Gonzalo Martinez following Miguel Almiron’s footsteps

Frank de Boer has stated that Gonzalo Martinez could have a big impact for Atlanta United in 2020. If so, the midfielder would be following in his predecessor’s footsteps, Miguel Almiron.

2018 really was a magnificent season for Atlanta United. After seeing the Falcons squander the Super Bowl the year prior with a 28-3 lead midway through the third quarter and the Five Stripes plough resources unknown in MLS into a new squad that needed to provide trophies to justify its existence, there was a growing nervousness around a team that was still yet to win anything.

When they then fell flat on their face on Decision Day to lose the Supporters’ Shield to the New York Red Bulls, there was only a growing sense of doom. Still, no trophy.

And then, in the critically pressurised playoffs, Atlanta United did something that Atlanta sports is not known for: they ground out victories, eventually running all the way to MLS Cup. At the heart of this great team was not MLS MVP Josef Martinez, but rather, attacking midfielder Miguel Almiron, the true MVP of that team and the league as a whole.

At the end of that season, Almiron departed, moving to Newcastle United in a record-breaking MLS sale. Suddenly, the heart of that great Atlanta team was ripped out. Even though Almiron’s departure was always expected, and somewhat planned for given Atlanta’s business model, his absence still substantially hurt the team in 2019.

The man Atlanta chose to replace Almiron, and hopefully replicate the same impact of the Paraguayan, was South American Player of the Year, Gonzalo ‘Pity’ Martinez. Martinez is also an attacking midfielder, primarily included to provide the same attacking ingenuity and injection as his predecessor. However, while he plays the same position, he does so in a different manner. Almiron is a runner, a dribbler, a driver; Martinez has more nuance to his game. He is not as quick and dynamic, but he has greater guile and creativity in and around the penalty area.

For whatever the reason might be, Martinez has not exploded onto the MLS scene as hoped. Five goals and nine assists in over 2000 minutes of action is not terrible, but it is not comparable to the 13 goals and 11 assists that Almiron laid on the previous year. As an MLS-record signing, Martinez should be producing at a historically great level. And thus far, he hasn’t.

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But head coach Frank de Boer believes that Martinez could find his best form next season:

"“I think if he continues how he played the last two games, he has to understand, and I give him the compliment, that’s the Pity I want to see. He’s involved in attacking and defending. If he shows that, there’s no doubt he has a major impact in MLS and for us, of course.”"

Certainly, there is reason for hope. He played two playoff matches against the Philadelphia Union and Toronto FC, provided an assist in both, and put in two of his best performances of the year, as de Boer rightly highlights. And even stretching into the latter part of the regular season, Martinez was much improved, including two goals and two assists in his final five starts.

Martinez is attempting to replicate the all-conquering impact of Almiron. Thus far, he has failed to live up to such high expectations. Nevertheless, he has shown glimpses that he has the talent to do so. If he can put it all together, he might just follow in the footsteps of his predecessor.