Atlanta United: Not wise to lose your spine
Atlanta United have lost both Leandro Gonzalez Pirez and Darlington Nagbe this offseason. Losing your spine is rarely wise, so could it come back to bite them?
Although they fell short of topping the Eastern Conference, defending their MLS Cup crown or ever coming close to Los Angeles FC in the Supporters’ Shield, based on sheer name quality alone, you could make a rather fair argument that Atlanta United were the most talented team in all of Major League Soccer last season.
There are very few teams who had a league MVP and record goalscorer, the South American Player of the Year, two elite centre-backs, a brilliant central midfielder, one of the greatest SuperDraft picks in recent years, and an American legend in goal. And that is all without including the likes of Ezequiel Barco, Hector Villalba, Eric Remedi and others.
Given their financial muscle, it was always expected that they would further invest in the team and add to the growing stable of talent, one that has seen them already win a U.S. Open Cup and MLS Cup in their first three years of existence.
However, while all is likely to be well for a team of Atlanta United’s ability and spending power, this offseason has opened cracks in the squad that are yet to be completely filled. Specifically, the spine of the team has been weakened with two key departures.
Midfielder Darlington Nagbe was traded to the Columbus Crew to reunite with Caleb Porter early in the offseason, before centre-back Leandro Gonzalez Pirez was sold to Club Tijuana earlier this week, although there is yet to be an official announcement of the deal — Gonzalez Pirez was photographed in Xolos training gear and the deal is seemingly all but complete.
Neither of these players are the big names that lesser invested MLS fans might be aware of. They are major players in the MLS world, of course, but given the star power of the Atlanta United squad, they might not necessarily be the first players that you think of. In fact, Gonzalez Pirez is no longer the lead central defender. That honour belongs to Miles Robinson.
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
And yet, when you lose the spine of your team in one offseason, even with Josef Martinez still around to lead the line, it can be extremely detrimental to the immediate prospects, even if suitable players are found to replace them.
Nagbe is a brilliant, press-resistant central midfielder who can hold off would-be challengers, protect the ball, and then play forward, instigating attacks from deep. Pirez, meanwhile, although prone to make errors here and there, is an inspirational presence, the heart of the Atlanta defence, someone who has married himself to MLS, Atlanta and the football culture in the city.
Both these players have been integral to the Atlanta United success story in their first three seasons in MLS. And they would surely be so again in 2020 and beyond had they stayed around.
USMNT: Best XI for 2020. dark. Next
It is not wise to lose your spine so suddenly. And yet, that is what Atlanta United may have done. Will it cost them long-term? Perhaps not. But this is not plug and play like with some other positions. This is the heartbeat of the team and it is not easy to replace.