Your Guide for “Hatewatching” the Atlanta United Game

Minnesota United certainly played a game on Friday. It was not the most auspicious start to their inaugural MLS season, but there is another United starting their top flight life tonight. Maybe some “hatewatching” is in order. While it is true that I don;t think that ATL will lose 5-1, but I will teach you how to watch tonight to feel better about the Loons.

Their Team is not that Good

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Okay, on paper it is pretty good. But, games aren’t won on paper.

Now that the cliches are done, I really am not overly impressed with the team. Don’t get me wrong, they have the ability to score at will. I just simply do not think that a defense led by Michael Parkhurst and Greg Garza will be able to prevent goals. I think Alec Kann could be good, but again, not too impressed.

But even if watching a team that has DPs makes you mad, you should watch. Miguel Almirón, Héctor Villalba, Yamil Asad (not a DP), and Josef Martinez (DP on loan), are worth watching. Those four players will likely be the reason Atlanta United makes the playoffs.

Well, I kind of proved my own thought wrong. But I swear...They aren’t that good...And I swear, I’m not just bitter.

Can Tata Martino succeed in the MLS?

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Gerardo Martino or “Tata” was a flashy hire. The man has a CV that most managers would envy. But Major League Soccer is a different animal. (Not saying that MLS is Barcelona, quite the opposite.)

Tata had some success everywhere he has been, but the screwy rules the MLS heads have for rosters and money (cough allocation money rules cough) can throw managers for a loop. If anyone can make the transition, I think Tata could. My question is simply, will he succeed? (For what it is worth, I am rooting for him to succeed. Just ideally, not a lot this coming season.)

Really, I am still sad about the match on Friday

Jaime Valdez-USA TODAY Sports

I, personally, did not get a chance to watch a whole lot of the game against the Timbers, so I cannot be super mad. But, if Atlanta could go out there and their big money signings do nothing, I would be so happy.

But really, expansion teams have to stick together. Their team looks to be the real deal. Good luck to that other United tonight against NYRB!

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