LAFC: probably still underrated

LAFC, when they're mentally locked-in; which they were last night, probably play the best soccer MLS has ever seen.

They press when they need to; they posses when the need to; they build out of the back; they think they're way through an opponent; and they maximize the strengths and minimize the weaknesses of damn near every player on their roster.

What they did to Seattle in the Round of 16 of #MLSisBack was as strong of a flex as I've seen watching Major League Soccer since '96. Particularly the first 15 minutes or so. It was LA's peak iteration of "heavy metal football."

However, given their notable playoff failure (tournament luck is fickle), I think popular consensus--such as it exists--still underrates just how good Bradley's squad is.

Their record breaking campaign last year plus their early performances sans Vela in Orlando rival or exceed: Josef-Miggy ATLUTD,  Giovinco TFC, Donovan-Keane LA Galaxy, and Prime Era DC United. 

Perhaps the highest compliment I can pay them is that every time they play it's worth watching. MLS has had too few clubs to say that about in its history, don't miss it this time. 

What the Hell Happened to Atlanta United?!

With their early morning loss to FC Cincinnati in the Disney bubble we've reached the lowest point in Atlanta Untied's MLS history. This club was built with very big ambitions by an all-in owner and a front office with plenty of savvy to pull it off; and pull it off they did. 

Eales, Boca, and McDonough  landed Tata Martino, and then found Miguel Almiron and paired  him with Josef Martinez. That was the magic. But they also drafted Julian Gressel, and added Darlington Nagbe and sold Miggy to Newcastle for a record fee.  For four(ish) years, dating back to the club's launch, it seemed like they were a step ahead of anyone in MLS; and that they were on the level with the biggest clubs in the hemisphere. 

That feels like a lifetime ago now. That club, let's call it Atlanta 1.0 through 1.5, has been systematically disassembled. 

Atlanta 2.0 is something very, very different.

• McDonough gone to Miami 
• Tata gone to Mexico
• Miggy gone to Newcastle
• Villabla gone to Libertad
• Gressel gone to DC
• LGP gone to Miami 
• Nagbe gone to Columbus
• Garza gone to Cincinnati
• Pankhurst gone to retirement
• Lawrentowicz gone to the bench    

As fast as they built it, it was over. It's we're now living through Newton's third law applied to club construction. "Every action has an equal and opposite reaction."

Whereas Tata was a Bielsa-like philosophical center of gravity for the entire organization, Frank de Boer is a manager with ideas that don't mesh with the roster; don't fit with the aesthetic and identity #ATLUTD fans came to cherish, and don't give his squad any sort of competitive advantage against the rest of the league.

Whereas Josef, Miggy were supreme DP signings each subsequent bite at the apple has gotten increasingly less satisfactory; highlighted by the total miss on Pity Martinez.

via GIPHY

And perhaps the biggest turn of fate is that the original vintage of ATL was must watch soccer because they had so much buzz and enthusiasm -- a very enviable eff you quality to them. This vintage tho? It couldn't be more stale, boring, and not worth watching but for the morbid curiosity.

They built it once, so perhaps they can do it again? But it's hard to see Eales and Boca overseeing a thriving Atlanta 3.0 given how the last 18 months have gone.

MLS is Back

Humor me for a minute and set aside the trouble Major League Soccer had establishing their bubble down in Orlando; I realize that's a big ask. The concept--which I was critical of--is turning out to be a rather good formula for the league. Daily action, the early morning and late at night time slots, wild finishes, and the usual MLS tomfoolery have lead to something of a qualified success.

One thing I'm hearing from lots of NBA people this morning is that Steve Clark's PK save on Chicharito last night was awesome and more people should talk about it. #RCTID

— John Hollinger (@johnhollinger) July 14, 2020

No small amount of this is due to the lack of other American sports options (though global soccer options have never been so numerous) but I think even in non-pandemic times, MLS would be wise to replicate #MLSisBack on an annual basis.  My guy Sanjiv (aka @USMNTvideos) floated the idea of simply replacing the first six regular season games with the tournament. I think that could work.

I also think it'd be worth considering playing the tournament during the dog days of summer; when in normal times trips to Dallas, Houston, Orlando, Miami, and soon to add Nashville, Charlotte and Sacramento will mean playing in heat and/or humidity that largely keeps fans at home during the daytime hours.

Obviously this would mean playing in Northern locale; perhaps the PNW or Toronto or Montreal as opposed to a warm weather resort (I suppose if they really wanted to get audacious they could hold this sucker down in Mexico); and we probably don't need the CCL tie-in going forward, but I could be convinced it makes the games more important and is therefore worth keeping, either way a tournament is a good idea.

Even if by accident it seems like Don Garber & Co. have stumbled into something worth doing here.
In future years we'd have league's biggest stars at the tournament, and even more importantly we'd have fans at the games. One of MLS' strongest attributes is it's fan culture and the dedication of its travelling supporters groups. I can hardly think of a better idea than a MLS fan festival with meaningful games to boot.

Don't get me wrong, there's still plenty to criticize and I've made my objections clear on my twitter timeline, but we are entering the stage where the games are getting fun and we're seeing the potential of a non-pandemic tournament in MLS.

Here's hoping this isn't a one-off!