The Daily Dirt, October 17: Undefeated

It’s been a good month for Atlanta United. In what seemingly should’ve been an innocuous month leading up to their first big offseason, it’s been anything but. Early in the month, the club made big news by signing Chris Goslin as their second homegrown player, further cementing the feeling that they are super-duper serious about developing young talent.

Coinciding with that big signing has been the start of the U.S. Soccer Development Academy season, Atlanta United’s first as an Academy. So far, both the club’s U-16’s and U-18’s have yet to lose a match. The U-16’s are a perfect 7-0 with a massive 22 goal differential, while the U-18’s have five wins and two draws in their first seven matches.

It all culminated on Sunday afternoon in the Expansion Priority Draft when Atlanta won the toss and selected the first overall pick in the 2016 Expansion Draft in the first round and secured top spot in the Allocation Order in the third. This development sets up what is sure to be a very fun offseason and it continues a fantastic month of October for the ambitious club.

With just one more week left in the regular season, the 2017 season is right around the corner and if you aren’t excited yet, there’s something wrong with you.

Local

Kenwyne Jones picked up a knee injury while on international duty last week. Thankfully it doesn’t appear to be too serious.

Georgia State’s women’s team lost to Arkansas State, 2-1, in their final road match of the season.

Domestic

Timbers keep playoff hopes alive with 1-0 win over Rapids (Stumptown Footy)

Carlos Ruiz (yes, really) ruined the Sounders bid to clinch a playoff spot (Sounder At Heart)

Mauro Diaz could be out for a long time with an Achilles injury (GOAL)

BWP’s 22nd and 23rd goal led the Red Bulls over the Crew (Once A Metro)

Ignacio Piatti is good at soccering

Didier Drogba isn’t good at not soccering

International

Pep Guardiola isn’t drinking the Premier League kool-aid (ESPNFC)