The Daily Dirt, July 23: Welcome to Atlanta

So, what now?

#VillalbaWatch is now over, with Atlanta United introducing Hector Villalba to the media and supporters groups yesterday. Here’s a recap of the coverage:

• Atlanta United sign Hector Villalba (DSS)
• Villalba wants to grow with Atlanta United (AJC)
• Villalba has a “big future, big ceiling” (MLS)
• Villalba is the right signing for Atlanta United (DSS)
• Atlanta ink Argentine winger Villalba (MLS)
• Digging Deeper: Villalba’s rags to riches story (DSS)
• Villalba is a youth success story (Global Atlanta)
• Atlanta United signs young, promising Argentine forward (11 Alive)

One nugget that emerged yesterday is an update on the coaching search. In Villalba’s press conference, questions came up about players being signed without a manager in place. Bocanegra said that there is a shortlist for the position and that a hire could come at any time. The club has a vision and style of play in mind, the manager will have to fit that and the players being signed.

There is still time in this transfer window for moves, so stay tuned on the player and manager fronts.

Domestic

RSL comes back to tie San Jose 1-1 (Salt Lake Tribune)

Fabian Castillo of Dallas might be edging closer to a transfer to Europe (Goal)

Seattle appears to have gotten their man in Nicolas Lodeiro (Ovacion Digital)

Zack Steffen signs with the Columbus Crew in a surprise move instead of Philadelphia (Philadelphia Inquirer)

Young Paraguayan striker Pedro Baez joins Salt Lake (RSL Soapbox)

Wild 3-3 draw between Carolina and Miami in the NASL:

NWSL preview for the weekend’s action (SB Nation)

Seattle Sounders’ RAVE Foundation announces plans to build community soccer fields around Seattle (Sounder at Heart)

International

Sam Allardyce is named as manager of the English national team (SB Nation)

David Moyes replaces him at Sunderland (SAFC)

Is Michael Bradley drawing interest from Torino? (Gianluca de Marzio)

Marcos Rojo will not remember this fondly:

Local

Soccer in the Streets and MARTA are partnering to build the first soccer field in a transit station in the world at Five Points (Creative Loafing)

The Silverbacks Women host a WPSL regional championship match today at 2 p.m. at Silverbacks Park, tickets are $5. The game is followed by the men’s NPSL team playing the Middlesbrough U23’s at 5 p.m.

Where to the Falcons still have roster holes heading into training camp? (The Falcoholic)

Teheran leaves game injured, Braves lose in Colorado 4-3 (Talking Chop)