The Daily Dirt, January 23: Super start

Players are set to report today for Atlanta United as preseason training starts tomorrow in Bradenton at the IMG Academy. We’ve already started seeing some of the guys post their arrivals on social media:

Leandro Gonzalez Pirez was held out of Estudiantes’ lineup over the weekend for a match with Boca Juniors, with his impending move to Atlanta the reason according to Argentine press reports. Beyond him, there are no other current reports linking Atlanta to potential acquisitions.

We’ll look ahead to Atlanta United’s preseason today at 10:00 a.m. on the first Soccer Down Here Daily show with the Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Doug Roberson. Jon Nelson will also join us to talk about the lower divisions and what’s happening in Statesboro and Mobile. You can listen at the link above.

Domestic

Dax McCarty trade from New York Red Bulls “case of ruthless pragmatism” (Goal)

Room for improvement with the Red Bulls’ USL team (Once a Metro)

Red Bulls trade Adam Najem’s Homegrown Player rights to Philadelphia (Goal)

Minnesota United will log lots of miles in their first preseason (Star Tribune)

Potential San Diego stadium proposal for MLS expansion expected today (NBC San Diego)

Strike looming in NWSL (Excelle Sports)

International

Update on Ryan Mason after yesterday’s awful head injury (Mirror)

Didier Drogba was supposedly close to joining South Melbourne (The World Game)

Canada beats Bermuda 4-2 in an international friendly (CBC)

Local

The Falcons are going to the Super Bowl! (The Falcoholic)