Best XI bracket challenge: Final four

With a new season nearly upon us, it’s made all the more interesting to have a new manager like Frank de Boer in place, if only for the new ideas both tactically and technically.

It’s made especially difficult to predict when doing so for a squad as versatile as Atlanta United’s. We’re not just talking about what side the wingers will play on, we’re talking about whether a player will play right back, right wing, or central midfield. We’re talking about center backs that could also play as fullbacks or defensive midfielders. Basically, it’s complicated.

We are running a bracket-style tournament the rest of the week to determine what the consesus best XI + formation is best for this squad. (Yes, formations are fluid and philosophy is more important, but in the end, the team will have a general structure. Spare me.)

The instructions are simple: pick which of the two YOU would want to see us in our first competitive match. Not what you think de Boer would go with... what you would choose. For this exercise, let’s presume all players are fit.

Polls close at 9 p.m. Godspeed.

Contest No. 1

Contest No. 2