Welcome to Winners and Losers. Here we discuss the Winners and Losers from Atlanta United’s most recent match and provide very mediocre analysis.

Winners

Atlanta United

It’s no shock to anyone that Cincinnati isn’t very good, but considering how many injuries Frank de Boer is dealing with this early in the season and the fact that you can only beat the team in front of you, this was a decent win. This was our first look at an Atlanta United team without Josef Martinez, and while it will take some time to navigate this unknown frontier, the early signs were promising. Six points taken from the opening two league matches is obviously good, but Atlanta will be tested against better teams in the coming weeks.

Pity and Barco

Oftentimes, Pity and Barco were the missing pieces to the puzzle last season. Barco’s 2019 was hindered by injuries while Pity’s was hindered by... himself? The two designated players ultimately didn’t produce what was expected of them in what turned out to be a disappointing season for both players. It seems the two Argentinians are adamant to turn that around after another goal from Barco that was set up by Pity. In the absence of El Rey, Pity and Barco will need to keep the goals flowing (both setting them up for other players and putting them away themselves) if Atlanta United wants any chance for a successful season.

Laurence Wyke

Maybe the FO’s plan this whole time was to bring Wyke into the first team as a starter (just joking). It’s a shame that the Englishman was forced off with a head injury, because he was playing a hell of a match. Considering Miles Robinson and Franco Escobar are currently out with injuries, the last thing Atlanta United needed was another defender to go down injured. As my peer Rob Usry said, “We’re one injury away from George Bello playing center back.” Jeff Larentowicz can play center back as we have seen on multiple occasions, but it’s obvious that de Boer would rather not play him in the backline. Wyke stepped in for Escobar in Nashville and Campbell stepped in for Wyke against Cincinnati. Let’s hope Wyke is okay and Atlanta’s remaining defensive options can remain healthy.

Emerson Hyndman

Hyndman now has two goals in his last two games, and both were quite impressive in their own way; The strike against Nashville was pure technique. Drifting into spaces and movement off the ball is a core component of how the de Boer wants his side to play, and Hyndman’s goal exemplified that.

Honorable Mention: Matheus Rossetto

Rossetto made his competitive debut for the club, and man were the signs promising. His touch was mouth watering and he impressed during his cameo. Check out Rob Usry’s article to see his thoughts on how Atlanta’s new signing could be utilized this season.

Losers

Frank de Boer

De Boer is already navigating the ship without his most important player, and now his defensive options are seemingly dropping like flies. Robinson, Escobar, and now Wyke are out of the lineup at the moment and Atlanta United’s next three matches are going to be a big test for this team. De Boer has his work cut out for him, but he’s done well so far this season all things considered. Be on the lookout for injury updates.