Previewing Atlanta United’s trip to NYCFC ... kind of

Hiya. With Atlanta United taking on New York City FC tomorrow, we’ve hit a bit of a road block. Our regular outstanding preview writer David is on vacation. The Prekrap had to be put on hold due to unforeseen circumstances. Which leaves the third string emergency preview writer to pick up the slack at the very last minute.

This a bit symbolic if you think about it considering how stretched everything seems to be due to the international break. Just consider me the Cubo Torres of previews.

A middle of June away trip after a short turnaround doesn’t fill many fans with optimism. After blowing late two-goal leads in back-to-back matches, the Five Stripes could use a positive result, even if they haven’t had much luck away from home against the Pigeons.

There hasn’t been much positive news out of Atlanta United land this season. One very bright spot has been the maturation and performance of Brooks Lennon. The picture of consistency under Gabriel Heinze, Lennon is fourth in all of MLS in chances created. Unfortunately for him, there just haven’t been many conversions on the other end.

If Atlanta are to pick up any points on this short trip up North they’ll have to do it without Heinze on the touchline as the Argentine has been suspended due to yellow card accumulation ... no seriously, that’s an actual thing that happened.

As for the opponent, NYCFC will probably have 11 players. I think they still have some guy named Castellanos who is someone who dives as much as Sergio Santos and gets under your skin like Yamil Asad. I couldn’t tell you where they stand in the Eastern conference if my life depended on it but I’m sure it’ll be a tough game.

In the grand scheme of this long marathon of a season, this match means about as much as this half-assed, rushed emergency preview written on the phone while waiting for dinner does to the DSS content machine. But if Atlanta can miraculously pull a good performance out of nowhere and get a point or three in this obscure match it could go a long ways to getting themselves back above the red playoff line when MLS starts to actually matter in August.

Go team. Eat Arby’s.