Atlanta United's training camp roster is filled with more than 20 players, but its starting 11 is a blank slate.
It’s a theme oft-said by club president Darren Eales and technical director Carlos Bocanegra.
Those players, along with manager Gerardo Martino and his coaching staff, flew to Bradenton, Fla. on Monday where they will begin two weeks of training camp and the begin to decide which players can help the squad try to become the first MLS expansion team to make the playoffs in its inaugural year since Seattle in 2009.
While it would be a shock if certain players (defender Michael Parkhurst and midfielders Hector Villalba and Miguel Almiron) don’t make the starting 11 for the March 5 opener against New York Red Bulls at Georgia Tech’s Bobby Dodd Stadium, what about those under-the-radar players who, with a good training camp and showing in the four preseason games, could impact the season?
Let’s take a look:
Andrew Carleton, midfielder
Atlanta United's first Homegrown Player signing, Carleton is just 16 years old but is already being pipped as a potential breakout player for the U.S. men's national team this year by ESPN . Never mind that he's not one of those in camp with Bruce Arena's team in California.
Carleton, dubbed the Powder Springs Pulisic in reference to U.S. emerging standout Christian Pulisic who plays for Borussia Dortmund in Germany’s first division, seemed likely to gain experience in camp, and then to be assigned to Charleston in USL so that he can gain even more playing experience. However, Carleton is technically gifted enough to create competition on either side of the midfield, or along the wings.
Julian Gressel, midfielder
Atlanta United has lots of players that can fill the role of a defensive midfielder, but doesn’t really have a player who is a defensive midfielder, someone that can shield the centerbacks and fullbacks, break up counter-attacks and start them.
Though Gressel, picked eighth in the first round in the SuperDraft, is an attack-minded midfielder, he showed at the MLS combine that he can be a box-to-box midfielder. Why not go ahead and immerse himself in becoming a defensive midfielder and make the role his?
Gressel has the size (6-1, 185 pounds) and technical ability to handle the role.
Zach Loyd, defender
The central defender was acquired by Atlanta in the expansion draft. Once a reliable starter for Dallas with more than 150 appearances since 2010, a concussion ended his 2016 season after just 12 appearances.
He has the versatility to play any of the positions across the back, and the experience to be calming factor, which will be important for the expansion team as it looks to build chemistry and continuity as quickly as possible. It seems likely that he and Parkhurst will be paired in the middle and asked to mentor Miles Robinson, who Atlanta United selected No. 2 in the SuperDraft.
Alec Kann, goalkeeper
Atlanta United currently has three goalkeepers, only of whom has played in the MLS. Kann is that one, though his experience is limited to just eight games. Of course, that’s eight more than the other goalkeepers, Alex Tambakis, the club’s first signing, and Alex Kapp, selected in the fourth round of the SuperDraft.
Kann, a 26-year-old native of Decatur, has the height (6-foot-4) to fill a goal. Now, it’s just a matter of seeing if he can win the job … at least until the rumored signing of U.S. men’s national team goalkeeper Brad Guzan occurs.
Romario Williams, forward
Williams was the No. 3 pick in the SuperDraft by Montreal, but wasn’t able to secure a spot with that team with just two appearances for a total of seven minutes in two seasons. He moved on to Charleston, where he scored 10 goals last season.
Based upon size and speed, Williams, and not Kenwyne Jones, who is more of back-to-the-goal target forward, seems to be a better fit for Martino’s pressing system.
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