Neither striker Giorgos Giakoumakis nor centerback Luis Abram are likely to play for Atlanta United in Wednesday’s friendly against Toluca at Mercedes-Benz Stadium because both are waiting on approvals of their work visas. They aren’t allowed to train with the team until the paperwork is finalized. There is no timetable. The team opens its season at home against San Jose on Feb. 25.
Tuesday was the first chance that manager Gonzalo Pineda has had to discuss with journalists what he likes about both players and how they will fit within his tactics.
Regarding Giakoumakis, who has 83 goals and 14 assists in 243 appearances as a pro, Pineda said:
“You can see immediately that he’s a guy that is passionate about scoring goals. And what I like about him is he’s always on the move, looking for gaps. And once he’s inside the 18, he has those double movements that I really like. So, he’s always pressuring, he goes to the near post, he goes to the far post, he’s going to the near post, he drops in and stays compact.
“And then another one is probably a different look, but he’s a big, big target guy. So he can give us a couple more variances in our attacking shape. And maybe at times, when teams try to pin us back and put pressure on us, maybe we can play the ball to him, he shields the ball, waits for the supporting runs, and then we start progression from there. So he can give us a little bit of that as well.
“And also very powerful in the aerial duals. So I think his whole package is very good. He’s also a hard worker. He’s a hard worker. He presses, he chases, he does everything he needs to do for the team. So I think it’s a perfect fit for how we play.”
Regarding Abram, whom Vice President Carlos Bocanegra compared to former Atlanta United player Michael Parkhurst, Pineda said:
“I didn’t have the pleasure to see Parky up close here as a coach, or here in Atlanta. I was always facing him. But yeah, I can see that Parky was an intelligent centerback that knew how to be always the sweeper and be well organized, and always in good shape, with the good angles, leadership and all of that. So yeah, probably Abram is more similar to that, compared to Alan Franco, the last centerback we had.”
“What I like about Abram is No. 1, he’s a left-footed centerback. That’s number one. And it’s not easy to find. And for the build up, always helps to have a left-footed centerback. No. 2, he’s very cerebral, he always tends to be in the right spot and not giving away a lot of spaces in behind. He has good timing to press. It’s not like he’s not aggressive. He can be aggressive. When I was watching his time in Velez (Sarsfield), he was very aggressive and his tackles are very good. But he prefers to be zonal, with a good shape in the back four, so he’s more defending in the unit, as I want, rather than individually going on the flank as a winger and trying to win that battle on his own. He will be a different fit to what we’ve seen. But I think he’s going to gel out very well.”
Teammate Brad Guzan said both players speak English very well and that he’s enjoying getting to know them.
“You can see the the eagerness and hunger that they have about them of wanting to be able to help the group,” he said. “And so I know as soon as all the legalities and the paperwork and all that stuff gets sorted, then, it’ll be exciting to welcome them into the group kind of fully.”
For more content about Atlanta United
Follow me on Twitter @DougRobersonAJC
On Facebook at Atlanta United News Now
On Instagram at DouglasDavidRoberson
Atlanta United coverage on The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Southern Fried Soccer podcast can be found
Apple - https://apple.co/3ISD6Ve
Spotify - https://spoti.fi/3L8TN0C
Google podcasts - https://bit.ly/32KlZW3
If you are listening to us for the first time, please follow us on Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your podcast ... and if you like what you hear, please give us a good rating so we can grow the show. If you have questions about the MLS team, you can email Doug Roberson at droberson@ajc.com, DM him on Twitter @dougrobersonajc or call 770-810-5297.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution has a special offer for Atlanta United supporters and listeners to this podcast. If you subscribe today, you will not only get unlimited digital access to the AJC and the Sunday paper for $2.30 a week but we are also throwing in a special limited-edition Atlanta United and Atlanta Journal-Constitution scarf. So sign up now at subscribe.ajc.com/utdscarf.
Atlanta United’s 2023 MLS schedule
Feb. 25 vs. San Jose Earthquakes, 7:30 p.m.
March 4 vs. Toronto FC, 7:30 p.m.
March 11 at Charlotte FC, noon, Fox
March 18 vs. Portland Timbers, 7:30 p.m.
March 25 at Columbus Crew, 7:30 p.m.
April 1 vs. New York Red Bulls, 7:30 p.m.
April 8 at New York City FC, 7:30 p.m.
April 15 at Toronto FC, 7:30 p.m.
April 23 vs. Chicago Fire FC, 4:30 p.m., FS1
April 29 at Nashville SC, 1:30 p.m., Fox
May 6 at Inter Miami CF, 7:30 p.m.
May 13 vs. Charlotte FC, 7:30 p.m.
May 17 vs. Colorado Rapids, 7:30 p.m.
May 20 at Chicago Fire FC, 8:30 p.m.
May 27 at Orlando City SC, 7:30 p.m.
May 31 vs. New England Revolution, 7:30 p.m., FS1
June 3 at Los Angeles FC, 10:30 p.m.
June 10 vs. D.C. United, 7:30 p.m.
June 21 vs. New York City FC, 7:30 p.m.
June 24 at New York Red Bulls, 7:30 p.m.
July 2 vs. Philadelphia Union, 4 p.m., Fox
July 8 at CF Montreal, 7:30 p.m.
July 12 at New England Revolution, 7:30 p.m.
July 15 vs. Orlando City SC, 7:30 p.m., FS1
Aug. 20 at Seattle Sounders, 10:30 p.m.
Aug. 26 vs. Nashville SC, 7:30 p.m.
Aug. 30 vs. FC Cincinnati, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 2 at FC Dallas, 8:30 p.m.
Sept. 16 vs. Inter Miami CF, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 20 at D.C. United, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 23 vs. CF Montreal, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 4 at Philadelphia Union, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 7 vs. Columbus Crew, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 21 at FC Cincinnati, TBA
About the Author
