Reasons why Atlanta United’s new attack may work and why it might not

Atlanta United’s rebuilt attack for the coming season has the potential to match what was done in 2017 and ‘18, according to two MLS veterans.

The front four, signees Emmanuel Latte Lath and Miguel Almiron and holdovers Alexey Miranchuk and Saba Lobjanidze, cost Atlanta United approximately $50 million in transfer fees spent over the past few windows.

It’s a lot more expensive than the $20 million or so spent to acquire Josef Martinez, Hector Villalba, Yamil Asad and Almiron in 2017, a group that helped the team score 70 goals. The cost may be different, but the results should be fun to watch.

“I think there’s a much, much greater likelihood that it is going to be successful because when you put good players together, they tend to figure it out,” former Atlanta United midfielder and current MLS analyst Dax McCarty said. “There’s obviously a small chance that it could potentially not work. But I think it’s going to be a good time and a good year to be an Atlanta United fan.”

ExploreAtlanta United completes transfer for MLS-record fee

Sacha Kljestan, who had 348 regular-season and playoff appearances in MLS, agreed but remains cautious because Almiron, after six years playing for Newcastle in the Premier League, isn’t the same player who scored 22 goals with 30 assists in his two previous years with Atlanta United.

“This attack is very exciting, but it also is for guys that you need to stay healthy and you need them playing week in and week out,” Kljestan said. “So I’m excited to watch it, but I’m also tempering my expectations a little bit.”

Here’s how they presume the attack will work under manager Ronny Deila, whose preference is a 4-3-3/4-2-3-1 formation.

Latte Lath will play as a single striker, with Almiron on the right wing and Lobjanidze, who led the team in goals (9) and tied for assists (7) last season, shifting to the left. Miranchuk will play as the attacking midfielder. Playing on the wing isn’t something Almiron did a lot as a positional responsibility with Atlanta United in his first go-round. Instead, he played underneath Josef Martinez and had the freedom to find spaces. He did play primarily on the wing at Newcastle, where he scored 30 goals with 22 assists.

Kljestan said a key will be that neither Lobjanidze nor Almiron need the ball played to their feet. Instead, they will need to continue to be willing runners into spaces behind defenses so that Miranchuk, who does like the ball played to him, can receive, turn and pass toward them.

“You have to find that balance, which I think the 2017 Atlanta team, when you had Asad, who was pretty good with the ball at his feet, and Villalba, who was purely a guy who ran in behind to stretch the defense, and then Almiron gave you a lot of both, and then Josef was so clinical,” Kljestan said.

ExploreAtlanta United still working on improving roster

Kljestan brought up two more comparisons with past MLS teams: the first was last season’s L.A. Galaxy, which had Riqui Puig orchestrating an offense that had Gabriel Pec and Joseph Paintstil running on the wings. They scored 69 goals, third most in the league. He said it could also be similar to the 2015 Red Bulls team that featured himself, Bradley Wright-Phillips, Lloyd Sam and Mike Grella. That team scored 62 goals and won the Supporters Shield with 60 points.

When constructing this attack, team President Garth Lagerwey said he wanted players who could swap positions. McCarty said he thinks that in addition to the speed that three-fourths of the players have, the interchangeability will be a key. Lobjanidze had success when moving from the right to the left, including a goal scored against Inter Miami in the first game of their three-game playoff series.

McCarty said he thinks Almiron and Miranchuk will play off each other frequently and change positions. He said Lobjanidze will provide width on one side and a fullback likely will provide the width on the other.

“There seems to be a heavy amount of logic when it comes to how they put those pieces together,” McCarty said.

There are reasons the attack may not work as well as the level of anticipation.

ExploreExclusive Q&A: Atlanta United’s Miguel Almiron

First, neither Almiron nor Latte Lath have played with any of their new teammates. Until their visas are approved, they won’t be able to play in preseason friendlies. Second, the chemistry that Almiron and Martinez had may take time to re-create, if it can be re-created. Third, Almiron and Miranchuk have similar profiles. Can they avoid trying to work in the same spaces? Fourth, they must stay healthy.

“That’s why you bring in a guy like Ronny Deila, who has had success in MLS before, and who knows the league, and who has pretty clear ideas about his tactics and about what he wants,” McCarty said. “And so that’s his job, to make sure that he figures out where to put people in the best positions for the team to be successful. And I have no doubt that once everyone gets up and running with visas and training, I have no doubt that he’ll be able to find that right combination.”

For more content about Atlanta United

Follow me on Twitter/X @DougRobersonAJC

On Bluesky @dougrobersonajc.bsky.social

On Facebook at Atlanta United News Now

On Instagram at DouglasDavidRoberson

Atlanta United coverage on The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Stay up to date every day on breaking news, in-depth investigations, politics, sports, entertainment, food and dining and so much more by becoming a subscriber to the AJC. Go to AJC.com/start for a very special offer and unlock hundreds of original articles published daily on the refreshed AJC.com and the new AJC mobile app. Plus, access to our news alerts, subscriber-only events, AJC original shows, films and videos, newsletters, and so much more.

Atlanta United’s 2025 schedule

Feb. 22 vs. Montreal, 7:30 p.m., Apple

March 1 at Charlotte, 2 p.m., Apple, Fox

March 8 vs. New York Red Bulls, 7:30 p.m., Apple

March 16 vs. Miami, 7 p.m., Apple

March 22 at Cincinnati, 2:30 p.m., Apple

March 29 vs. NYCFC, 7:30 p.m., Apple

April 5 vs. Dallas, 7:30 p.m., Apple

April 12 vs. New England, 2:30 p.m., Apple, Fox

April 19 at Philadelphia, 7:30 p.m., Apple

April 26 at Orlando, 7 p.m., Apple, Fox

May 3 vs. Nashville, 2:30 p.m., Apple, Fox