Lagerwey: These next four weeks are maybe the most critical since I've been here

The transfer window is upon us and it will help shape the future as we know it.

Before we get into the good stuff, a quick apology. A rare scheduling conflict prevented me from following last night’s 2-2 draw with NYCFC. I’m not going to insult your intelligence by putting out some half-baked player ratings for a match I wasn’t able to pay attention to. Instead, here’s a blog on some very interesting comments made by Atlanta United President Garth Lagerwey before the match.

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The MLS Secondary Transfer Window officially opens today, meaning Atlanta United can finally start to bring in reinforcements to try and help right this lost ship. Lagerwey gave an interview to 92.9 The Game on Wednesday where he discussed several topics, including just how crucial this four-week window is for the future of the club. You can listen to that full interview here.

Garth infamously said upon his arrival that Atlanta United fans would hate how patient he is. Let’s hope his critical signing decisions are as good as his prognostication skills. Because fans are indeed reaching a boiling point when it comes to the state of the club, and rightfully so. There’s really no way around it, things are bleak as they currently stand. However, Lagerwey says that this transfer window is maybe the most crucial period of time since he was named club president.

“From a timing standpoint, the next four weeks are the most critical,” Lagerwey told 92.9 The Game. “Maybe the most critical four weeks since I've been here, in terms of player acquisition.”

He revealed that this stretch is so important for the club that they will dedicate all of their resources to strictly finding and signing players, leaving the search for a new manager on the backburner until the roster is more defined.

Whether you’re a fan of that strategy or not, it seems to be at the best interest of attracting possible managers to take the job as Garth says most of the candidates he’s spoken to so far would rather start with a clean slate in the offseason rather than trying to rescue a sinking ship.

While the club won’t come out publicly and say that 2024 is a lost cause, we can all see the writing on the wall. This transfer window will not be one that instantly turns everything around and makes Atlanta United a contender once again. But with the ability to sign two Designated Players and spend a lot of money doing so, it will undoubtedly set the tone for the next five years for this club.

Garth also hinted at some exciting news that new MLS roster rules could be implemented as early as today. One potential rule change that could benefit the Five Stripes is allowing clubs to acquire a significant amount of Allocation Money via selling non-Designated Players. Coincidentally enough (or not), the heavily-rumored sale of Caleb Wiley to Chelsea has not been officially announced yet. If this rule is passed, there’s a good chance Atlanta United could open up that coveted third Designated Player slot to sign another high-priced impact player next season.

There’s no sugar-coating it, things are incredibly bleak as a follower of Atlanta United right now. But the good news is, the worst of it should be behind us. Garth and company made some really tough decisions that they felt would give the club a better chance at winning down the road. As hard as it is for us in the trenches to endure the short-term consequences of those decisions, the possibilities it opens for the future cannot be ignored.

I completely understand if you’re reaching a breaking point, but the bad times never last forever. There will be a lot of changes coming over the next four weeks and even more so over the next 12 months. It won’t be a straight line back to success, but it should be extremely interesting to follow and see what Garth has up his sleeve. Nearly everyone I saw was begging for Atlanta United to hire him when the search for Darren Eales’ replacement began. Now it’s time for him to prove why he’s so well-respected around MLS.