Saba Appreciation Post

A ray of light leaking into the abyss.

I just can’t do it, y’all. The motivation to write about another disappointing result in a competition Atlanta United have no chance of winning just isn’t there. I’m sure if you’re craving that sort of thing, there’s something out there for you.

I wasn’t going to roll out of bed this morning and write. Sleeping in and binging something on Netflix seemed a much better option. But here I am at 6 a.m. at my desk motivated to write this post. Why? Because I can’t stop thinking about how awesome Saba Lobjanidze is and how much he’s won me over this season.

Let’s be real for a second. It’s an extremely tough time to be a follower of Atlanta United right now. You don’t need me to tell you that. The results are poor. The vibes are horrendous. The club we all fell in love with is unrecognizable.

One big reason for this disconnect, for me, is that there really aren’t any players wearing the five stripes that have been worthy of unconditional love. I’m not going to rehash the past, because we do it in literally every article. But you know the names of the players who you probably still have on the back of your old kits. A big part of the instant connection a lot of us felt to Atlanta United was the fantastic personalities and talents we were lucky to watch week in and week out from the first match. That just doesn’t exist today.

Over the last month or so, it feels like Saba is trying his best to win a place in all of our cold, lonely hearts. Since coming back from the Euros, he has looked like a completely different player. It’s not just the fact that he’s banging in goals and generally looking like the team’s most effective player. It’s his incredible work rate and attitude that has won me over.

Take a second and imagine what it must be like for him right now. When he was recruited to Atlanta United, I can guarantee you that *this* wasn’t what was pitched to him. He has every right to be pissed off with the way things have turned out since his arrival at the club. He went from being a complimentary piece in the attack to being asked to carry the entire team on his back. To his credit, he hasn’t sulked or shied away from the responsibility. Whether the team is getting embarrassed or competing for a win, no one on the field works harder for 90 minutes than him.

In the end, that’s what I crave when watching this shell of club right now. Players who I can attach myself to and invest in. Even if the results aren’t great, if a player shows me they want to be here and will give everything to the club, it makes me want to watch. Saba is the first player in a while that has made me feel that way.

This dark period of supporting Atlanta United isn’t going to last forever. There is cause to believe there are better times ahead soon. But when there is not much positive to grasp on to, you have to find solace wherever you can. Saba has emerged as a strong building block the club can rely on to get back to being competitive.

Money can only get you so far. I can only beg the club to try and find more players with Saba’s attitude and mindset as they continue to overhaul the roster.