Turning disaster into opportunity
Atlanta United's poor season could create chances for the kids to show their skills.
One thing I’ve noticed recently is just how confused Atlanta United supporters are about this season. Understandably, feelings are all over the place after the team started 2024 with high expectations only to find the season in shambles over three months into the campaign.
Despite not being a contender since 2019, Atlanta United has never been a club to throw in the towel on a season, yet this feels as close as we’ve ever gotten. The manager is gone. The star striker is gone. Possibly more players could follow. No matter how optimistic you may be, the writing is on the wall that the rest of this season is likely going to be a struggle from a results perspective.
While the roster undergoes another needed makeover during the next six months, there will be plenty of chances to evaluate every player in the squad to determine if they can help you in the long run. We’ve already seen a player like Noah Cobb be integrated into the squad, given a chance to learn, make mistakes, and show some huge promise for the future.
On Saturday night we saw another player thrust into the spotlight due to the unfortunate circumstances of this miserable season. Luke Brennan’s first real MLS action impressed everyone, earning Golden Spike honors after subbing on for an injured Edwin Mosquera 15 minutes into the match.
The 19-year-old winger came onto the field and instantly provided an attacking spark that the Five Stripes have been missing. In his 75 minutes, he led the team in Goals Added for the match.
Let’s be clear here. This isn’t one of those situations where a young player comes in and impresses and the hype train kicks into overdrive. While not trying to be too pessimistic, I just don’t see Luke Brennan as a child prodigy or wunderkind type of player that’s going to become the savior of Atlanta United. That’s not what this is about.
The fact is, we have no idea what type of player Brennan can or will be. What we do know is that he possesses some potential to help the first-team’s attack as he proved against Houston.
So, while this season appears to be a wash on the winning front, the circumstances have opened up opportunities for Rob Valentino, or whoever finds themselves in charge, to evaluate what the club has in Brennan or other young promising prospects.
It makes no sense to keep running out the same players who have helped the club dig themselves into this hole. This is the perfect opportunity to give big minutes to Luke Brennan, Efrain Morales, and Noah Cobb to see if they may have a role in helping Atlanta United return to their contending ways.
Sometimes all it takes is some youthful exuberance to remind the whole team that it’s okay to take risks and have fun, things that have been severely lacking with this squad.
Whether you still have hope that the team can turn it around this season or you’re already looking ahead to 2025, I think we can all agree that Brennan and the other young prospects deserve more chances going forward this season.
Tbh think we should strongly consider starting Morales vs DC bc Cobb is poor in the air