Why has Thiago Almada's production dropped?

The numbers tell a small part of the story

via Atlanta United

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I was planning to dig into Atlanta United’s underlying numbers at an individual level today after looking at the team as a whole earlier this week. But one player’s numbers presented such a major problem that I dropped everything to try and figure it out.

I’m going to show you two pictures. Can you spot the difference?

One of these charts isn’t like the other. It’s a clear illustration of the fact that Thiago Almada hasn’t produced at the same level this season. After an 11-goal, 19-assist campaign in 2023, Almada has two goals and one assist through 720 minutes this season. If he were set to match his 2023 minutes (he won’t!), he’d be on pace for about eight goals and four assists. 

That’s a problem for an Atlanta United side that relies on him (and paid big money for him) to be an MVP-caliber No. 10. The attack flows through him. They need him at his best. 

What gives? 

Well, to be blunt about where we’re going here: