ATL UTD 2 Head Coach Scott Donnelly prepares his squad ahead of Saturday's home opener at Coolray Field | Photo courtesy ATL UTD 2
ATLANTA – In very short order, Atlanta United has developed a reputation for doing things differently in Major League Soccer.
From its hiring of Head Coach Tata Martino to player investment that has seen top young South Americans arrive at the club to produce one of the most exciting teams in the top flight, the club is regularly breaking new ground.
But as its new USL side ATL UTD 2 kicks off its debut season this Saturday at Coolray Field in Gwinnett, Ga., a little way north of the city, the side it will welcome for its inaugural home opener – the New York Red Bulls II – is one it could do well to emulate in terms of on-field performance over the next few years.
“They’ve been a strong USL side for years now,” ATL UTD 2 Head Coach Scott Donnelly said this week. “Strong academy program stocking that USL team with good players, a few more experienced pros in some ways similar to us. It’s just they’ve had a much longer runway in terms of what they’ve done with that team. They won the league a few years back. Always strong and competitive. They’ve got a good coach in John Wolyniec.
“A lot of ways they’re doing it in a good way, and it’s something that in some ways we can look to mimic, but of course we’re always going to be Atlanta United and put our own spin on it and try to do things the best that we can.”
New York’s reputation in the USL is as one of the league’s most competitive clubs, having claimed the USL Cup in 2016 and reached the Eastern Conference Final in the 2017 USL Cup Playoffs before falling in a penalty shootout to eventual champion Louisville City FC. After a 2-1 victory against Toronto FC II last Saturday in their season opener, the Red Bulls II appear ready to compete for a fourth consecutive playoff berth this season.
“I watched a bit of the game myself, I tend to watch a lot of the games in the league,” said Atlanta midfielder Jack Metcalf. “They’re always a strong team since I’ve been in the league, they’ve always had strong rosters and put together good teams.”
C.J. Cochran, left, and Jack Metcalf are set to provide the experience to a talented young group set to take the field for ATL UTD 2 this season | Photo courtesy ATL UTD 2
Atlanta’s squad has similar traits. There’s the young talent like former U.S. U17 international Chris Goslin and U.S. U20 international Lagos Kunga, players with high ceilings that could be knocking on the door of MLS soon and of whom plenty is expected this USL season.
“Expectations are high for our top talent, as always,” said Donnelly. “It’s not only to be a part of the team and lead some of the even younger guys, but it’s also to execute. It’s to play well, to help us play the right style, play our style, play aggressive attacking soccer as the club does. Of course, our expectations are high on those guys.”
Then there are the likes of Metcalf and veteran center back A.J. Cochran, the more experienced hands that will be looking to make the most of their opportunity in the same way 2016 USL Defender of the Year Aaron Long or midfielders Florian Valot and Vincent Bezecourt did with the Red Bulls II, with all three having contributed to the Red Bulls’ outstanding start to the 2018 MLS and CONCACAF Champions League campaigns.
With not only the Red Bulls II, but also clubs like 2017 USL Regular Season champion Real Monarchs SLC, two-time Western Conference champion the Swope Park Rangers and Bethlehem Steel FC having laid down blueprints for what a side like ATL UTD 2 can be now and in the future, the dual-goals the club is aiming for are clearly within reach.
“The job is to compete well, the job is to give these guys experience and game minutes and see how they react and how they execute – not just in training but in a game setting,” said Donnelly. “The job is to push the guys to perform and a by-product of that is being competitive.”