Atlanta Soccer » St. Louis Athletica

New Look Beat prepares for Red Stars

Scott — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 02:15:10 +0000

After a bye weekend The Atlanta Beat are preparing to face the Chicago Red Stars who are unbeaten since Omid Namazi took over at the beginning of June. This will be the second game since the influx of Athletica players. However, not content with the 5 additions the Beat added Aya Miyama last week to bring the total to 6 since St. Louis folded.

The Beat played the Red Stars in their last match on June 4^th and held them scoreless for the first shutout since the opening match on April 11^th against the Philadelphia Independence when Allison Whitworth got the donut. Former St. Louis Athletica player and recent addition Hope Solo had 8 saves on the night. The USWNT starting keeper was the difference between earning a point and losing their sixth straight game of the season. All 5 St. Louis players that were picked up prior to the match started and played the full 90 minutes. Only 5 players from the season opener started this game: Zerboni, Robinson, Yamaguchi, Kerr, McNeil. You may remember that Kerr and McNeil were picked up from St. Louis by trading the first pick in the LA Sol Dispersal Draft. Having 8 players that have previously been on the Athletica roster makes it understandable why many have nicknamed the Atlanta Beat as “Atlantica”. Of the 20+ member Atlanta Beat team that was originally formed to compete this year in WPS only 4 started this past Sunday: Robinson, Yamaguchi, Zerboni, and Larkin. With Miyama added to the fold that number is likely to drop down to 3 this week. Given the transition this team has gone through I think the draw on the road was a fortunate result.

This time around the new Atlanta Beat hopes to post their first win of the season. Having played 7 of 24 games the Beat needs to pick-up 36 points over the next 17 games (2.12pts/gm) to slide into a playoff spot if the Independence and Sky Blue FC continue on their current pace of 1.55 pts/game. That translates to winning 12 of 17 games or a combination of wins and ties (i.e. 11 wins, 3 ties). In other words they need to be on a slightly better pace then the FC Gold Pride (2.11pts/gm) has had so far this year. It’s a tall order but with 10 home games left and a revamped roster it should be interesting to see if these changes start resulting in Wins.

One question that I wonder is what all of these changes to one team means. Is it a reflection of depth in women’s professional soccer or team building. If it’s a reflection on depth then how can a league that almost started the season with 9 teams, now has 7, can expand to 12 teams in the near future (ownership issues aside). If depth isn’t a problem would you attribute early season struggles to player selection, coaching, or nothing more than normal struggles that most expansion teams face. If player selection was an issue I have a hard time questioning Coach Gareth O’Sullivan or GM Shawn McGee’s decisions without understanding the budget they had to work with from ownership. I can’t really even blame Atlanta Beat Owner, Fitz Johnson, if he did initially attempt to field a young and “cost effecient” team considering the significant outlay of cash that must have been necessary to get the stadium completed. As we’ve seen this is a business after all and managing cash poorly can have devastating results.

The Atlanta Beat continue their quest to become the best in the world this Saturday. I’ll be at that game. Have all of the recent additions increased your interest in the Beat? Are you planning to come out to the game this Saturday?

1st pick traded to St. Louis in exchange for McNeill & Kerr

Scott — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 05:48:03 +0000

I was on the right track but slightly missed the mark. Fortunately I think GM Shawn McGee & Head Coach Gareth O’Sullivan hit it pure in their latest acquisitions in exchange for the first pick in the upcoming disposition draft.

The trade did in-fact happen with St. Louis and the Beat did receive defender Kia McNeill and the No. 9 pick but instead of Aluka the Beat received Angie Kerr and the rights to Amanda Poach. We’re also hearing word from several sources that the number 1 pick will likely not be used on Marta but another of LA’s high profile players. Marta will likely fall to the first, and maybe only, team willing to pay her salary and take the cap hit which is being rumored to be FC Gold Pride.

Aluka would have been a proven forward in the league but with 9 of the current 24 players on the roster being forwards it’s probably a wise decision to improve in the area’s of greatest need. That is exactly what happened with 2 starters in McNeill & Kerr. Atlanta also has the opportunity to pick up another starter from last years regular season champs LA Sol. We’ll find out how the draft shakes out on Thursday but with only a handful of teams with available international spots available the Beat could parlay that top pick into 3 starters.

The Beat keep cost in check and as Shawn McGee said “…we have a game plan and a budget, and it is important to us that we stay true to that plan.” So are you sad Marta won’t be coming to Atlanta? Who do you hope Atlanta picks up with the 8th pick on Thursday?

Let’s Make A Deal!

Scott — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 06:30:20 +0000

With the Dispersal Draft getting ready to take place on Thursday could we see a trade for Marta’s rights happening soon? Speculation is growing that St. Louis and Atlanta are going to make a deal.

If this were to happen I could see Atlanta trading the rights for Marta in exchange for Eniola Aluko, the team leader in assist and scoring for St. Louis last year, and another player (perhaps a defender). As well as St. Louis’ 8th &/or 9th pick.

Prior to the draft St. Louis acquired Lindsay Tarpley via trade and with Marta added Aluko would be surplus and trading her would free up some much needed cap space. Depending on how much of a cap hit Marta will make we could see St. Louis needing to make even more space. That’s where I think that second player comes into the mix. St. Louis was second in the league last year in fewest Goal Allowed (15), GAA (.75), and shutouts (10). They also added Free Agent Sara Larsson in the off-season. Does the name sound familiar? Beat fans may remember she was selected 5th by Atlanta in the international expansion draft last fall before being released as a free agent. We won’t be seeing Larsson but they may be willing to part with Kia McNeill or Elise Weber who both had great years last season.

With that 8th &/or 9th pick we could pick up a quality midfielder or defender based on who’s left on the board. I guess we’ll find out in the next few days. So what do you think will happen? Any way we could pry Lori Chalupny or Lindsay Tarpley from St. Louis instead of Aluko? Think we’ll just pass on Marta all together and pick up Shannon Boxx.