As the curtain comes down on what is considered as a fascinating season of the MLS, it is also the time for teams to have a detailed look on what they have done best and what went wrong for their tactics and players. For Atlanta United, they entered this season being the defending champions and aimed to retain that number one spot once again. Still, under the management of Frank de Boer, a struggling start was something that hindered their progress on their journey to accomplish that expectation.
Things started to turn positive for them as a strong run in between April and June saw them return to the chase for the Eastern Conference trophy and a spot in the playoff’s semifinal. One of the factors that contributed to their U-turn in form was the solidity in their defence. With Leandro González Piréz remaining as the key player in defence and the experience of veteran centre-back Michael Parkhurst, Atlanta only conceded eight goals in thirteen matches during that period. But the player that really caught the eyes of Atlanta’s fans was Miles Robinson as he slowly built himself a place in de Boer’s 3-5-2 formation.
The Generation Adidas defender was picked during the 2017 Superdraft and was nurtured under “Tata” Martino after he returned from his loan spell at Charleston Battery. Since then, he became a backup choice for Atlanta and now played a key role in the team’s defence, considering he is only 22. Although an injury saw him miss out during the post-season period and prevented him from completing his first season as a starter, his performance did catch the eyes of many experts which led to him being selected in the MLS Team of the Year and nominated for the Defender of the Year award.
This tactical analysis scout report will provide an analysis of Miles Robinson’s standout 2019 season with Atlanta United. Meanwhile, using statistics and footage, we will also point out the strengths that he had shown during the season and the weaknesses that he needs to improve playing in the teams tactics.
Overview and style of play
Originally, Robinson was the third-choice centre-back among Atlanta’s squad in the 2018 season, the season that saw them triumph the MLS Cup and at times he even turned into a fourth-choice with Franco Escobar also being able to move into the position. This season, with the addition of Florentin Pogba, many have thought that the American youngster would be sent out for a loan. But instead, he stepped into the position that captain Michael Parkhurst had occupied in the last two seasons and linked up with Leandro Gonzáléz Piréz at the heart of Atlanta’s defensive line.
During the first few matches, de Boer set his team up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, the formation which helped Martino and his players lift up the MLS Cup trophy in the 2018 season. In that formation, Robinson was used as a right-sided centre-back to maximise his ability when he uses his preferred foot. He and his centre-back partner would receive support from the two defensive midfielders up front who took on the responsibility of screening the space in front of the defence and intercepted passes that came towards them, similar to the lineup below against New York Red Bulls.
But this formation proved to be a disaster for Atlanta as it neutralised the ability of their attackers up front, such as Gonzalo “Pity” Martínez. In defence though, they also faced some problems related to their high defensive line. During their Concacaf Champions League match against Monterrey, the Georgia-based club was usually put on the back foot when their opponents created a counter-attack. In several occasions, there was space being created behind the team’s defensive line and Atlanta’s centre-back struggled in terms of catching up with the opposition’s attackers, allowing them to approach the 16-yard box more easily. Although they used a back-three for that match, the problem was also demonstrated during matches that they implemented a back-four.
Meanwhile, in Parkhurst, he is more of a covering defender who would bring solidity to the defence and allow his teammates to move away from his position. At the same time, he also tended to be involved in duels by himself to help the team recover possession. But as age is catching up with him, the pace becomes a big obstacle for him as the former Columbus Crew defender would find himself being bypassed easily by the opposition’s attackers occasionally. With him announcing his retirement as the season came to an end, many expected Robinson to step into his boots and become a key player for Atlanta.
This season, R
