Atlanta United still isn’t healthy. Or, for increased accuracy, Atlanta United has almost never been healthy. Not fully. There are very few moments where the Five Stripes have been able to play a true first choice 11.
We can go back to an inaguaral year that began with Josef Martinez going down in March and ended with Miguel Almiron entering the playoffs with a bum hamstring and Jeff Larentowicz starting at center back. Somewhere in between, Greg Garza fell over in exhibition game and separated his shoulder.
This year began with our MLS record transfer missing the opening weeks of the season, followed by — in some order — Garza getting hurt (again), Tito Villalba missing extended time, Darlington Nagbe needing a months-long recovery plan, Franco Escobar getting punched in the face (x2), Josef breaking his face (and a finger), Mikey Ambrose out for the long haul and a collection of other smaller maladies.