Atlanta United have signed free agent goalkeeper Josh Cohen to a two-year deal, elevating questions in regards to the future of membership legend and captain Brad Guzan.
It was certain to occur in the end, because the Five Stripes introduced within the 31-year-old shot stopper on a free switch from Israeli Premier League aspect Maccabi Haifa. Despite the studies that floor again in September claiming that Atlanta violated MLS’ discovery rights rules, Cohen is the most recent Five Stripe.
So, what does this mean for Guzan, Atlanta’s shot-stopper because the center of their inaugural season in Major League Soccer?
For most, the writing is on the wall. Guzan has been an impressive servant of the membership and was key to the crew’s three trophies in 2018 MLS Cup, the 2019 US Open Cup and the 2019 Campeones Cup. The 39-year-old has made 197 appearances throughout all competitions (most in membership historical past) for Atlanta, preserving 69 clear sheets in 17,640 minutes performed.
Even with all of the accolades, Guzan’s play has declined ever since his Achilles tendon damage he suffered within the 2022 season. Early on within the 2023 season, Guzan suffered a setback with an MCL tear that stored him sidelined for eight video games. The Atlanta protection struggled for most of the season, cancelling out the crew’s harmful assault by leaking in 53 objectives on the again, the sixth-most in MLS and probably the most conceded by a crew that made the playoffs.
Given that particular stat, it is no shock to see that Atlanta have been dumped out of MLS Cup playoffs within the first spherical in opposition to the eventual champions Columbus Crew. The sequence highlighted the crew’s 2023 season in a nutshell: Brilliant in assault, horrible on the again whereas not often successful away from dwelling. The crew conceded eight objectives in three video games performed, and whereas some of the objectives conceded weren’t solely Guzan’s fault, there have been nonetheless saves he ought to’ve made that he did not – which occurred all all through the 2023 season.
Guzan nonetheless had some shiny moments in 2023, although. For instance, in Atlanta’s 0-0 draw with LAFC, Guzan was the only real purpose that Atlanta did not lose the competition 3 or 4-0. In the midsummer conflict, Guzan got here up clutch with eight large saves as LAFC amassed an xG of 2.33 with 22 whole pictures.
However, these kind of performances from Guzan have been few and much between, prompting Atlanta to herald Cohen to stop the crew from hopefully conceding hundreds of objectives in 2024. While the membership will in all probability say he was introduced in for competitors, his expertise taking part in within the UEFA Champions League with Maccabi Haifa says in any other case.
The 2020/21 Israeli Footballer of the Year is greater than seemingly not coming to Mercedes-Benz Stadium to play as second-fiddle to Guzan. And on the age of 31, he is nearing the prime age for goalkeepers. It’s extra of a when, not if, for him to take the beginning job from Guzan. But who is aware of, Guzan would be the starter come late February and maybe head coach Gonzalo Pineda will wait to make a change till a number of poor outings within the protection, which would not be an enormous shock.
On the opposite hand, Guzan is not the worst choice to have as a backup if Cohen is the starter come the start of the season. The solely deterrent there may be Guzan’s wage that may be checked out as relatively hefty for a backup MLS goalkeeper with cheaper choices on the market for cowl.
Guzan, who’s nonetheless underneath contract for the 2024 season as of proper now, has the respect of everybody within the membership and the dressing room, and his distribution remains to be efficient in how Atlanta performs out from the again. But a goalkeeper’s job is to make saves and forestall objectives, one thing that he is did not do an increasing number of in current seasons.
Guzan will go down as not solely an Atlanta legend, however an MLS and USMNT icon as properly. However, all good issues should come to an finish, and Cohen’s signing indicators {that a} new period is on the horizon in Atlanta in between the sticks.
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