Charlotte FC Stock Up, Stock Down: Kahlina keeps Charlotte in the game, the attack kept them out of it

By Sam Vanolinda

Photo courtesy of CJ Hellner/TopBin90

When you combine the G+A of every Charlotte FC DP on the team (including the departed Enzo Copetti) they only equal the amount of Atlanta United striker and former Charlotte player Daniel Ríos.

That fact perfectly explains why Dean Smith’s Charlotte FC team has begun to struggle as the season continues. With little production from your best players, it is hard to win games in this competitive league.

It was the same issues that I have mentioned many times this year which caused the 0-1 loss in the rivalry match Saturday night. Lack of creativity and the chances that the Crown had the team was wasteful.

Here is the stock up/down for Saturday's game against the Southern Rivals.

Stock Up

Kristijan Kahlina

The only reason Charlotte didn’t lose by 3+ goals was the acrobatic saves by the Croatian.

In a game where most outfield players were disappointing, Kahlina was his usual solid self.

Kahlina has great instincts and made a save from a close header reminiscent of his season-saving stop against Miami on decision day last year.

It’s great to have a keeper with such shot-stopping skills who can keep the team in the game.

Tim Ream

Ream looked as comfortable as expected with all of his Premier League experience in his second game.

He is composed on the ball and solid defensively. 

73/79 on passing with 88 touches, one successful dribble, 8/9 accurate long balls, and five clearances.

He is going to be a great player for this team. Especially if Adilson Malanda is eventually sold.

Djibril Diani

Diani immediately looked like a better center mid-option when he came on in the 56th minute. He was able to use his pace and dribbling ability to turn the ball and progress from defense to attack. He looked like a better fit as the second pivot than Brandt Bronico in this game.

Stock Down

Every Designated Player

Every single Designated Player on Saturday was disappointing. Not only were they wasteful, but Liel Abada, Karol Świderski, and Pep Biel showed very little effort getting back on defense when Atlanta was pressuring Charlotte, which eventually led to the goal.

If your team is in a low block getting pressured constantly for a period of the game the only person left up the field should be the striker, when Atlanta scored there were four players, Kerwin Vargas, Abada, Świderski, and Biel walking around as the goal went in. Atlanta was allowed to break through Charlotte’s press time after time creating multiple dangerous direct attacking moments.

Good teams show effort on both sides of the field. Besides the effort, Świderski was ineffective on the ball, Abada was routinely getting dispossessed, and Biel hardly made an impact despite some flashes of quality.

Nathan Byrne

Byrne had a rough time dealing with Xande Silva, who ended the game with an assist and a solid performance.

A lot of times he stuck in and was getting left in the dust by the Portuguese winger.

Byrne has been a consistent starter for Charlotte since he was signed, but of late he seems to have lost his defensive edge.

Charlotte FC’s Midfield

While Ashley Westwood has likely been Charlotte’s best player all season. The peak performances that he put on during their run in Ohio seem like a distant memory compared to where his last few games have been. This club as it stands will go as far as their captain can take them. We saw their ceiling with his top-notch performances against FC Cincinnati and Columbus Crew. 

The team’s floor is being shut out at home to weaker competition when he doesn’t hit the standard the club needs him to.

On the other side of the double pivot, Bronico also struggled at times. He was put out there because of his relentless running but he wasn’t able to keep up with Ajani Fortune who drove past him and blasted the winning goal from a distance.

Summary

A very disappointing derby loss to Atlanta will leave a sour taste in the mouths of Charlotte FC fans. Even when the team had the ball in a positive position, the shots went straight to Brad Guzan time after time. The DPs need to start clicking soon or the team will start falling down the table.

The next game will be against Montreal on September 14th.