Emmanuel Latte Lath Player Profile with The Boro Breakdown Podcast

We get a look into Atlanta United’s newest star striker with the biggest Middlesbrough podcast group!

Two days ago, Atlanta United completed the signing of Middlesbrough striker Emmanuel Latte Lath for a deal worth $22 million + add-ons in what was a record inbounded transfer for Major League Soccer. With such a record broken, big things are expected of the player. So, we spoke with The Boro Breakdown Podcast, a group with ~14,400 followers on X/Twitter and who cover the team extensively, to see a true glimpse in what Latte Lath can offer to his new club.

Top Image Credit Richard Sellers/PA, taken from The Guardian; Bottom Credit The Boro Breakdown Podcast (X/Twitter)

1. Who is Emmanuel Latte Lath? What are his skills, strengths, and weaknesses?

Manu is, first and foremost, a very committed player. Even after his failed move to Ipswich in the summer, his commitment to Boro was evident on the pitch. There was a moment a few home games ago where he tracked back what felt like half the length of the pitch to win the ball back from an opposition counter attack.

‘Busy’ is how I’d describe Latte Lath’s style of play. He doesn’t let the game pass him by.

He’ll use his pace to get in behind but he’ll also drop deep to get involved with build-up play and roam into wide areas too. There’s useful versatility to how he plays.

In terms of potential weaknesses, he’s very much a confidence player. That can be said of most footballers I guess, but I think Latte Lath gets especially affected by poor form. He’ll become erratic and unreliable in front of goal, but the upside to it is that when he’s in form, he’s clinical.

2. How was Latte Lath’s time at Middlesbrough, and what role did he have at the club?

He took a bit of time to get up to speed when he first joined the club. The whole team were pretty wasteful which became a bit of a meme within the Boro circle. I’d say Latte Lath properly arrived towards the end of the 2023/24 season, where he scored 11 goals in 12 games. He was in such hot form it honestly felt like every shot of his ended up in the back of the net.

This season started really slowly also. After scoring on the opening day against Swansea, it took him 11 games to get on the scoresheet again. At one point against West Brom, he looked up to the sky in despair. Nothing was going right for him. And then it clicked again and all was well with the world.

In the end, Manu’s been a fantastic signing for us. He came in as an unknown quantity and leaves having scored plenty of goals, which has fetched us a club-record amount of money that we can reinvest to hopefully get us up to the Premier League sometime within the next century.

3. What is the most memorable moment of Latte Lath at the club for you?

His goal against Sheffield United this season was a great moment. It ended his barren run and gave us three points against our old manager Chris Wilder, who most people of a Boro persuasion have a degree of disdain towards.

(Skip to 4:27)

I remember just how loud the reaction was to that goal. I think everyone at that point had been actively willing the ball to end up in the back of the net, to lift that burden off his back.

4. Do you think now is the right time for Latte Lath to leave the club? Is the transfer fee paid ($22 million plus add-ons), a record for your club and ours, fair?

I think now is the worst time for Latte Lath to leave us. We’re in the middle of a big scrap for play-offs and we’ve lost a hugely effective player. The fee is about right, and as mentioned above, it gives us the funds to reinvest come the summer. But it is a big bummer. I’ll miss him and his catchy chant.

(The Chant)

5. How do you think Latte Lath will do as the #9 in Atlanta with Miguel Almiron on the wing and Alexey Miranchuk behind him?

He’s a good combination player is Latte Lath, so I think he’ll build up some great connections with his teammates over there. That will set him on his way towards having a successful season. Enjoy him!