On Sunday night, we saw two growth groups still figuring out their identities, another masterclass from Jordan Morris, and huge defensive issues for LAFC. Lets get into it.
Jordan Morris keeps getting better
As he showed once again with his 2 objectives against LAFC on Sunday, The abilities hes included have actually made him the most dangerous player in MLS not named Carlos Vela. If it hasnt already, Garth Lagerweys phone will be sounding off the hook as European clubs come calling. As a Sounders fan, I can just hope he stays here so we can enjoy him for a long period of time, however as a football fan, I d love to see what he can do at the extremely greatest levels.
Carlos Vela aside, Jordan Morris has actually been the most hazardous gamer in MLS over the last 12 months. We might bring up the numbers and the silverware, however you honestly just need to view him. Ive seen Jordan given that he would participate in a few of our first string training sessions while he was still with the Sounders academy. He was quick and strong but the choice making and lack of left foot were a concern.
He utilized to appear like a striker that was being forced to play out broad, now he looks every bit the best left winger in MLS. Ive had discussions with Jordan for many years about requiring to have a wingers mentality– being direct, dribbling with purpose, being objective hazardous– and about the intricacies of the position and he has worked extensively with Sounders assistant coach Preki on the training ground. However in no form, way or shape can I or anyone take credit for his advancement– this is all Jordan.
This is a player who was gifted with the speed and strength that would have been enough to earn him a great career. There is not a single right back who doesnt stay up all night stressed about facing him.
Those concerns were still present in his very first 2 seasons as a professional however ever given that the 2019 Gold Cup he has gone to a new level by including little touches to his already impressive video game. The left foot is no longer a weakness, he can beat you on the outside or by coming within, and most impressively, his composure in front of goal is now remarkable. When Morris is through on goal, Im more surprised now when he does not discover the back of the web such is his efficiency in those circumstances.
Whats gone incorrect with LAFCs defense
The second half came and their Achilles heel reared its unsightly head. The leagues best defensive team in 2019 are now horrible defensively. They dedicate a lot of numbers forward so catching them on the counter is a technique numerous groups now use, however it still should not be this simple to score against them. They are yielding at double the rate they yielded last season– 1.08 GAA to 2.14– and there are a few reasons.
Despite being a goal down, I felt LAFC were the better team in the first half. Their passing was crisp, the high press required the Sounders into mistakes, their movement was sharp, and they looked dangerous. The one offending pull down was that they didnt give Stefan Frei more to do, but overall they looked efficient in opening the floodgates at any time.
Their center backs do not have the speed to play the high line, Kenneth Vermeer gets caught being extremely zealous as a sweeper (see Morris very first objective) and takes up questionable angles (see Ruidiaz goal), and they arent getting sufficient numbers back in transition. At times Seattle were four-on-three when assaulting.
Because LAFC were just as fanatical about their protective shape and intensity as they were about their play at the other end, those situations were rare last season. Missing Vela and Eduard Atuesta didnt assist them clearly, but for a franchise that has seldom put a foot wrong given that signing up with the league, the Walker Zimmerman formed hole in their backline is getting larger every week.
Differing growth fortunes for Nashville, Miami
Anything attached to David Beckham is going to be big news and gather attention. Its still very early in the season however I can see the Nashville identity forming.
MLS is a much better league than when I played in it, but if theres one thing our Sounders team carried out in our growth year, it was figure out very early who we desired to be– compact defensively and good in shift– which offered the players instructions when we stepped on the field. Theyve been connected with Luis Suarez and Gonzalo Higuain recently, and I fret that unless they get a player of that caliber who can score 20 goals, they are going to find points hard to come by. Neither Nashville nor Miami will have extraordinary growth seasons, but whereas Nashville are matching, or perhaps, going beyond expectations, Miami look absolutely nothing like what we thought they could be.
Miami are victims of high expectations due to the fact that despite the fact that they are having the kind of season weve seen some expansion groups have in the past, it simply feels as if they must be a lot better. Rodolfo Pizarro is an excellent player, and I believe Lee Nguyen ought to be beginning because he includes the capability to drive at the backline and commit gamers when he plays, however they look like a big experiment each time I view them– throwing 5 subs on in the 75th minute adds some weight to that observation.
Ive enjoyed Jordan because he would join in some of our first group training sessions while he was still with the Sounders academy. Despite being a goal down, I felt LAFC were the much better group in the very first half. The leagues best defensive team in 2019 are now terrible defensively. They devote a lot of numbers forward so capturing them on the counter is a method numerous teams now utilize, but it still shouldnt be this simple to score against them. MLS is a much better league than when I played in it, but if theres one thing our Sounders team did in our growth year, it was figure out really early on who we desired to be– compact defensively and great in transition– and that gave the gamers instructions when we stepped on the field.
They are arranged defensively, led by Zimmerman, and with 3 clean sheets in their last 5 video games they seem a group that will constantly offer themselves a possibility to win 1-0. As presently built, they wont score many goals because I still dont see a group that creates sufficient quality opportunities and versus the much better groups when you need to score numerous goals to win, they are going to fall brief.
