Interesting article. And, it is based on many facts. Morgan has scored many clutch goals for the USA. But, not as many recently. Is she already past her prime? http://www.starsandstripesfc.com/20...morgan-myth-deconstructing-uswnt-best-forward
Blah, blah, blah. Throw a bunch of stats into an article that anyone on this Board can regurgitate. Mix in a few juicy double entendres and H, while we're at it, why not some innuendos. Then absolutely bury the only worthwhile statement that convinces me that (here, let me try) the so-called Adam Whittaker Snavely has watched more than 50-60 athletic events in his life - "she is the person defenses will focus on containing." And while you're at it, get your headline right - "Alex Morgan: The Woman, The Myth, The Legend". Got a suggestion for Mr. Snavely, why don't you kneel, tilt your head slightly upward, pucker your lips and press them lovingly against my backside.
Better yet, against her backside. As long as Morgan is still scoring goals, especially at clutch moments like the 91st minute of Sunday's game, I would really hesitate to use the term "past her prime". What truly makes Alex Morgan valuable to this team is more than a few injuries or a couple of years can deconstruct.
What the article really wants to know is why isnt Morgan magically creating goals out of nothing like she did back when the defenses keyed on Wambach? Ask a stupid question....
The problem with the article is it is clearly pandering to get either Press or Dunn moved to starting forward but not giving a good reason. As I mentioned in my comment to the article, the goal difference is just an illusion. If u sit down and figure it starting at WC and just using those matches plus the quality team sinse Morgan, Lloyd and Dunn each have 3 goals to lead the team with Press, Rapinoe and Heath on two. And sorry, PKs and set pieces dont enter into it. If Sauerbrunn was the designated PK taker for the team no one would be touting she needs to play forward based on those goals. If Johnston had the most goals off set pieces the same would be true. For me a better argument against Morgan getting all these minutes is that she really isnt ur typical one front forward. She doesnt tend to earn many chances playing back to goal and seems much more comfortable out in space facing the goal. Instead the article is determined to ASSume that if u gave Press or Dunn equal minutes against quality teams they would produce more goals. The reason most goals seem to come late against quality is less about the starters and more about wearing down the defense so it likely doesnt matter who starts unless the offense improves enough to offer easy scoring chances against quality team regardless of the time in the match.
I think an interesting experiment would be Morgan on the left in a 4-3-3 formation with Press at center and Dunn on the right. The decisions at midfield would be tricky (depending on how they lined up) but I could see Brian, Lloyd, and Heath. The back line would stay the same. This line-up would also allow Pugh to be the supersub that can replace either Morgan or Dunn (or she could replace Morgan on the left so that Morgan shifts to center...Press to the bench). If Lloyd is looking clunky, Pugh could also come in and be the attacking mid.
This line sums up Morgan's situation: "She is now the headliner; she is the person defenses will focus on containing." And, that is exactly what is occurring. It is often Morgan against the entire back 4 of the other team. Very few strikers can score consistently in such a predicament. Barring a strategic offensive change from the coach, what remains to be seen is whether or not Morgan can stay relevant by varying her game to improve her hold up play and include killer assists in her bag full of tricks.
Jeez, Alex has really come around in the last few months. Her form is excellent, like the goal she scored against Germany today.
It was nice seeing Morgan stand on the podium to accept her awards. She was probably thinking hopefully the past few years of injury and recovery are behind me now.
I call "drop the mic." BTW it doesn't show on that clip, but I absolutely loved her stand up with fists down and hair over her face after she got up from the ground.
I have very limited experience, but I don't think I'd ever seen a player get the golden boot and the golden ball at the same tournament before last night. The announcer continued to mention the golden boot and golden ball winners as if they were two separate people. Crystal Dunn struggled to hold just the golden boot trophy at CONCACAF Olympic qualifying ( http://www.bigapplesoccer.com/us/wnt.php?article_id=43880 ) so it was almost comical to see Morgan carrying around both. Someone at the game last night mentioned that she's probably running out of room in her trophy case. Fortunately I imagine there's plenty of empty space she can use in Servando's trophy case at the Carrasco residence.
I'm older ( and born in Argentina) Mario Kempes won both and the World Cup for Agentina in 1978. this was before Maradona. But on the Women's side, it's more the rule than the exception. Looking just at World Cups, Sun Wen won the ball and shared the shoe ( with Sissi ) in 1999, Birgit Prinz won both in 2003, and Marta won both in 2007. Homare Sawa won both in 2011. Carly would have shared the shoe as well as won the boot if they didn't introduce the minutes-played tie breaker.
Considering how few goals were scored by the attackers from four of the best teams in the world, maybe a defender should have gotten the Golden Boot.