I still think he'll be good enough to play as a #8 too maybe even as a #10 he's just so damn skilled with the ball. I'm excited to see his progress. I agree last year he looked nervous and not too confident
Lets hope that this 2015 MLS flavor does better at his new club than DC reportedly offered. The offseason departures included Chris Pontius (traded to Philadelphia) and Perry Kitchen, who declined D.C.’s contract offer to double his salary in order to pursue European opportunities. He has yet to sign. Scandinavia is the most likely destination. United retained Kitchen’s MLS rights. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news...aul-clowes-2nd-round-draft-pick-from-clemson/
That would've been pretty good money for Kitchen, who was on a salary of $172k with guaranteed compensation of $257.5k in 2015. https://www.mlsplayers.org/images/July 15, 2015 Salary Information - By Club.pdf
Watched a little of Polster in Chi v Vcr preseason (full match at MLS site) His passing has improved more in 1 month with the new manager in Chicago than in his entire rookie season and camps with u23's. Still needs work but you can see the improvement in technique already.
At one time, this fellow appeared to be on the fast track to the USMNT. http://www.sportingkc.com/post/2016/02/23/sporting-kc-waives-amobi-okugo I wonder if there might be more to this story.
DC are playing well against Queretaro. They are at 40% possession, but are 5 vs 3 in shots on target and 9 vs 9 in shots. They are not bunkering, but are instead ably shepherding Quertaro's attack. DeLeon, playing in central midfield, has been strong on the ball. When possession has been in doubt, he has typically come out on top.
Sigi using Morris as a RW/RWF is quite interesting. Morris is gonna have to learn to cut inside and shoot off his left though.
Probably but it tough to build a team around him at this point. He's not a true forward, winger or 10. His workrate isn't the greatest anymore. And if he plays the whole team has to be built to cater towards him. Not an ideal situation. You obviously can't drop him but idk if I'd run him a full 90 every game anymore. Probably turn him into a super sub for most games.
Morris, for all intents and purposes, scored. He got slapped down by the hand of the devil. What, is that guy from Club America, Inspector Gadget? He was in no position to head that away. He reached up with his hand and blocked it. But Morris did have a horrible giveaway where he was caught between two minds on an aerial ball and then made things worse by starting the America counter on a desperate dive. Yeah, great fk by Sounders' MVP Clint Dempsey, and his entire game has been sharp yet again. He still isn't 33 yet. For some reason, 32 is ancient for American legends without a ton of mileage or a major injury history, but 34 is prime for Euros with major injury history and who've been playing pro since 17, and in academy since 13.
The more he plays at a higher level, the more this will become a problem as opposing teams will scout him and know his tendencies. Morris didn't play that well tonight to be honest - had a few decent opportunities, but on the whole, this game was the Dempsey show. I also don't really think Wing is the best place for him to play. He's too much of a power player to be a pure winger in my opinion, although he isn't specifically "bad" out there. On the other hand, Dempsey looked like a new man. Perhaps he needed a bit of a rest after having zero off season over the last two years. I haven't seen him run that much in years it seems, not to mention the fact that he was extremely effective. If he keeps up this level of play, there is no way we don't start him on Copa America.
I think he's better as a LW than on the right Imo. So he can cut in and shoot or thread the needle. Hopefully we see Morris there more
Kudos to DC. They played a very organized and fluid game on both sides of the ball. First Querataro goal was an amazing touch of individual class that was very much against the run of play. Late game carelessness saw DC concede the 2nd goal. Deleon was excellent in central midfield. Maybe his career can kick on from there. Seattle's organization as always had a bit of slapdashery about it. They played a high line but didn't press with any recognizable organization. Club America took advantage by finding open seams in the midfield to launch balls over the top. Seattle were forced into quite a bit emergency of defending before allowing the inevitable goal. Dempsey's movement was so clever. He reads the game better than any other American attacking player ever has. His class and Marshall's excellent defending papered over the cracks in Seattle's organizaation. The difference between Dempsey and a 34 year old European DP lies in core athletic ability; Deuce lacks that elite athletic ability. Morris was nothing special.
Okugo was on 300k. He also lacked the requisite athleticism/fitness for SKC's style. Maybe Vermes could have worked his usual magic to build Okugo up, but not for 300k. The best use for him appears to be as a ball-playing cb in a relatively low line though his vulnerability to aerials somewhat complicates this.
he has, of course. and it hasn't come w/out some reward. another coach might've ignored him or waited to see what he brought as a pro.
My statement had nothing to do with Morris. Its about calling in players not playing well. See Diskerud, Mix as a prime example.
Yes, there is a time when a player has to step up with more than the elite athletic ability that got him noticed in his youth. Here is another example: http://www.bigapplesoccer.com/teams/redbulls2.php?article_id=41612 Typically, their fall is different in that we were teased by the promise delivered by their early playing time. The more typical example is delivered by those who finally catch on with a roster, never get playing time and are ultimately released.
Okugo's lack of elite athletic ability is the problem. On the other hand, AJB's documented attitude issues hurt him.
When a guy has been around for a while and everybody tells you how good he is but they don't know what position he should play........sound familiar? Maybe he just isn't all that good.
I wonder what his combine stats were, i.e., if they confirm or contradict the athleticism claim, if that is what you mean by athleticism.
Great read on Miguel Aguilars rise http://www.theguardian.com/football...he-most-politically-significant-player-in-mls