MLS Flavors of the Week: 2020 Edition

Morris is absolutely beasting. He really could have 3 assists (one MLS) and a goal in under a half hour.

Djordje has actually been very good as well. Most people didn't expect him to start, but he has, and his service has been really good all game.

 

Ruidiaz misses an open net. Jesus, the finishing in this game is bad.

 

This could have been #4 goal contribution in 20 minutes, and his cheekiest one. Look at the technique and vision!

Such a good pass by Morris. pic.twitter.com/ceWk6QTXwa

— Sounder At Heart (@sounderatheart) March 1, 2020

 

Overall it's not been a creative and technical masterclass. Morris has been the spark not just the Sounders but the game badly needed.

 

It's a frenetic, exciting game. But with such bad finishing, it ruins everything else.

It'd be like a back-and-forth basketball game that has lots of fastbreaks... and no baskets.

 

And another goal for Morris.

 

And Morris with the presumptive game-winner. That's 2 goals, and he should have at least 2 assists too in 45 minutes of action.

 

What a beastly performance. Morris scores what looks like the game-winner, on the delivery from Roldan.

Roldan's netted two assists, but could also have had 4 goal contributions w/ better luck. Earlier in the game he was botching those opportunities by being apprehensive, but in the 2nd half he's also shown his will to win. Wish we would see this player for the US. You see such a difference in the looseness of his movement and body language, seemingly because of nerves. Very uptight play w/ the US, more confident w/ Seattle. One of the few times we saw it was in the GC final v. Mexico when he was winning all the 50-50's he's typically lost.

 

It's hard playing for Berhalter.

Trapp will look better and better playing for Miami this season. b.t.w. Sweat is doing and excellent job on that left side v. Vela. He was unfairly maligned in his solo appearance for Sarachan v. Peru. Ofc, the question would be offense but if we play a stay at home left back because a) we don't have anybody really good anyway and b) we need a baby sitter for Brooks, then Sweat isn't a bad choice. With Brooks' left foot you don't need Ream's and Sweat is as good defensively (better, actually) than Ream in that lb/lcb spot.

 

Ulloa is having a great game for Miami in cmid. Helping out both ends. Great positioning.

 

Sweat has been decent at LB, but I feel like he's in the Lovitz class--has some good performances in MLS, but not good enough for the international level.

I'd never paid much attention to Blackmon prior to this week, and I had just assumed he was another tronco (to use one of Suyuntuy's favorite terms) in the proud American tradition of such CBs, but he isn't. He's getting up and down the flank as the RB and has pretty good touch and passing ability. I assume the plan is to sign Najar to play that role and then shift Blackmon to CB in place of Jakovic. I'm not ready to say "Cap him now!," but he's someone to keep an eye on. If he shows can read the game well at CB, with that motor and passing ability, he might be a good complement to Brooks.

I won't be too harsh, since it's his first game, and it's on the road against the best team in the league, but Robinson looks like he's in way over his head. He hasn't held the ball up well, hasn't gotten around the ball in the box, and generally seems a beat slow to see the run he should be making.

 

They just played a CCL game Thursday night, and this game 1 of a 34 game season.....what do you want him to do? Run Morris into the ground so he gets injured and then is unavailable for USMNT duty?

 

Morris' contributions within a half are more than enough evidence for a start. Play him 60 minutes, go up 2-3 goals, and then rest him. His influence on the game was so immediate and crucial, I'm surprised this is even an argument.

Schmetzer benched a player like Morris who's so integral to Seattle's success, only to bring him on at half because Seattle was getting smoked on the counter while lacking a killer edge in attack. If he were concerned about legs, he wouldn't have given Morris ~50 minutes. He was concerned about dropping 3 points to Chicago. If Morris was truly in danger of being overworked, he wouldn't have been given so many minutes.

 

Seriously? There is no evidence that had Morris started that Seattle would have been 2-3 goals up in the first half. That's not how sports work. Hindsight is always 20/20....

Schemetzer chose to rest him a half, and then brought him on to change tactics. Managers do this all the time in football.

 

The evidence is the fact that Morris contributed hugely to Seattle's attack, not only scoring goals, but by creating more gilt-edged opportunities in his first 15 minutes than Seattle conjured up in the entire first half.

You remember how JK was lampooned on here about playing people out of position, then figuring out effective attacks through subs? That's effectively what Schmetzer did. Plan A was "No Morris, we'll throw everything down Chicago's throat, we'll win without Morris". Oops, didn't work whatsoever, better bring him on ASAP, and do what we should've done in the beginning, this time from behind.

The team's already missing Lodiero, choked away back-to-back games vs. Olimpia (during which Morris was, again, one of Seattle's best players), and the solution Schmetzer comes up with is "Let's remove our current best player to load-manage on opening day...".

Clearly, Schmetzer was thinking he could win without Morris. Ideally, Seattle scores their chances in the first half, and doesn't need Morris. I'm looking at it from the perspective that you need to win all the "easier" games on the schedule whenever you can. Chicago at home? Put in some goals, then coast. Don't "rest" guys after 2 games and give Chicago an opportunity to take a point or 3!

How many LAFC guys got rested a half after beating Leon? I don't think the lineup was unchanged, but Vela and Rossi suited right up. Latif Blessing, who absolutely ran his butt off up and down the field last game, was out there.

 

Garber is not impressed that you're not impressed.

 

Absolutely so. I only care about MLS to the extent it develops players for the NT.

Phuck Atlanta. MLS should step in. If fans don't like it, they can vote by not watching.

 

I initially thought you said "nevermind" because "Yank party."

 

Out of curiosity, why wouldn't Morris be player of the week?

 

All clear now, tks.

 

Just based upon highlights, Duncan and Finlay had very good matches.