Morelos Myths

[Leeds_Bear 8,166]

A good article with proper analysis not clouded by hatred or worse, stupidity. 

Analysis Corner: Morelos Myths

By Dougie Wright (@dougie_wright)

Alfredo Morelos has had a mixed time of it since arriving in Glasgow.

On one hand, his debut season ended with fourteen goals as he adapted seamlessly to life in Scotland. Considering Rangers’ on-field problems, and that it was his first season in Scotland, it was a pretty good return.

Despite this, Morelos has picked up his fair share of critics. General accusations of a “bad attitude” have been made, while certain sections of the media have made dull jabs about the Colombian’s “street value” and “puppy fat”.

Six goals in his last seven games have silenced all but his harshest critics. Yet there is still a lingering perception of Morelos as a foul tempered brute who misses sitters. Let’s mythbust both of these in turn.

1) Morelos is a dirty player

Morelos has a weird reputation for being a bit of a thug.

Last season, the Colombian picked up an average of one yellow card for every three full games he played.

This is a decent amount, but hardly enough to earn him a permanent spot on Crimewatch.

By way of comparison, John McGinn and Graeme Shinnie picked up around one yellow card every two games. However, neither seem to have picked up the reputation for on pitch skulduggery that Morelos enjoys.

Perhaps his sulky demeanour has influenced this perception. Yet the fact remains that this guy has played nearly 100 full games as a professional and is yet to see a red card that was not later quashed on appeal.

The notion that he is a particularly violent or dirty player is nonsense.

2) He misses too many chances

While offering a critique of Alfredo Morelos’ overall game on Sunday, Chris Sutton claimed that although Morelos was a promising player, “he does miss chances”.

Albeit that there is yet to be a striker in the history of football who has scored with every shot they’ve taken, let’s assume Sutton meant instead that Morelos misses more than his fair share of chances.

This is probably based on a succession of chances Morelos had against celtic last year where he failed to score.

Last season, Morelos took 84 shots and scored 14 goals.

That means that overall 17% of his shots hit the back of the net.

Moussa Dembélé is probably going to be the most expensive export in Scottish football history, and rightly so.

Yet the Frenchman scored 9 goals last season off the back of 59 shots, which gives a 15% conversion rate – marginally lower than Morelos’. However, I’m yet to read anything about around Dembélé’s profligacy in front of goal.

All strikers miss chances. Even the top scorers in any given season only score around 20% of their shots. Missing a big chance in a crunch game doesn’t make you a terrible finisher any more than scoring it makes you a goal machine.

There are naturally areas where Morelos could add to his game.

On many occasions, he will shoot from a tight angle in a crowded box when a pass to a better placed team mate would be more efficient. Furthermore, Spielverlagerung analyst Alex Lawrence has pointed out that the Colombian tends to attack the back post too often, when a run to the front post could create more space for oncoming team-mates.

In any case, the 22 year old is a pretty exciting prospect. He holds the ball up against bigger, stronger player with ease, his awareness of midfield runners helps him join up play when a long ball comes in from deep, he presses well and is extremely adept at finding space in the penalty box.

Altogether, he seems to have been given much too tough a time of it here in Scotland. If people put their prejudices aside, they’d be able to see that he’s one of the best players in the country

[The Specky Forum Organiser 66,679]

He does miss too many chances and no amount of %/stats are going to change that

He does look a bit more clinical this season tho

[BridgeIsBlue 66,666]

Aye but... 

[.Williamson. 84,119]

He misses loads of chances and he is caught offside farrrr too often 

[Sket 13,610]

I don't think I've ever heard anyone say he is a thug.

 

He does miss too many chances.

 

Pointless thread.

[Oz 37]

He is only going to get better and better....

[NeoGeo7 10,667]

He’s a confidence player and at the moment his confidence is sky high and therefore he’s finishing chances he’d have missed last season.

Agree he’a caught offside too often and he’ll hopefully learn over time and start to stay onside. He’s not slow and he is strong so he doesn’t always need to get the extra 2 yards ahead as the ball comes through.

[ShanksRFC 3,870]

Think last year the nature of the chances he missed were the worst thing. 3 yards out etc.

[Leeds_Bear 8,166]

7 minutes ago, Jeffrey said:

He does miss too many chances and no amount of %/stats are going to change that

He does look a bit more clinical this season tho

I think he's missed chances against the mhanks definitely, which is why this point sticks in people's head - however it's impossible to argue with the % stats. He doesn't miss as many as people make out. 

[Leeds_Bear 8,166]

1 minute ago, ShanksRFC said:

Think last year the nature of the chances he missed were the worst thing. 3 yards out etc.

Agreed. Especially in games against that lot. 

[LaudrupsPatrickBoots 13,540]

If he didn't miss too many chances then he wouldn't still be here.

[Rambo1872 4,065]

I think you mean Morales...

[Marky. 6,965]

Dougie Wright you say?

Doubt there'll be any hatred in his writing...

 @DJW

?

[The Specky Forum Organiser 66,679]

1 minute ago, Leeds_Bear said:

I think he's missed chances against the mhanks definitely, which is why this point sticks in people's head - however it's impossible to argue with the % stats. He doesn't miss as many as people make out. 

Last season he missed far too many chances, anyone who says otherwise is kidding themselves 

6 or so goals in the final 5 months of the season tells you that

[Leeds_Bear 8,166]

7 minutes ago, Sket said:

I don't think I've ever heard anyone say he is a thug.

 

He does miss too many chances.

 

Pointless thread.

No one has used that word exactly but if you watch BT Sport they pretty much say everything but this.

There is no denying certain pundits talk up his hot streak, the red card against Aberdeen for example Walker was rabbiting on about his lack of discipline and how it wasn't a surprise. The kid had never even had a red card. 

Also, you don't have to join threads and comment - if you think it's pointless you're always allowed to politely fuck off  

[Leeds_Bear 8,166]

3 minutes ago, Jeffrey said:

Last season he missed far too many chances, anyone who says otherwise is kidding themselves 

6 or so goals in the final 5 months of the season tells you that

He was 3% below 'top scorer' average - which would've added four goals, so yes if it had been ten goals in his final five months instead of six it would be a different picture. 

He didn't miss 'far too many chances' though, I think he missed high profile chances. 

[The Specky Forum Organiser 66,679]

Just now, Leeds_Bear said:

He was 3% below 'top scorer' average - which would've added four goals, so yes if it had been ten goals in his final five months instead of six it would be a different picture. 

He didn't miss 'far too many chances' though, I think he missed high profile chances. 

I couldn't give a fuck what stats you throw at me, I seen with my own eyes he missed too many chances

He seems more composed this season though so hopefully that's a thing of the past

[RangersMedia 35,961]

The reason why his misses are highlighted more is because our team relies on him for goals. When Dembele is missing chances they have someone else step up to the plate so it’s not as big a deal. 

We need more goals from our wingers and midfielders to support Morelos

[Jamie0202 12,565]

4 minutes ago, Leeds_Bear said:

No one has used that word exactly

The author of the OP has.

Quote

Morelos has a weird reputation for being a bit of a thug.

 

[Ibroxholm 2,291]

Best young striker we have had in many a year.   It would appear many of us will not fully realise what he gives us until he has moved on.

Yeh he missed some chances (and had some world class saves denying him goals).  However, he is still young and will improve.  Compared with the first two seasons of our all time leading goal scorer, he is a world beater.

[Leeds_Bear 8,166]

7 minutes ago, Jeffrey said:

I couldn't give a fuck what stats you throw at me, I seen with my own eyes he missed too many chances

He seems more composed this season though so hopefully that's a thing of the past

 calm down mate. 

[Leeds_Bear 8,166]

7 minutes ago, Jamie0202 said:

The author of the OP has.

 

I meant no pundit has used that word exactly, you've missed the qualifying statement after this when quoting me.

[The Specky Forum Organiser 66,679]

1 minute ago, Leeds_Bear said:

 calm down mate. 

I'm perfectly calm?

[They Gnu 11,553]

9 minutes ago, psb07158 said:

The reason why his misses are highlighted more is because our team relies on him for goals. When Dembele is missing chances they have someone else step up to the plate so it’s not as big a deal. 

We need more goals from our wingers and midfielders to support Morelos

This season our midfield have being getting beyond the forwards more, so more goals will come from these areas. Have faith.

[Jamie0202 12,565]

3 minutes ago, Leeds_Bear said:

I meant no pundit has used that word exactly, you've missed the qualifying statement after this when quoting me.

No I didn't. I never quoted the rest because it wasn't relevant.