Morelos

[eskbankloyal 15,210]

12 goals in 2 games, none from Morelos or Defoe. A million miles from last season when the two of them were our only real source of goals.

[Smile 22,960]

14 minutes ago, Siam69 said:

He's done so most of this season to be fair.

I can remember posting same months ago, his first touch was atrocious at times, I put it down to him being generally disinterested at that time. 

That said, he had a great game against Benfica, and i fully expect him to do so again on Thursday. Think he knows he's in the shop window in them games, Benfica pay out big money for players, and other teams watching and taking notice as well. 

At last some common sense.

[jjbscotty12 3,117]

8 minutes ago, TEFTONG said:

 

 

I take it you’re one of the fans that can see Morelos do no wrong?

[hammer93 9,397]

7 minutes ago, eskbankloyal said:

12 goals in 2 games, none from Morelos or Defoe. A million miles from last season when the two of them were our only real source of goals.

That's the nail on the head bud.....I predicted before a ball was kicked that we would have a mixture of 50 goals and assists from Hagi & kent alone.....so far they will be close to half way there already.....add in Arfield, Aribo & Tavernier and it's all starting to click 

[Prso's headband 22,894]

The pass completion stat is one of the worst used stats on here. 
 

He can pass 9/10 for all I care but the problem is the one or two that go stray are causing us real problems at the back. He done it a lot against Poznan and someone else it isn’t good enough. 
 

We no longer rely on him but he still contributes something

[MacBoyd 2,092]

We are winnimg. I'd imagine he will find form eventually, if he doesn't defoe will come in. Tbh you would lose much outside the box by playing defoe just now and he is much more clinical.

Thankfully the others are on fire.

[philiprfc 1,724]

It's not his form, it's how he's being asked to play, and I think he's doing pretty well atm. I agree he needs to work on some of his one touch passing, he can be wasteful sometimes.

[Number5 986]

He's definitely one of the players that's struggling more so in empty stadiums. Obviously thrives under the atmosphere/pressure.

He's doing what's asked of him and it's working well for the team. Last couple of season the same issues arose when Alfies wasn't finding the net. We struggled. 

As mentioned above, 12 goals in two games yet Defoe and Morelos haven't bagged shows you the variety we have in our play.

 

 

 

[KyleBJK 412]

32 minutes ago, Prso's headband said:

The pass completion stat is one of the worst used stats on here. 
 

He can pass 9/10 for all I care but the problem is the one or two that go stray are causing us real problems at the back. He done it a lot against Poznan and someone else it isn’t good enough. 
 

We no longer rely on him but he still contributes something

There was one against that lot just before half time at 1-0. He got the ball in a massive amount of space and played a hospital ball across the middle of the park and Mcgregor swept up and they broke off on an attack. I remember just watching it thinking what an earth is he thinking. 

[plumbGER 21,166]

2 minutes ago, KyleBJK said:

There was one against that lot just before half time at 1-0. He got the ball in a massive amount of space and played a hospital ball across the middle of the park and Mcgregor swept up and they broke off on an attack. I remember just watching it thinking what an earth is he thinking. 

Seen Jack, Davis, Kamara and so on do the same but don't seem to attract the level of criticism Morelos does.

[KyleBJK 412]

2 minutes ago, plumbGER said:

Seen Jack, Davis, Kamara and so on do the same but don't seem to attract the level of criticism Morelos does.

Mate they all do. No footballer at any level is going to play perfect pass after pass every single but. I’m merely highlighting one that sticks out that might be the one he was thinking off. On the thread about Morelos, so that’s why he’s getting spoken about. 

[Bakbear 2,720]

I have been a big critic of him in the past. Certainly not someone that can overlook his shortcomings easily. But he is clearly being asked to change his game and he is clearly doing what has been asked of him and, despite the lack of goals, it’s is clearly working. 
 

if he wasn’t doing what he was asked he would be dropped and if it wasn’t working we wouldn’t be scoring so freely. 
 

he is going to make mistakes because he is learning a whole new way of playing but the fact he is able to adapt will stand him in good stead. 
 

if he doesn’t score again for the rest of the season while we bang in 4 goals every game I willl be delighted 

[plumbGER 21,166]

9 minutes ago, KyleBJK said:

Mate they all do. No footballer at any level is going to play perfect pass after pass every single but. I’m merely highlighting one that sticks out that might be the one he was thinking off. On the thread about Morelos, so that’s why he’s getting spoken about. 

Yeah I get that mate, it is the Morelos thread so expect it to be in here.

I think the thing with Morelos giving the ball away and playing us into danger is that usually if he receives the ball we are in an advanced position of the pitch with players pushed up, he loses it then teams can counter and catch us out. That's the risk Gerrard is prepared to take when setting out his tactics. 

Alfie does need to get the heed down and concentrate on his game and it will fall into place for him,he has the ability and we have all seen it before.

[southcoastbear 820]

Didnt think Buff was at his best today.

Did wonder when the third goal went in if we might have subbed the wee man and brought Itten on coz we need him firing in case Buff leaves in January given that Roofe is prone to the odd injury as well.

Would have saved Buff for Benfica game on Thursday too.

 

[The Dude 11,097]

He's not been as clinical but think people are looking for a reason to moan after a brilliant win. His movement helped cause real problems for Aberdeen's defence and allowed others to get in behind them. It seems that, tactically, that's very much the role that Gerrard wants him to play and, while he's not gettting as mant goals (or chances for himself) he's playing a big part in goals being spread around the team a bit more.

He's also been much more unselfish this season. The one Arfield when he played it across goal would absolutely have seen Morelos shoot 12 months ago.

[British_Empire 9,645]

1 minute ago, The Dude said:

He's not been as clinical but think people are looking for a reason to moan after a brilliant win. His movement helped cause real problems for Aberdeen's defence and allowed others to get in behind them. It seems that, tactically, that's very much the role that Gerrard wants him to play and, while he's not gettting as mant goals (or chances for himself) he's playing a big part in goals being spread around the team a bit more.

He's also been much more unselfish this season. The one Arfield when he played it across goal would absolutely have seen Morelos shoot 12 months ago.

Totally agree.

Morelos doesn't have to score to be an asset to us. His link-up play is superb.

It really is.

Our shape centers around him. 

People under-estimate the vision he has. When he takes a ball attacking, he literally has eyes in the back/sides of his head. He's huffy, but intelligent. 

The goals he does score are big goals due to his intelligence. 

Was disappointed in his reaction today though tbh. There was no need. Hopefully it's just a wee dummy spit and he's ready again for Thursday. Arm round him and pep talk he should be fine.

[The Dude 11,097]

Just now, British_Empire said:

Totally agree.

Morelos doesn't have to score to be an asset to us. His link-up play is superb.

It really is.

Our shape centers around him. 

People under-estimate the vision he has. When he takes a ball attacking, he literally has eyes in the back/sides of his head. He's huffy, but intelligent. 

The goals he does score are big goals due to his intelligence. 

Was disappointed in his reaction today though tbh. There was no need. Hopefully it's just a wee dummy spit and he's ready again for Thursday. Arm round him and pep talk he should be fine.

I'm sure Gerrard's said he's no issue with that reaction in the past. He'd rather he had a strop at coming off having not scored than walked off all smiles despite having not scored.

Really think that out of the options we have for the front three positions, he's the one who can really get the best out of Roofe. Roofe's not a number 9 and Defoe isn't quite physical or involved enough in the game to really create that sort of space Roofe thrives in.

[SIRB_72 1,686]

Alfie played well for the team today and has worked well with Roofe and Itten now.

He did have a couple of moments when he tried to rush things and gave the ball away stupidly but that was it. His all round movement and work ethic today, and the weeks preceding, have been very good.

If we play like we have today and recently the goals will come back to him but for now if he is distracting opposition players to make space for Roofe or Kent or Arfield then all is well with Rangers and Morelos.

If he starts on Thursday I certainly wouldn't bet against him to get a goal!

[Ger_onimo 17,585]

Apologies if it’s already been said but it’s worth noting that he’s only had 3 yellows and not a single red this season. Given that his disciplinary record was the main talking point the previous 2 seasons, that’s serious progress

[hammer93 9,397]

2 hours ago, TMB said:

If Rangers signed Morelos for £1m during the summer and we were getting this return of goals, assists, and overall play from him we would be more than satisfied.  Especially when you consider how much celtic spent on donkeys like Ajeti and Klimala.  

The problem is, Morelos has set such high standards in the past that people want to see 28 goals before Christmas again.  They want to see him break more European records.  They want to see a 20m Columbian internationalist blowing teams away.

The fans need to accept that his role in the team has changed.  He may not be scoring as many as in 2019 but he’s playing a vital role in a Rangers team that tops their domestic and European leagues.  This Rangers team is flying right now.  If it’s not broken, it doesn’t need fixed.  

Forget how much we paid for Morelos and look at the bigger picture....Morelos gave the ball away twice in the first half that resulted in McGregor having to pull off a save....on both occasions it was 1-0 and we got away with it....those mistakes are exactly the same type of mistakes that haunted us last season in dropping points...in all of those occasions the offending players were rightly criticised....are you now saying Morelos is above criticism because we never conceded on the back of his slack play?

[The Dude 11,097]

Just now, hammer93 said:

Forget how much we paid for Morelos and look at the bigger picture....Morelos gave the ball away twice in the first half that resulted in McGregor having to pull off a save....on both occasions it was 1-0 and we got away with it....they mistakes are exactly the same type of mistakes that haunted us last season in dropping points...in all of those occasions the offending players were rightly criticised....are you now saying Morelos is above criticism because we never conceded on the back of his slack play?

Is that any different to someone giving the ball away and someone else having to make a challenge? Yes he gave the ball away, but that's also why we have a keeper and defence

[WATP-FOREVER 5,230]

He's gone from our top player to being a member of a team/squad of good players, and seems to be struggling a bit.

He'll come good - either the reason to get his head down and win things or get his head down and secure a transfer. 

[hammer93 9,397]

4 minutes ago, The Dude said:

Is that any different to someone giving the ball away and someone else having to make a challenge? Yes he gave the ball away, but that's also why we have a keeper and defence

It is more significant now in the way we set up....Morelos comes deep and his lay off goes back into the middle of the park....the way we move players into the final 3rd then yes it is different.....we are playing more expansive yes? That's why Morelos has to be better in possession as out of possession we are more likely to be caught on the counter 

[The Dude 11,097]

6 minutes ago, hammer93 said:

It is more significant now in the way we set up....Morelos comes deep and his lay off goes back into the middle of the park....the way we move players into the final 3rd then yes it is different.....we are playing more expansive yes? That's why Morelos has to be better in possession as out of possession we are more likely to be caught on the counter 

And we've got a midfield and a defence behind him. We're rarely moving the likes of Balogun, Helander etc that far forward. He has to be better in possession but losing the ball a couple of times is being massively overplayed. Aribo gave it away several times, Roofe gave it away a couple times too. That's not even something that's unique to this game - but so far we've conceded three times in 15 league games so I don't think it's quite the problem it's made out as.

[berkshirebear 2,019]

1 hour ago, Number5 said:

He's definitely one of the players that's struggling more so in empty stadiums. Obviously thrives under the atmosphere/pressure.

He's doing what's asked of him and it's working well for the team. Last couple of season the same issues arose when Alfies wasn't finding the net. We struggled. 

As mentioned above, 12 goals in two games yet Defoe and Morelos haven't bagged shows you the variety we have in our play.

 

 

 

He was terrible the 2nd half of last season when the crowds were present.