Alfredo Morelos - a look at the change in him this season

[Stevie - 4lads Blog 922]

http://fourladshadadream.blog/2019/09/29/alfredo-morelos-from-the-heart-of-columbia/

 

My writing from today, I don’t normally stick these in here but hopefully people enjoy this one 

 

A small look at Alfredo’s season, the positives & attitude change making him a focused complete forward

 

Not one booking yet, no mention from the media who gave him pelters & called him a psychopath etc 

 

Yesterday was as complete a performance as I’ve seen from him  

[Tannochsidebear 2,429]

Great summing up of the difference in him this year, and yesterday's added movement in coming deep to let Stewart go in behind and ensure Dolly hadnt a clue where to go or who to follow was an absolute joy to watch, and I hope we get the chance to see those two improve their understanding and connection as it has the potential to be sensational. One game doesnt win you anything in the big picture, and it could all come crashing down over the next 7 days of course should we lose in Switzerland and then not break down Accies but for now we have the right to enjoy what was a simply sensational team performance.

 

As good as Morelos was yesterday, and I loved every minute of his performance, he didnt even get MOTM for me as Davis was on another planet yesterday!

[Frankie 8,665]

A great article, Stevie. ??

[ian1964 10,761]

Alfredo Morelos' performance was further evidence Rangers could be rewarded with silverware and transfer gold

Morelos ran Aberdeen ragged and bagged his 13th goal of the season in Saturday's 5-0 rout.

By Gary Ralston

The rap sheet was lengthy and the rehab is still ongoing.

Alfredo Morelos imprisoned much of his talent last season with his own petulant behaviour and lack of professionalism.

His performance against Aberdeen offered further evidence of a Rangers repentance that might yet see the club rewarded with silverware - and end of season transfer gold.

No ifs, buts or maybes. At the peak of his game, no striker in Scottish football can match the armoury of the fiery Colombian, who plays with a scowl on his face and joy in his heart.

Steven Davis and Greg Stewart drew the bulk of favourable comments against an Aberdeen side that put on a display, the opinion on which swayed between absolutely outplayed to utterly anonymous.

Didn’t turn up? Mentally, they looked as if they were still in the queue for Starbucks at Dunblane as the Light Blues handed Derek McInnes his heaviest defeat in more than six years as Dons gaffer.

McInnes was pilloried by his own Pittodrie punters after this humbling, but perspective is required for a manager who is trading with Slater’s against Steven Gerrard’s Saville Row.

Rangers were already four goals to the good when Sheyi Ojo was removed after an hour and replaced from the bench by Jermain Defoe to join Morelos in terrorising the Dons defence.

Mikey Devlin and Co could have been forgiven for borrowing a line from Glasgow theatrical folklore, when Bernie Winters was joined on stage at the Empire by brother Mike and a disgusted audience member cried out, “Aw naw,

there’s two of them.”

Morelos scored two goals against Aberdeen in five matches last season, missed the Betfred Cup semi-final meeting as a result of his own indiscipline, picked up four yellow cards and three reds, one of which was later rescinded.

At this stage last season he had already been dismissed twice, been cautioned six times and scored eight goals in 17 appearances. Now? After the same number of games Morelos has netted 13 times and been booked only three times.

His movement against the Dons was a joy to watch as he drew Devlin and Zak Vyner into the debate central defenders detest most - to stay or go.

For the most part they kept their feet planted on the 18 yard line, but it only created a midfield overload in which Rangers played through the Dons and created time and pockets of space to pick passes into the box.

On the occasions they followed him deep it allowed Stewart, Scott Arfield and Ojo to prosper in behind from the dainty feet of Davis, a wonderful technician whose guile and creativity in that area wreaked havoc.

Morelos is playing with a ravenous appetite - he dropped deep, skipped past Greg Leigh and drew Vyner into the clumsy challenge that allowed James Tavernier to score the opener from the spot after 20 minutes.

He popped up on the right wing to feed Tavernier for the cross that led to Stewart’s second three minutes before the break, but it was his third that proved the pick of the bunch.

He drifted between midfield and attack, knocked the ball to Davis and when the midfielder picked out Borna Barisic, Morelos judged his back post run to perfection, darting behind the defence to nod a delightful cross into the net from six yards.

Defoe added a fifth after another Tavernier spot kick, awarded when Leigh was caught wrong side of Barisic and wrestled the full-back to the ground, compounding an already wretched afternoon.

Even McInnes was moved to comment: “We are well-versed in how Morelos wants to play but when he does it as well as he did today, it is difficult to stop. He led the line brilliantly. The quality of movement is something he is very good at.”

Gerrard added: “I am not going to take any credit for Alfredo’s performance. He is the one who is dropping into the interesting areas trying to drag the Aberdeen defenders around the pitch.

“He was on the left, on the right, he scored a header. He was focussed on his performance and nothing else.”

Rangers lost twice against Aberdeen at Ibrox in three fixtures last season,

including a ruinous loss in the Scottish Cup, but their energy and movement, orchestrated by Davis, suggests they have learned hard and fast as they bid to mount a credible title challenge.

Aberdeen, weakened by injuries, looked a shadow of the well organised side who have put in some significant performances against the big two in recent seasons.

They were pulled all over the place and the failure of their midfield to impact on the match left Sam Cosgrove and isolated and frustrated figure in attack.

Even their set piece threat failed to materialise and Allan McGregor did not have a single shot to save, with Connor McLennan’s low drive outside the post from 25 yards in the second half their only moment of encouragement.

Rangers could have scored more, but still moved closer to Celtic at the top of the table following that 1-1 draw at Easter Road - and the Light Blues are now back to within a goal of their arch rivals.

They head to Switzerland this week for Europa League duty in bullish spirits as Gerrard bids for the victory that will take them a huge step closer to the knockout stages just two matches in.

With Zen Dog Alfredo leading the line, you wouldn’t put it past them to scale new heights in the shadow of the Alps.

https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/alfredo-morelos-performance-further-evidence-20329211

[Bill 13,717]

“Zen Dog Morelos”

 

I like it.