With promotion at stake, Swansea has been scrambling to increase their depth this January transfer window. A large part due to loanees Morgan Gibbs-White, Kasey Palmer, and Viktor Gyokeres all being recalled to their parent clubs. With Swansea pushing for a promotion, manager Steve Cooper is looking to bolster his attacking options.

Morris has been a key attacking piece to the Seattle Sounder’s recent success. Winning two MLS Cups during his 4 seasons played there, Morris being crucial in those MLS Cup runs. Jordan has accumulated 42 goals and 21 assists in 129 games for the Sounders. While European interest has been there for Morris since 2016, Jordan Morris will be leaving the MLS for the first time in his career at 26-years-old.

Player Profile

Jordan Morris is an incredibly hard working and flexible attacking option. He can play any forward position but has found his best form playing as an inverted winger on the left for Seattle. The most obvious strength Morris has is his powerful running ability. Morris’s stocky physique is not one of a typical soccer player and combined with his impressive speed it makes for a dangerous combination.

His pace and power are the main attributes that define his playing style. He uses them to explode past players one versus one but also to play off the shoulder of defenders and run in behind. The latter being a very useful ability to Swansea and their system. More on that later.

However, Morris isn’t only all brute strength and speed. An underrated aspect in Morris’s game is his playmaking ability. While he’s no number ten, Morris does possess good vision and passing ability for a direct attacker like himself. He shouldn’t be relied on to be the creative catalyst of a team but can link up play nicely, cross the ball, and create if needed. It is one of the aspects of his game that he has improved on the most throughout the years.

One of the main reasons that Morris’s playmaking ability was hindered early on in his career was that he practically had no left foot. Morris was heavily dependent on his right foot and it was holding him back. He realized this and has drastically improved it. He isn’t fully two-footed but is capable of consistently crossing and scoring on his weaker left foot.

The most impressive part about Morris, however, isn’t his pace, power or playmaking but his incredible worth ethic. Morris leaves everything on the pitch every time he steps on it. On offense he is constantly moving either looking for the ball or running in behind. He runs after every 50/50 and isn’t afraid to run back on defense and put in a tackle to stop a counter. If one thing is guaranteed that you will be getting from Morris every time he is on the pitch is 110% effort.

Some weaker aspects of his game are his finishing and close control dribbling.

While Morris’s finishing isn’t terrible by any means it is nothing special. It’s very average. Due to his smart off the ball movement, most of Morris’s goal-scoring opportunities are high percentage shots. For these high percentage opportunities, his finishing ability is more than sufficient. With that said though, Morris is by no means a clinical finisher.

While Morris has definitely improved his first touch and dribbling it still isn’t anything super impressive. His strength definitely comes with having space to work with. When playing against really defensive sides who don’t give much space he can struggle. He doesn’t have the close control required to beat opponents one versus one in tight spaces in and around the box.

So how does Jordan Morris fit at Swansea City under Steve Cooper’s system?

Swansea City

Swansea City has found plenty of success playing a 352 under Steve Cooper this season. The most obvious thing that stands about Cooper’s current system is that there are no wingers. This seems to be an immediate problem on paper because Jordan Morris’s preferred position is left-winger. The current two strikers in Cooper’s 352 are André Ayew (left) and Jamal Lowe (right). However, they don’t play a traditional number nine role.

Ayew’s role is that of a deep-lying forward who drops deeper to help in the transition from defense to attack. He’s the creative playmaker of the two strikers so you want him to be on the ball as much as possible. Therefore he has complete freedom to roam and drop to receive the ball from any position he sees fit.

Lowe’s role on the other hand is to pull defenses by drifting wide and running in behind. Sound familiar to a particular Sounder’s strengths? Lowe has been in top form recently scoring 7 goals in his last 7 games. He won’t be losing his starting position anytime soon but his role fits Morris’s strengths.

Morris would most likely be filling this role to give Lowe a break as a sub or playing the cup games. They also happen to be the same exact age with Lowe being the elder of the two by 3 months. Morris’s speed and smart off-ball movement are perfectly suited to this role. He would not only be providing depth but also competition to Lowe in that position.

The other but less likely possibility is that Steve Cooper switches to a 343 formation. With Morris as the left forward, Lowe as the right forward, and Ayew in the middle of them playing the false 9. While this is much less likely, it is possible if Morris impresses enough and Lowe keeps his fine form. Cooper could want to find a way to fit all three players in the starting line up and a 343 could be a very viable option to do so.

Conclusion

Jordan Morris has finally decided to step out of his comfort zone and is headed to Europe. It is a six-month loan that could potentially change the entire perception of his career. It is an opportunity for him to prove to American fans and more importantly himself that he can cut it in Europe. He is being thrown straight into the fire in the midst of Swansea City’s promotion battle in the Championship. If he performs well and helps Swansea get promoted it could potentially mean he will become a Premier League player.

For Swansea City, they are getting a tireless worker and a dynamic player who can make an immediate impact. They are getting such player on a low-risk loan deal but with high potential upside. Jordan Morris’s direct playing style, power, and speed are all well suited to the Championship. Not to mention that in terms of culturally adapting it should be easier for Morris considering he already speaks English.

A great opportunity has arrived for Jordan Morris in Europe, it’s now up to him to prove to everyone he has what it takes.

The post Jordan Morris: Swansea’s Depth Solution? appeared first on Regal Soccer.

It is a prevalent misconception that Pulisic is a “Hazard Type Player.” That is the furthest thing from the truth. Pulisic’s playing style is the polar opposite of Hazard’s, and because of that, he has the potential to become a more prolific goal scorer than Hazard. 

Dribbling Style

The most common comparison people make between Pulisic and Hazard is their dribbling styles. While both are light on their feet, have great ball control, and are excellent in 1 v 1 scenarios, their dribbling styles are in fact opposites.

Starting with Hazard, he can be described as a magician, his dribbling revolves around putting on an extravagant show.

Hazard dribbles North, South, East, West, and every direction in between. He wants to run circles around defenders and prove just how much better he is than them. He wants to show the world how helpless he leaves defenders. Every matchday is a new stage on which to put on a new magical performance.

Hazard also relies on his extreme high balance combined with his low center of gravity and stockier body frame to keep possession. He is a master of getting the most out of his body frame and balance to hold off bigger, faster, and stronger defenders. This makes taking the ball away from him extremely difficult.

Pulisic, on the other hand, is an assassin. He isn’t interested in getting from Point A to Point B in the prettiest way. He is only interested in the fastest way from Point A to B. For him, it is a matter of what is the fastest and most effective way of murdering a defender.

Pulisic brings a very American philosophy to the way he plays football. In general, in American sports, the athletes are taught to be direct and explosive. This is especially prevalent in basketball, a sport that Pulisic loves and grew up watching and playing.

You are taught in basketball to dribble right off the shoulder of a defender. Your goal should be to graze the defender’s shoulder when you go past him to give him no ability to be able to turn around and recover. You can clearly see this influence in Pulisic’s dribbling style.

For Pulisic, there is no East or West it is only North and South. His whole dribbling philosophy is based on this concept.

He attacks defenders head-on attacking their shoulder and using his blistering pace with his close control to fly right past them.

Hazard dances around defenders while Pulisic attacks them directly.

Selfishness

The other reason why Pulisic’s game is nothing like Hazard’s is his selfishness. In their debut seasons, Hazard averaged 2.07 shots per match, while Pulisic averaged 3.12. As well as averaging 0.42 goals per 90 compared to Hazard’s 0.26. Pulisic is just a more selfish player.

Keep in mind, Hazard played in 28 more matches than Pulisic did in his debut season, also that he averaged 0.40 assists per 90 compared to Puli’s 0.27. Almost a complete flip of their goal and assist averages. Again, just further proving more how polar opposite their playing styles are.

Hazard’s biggest criticism has always been that he isn’t selfish enough. That is what held him back from being a consistent, prolific goal scorer. Hazard wants to set his team up for goals, Pulisic wants to score the goals himself.

This is why Pulisic will be a more prolific goalscorer than Hazard.

Pulisic at Dortmund wasn’t selfish. It wasn’t until he arrived at Chelsea where he embraced being selfish and has been greatly rewarded by having the best season of his life regardless of playing in a new, tough league like the Prem.

This rise in Pulisic’s selfishness from when he was at Dortmund to Chelsea has been greatly encouraged by his manager at Chelsea, Frank Lampard. This is one of the main reasons Pulisic has thrived at Chelsea under Lampard.

As Pulisic develops and further improves his decision making and finishing he will only score more and more goals.

Mentality

Apart from being more direct and selfish than Hazard, their differences don’t stop there. Pulsic plays with a chip on his shoulder. Being an American soccer player automatically comes with a stigma of doubt towards you.

Americans have to do more to prove themselves.

Every time Pulisic steps on the pitch he carries this stigma in mind and because of that, he has developed a mentality of “I’ll prove everyone wrong.”

He was doubted at Dortmund and especially doubted in his capability to thrive in the Premier League. Even USMNT fans thought that going to Chelsea was the wrong move for Pulisic.

Pulisic did what Pulisic does when he is doubted. Prove everyone wrong.

The added pressure of being a US soccer player and having to prove himself over and over again has created an unbreakable mental fortitude in Pulisic.

Something he proved once again in the Premier League. 

Despite dealing with doubt from the world in his ability to succeed at Chelsea, having a slow start at Chelsea, and on top of everything dealing with a long term injury he managed to have a brilliant debut season for The Blues.

His mental fortitude and maturity are exceptional, especially considering his ripe, young age of 21. 

Conclusion

Pulisic and Hazard may play the same position and use the same number but have unique, differing styles to each other. The comparisons between them need to stop. Fans shouldn’t expect the new Hazard but rather the first Pulisic. As both are extraordinarily special in their own ways.

The post Pulisic and Hazard: Beyond Comparison appeared first on Regal Soccer.

Is Juventus really the right club for McKennie at this stage in his career? The short answer is yes but more importantly here is why…

Juventus Believe in Him

The first reason why Juventus is perfect for McKennie is for a reason that has nothing to do with anything on the pitch. Juventus believe in McKennie. That simple, but how do we know this?

First of all because Juventus were willing to pay $5.3 million for a loan. Paying such a fee for a loan shows the confidence Juventus have in McKennie’s ability to make an immediate impact. On top of paying for the loan, there is a clause that would require Juventus to make the trasnfer permanent.

Reports from Sky Sports claim that if McKennie appears in more than 60% of the games this season then Juventus will be obligated to purchase McKennie. There was even another report that the obligation to buy is based on if Juventus qualify for Champions League. Regardless of whichever one it is they are both practically guaranteed to occur.

This is evidence that in fact Juventus have full intention of making McKennie’s move permanent. Which makes perfect sense considering the difficult financial times clubs are going through during the pandemic. It allows Juventus to obtain McKennie’s services while keeping their books balanced.

The second piece of evidence showing Juventus’s belief in McKennie is that he takes up one of two valuable non-EU roster spot. In the Serie A, teams are only allowed 2 players from another European club outside the Serie A that don’t have European passports. Juventus could have used this slot for any player in Europe and decided to use it on the USMNT midfielder.

McKennie’s Unique Skillset

While there are several other players throughout the world who have the same skillset as McKennie, none of them play at Juventus. Well, not anymore.

McKennie is a high energy, versatile, athletic, ball-winning specialist. A skillset and role that Juventus is now lacking with the departure of Matuidi and Khedira this window. McKennie is a direct replacement to Matuidi who has played the most games out of any other Juventus player in the past 3 years. Showing how critical the defensive midfielder role is to Juventus’ success.

This is all fantastic news for McKennie. Not only is his skillset and role valued at Juventus, no other player at the club does what he does. Bentancur, Arthur, and Ramsey are no ball winners. Rabiot is capable of defensive duties but is unreliable and prefers joining in the attack.

Many are concerned that McKennie won’t get enough playing time at Juventus but there is no need for concern. Regardless of whatever system is played at Juventus under Pirlo, a reliable ball winner who will do the dirty work is always an essential piece to any winning team. McKennie will get plenty of playing time because he is the only one who will provide this for Juventus.

Juventus Teammates

McKennie’s biggest weaknesses are his decision making, soccer IQ and not the sharpest technical ability whether its dribbling or passing. All weaknesses that happen to be the strengths of his fellow Juventus midfielders.

Arthur, Rabiot, and Bentancur all happen to be technical and smart players but rarely do all the dirty work and ball-winning that McKennie provides. McKennie covers their weaknesses and they cover his. Thus creating a balanced midfield.

But not only can he cover for their weaknesses, he can also learn the technical side of the game by constantly practicing and playing alongside his Juventus teammates. Helping McKennie further develop the weaker side of his game. Something he wasn’t able to do at Shalke because of the lack of quality players surrounding him.

Speaking of development…

Pirlo

While we still don’t know much about Pirlo the coach we know all about Pirlo the player. Pirlo was one of the most technically gifted players of all time and played for some brilliant tactical sides. Pirlo can teach McKennie the tactical intricacies of being a smart midfielder like he once was.

Not only will McKennie learn a lot from Pirlo but he also fits into the philosophy Pirlo wants to play. While Pirlo changed up his tactics and formation in his opening 2 games, McKennie started in both. While it still isn’t clear what formation and tactics Pirlo will stick with in the long run, what is clear is that he wants to win possession back immediately after losing it.

Pirlo has even stated himself that he wants his teams to pressure and win the ball back immediately after losing possession. That is where McKennie’s skillset comes in. Arthur, Ramsey, and Bentancur won’t consistently provide that but that is McKennie’s specialty.

So regardless of what formation Pirlo plays, there will always be a place for McKennie because Pirlo’s system demands a high energy player who can press hard and strong right after losing possession to win the ball back. Music to McKennie’s ears.

Conclusion

Many people think McKennie is out of his depth at Juventus but in fact, he is at one of the best situations he can be at for his development. All the right factors for him to strive at Juventus are there it is just up to him to make the most of it.

So to answer the question, is Juventus really the right club for McKennie at this stage in his career?

Absolutely.

The post Juventus is Perfect for Weston McKennie appeared first on Regal Soccer.