Signing Dejan Joveljić was a massive coup for Seattle Sounders. It's big money, for a big player, with history of scoring goals. It also means the club has two starting-quality DP forwards.
How would Jordan Morris respond to the news that he wouldn't be the lone striker when healthy?
From 2016 to present Jordan has played three main roles. He was a forward, then a left wing, then a right wing, then a forward again. His MVP-caliber season during the height of the pandemic was his best assist season. He was a wide player. His healthiest post-pandemic years saw him earn a DP escalator while being extremely healthy and scoring on par with the best non-penalty taking forwards in the league.
He fell from those heights due to injury. Concerns grew that he would never regain his old form, pressure mounted to find someone new up top, and the GM finally got his man.
Now Jordan is back healthy, but not always the forward.
He's played a few roles and it's hard to say it's not working. Nominally a right winger when Joveljić is around, Morris played a creator and defender. His passing looks to combine with Deki and funnel the ball to the big man. Jordan's aggressive as he needs to be on defense, once again excelling as a defensive attacker.
Then we saw him pounce from a deeper line, quickly accelerating and forcing fouls, because even with age that first step and size combo is proving difficult. Since coming back he's averaging just over 2 shots per 90, tight and well placed. Plus a few called back for offside.
And once again we see a shift. He moves up top, by himself, lonely. A key outlet for long balls, Jordan showed that he still has the hold up play, even when being held. That Sebastian Gomez goal shows what's possible when players can run towards the empty space Jordan creates when defenses have to cope – or not cope in this case.
Jordan's also becoming a ball carrier, running at defenses. Goal two in Thursday’s win came because Jordan at full speed running with the ball now threatens in multiple ways.
Each game since coming back we're seeing a Jordan Morris who can be a shooter, can be a dribbler, can be a passer, can be a hold up player.
In sports there are times when the elder pouts as they are replaced. In Seattle the culture won. Jordan didn't pout. He's putting on the mask of a man suitable for whatever role is needed to earn points.
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Catching up on Sounder at Heart
Here's what you missed on the site this week.
Sounders
Next match: Saturday October 10 at New England at 4:30 pm PT on Apple TV.
Sounders 9-point homestand pushed them up to a 77% chance to make the playoffs.
- BBQ tears redux: Sounders grab late winner
- Realio’s Ratings: 150 shades of autumn inevitability
- Would moving to Renton be a 'generational' mistake?
- Albert Rusnák quietly posting another productive season
- Wins allow Sounders ability to be more self-critical
- Key takeaways from Sounders’ Annual Business Meeting
This newsletter was made possible through the support of Full Pull Wines, a boutique wines reseller that has been sponsoring us since 2011.
Reign
Next match: Sunday October 18 at Chicago Stars at 4 pm PT on Roku Channel.
Reign dropped below the red line on Friday. With three games left they have a 35% chance of making the playoffs.
- Seattle Reign fall to North Carolina Courage, 1-0
- Lesle Gallimore on the Reign's patient roster build
- Reign sign Jordyn Bugg to new contract through 2030 season
- Valkyratings: No Legacy admissions
- The Cooler Guild: Two many goals
- Five Seattle Reign players called up for international duty
Defiance
Next match: Sunday October 11 at San Jose Earthquakes II at 6 pm on OneFootball and YouTube.
Looking back at the news
Everything else you need to know
NWSL and women's soccer
- Five years ago, the NWSL was in crisis. Thanks to its players, it’s flourishing (The Athletic via Yahoo)
- New Atlanta NWSL team reveals name, branding (Equalizer)
- Yolanda Thomas, the NWSL’s first Black female head coach: ‘I felt more than ready for the job’ (The Athletic)
- Rebecca Lowe to host Women’s World Cup for Netflix (Awful Announcing)
- US lined up instead of Qatar to host inaugural Women’s Club World Cup (The Guardian)
- Hayes hopes Macario back for U.S. in January with eye on World Cup (ESPN)
