While U.S. Men’s National Team attacker Jordan Morris continues to sort out his professional playing future, the former Stanford Cardinal has made an impact while on trial with German Bundesliga side Werder Bremen.
The 21-year-old forward started in Friday’s friendly for Bremen against Inter Baku of Azerbaijan, and assisted on Claudio Pizarro’s 42nd-minute goal.
Morris received the ball down the left flank, took a few touches, before delivering a spot-on cross with the outside of his right boot into the path of Pizarro.
Since joining Werder Bremen on trial, Morris has impressed the German club’s brass, including receiving high praise from head coach Viktor Skripnik.
Here is Morris’ assist against Inter Baku:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f8XCq0NG3h0&app=desktop
What do you think of Morris’ performance? Should he sign with Werder Bremen if an offer is made?
Share your thoughts below.
Effective is effective. I remember reading about the generation of USMNT players who were under Bora’s tutelage. Bora was a task master when it came to things like which foot you might use to play passes etc. When Arena got the job, his philosophy was, ‘whatever is most effective’. Or in other words, ‘just get the cross in the right spot’. I can see the value in both philosophies, but when it comes down to the business, its better just to get the ball in the right spot if you ask me.
Yeah, because Bruce had so much more global experience than Bora!!! Lol
It’s more difficult to be more accurate while crossing the ball to your right with the outside of the foot, than when you’re a righty trying to hit with your left. That was an awesome cross. Not to mention the speed in which he can cross that.
Jordan is a free agent,an amateur he can still sign with Bremen or any other European team even after the close of the window on 1st of February. Also, Seattle sounders will not be getting any form of compensation IG he signs with Bremen.
FiFa regulations on the status and transfers of players rules in article 20 that the club who signs a youth player (up to the age of 23) for the first time as a profssionel player has to pay a training compensation to the training club. Morris was in the youth academy of seattle sounders, so they will get a compensation after annex 4 of the FiFa regulations.
That doesn’t apply, yet, in the United States. That’s why Yedlin’s youth team sued USSF.
It kinda applies but MLS balked when Tottenham tried to pay Crossfire some of the fee for the Yedlin transfer. Call this karma if Morris signs with Bremen. These are all FIFA regulations, not necessari;y US Law. As such, USSF doesn’t have to obey unless they fear FIFA sanctions on that particular issue.
Did Jordan sign any professional contract with anybody? Wouldn’t that have disqualified him playing at Stanford?
What is the basis? There is no contract. How would compensation be calibrated with no contracts involved?
Morris only played for the Seattle youth academy for one year. They deserve very little if anything if he signs in Europe.
The MLS offer of $200,000 is an insult. He must reject it.
I don’t think it’s an insult. Dude has never played a minute for a pro club and $200k is above that median salary for MLS. Of course, that doesn’t mean he can’t get a better offer abroad.
Bremen are traditionally a pretty good side but they are currently in 16th.
Listen, I don’t want him going to MLS if he has Euro offers. But I’m afraid I have to say that the MLS isn’t in a position to just throw cash at every young prospect, regardless of the hype surrounding him. There’s just not enough of that “funny money” floating around the league. 200,000 thousand for a first job out of college? Yeah I wouldn’t complain about that.
But yes I would like to see him turn down MLS for europe. Not because of the money, but because of the doors it can open and the experience
Yeah, “200,000 thousand” = 200,000,000 would be quite generous. 😉
The Nigerian striker for Breman is 25 years old, he helped a club gain promotion into the bundas league, and he has scored about a goal every two games in the bundas league, his salary is 600 k a year, U.S.
I know they are one of the better teams in their country and they have played in the Europa League early rounds pretty consistently, but its hard for me to get excited about an assist in a friendly against Inter Baku.
Agree that if he is overly dependent on his right foot and that defenders at the professional level will be able to exploit that. It’s an example of what differentiates regular professionals and great professionals. A great professional will spend extra time developing his left into a weapon. We will see what type of professional Jordan is soon enough.
Problem with overplaying him to a side is that he is really fast, a step to Morris’s right means the defender is now a step behind when he simply dinks the ball forward slightly left and uses his speed.
Many great players greatly favored/favor one foot – Robin van Persie, Marco Van Basten, Michael Laudrup, Guti, Roberto Carlos, Marco Etcheverry, Arjen Robben, Messi, Giggs, etc…. Heck defenders know exactly what Robben is going to do and it doesnt matter. I am not saying he will be great, etc., just pointing out fallacy.
I also dont think him using his the outside of his right foot (which got the ball out quicker without having to open his hips inside to use his left) to make a great pass is any indication that he is one footed, etc.
I agree that one-footedness is not a fatal problem. Lots of top players are very one-footed. It seems like left-footed players are more often likely to be one-footed. Robben, Roberto Carlos, Rivaldo are some that come to mind. I’d fall into that category too except that I’m a hack rather than a top player.
I bet he winds up signing there. Bremen are in a relegation fight though – this won’t look like as good a move if Bremen are in the 2.Bundesliga next season. Still, i do think it makes sense for him to go abroad and see what he can do.
Does anyone know if Werder or Jordan are working on a timeline and or transfer type window in regards to a decision on his signing? I am wondering when a decision will need to be made?
Usually, they would have to bring him in by January 31 or wait until the next transfer window but since he doesn’t have a contract anywhere maybe that doesn’t apply. Anyone know? If he doesn’t sign this winter but also doesn’t sign with Seattle I guess he won’t be playing anywhere which obviously isn’t ideal.
I sdon’t know about the Bundesliga, but I have seen with MLS on occasion that if someone is out of contract they can join a club anytime. Obviously the earlier he starts the better so that he can get a lot of playing time before the U-23 playoff with Colombia.
If the player is not on a team, then the transfer window does not apply. The window only applies to players that are under contract to another team. So, as long as he does not sign with Seattle, Werder Bremen does not have to worry about the restriction.
When you can do that with your right foot it doesn’t matter that he doesn’t use his left foot much. But I have seen him use his left foot to score goals, receive passes, and make short passes. I tend to think he is trying to perfect his outside of the boot technique.
Nifty outside of the foot flick with his right on that assist; he seems to be fairly good with that. My one worry, and this based on multiple instances, is that he goes out of his way to not use his left foot, even when it seems to be the proper play based on his positioning.
well why do you think he’s ever so good at the outside of the right?
The same way you get to Carnegie Hall?
That was a world class cross, beautiful bend! Start practicing your Deutch, Jordan.
No matter what, it’s pretty cool to be able to say that you assisted on a goal to Pizzaro, a legend on many fronts.
One concern I do have is Morris’s aversion to using his left foot. I remember seeing it in the qualifier when the US went to a 4-3-3 and he was on the left. Don’t get me wrong, the cross is spot on, but defenders will see that and push him left all day at the next level. He’s strong and fast, but the better competition he faces, the better they will be at negating those attributes.
With that said, very excited for him!
I see where you are coming from with your concern. I cant recall your recollection of the US game example but in this case, the cross with the outside of his foot was very efficient. Obviously, it was spot on. But aside from that I think the lack of setting up or swing of his left foot shaved a split second which in European soccer is the difference between a potential block, or defensive cover.
The game is so fast in the top leagues in Europe. So I noticed that players tend to use one favored foot a lot.
This is the pros so obviously these guys can play with both feet. But again, i see your concern. If this guy has a better shot with his left foot, we want this guy scoring with it.
I always think about Dempsey. When he was in top form for Fulham and that one season for Spurs, I noticed he shifted to primarily using one foot for efficiency. BUT he had the left when he needed it. Look at the goal vs. Ghana in WC. That was brilliant. I loved that goal – how unpredictable it was going with his left foot with that angle.
so… depends on who you are. I can think of someone who is entirely one footed and it still doesn’t matter… he plays for the dutch… and is bald… one mr. Robben.
I mean I’m not disagreeing with you, per se, but Robben is one of the most inefficient attackers in world football. The guy makes incredible plays, and scores a lot of goals, but he also burns through a ton of chances.
He’s the epitmoy of Wayne Gretzkey’s quote: “You miss 100% of the chances you don’t take.”
Yes, he needs to work on being more two footed. But he’s already scoring international goals and it sounds like on track to get a Werder offer. And in this instance, he started and had an assist, at which point I am like, really, now is when we emphasize he needs a left foot?
This is not Eddie Johnson, he doesn’t have a deeply flawed game. This is more like Brad Davis, who has special qualities with one foot but limited himself by being someone who could be jockeyed one way.
Pretty cool experience for him either way. Hope he gets a contract and then playing time.