Rangers may have just secured best ‘signing’ of January – for free
ABERDEEN, SCOTLAND - JANUARY 10: Alfredo Morelos of Rangers celebrates scoring his team's second goal during the Ladbrokes Scottish Premiership match between Aberdeen and Rangers at Pittodrie Stadium on January 10, 2021 in Aberdeen, Scotland. Sporting stadiums around Scotland remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
We’ve not talked too much about Alfredo Morelos’ performance yesterday, other than to say it was stellar.
Indeed, this was almost as if his dire 2020 didn’t happen, and he’d picked up from his stunning 2019 performances all over again, and we had the old menacing goal-scoring el-bufalo back at last.
Let’s take a look at these numbers:
Passing average – normally around 65% to 80% tops, was comfortably close to 90%.
3 shots, two on target, and of course, two goals.
His movement was much, much more like the Morelos of 2019 – instead of playing deep barely inside the opposition half, Morelos was almost exclusively around the 18-yard box.
The hunger was there, the running was there, and he led the line well, coming deeper to link up when needed.
In short, this was right back with a bang to the player he was over 12 months ago, but somehow it got lost completely last year.
It was a delight to see him looking this focused, no moodiness, and even grinning quite a few times.
Of course, some cynics, with maybe a spot of accuracy, might hint he’s playing for his move away this month – entirely possible, we know he’s hankering for the PL and agreed terms with Lille in the past.
But if on the chance he’s actually happy again, and playing for this club and settled here, then Rangers just made the biggest signing of this window already without paying a penny.
And few would complain about that.