Ravel Morrison

[Darthlaw]

Interesting interview with him on Rio Ferdinands youtube channel with surprising good words from Sir Alex Ferguson and Chris Wilder. The part about him writing a letter to Ferguson to thank him for his debut being particularly surpirising.

I was quite surprised by his character being quite reserved and quiet but can still see how he would be a pain to manage, as he seems to quietly stew on his frustrations before no doubt blowing up, fine style.

Also, some interesting comments on Fat Sam, who Morrison accused of forcing him out of West Ham for failing to move to Allardyce's agent. This part being not in any way surprising.

Do I think Dyche could manage him and get the best a la Joey Barton? Definitely. Would he last the inevitable 4 months on the bench to get Dyche fit? Not a chance. Likely to be Gibson MkII in that respect.

Still not sure I'd be interested in us signing him, regardless of how one sided the deal could be in our favour. Such a shame as his talents would be ideal for our side, particularly on a pay per play contract, but as Ferguson said a player already beaten by his upbringing.

Link for anyone interested:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9MnBGpFeYlI

[claretonthecoast1882]

I think the only person to blame wherever go ends up next and doesn't play will be himself.

[Bosscat]

When I saw this the 1st thing that went through my mind was...

Do I really want to see Clinton "Gangsta" Morrison dancing Ravels "Bolero" als Torville and Dean

[FeedTheArf]

Such a shame his early promise hasn't come to fruition. I remember interviews with a number of the Utd team around the time who all seemed to think he was the most talented youth player they'd ever seen.

[Winstonswhite]

Never sure why Joey Barton is mentioned as if Dyche turned his career around. He was fantastic at every club he played for.

Morrison on the other hand played for what, 10 clubs? Never had any success at any of them.

[Darthlaw]

Reckons on that he's a family man now and has put behind him his days of being a plastic gangsta.

Too little, too late, probably.

[claretburns]

12 clubs in 11 years and 140 overall appearances, he'd be lucky now to get a contract with a League Two club, nevermind Premier League.

[GodIsADeeJay81]

28yrs old, 12 clubs, 140 club games and 19 goals...


I'd have to seriously question the sanity of the club if he came here.

All he's doing is sticking himself back in the shop window hoping some other sucker is daft enough to take a punt on him hoping they can get this world beater out of him that's apparently in there.

He's had managers of varying levels of experience and he's utterly failed to turn up regularly.

[Darthlaw]

12 clubs in 11 years and 140 overall appearances, he'd be lucky now to get a contract with a League Two club, nevermind Premier League.

I thought that years ago, then Sheffield United gave him a contract. Must still have something about him.

[Wellsy1882]

Might be the fact that hes a bang average player

[ecc]

Joey Barton proved his worth wherever he played but had a penchant for losing it.

One of our manager's many masterstrokes was signing him.

Morrison, on the other hand, has never proven his alleged talent anywhere.

[IWOODLOVETT]

Newcastle mulling over a deal for Daniel Sturridge.

[NottsClaret]

Bizarre how this guy still gets so much attention. OK, he was a promising youth player, there's hundreds of them.

I'm still waiting for Anthony Shandran to make it to the top.

[Darthlaw]

28yrs old, 12 clubs, 140 club games and 19 goals...


I'd have to seriously question the sanity of the club if he came here.

Playing devils advocate, if Dyche signed him and he was on £10k per appearance with no weekly salary or signing on fee (beyond the legal minimum pay), would you have the same feelings?

[GodIsADeeJay81]

Playing devils advocate, if Dyche signed him and he was on £10k per appearance with no weekly salary or signing on fee (beyond the legal minimum pay), would you have the same feelings?

Yes, he's a waster, has always been a waster and will continue to be a waster.
I wouldn't want him here in any capacity at all.

He's played for better managers than Dyche and achieved nothing.
He's played for managers on a similar level too and lower than Dyche and still achieved nothing.

The Big Sam issue probably didn't help at West Ham, but that doesn't excuse him wasting the time of 11 other clubs /managers.

All we hear is how talented he is, but he's failed to produce that talent on the pitch.
At least Wilshere has that Barca game as proof of his ability, Morrison doesn't even have that.
He's just been living off the comments/hype about his ability from the likes of Fergie etc.

He hasn't got the mental focus for top level football quite simply.

Some questioned the mental focus of Kevin Mcdonald after the pub incident etc but credit where its due he dropped down the leagues, quietly rebuilt his career and got on with it, 580 club appearances to date to show for it.

[nyclaret]

Bizarre how this guy still gets so much attention. OK, he was a promising youth player, there's hundreds of them.

I'm still waiting for Anthony Shandran to make it to the top.

I think it’s more to do with how much potential this lad had. You listen to some of the United greats (Giggs, Scholes, Rooney, Rio) and the way they talk about his natural talent. You can’t say there are hundreds with the same level of talent.

[KRBFC]

Yes, he's a waster, has always been a waster and will continue to be a waster.
I wouldn't want him here in any capacity at all.

He's played for better managers than Dyche and achieved nothing.
He's played for managers on a similar level too and lower than Dyche and still achieved nothing.

The Big Sam issue probably didn't help at West Ham, but that doesn't excuse him wasting the time of 11 other clubs /managers.

All we hear is how talented he is, but he's failed to produce that talent on the pitch.
At least Wilshere has that Barca game as proof of his ability, Morrison doesn't even have that.
He's just been living off the comments/hype about his ability from the likes of Fergie etc.

He hasn't got the mental focus for top level football quite simply.

Some questioned the mental focus of Kevin Mcdonald after the pub incident etc but credit where its due he dropped down the leagues, quietly rebuilt his career and got on with it, 580 club appearances to date to show for it.

He had a spell at West Ham when he was incredible, didn't last long mind. I remember he ran Spurs ragged at WHL.

[ClaretTony]

I thought that years ago, then Sheffield United gave him a contract. Must still have something about him.

And for whom he made one substitute appearance. He's 28 and has started 60 league games in his career which includes just 11 in the last 7 years. And of those 11, 5 were for Ostersunds. The other 6 for interest were for Cardiff (1), QPR (1), Middlesbrough (3) and Den Haag (1).

[Bordeauxclaret]

His whole career seems to be based on one comment from Ferguson.

No wonder he wrote him a letter.

[Dark Cloud]

It can happen in any sport. People develop at different rates and some do end up the finished "matured" article with all the talent they always had, but it's quite possible Morrison looked a world beater at 19 and was an also ran by the time he was 23. It might have been inevitable in his physique or development and have less to do with his mental state or attitude than many, including him think.

[TheClaret]

Absolutely class player.

[Rowls]

The idea that he stole Wayne Rooney’s football boots “to feed his family” is something which tickles me.

The fellow was only one of the most promising youngsters Man Utd ever produced so I’m sure he was only on a very basic wage. Ho hum.

He says he could sell the boots for £500 and buy a Chinese takeaway for his family.

He either comes from an incredibly large family or they eat literally tonnes of Chinese food.

“Hello yes I’d like to order one spare ribs and one ‘meal for fifty people’ please. For delivery.”

[joey13]

Huddersfield having a look at him according to Nixon

[blake's wand]

It's the kind of character Dyche might fancy to turn around. The difference between this guy and all the others mentioned on this thread is just how talented he 'was'.

Rooney on record saying 'But he struggled with lifestyle and his environment which was sad for him — because I saw Paul Pogba come through, Jesse Lingard, all these players and Ravel was better than any of them by a country mile.'

[Darthlaw]

I think the bit in his interview where he describes getting frustrated being sat on Sheffield Uniteds bench during the first half of last season (when they were winning regularly) has put paid to that.

He'd be a ticking timebomb in our squad, regardless of whether he still had the talent or not.

[cricketfieldclarets]

If he was 23. Maybe. Just maybe.

The reality is he’s done nothing. I actually can’t believe he’s 28.

He might have been a talented youngster. But talent is only a small part of what’s needed. Especially at the top.

Discipline. Attitude. Hard work. Teamwork. Match fitness and experience. He has none of them.

[tiger76]

Huddersfield have confirmed that they are considering signing former West Ham midfielder Ravel Morrison on a free transfer. The 28-year-old Englishman is currently searching for his 12th club after leaving Dutch side ADO Den Haag in January.

12 clubs and he's only 28, that would suggest he's failed under various managers, and I really can't see anything in his career to show that he'll suddenly emerge in the latter stages of his career, if Huddersfield think they can make a player out of him then good luck to them, but I'll be surprised if he pulls up any trees even in the Championship.

[Dyched]

I’d like to know if what he said was true about only being offered 6 month contracts due to his “reputation” from his younger days.

If that’s how it worked with all footballers, his situation would be very common. The only thing keeping players at clubs is transfer fees and long contracts. Look at Joelinton for one. If he was free and on 6 months he’d be long gone. They’ll be 100s throughout the football league.

How on earth is a player supposed to settle in both on and off the pitch, get fit and perform to warrant an extension in 6 months?. That to me is very, very wrong.

[GodIsADeeJay81]

3.5 Yr deal at West ham in 2012
4 Yr deal at Lazio 2015
6mth deal at Osterund Jan 2019
1 Yr deal at Sheff Utd Jul 2019
Ado Den Haag was given a deal from Sept 2020 until end of season, but it was terminated in Jan 2021 by mutual consent.

Plenty of loan spells inbetween, but he's only signed 1 actual contract for 6mths.

He's only got himself to blame if clubs can't be arsed trusting him for more than 6mths, but equally if he's that desperate to play football, he should take that 6mth deal to prove he's worth more after years of wasting everyone's time.

[superdimitri]

He makes drinkwater look motivated sadly. I hope he turns it around for his own sake.