The Enigma of Ravel Morrison

I don’t get RM, he says all the right things and from what little I saw of him last year he clearly was trying and wanted to be a success, it just didn’t happen for him like at every club he’s been at. He didn’t do much wrong but given the talent that so many people rave about, he didn’t do anything to stand out either. So many people can’t be that wrong about him can they?
 
When he played last season he was completely anonymous, if he’d have been a youth player you’d have said he won’t make it from what we saw.

poor player - he didn’t do much wrong as he didn’t try to do anything other than the staple 5 yard pass
 
I seem to remember he had a decent game away at Wigan on his debut. I found it a bit strange that Woodgate didn't try him in any of the home games - I don't even remember him coming off the bench.

I would have liked to see have seen him playing as a no10 behind Britt and Fletcher.
 
To be fair he didn’t have anything like a run of games when he was here, and probably hasn’t had for years. Maybe he didn’t warrant it from what he was doing in training, but I didn’t see enough of him to say that he is a poor player.

Be good for him to go somewhere, settle and enjoy playing some football.
 
UKLL1981 said:
I don’t get RM, he says all the right things and from what little I saw of him last year he clearly was trying and wanted to be a success, it just didn’t happen for him like at every club he’s been at. He didn’t do much wrong but given the talent that so many people rave about, he didn’t do anything to stand out either. So many people can’t be that wrong about him can they?
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The linked article in the OP is an interesting read:

“As gifted as Ravel is, his talent was no present given to him. Any physical talent has been honed not only by the time he spends on the pitch, but just as much because Sheffield United's new midfielder never seems happier than when the ball is at his feet. This is where his gift becomes the curse.

He's capable of dictating play, so drops deep – too deep – in an effort to create. He recognises his own ability, and the pressure he places upon himself to do what he and those around him expect him to means he creates overloads where they're not needed behind the ball.”

and then..

“Getting the best out of him is more like doing a Rubik’s Cube blindfolded. You know that while it would be brilliant if you were the one who managed to do it, getting there is the real puzzle.”
 
I was stunned when big Sam chatted about him on Talksport. He was very open and Frank about the 'issues' they had with him.

He chatted about his mental health and I'm not sure you should do that on radio?🤔. I just googled and extract and it's pretty damming as to what 'you have to work with' regarding Morrison.....

Discussing the challenges of working with Morrison during that period, Allardyce told talkSPORT: “It was a real struggle and a real challenge to be honest.
“I think the long and short of it was, as hard as we tried to control him he needed deeper and more psychological help than we could ever possibly give him if he was to able to control his focus and concentration.
“Ravel was unfortunately left with a disorder which would mean he would forget almost immediately after he left the training ground what he was supposed to do the next day.

He also said that they had to send him for emergency dental work. He hadn't been to a dentist in nearly 20 years and his teeth were actually poisoning him through decay. He apparently has a few real deep phobias.

He clearly has many 'issues' that distract from his football. He will no doubt end up with a club but its got to 'last chance saloon' soon.
 
S7DiscoDown said:
I was stunned when big Sam chatted about him on Talksport. He was very open and Frank about the 'issues' they had with him.

He chatted about his mental health and I'm not sure you should do that on radio?🤔. I just googled and extract and it's pretty damming as to what 'you have to work with' regarding Morrison.....

Discussing the challenges of working with Morrison during that period, Allardyce told talkSPORT: “It was a real struggle and a real challenge to be honest.
“I think the long and short of it was, as hard as we tried to control him he needed deeper and more psychological help than we could ever possibly give him if he was to able to control his focus and concentration.
“Ravel was unfortunately left with a disorder which would mean he would forget almost immediately after he left the training ground what he was supposed to do the next day.

He also said that they had to send him for emergency dental work. He hadn't been to a dentist in nearly 20 years and his teeth were actually poisoning him through decay. He apparently has a few real deep phobias.

He clearly has many 'issues' that distract from his football. He will no doubt end up with a club but its got to 'last chance saloon' soon.
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“ Ravel was unfortunately left with a disorder which would mean he would forget almost immediately after he left the training ground what he was supposed to do the next day.” - this bit concerned me, it suggests some sort of trauma or injury.
 
I was more bothered at the time thinking should he be talking about his mental state and dental history on radio. Sure some kind of patient confidentiality.
 
S7DiscoDown said:
I was more bothered at the time thinking should he be talking about his mental state and dental history on radio. Sure some kind of patient confidentiality.
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“ The gamble for us was more than just financial. There was apprehension upon his arrival that the three-headed monster he'd been portrayed as by some would rock up and wreak havoc. Yet nothing could have been further from the truth. In terms of his behaviour, the biggest worry for us was his sweet tooth.
After being frozen out by Lazio, alongside four other players, Ravel came to us off the back of literally playing head tennis and gym work for four months. Not in bad shape, but definitely not football ready. And not in good enough shape to accommodate a Pick ’n’ Mix habit. He realised too late for us that if the Premier League would come calling, something more drastic was needed. Looking at him in training with Sheffield United, at least one penny of a few required has dropped.”
 
Another in the long line of teenage prodigies who never made it and still staggers me that he is continually being signed by decent clubs.
 
Hicktonpen10 said:
Another in the long line of teenage prodigies who never made it and still staggers me that he is continually being signed by decent clubs.
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The story continues tho.. every manager or player that has worked with him says he is a magnificent talent.
 
gravy173 said:
when he played last season he was completely anonymous, if he’d have been a youth player you’d have said he won’t make it from what we saw.

poor player - he didn’t do much wrong as he didn’t try to do anything other than the staple 5 yard pass
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No better or worse than most of our midfield. Never really got enough game time to prove anything.
 
too bad that the media, as well as managers [i.e. Fergie] and other players bulled him up to the point that it almost meant he had to be like Messi overnight-- in the end he just sank beneath the pressure-- some athletes do
 
The mental side of any sport is very interesting. We seem to know so much more more and people are more open about talking/ accepting things and yet there are obviously many who struggle.
 
I guess when Fergie or Rio say he's 'the best young talent at UTD' or better than Giggs at that age its gonna be difficult to live up to that.

I remember Pep saying Foden is the best young talent he's ever seen.... Cheers!! Coming from a guy who worked with Messi and Iniesta/xavi etc😂

That said 10 clubs in nearly 10 years says it all. He has only played more than 25 games in a season once in that period at QPR. I'm not sure what Woody thought he could unlock that far better managers couldn't.

The one thing that I do keep hearing is that he's not a big time Charlie or comes with attitude. He's apparently very quiet and polite.
 
S7DiscoDown said:
I guess when Fergie or Rio say he's 'the best young talent at UTD' or better than Giggs at that age its gonna be difficult to live up to that.

I remember Pep saying Foden is the best young talent he's ever seen.... Cheers!! Coming from a guy who worked with Messi and Iniesta/xavi etc😂

That said 10 clubs in nearly 10 years says it all. He has only played more than 25 games in a season once in that period at QPR. I'm not sure what Woody thought he could unlock that far better managers couldn't.

The one thing that I do keep hearing is that he's not a big time Charlie or comes with attitude. He's apparently very quiet and polite.
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Maybe Karanka will fancy him? He strikes me as the sort of chap that thinks he could get the most out of Morrison. Diego Fabbrini was very much a world class one day pub team the next sort of player. Get him up top being the striker!
 
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