Manchester United sold Ravel Morrison to West Ham United in January. Now he has been loaned out by the Hammers.
West Ham fans may be wondering what all the fuss was about with Ravel Morrison, and they will have to continue being patient.
Hailed by those who watched him regularly in Manchester United’s youth teams as potentially the club’s next big star, Sir Alex Ferguson decided his attitude meant he was not worth pursuing earlier this year.
Rather than see him walk on the club themselves, United sold him to the Hammers ahead of deadline day.
A trip down into the Championship was supposed to lend itself to Morrison’s impatience to reach the first team, but after signing for West Ham he has played just nine minutes of league football.
With West Ham promoted to the Premier League, the standard he suddenly needed to reach to play regularly just leapt up, and Sam Allardyce has decided it will be better to loan him out.
There may be doubters – and judging by the reaction of Twitter late last night, there certainly are – writing Morrison off already.
Which is a mistake with any 19-year-old, especially one so talented as Morrison.
He may not have ‘made it’ at Manchester United, but that was more owing to his attitude rather than his potential. There is still time for him to adjust that,
Birmingham City will be good for him so long as he works hard and does not just assume opportunities will come to him simply because he has ‘dropped down a level.’
The Championship offers a long season, and with cup competitions too, plenty of opportunities.
Morrison in his short career has played just nine minutes of league football, so what he clearly needs is to get games under his belt and learn and develop his craft professionally.
He won’t begin the season at Birmingham as a starter, he may find his first opportunity comes in the Capital One Cup at the end of August.
The toughest challenge will be the start, and feeling his way in, earning the trust of manager Lee Clark and his teammates.
Once he has done that, he will hope to be flying by Winter, and if he can have a worthwhile and successful season at Birmingham, it will prove to be a good move.
One step back, and hopefully two steps forward. If it goes well, everyone’s a winner.
image: © wonker
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