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“Special things” expected of troubled Morrison
West Ham have signalled their Premier League ambitions during the January transfer window by signing a number of hugely promising attacking players. While the bolstering of the strike force will excite the Upton Park faithful, the new additions bring with them a fair amount of baggage. The Life’s A Pitch panel assesses whether it will be promotion or bust for Sam Allardyce’s outfit.
The Sunday Telegraph’s Duncan White says that ex-Man Utd prodigy Ravel Morrison has the potential to further the Hammers’ cause, but must combine his skill with a more mature approach to the game. “West Ham have taken an educated gamble on Ravel. He’s such a gifted player, and when he gets match-fit, which will be in a couple of weeks, I think we will see some special things from him. What is important is that he sustains it [his performance] and becomes consistent, and develops professional habits that are in keeping with that talent.”
John Cross of the Daily Mirror is just as effusive about the teenager’s star quality, and notes how Allardyce recalls that Sir Alex Ferguson “identified Morrison as one of the best players, if not the best, of his age, that he had ever seen.” And John believes Allardyce’s proven man-management skills will help him get the best out of Morrison and Ricardo Vaz Tê, another recent arrival with a chequered history. “[Allardyce] picked up some difficult characters to manage. He probably got the best out of [El Hadji] Diouf of any English manager, and that says much for his man-management.”
Elsewhere in the championship, Southampton’s acquisition of Billy Sharp will help reinforce the south coast club’s automatic promotion hopes, according to the Daily Telegraph’s Jason Burt. “Southampton have been desperate for a striker, as they have been really worried about running out of steam. I think it will be a good pairing [with Rickie Lambert]. Southampton needed some fresh impetus otherwise they were in danger of dropping out of the top two and not getting back into it.”
The panel also muses over Leicester City’s fortunes, Matt Tubbs’ big-money move to Bournemouth, and Clarke Carlisle’s decision to go to struggling Northampton.
Related articles:
Mike Calvin: Morrison must shape up for West Ham move to succeed
Video: Rhodes and Terriers wait for better offer than West Ham’s
Video: “West Ham will come through because of Allardyce”
Video: Allardyce “has to galvanise the dressing room” at West Ham
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