Manchester United’s Ravel Morrison: The Boy That Needs A Chance

Wythenshawe is not renowned as a place in which hope and ambition are said to prosper; it’s most famous son is a certain Jamie Draven (he was Billy Elliot’s brother). The fact that Wythenshawe isn’t a production line for movie stars, academics and politicians is down to the area being a place bereft of any wealth and thus any opportunity. Perhaps the local council should do something about it.

Now, before you think ‘Why is this Andrews joker having his say on Greater Manchester’s town planning on a football-blog website?!’ I will arrive at the point of this post: Wythenshawe looks to have produced a truly special young man. This young man could go on to become one of the most famous faces in England and perhaps the footballing world.

This young man is called Ravel Ryan Morrison.

By this point, I am almost certain that a well-read football fan knows all and sundry about the troubled youngster who has all too often brushed up against our law enforcement services. I also feel fairly secure in saying that most of what you have read will have gone along the lines of: “United’s greedy teen star” or “You can take the boy out of Wythenshawe…”. In order for me to continue with this blog, we have to get a few issues out of the way.

• Only Sir Alex Ferguson, Ravel Morrison and their closest advisors truly know what is going on with the 18 year old’s contact situation.
• Ravel Morrison has denied (admittedly in poor and broken English) that he ever demanded £30,000, £40,000+ and also that he has ever turned down a contract offer from Manchester United.

Of course, there are a lot of reports flying around about young Ravel claiming that he has been too lazy to turn up to training -which is unacceptable – and, as Mario Balotelli knows only t0o well, there is no smoke without a fire (two different jibes lie within the Balotelli quip – take your pick). Also the aforementioned legal problems need to be addressed.

So, for football fans (those who follow Manchester United especially) the question is: ‘What do we do with Ravel Morrison?’ I’m sure that this is a question that Sir Alex has asked Paul McGuiness and vice versa. What we look to have on our hands is a troubled talent of Gascoigne-esque proportions.

My answer is simple: Play Ravel Morrison.

Manchester United’s midfield problems (particularly the lack of creativity in that area of the park) have been very well documented and even the stoutest supporter would say that it could do with being injected with some creativity and flair which are two attributes that this boy has in absolute drives. A few more goals wouldn’t hurt either, and (whilst one can never, ever be certain of youth league goalscorers being able to do it at the top level) scoring is something that Ravel clearly has a natural appetite (I cite our winning FA Youth Cup campaign as evidence for this).

You may be sat reading this article and thinking ‘It’s alright for you to say that, Andrews, but there’s an awful lot of negatives and baggage that the lad brings along with him!’

Is there?

He’s famously hard to control, but if there’s one man who can put the reigns on anyone it’s Sir Alex Ferguson and I have no doubt that this would be the result.

‘His legal problems are serious and he’s a poor role model’, I hear you cry! This is a very fair point, but I don’t think there are many Premier League footballer who could truly look at Ravel Morrison and tut: Wayne Rooney has had what a lot would call a chequered past and tends to swear a lot, Andy Carroll was difficult to the point that he had to live with Kevin Nolan and the rightly and hugely revered Ryan Giggs is (allegedly) a love rat. Being a role model sadly does not go hand in hand with being  a Premier League footballer (and you could say that this is particularly the case at Manchester United).

There is the argument that he’s only 18 (he’s 19 next week) and a bit young and innocent (scoff) to be entrusted with that sort of responsibility. Sadly, this isn’t an argument. The boy has been outstanding at every level and has been impressive in the three short appearances he made. He’s certainly more naturally talented than a large proportion of the Premier League’s players. Most importantly, the steely resolve, the bite and (to a degree) the cockiness to which Jack Wilshere’s success as a young player at the top level has largely been accredited are more than evident young Ravel.

Ravel, should you read (and understand) this article, then take this advice: Sign a contract, get your head down and ask for game time.

Sir Alex, give the boy a chance.