" SEAN MORRISON "
Tue Nov 07, 2017 7:57 am
" SEAN MORRISON "
By Scott Johnson
Tuesday 7th November 2017
Star names always tend to get the accolades, but it’s the unsung heroes that allow the stars to shine.
Every team has them; George Friend at Middlesbrough or Russell Martin at Norwich, players that opposing fans hardly seem to notice yet continue to plug away, season after season.
Gareth Barry is the quintessential unsung hero. Having recently surpassed the Premier League appearance record formerly held by Ryan Giggs, Barry continues to set high standards at his fourth Premier League club.
These players tend to get labelled as "model pro’s" or "manager’s favourites" and although they deserve greater recognition, they would probably prefer to go about their business largely under the radar anyway.
Neil Warnock has consciously targeted these this profile of player for Cardiff, as he has throughout his managerial career.
“Bread and butter players” he calls them. He brought in Sol Bamba, Greg Halford, Lee Camp and Craig Bryson, experienced professionals that lead by example.
Cardiff City manager Neil Warnock at Ashton Gate (Image: PA)
Yet it’s two players that Warnock inherited who appear to be Cardiff’s true unsung heroes.
Sean Morrison is Cardiff’s captain, recently signed a new long-term deal and was the subject of a fierce summer pursuit from promotion rivals Sheffield Wednesday. Yet amongst some Cardiff supporters, he is seen as some sort of liability that should be demoted in favour of a Bruno Manga and Sol Bamba partnership.
Morrison is perceived to be short of pace and prone to errors. The fact that Cardiff have the best defensive records in the division is in spite of rather than because of Morrison’s efforts, according to some.
It is not a school of thought I subscribe to, but it serves to demonstrate how subjective football can be at times.
At times Morrison has kept Manga and Matthew Connolly out of the side and is captain ahead of both Bamba and Aron Gunnarsson, who appear to be the favoured candidates. That is no mean feat and Morrison is the only ever-present outfield player this season. Yet while Bamba and Manga's mistakes are quickly forgotten, Morrison’s seem to add fuel to the flames.
Sean Morrison of Cardiff City applauds the fans at the final whistle. (Image: Huw Evans Picture Agency)
Warnock is clearly a fan, claiming Morrison is “fantastic” and usually that is enough. Try and criticise Warnock’s methods on social media and chances are you will have several people on your case, questioning both your faith and motives. But it does not appear to have made much difference in Morrison’s case.
It reminds me a bit of the perception of Mark Hudson when he first joined Cardiff.
At the time, a similarly high-profile signing, Hudson arrived with similar set of strengths and weaknesses. Slow on the turn and prone to the odd clanger, which he compensated for with his anticipation and leadership skills.
Hudson eventually led Cardiff to the promised land and convinced Cardiff supporters. You do wonder if this is the season where Morrison manages to replicate either or both achievements.
By Scott Johnson
Tuesday 7th November 2017
Star names always tend to get the accolades, but it’s the unsung heroes that allow the stars to shine.
Every team has them; George Friend at Middlesbrough or Russell Martin at Norwich, players that opposing fans hardly seem to notice yet continue to plug away, season after season.
Gareth Barry is the quintessential unsung hero. Having recently surpassed the Premier League appearance record formerly held by Ryan Giggs, Barry continues to set high standards at his fourth Premier League club.
These players tend to get labelled as "model pro’s" or "manager’s favourites" and although they deserve greater recognition, they would probably prefer to go about their business largely under the radar anyway.
Neil Warnock has consciously targeted these this profile of player for Cardiff, as he has throughout his managerial career.
“Bread and butter players” he calls them. He brought in Sol Bamba, Greg Halford, Lee Camp and Craig Bryson, experienced professionals that lead by example.
Cardiff City manager Neil Warnock at Ashton Gate (Image: PA)
Yet it’s two players that Warnock inherited who appear to be Cardiff’s true unsung heroes.
Sean Morrison is Cardiff’s captain, recently signed a new long-term deal and was the subject of a fierce summer pursuit from promotion rivals Sheffield Wednesday. Yet amongst some Cardiff supporters, he is seen as some sort of liability that should be demoted in favour of a Bruno Manga and Sol Bamba partnership.
Morrison is perceived to be short of pace and prone to errors. The fact that Cardiff have the best defensive records in the division is in spite of rather than because of Morrison’s efforts, according to some.
It is not a school of thought I subscribe to, but it serves to demonstrate how subjective football can be at times.
At times Morrison has kept Manga and Matthew Connolly out of the side and is captain ahead of both Bamba and Aron Gunnarsson, who appear to be the favoured candidates. That is no mean feat and Morrison is the only ever-present outfield player this season. Yet while Bamba and Manga's mistakes are quickly forgotten, Morrison’s seem to add fuel to the flames.
Sean Morrison of Cardiff City applauds the fans at the final whistle. (Image: Huw Evans Picture Agency)
Warnock is clearly a fan, claiming Morrison is “fantastic” and usually that is enough. Try and criticise Warnock’s methods on social media and chances are you will have several people on your case, questioning both your faith and motives. But it does not appear to have made much difference in Morrison’s case.
It reminds me a bit of the perception of Mark Hudson when he first joined Cardiff.
At the time, a similarly high-profile signing, Hudson arrived with similar set of strengths and weaknesses. Slow on the turn and prone to the odd clanger, which he compensated for with his anticipation and leadership skills.
Hudson eventually led Cardiff to the promised land and convinced Cardiff supporters. You do wonder if this is the season where Morrison manages to replicate either or both achievements.
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
Re: " SEAN MORRISON "
Tue Nov 07, 2017 1:10 pm
I'm a big fan of Morrison and can't understand why he gets the stick he does. Perhaps its from when he took a dump in the street, or said that Cardiff's second team could walk the league (we all know how that turned out), but he seems to have matured a heck of a lot since then.
He's solid, depenable, reliable and a beast in the air, and his positioning more than makes up for his lack of pace (can anyone think of a goal this season that's been down to Morrison getting out paced by a striker, 'cause I can't).
He's solid, depenable, reliable and a beast in the air, and his positioning more than makes up for his lack of pace (can anyone think of a goal this season that's been down to Morrison getting out paced by a striker, 'cause I can't).
Re: " SEAN MORRISON "
Tue Nov 07, 2017 1:44 pm
Morrison is worthy of the shirt and been very consistant this season. I think 4 at the back we are better and right now its between manga and bamba to partner him!
Re: " SEAN MORRISON "
Tue Nov 07, 2017 1:47 pm
Some defenders take a while to settle, just look at Hudson, people said he wasn't league 2 player for a long while and he turned out ok.
Morrison has been excellent this season
Morrison has been excellent this season
Re: " SEAN MORRISON "
Tue Nov 07, 2017 3:49 pm
The critics of Morrison never based it on anything to do with on field it was all to do with the off the field thing with him taking a dump after a night out in Cardiff because the critics never back up anything he have done wrong on the pitch. 
Re: " SEAN MORRISON "
Tue Nov 07, 2017 4:29 pm
This season he appeared to have cut out being out jumped in his own box for goals (last season at Villa & Derby being examples) but he was badly caught out for Bristol's winner. That should never have happened.
However he has been solid and dependable for us this season up till then.
He should be getting 5-6 more goals per season with his ability from set pieces.
However he has been solid and dependable for us this season up till then.
He should be getting 5-6 more goals per season with his ability from set pieces.
Re: " SEAN MORRISON "
Tue Nov 07, 2017 9:00 pm
Danny Says wrote:This season he appeared to have cut out being out jumped in his own box for goals (last season at Villa & Derby being examples) but he was badly caught out for Bristol's winner. That should never have happened.
However he has been solid and dependable for us this season up till then.
He should be getting 5-6 more goals per season with his ability from set pieces.
Would help if he wasn't dragged down every set piece.