Sean Morrison

[Snowball]

IF Morrison maintains this quality (or improves!) and IF we see him as the first CB on the teamsheet


Big IFs I know...



Gorkss works as a partner because he brings experience and maybe is teaching Mo
even though his (Gorkss') individual performances have slipped badly.

But maybe Gorkss will refind his form and then?


OR

Do we bring in Marriappa? That's good from the POV of tackles won etc and extra pace,
but would that CB pairing be too-young/inexperienced?


OR

Does Pearce come back in? But would this pair Mo-Pearce be too similar?

[Snowball]

crossed posts.


IF we could survive with Pearce-Morrison, they would grow into
an awesome pairing. I just wonder whether we need more experience tho'?

[Hoop Blah]

I know where you're coming from Snowball, I just think your getting a little carried away with his early promise and how likely that is to turn into being a top Premier League centre half.

So far he's had a mixed performance in the game we conceeded 7 to Arsenal. Played pretty well against QPR and looked pretty good against Everton, although, as someone else mentioned above, if Everton hadn't been so wasteful infront of goal, and the ref given both the penalties he probably should've done he'd have been in a back four that allowed Everton to score 4 in a half.

As it happens I've just been watching the first half from the Everton game. Morrison did some good things, but he was partly culpable for their goal (one of many Reading players though), could've given away a penalty and probably should've stopped the build up to the one Gorkss should've conceeded too. If they'd made the most of our awful defending (as a team, not just Morrison) I think the hype around the lad here would be significantly different.

As well as I thought he'd played coming away from the game on Saturday, especially in dealing with Felani, I think it might've been a bit of wishful thinking and remember the second half more than the balance of the 90 minutes.

I'm not suggesting he isn't a very good prospect. I do agree he is. But you're BIG IFs could be applied against any of our players, it doesn't mean their realistically going to happen.

[melonhead]

crossed posts.


IF we could survive with Pearce-Morrison, they would grow into
an awesome pairing. I just wonder whether we need more experience tho'?

agreed, its certainly what BM thinks
although i think pearce has alot of experience for a CB his age, and looked better than gorkss for the games hes played this season, and late last season, so......

[blueroyals]

Pearce > Gorkks

Experience counts for f*ck all if you are just not good enough.

[Hoop Blah]

crossed posts.


IF we could survive with Pearce-Morrison, they would grow into
an awesome pairing. I just wonder whether we need more experience tho'?

agreed, its certainly what BM thinks
although i think pearce has alot of experience for a CB his age, and looked better than gorkss for the games hes played this season, and late last season, so......

Agreed.

Another consideration is that Gorkss is our only naturally left sided centre half. Pearce looked a lot better once he was shifted from the left to, what looks to be, a more natural right side.

[melonhead]

also agreed

[bracksroyal10]

Look at Huth and Shawcross not exactly the paciest but physically they are both towering awesome defenders. Don't seem to be having trouble playing week in week out together in the PL.

Does it maybe just mean we play a slightly deeper line for it to work perhaps?

[Ian Royal]

Quite ironic in that our CB who is POTS is sidelined for contractual reasons (allegedly) & as a result a new CB 'star' is discovered.

How comes he's not had a chance up until now? Bizarre - he looks an absolute natural & 100% captain material.

The bizarre thing is that Gorks has been the only mainstay of the back 5 and has played with all three of Mariappa, Pearce and Morrison, yet he is the one who has been by far the most consistently poor in his performances.

[ZacNaloen]

Only one of them that is left footed, that is why

[grey_squirrel]

Look at Huth and Shawcross not exactly the paciest but physically they are both towering awesome defenders. Don't seem to be having trouble playing week in week out together in the PL.

Does it maybe just mean we play a slightly deeper line for it to work perhaps?

FFS. If we play any deeper, we'll be behind our goal!

[USA_Loyal_Royal]

imagine the possibilities of a pearce/morro combination at cb! we would be pretty unstoppable!

[winchester_royal]

imagine the possibilities of a pearce/morro combination at cb! we would be pretty unstoppable!

Yeah, we'd win the league for sure

[USA_Loyal_Royal]

imagine the possibilities of a pearce/morro combination at cb! we would be pretty unstoppable!

Yeah, we'd win the league for sure

ok, well that was taken to literally. it would be very hard for teams to score against us, not saying we will always win but we will have good chances of winning. with morro's tough tackling, pearceys leadership qualities and positioning. it would be better than the current partnership for sure!

[Royal Tezza]

Is it fair to suggest that Gorkks has been the only mainstay at CB because he is left footed, or do you think there's also the possibility that McD is apprehensive about playing two young and inexperienced lads at CB?

[Snowball]

With two young CBs it may be OK when going well
but a disaster when "off"

I suspect Gorkss is there as an old crusty. Shame his personal form is poor ATM

[Royal Tezza]

I agree, a defence needs leadership and even though Pearce and Morrison have shown they have potential in this area it may be a different story if say we were 4-0 down to Man Utd at HT.

[Hoop Blah]

I'd rather we played the best combination to stop us falling behind than the one with the best old head to keep things steady once we've capitulated!

I think the left side issue, and the experience, are playing a big part in McDermotts decisions, but I'm not sure how much longer Gorkss can keep his place with the performances he's been putting in.

Should we really be in the position where he's the only centre half capable of playing comfortably on the left or where he's the only one with a bit of nouse and experience? We didn't strengthen the team at the heart of the defence over the summer and it looks like that might've been a mistake.

[M0J0]

Well everyone thinks Morrison is potentially a great defender, But I wish somebody would give him

some heading advice. When he goes up for set pieces in the opposition box he is great at getting

to the ball first,and at the moment he is great at heading it into row z. Someone teach him to

head the ball down not up and over the bar.




Getting my coat as you read this

[melonhead]

Is it fair to suggest that Gorkks has been the only mainstay at CB because he is left footed, or do you think there's also the possibility that McD is apprehensive about playing two young and inexperienced lads at CB?

yeah, bit o' both