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Post by winsumluzsum on Oct 16, 2023 14:47:03 GMT
I just think it's an unnecessary narrative to use one player's excellence as a rod for another's back. James will no doubt have bad performances down the line for Cymru, as has his namesake, even though Dan James had a similarly explosive start to his international career.
We will need to call on Morrell in future, and there's every chance his best days are ahead of him. Let's just enjoy Jordan James' performances whilst the sun shines.
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Post by ontheroadagain2 on Oct 23, 2023 14:00:01 GMT
Joe is in the League 1 team of the week
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Post by manulike on Oct 23, 2023 14:33:20 GMT
Will RP stick with JJ?
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Post by oldman on Oct 23, 2023 15:51:45 GMT
If he has any common sense he will. JJ was outstanding against Croatia. |
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Post by iot on Oct 23, 2023 16:52:36 GMT
This is why I think people are being far too hasty and flippant when it comes to Morrell's role for us going forward. We've got Ampadu and James, then beyond that Savage who's had one promising game against an amateur side. Savage certainly has potential to go further, but Morrell is performing at a much better standard at the same level. He won the player of the year with Lincoln a few seasons ago and he's one of the best midfielders in League 1 again this season. Portsmouth are looking like they'll go up and I'm pretty sure Morrell will be an important player for them in the Championship next season. So he should be third-choice until Savage steps up. I think Morrell will be an important squad player for the next 5 years and will likely get another 15-20 caps
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Post by fiveattheback on Oct 23, 2023 18:07:59 GMT
This is why I think people are being far too hasty and flippant when it comes to Morrell's role for us going forward. We've got Ampadu and James, then beyond that Savage who's had one promising game against an amateur side. Savage certainly has potential to go further, but Morrell is performing at a much better standard at the same level. He won the player of the year with Lincoln a few seasons ago and he's one of the best midfielders in League 1 again this season. Portsmouth are looking like they'll go up and I'm pretty sure Morrell will be an important player for them in the Championship next season. So he should be third-choice until Savage steps up. I think Morrell will be an important squad player for the next 5 years and will likely get another 15-20 caps I'd be surprised if he doesn't hit 50 caps |
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Post by dai on Oct 23, 2023 18:36:35 GMT
Agreed, not sure why he's become such a target for fans.
Apart from the red card, I don't recall any obvious mistakes or howlers, and he's been pretty consistent and reliable on a regular basis.
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Post by oldman on Oct 23, 2023 20:58:16 GMT
Wales online ratings for both players against Croatia.
JOE MORRELL - 4
Up against a world-class player in Modric, it was always going to be a tough evening. Game seemed to pass him by.
Jordan James 8
A big ask for a player so young to go up against Luka Modric and Co. Handled it brilliantly. Read things superbly and even gave his side an injection of dark arts that certainly helped them over the line.
For me Morrell is too negative and prefers to pass the ball backwards. JJ offers us something new and when we play Armenia and Turkey we need to play to win.
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Post by iot on Oct 23, 2023 21:11:37 GMT
Wales online ratings for both players against Croatia. JOE MORRELL - 4 Up against a world-class player in Modric, it was always going to be a tough evening. Game seemed to pass him by. Jordan James 8 A big ask for a player so young to go up against Luka Modric and Co. Handled it brilliantly. Read things superbly and even gave his side an injection of dark arts that certainly helped them over the line. For me Morrell is too negative and prefers to pass the ball backwards. JJ offers us something new and when we play Armenia and Turkey we need to play to win. Case closed, Wales Online have spoken! On a serious note, Morrell has shown that he can do a job. A lot is made about Moore's impact in turning our last euro qualifier campaign around - Morrell came in at the same time and was almost just as important. He allowed us to get some control in midfield in those key games against Slovakia and Hungary. He also played well in a few of the WC qualifiers, including the 1-1 draw with Belgium. I sort of agree that he sometimes struggles to influence games against top opposition and can perhaps be slightly negative, although we do need those players that can just keep us ticking over - Allen used to get slated by some for sideways passing, which was bollocks. I thought Ampadu and James did their jobs brilliantly against Croatia - we were never going to get much of the ball, but they excelled at the off the ball stuff. I'm yet to see them dominate games for us in midfield though - even against Latvia, there were long periods in the game where we weren't winning the midfield battle after Ramsey went off. I'd like to see them get on the ball more - that will be the true test, and I think Morrell's better at that against some opposition. |
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Post by jimexotic on Oct 23, 2023 23:26:57 GMT
Agreed, not sure why he's become such a target for fans. Apart from the red card, I don't recall any obvious mistakes or howlers, and he's been pretty consistent and reliable on a regular basis. I like Morrell and I'll always remember his performance in the crucial draw with Belgium fondly, it was the ultimate performance from a guy who knew his limitations and did the basics extremely well. The red card against Turkey was harsh, the other way round it would never have been a red I don't think, he was unlucky but it was also a little foolish. Against Armenia he offered precious little when he came on and in the 1-0 over Latvia he came on and nearly threw two points. Jordan James and Charlie Savage both appear to have not only more about them but a higher ceiling and with that in mind I see him slipping down the pecking order now, especially with Charlie Crew hopefully emerging in the coming months. I'm not knocking Joe, I'm grateful for some of his contributions over recent years, I just think we're starting to have better options on the table that point to a brighter future. |
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Post by surge on Oct 24, 2023 15:59:10 GMT
Only in Wales can we call having enough depth being a 23 year old in the Championship (hopefully back in Premier League next year) and a few teenagers right at start of their career.
I do recognise that part of it is wanting to back players who appear to have higher ceiling than Morrell.
Good to see Joe having a good season at top of League 1 this far and about to enter what should be his prime years.
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Post by allezlesrouges on Oct 26, 2023 15:18:07 GMT
Ampadu, JJ, Morrell, Savage I think those are a fine 4 to go with moving forwards. Important to use friendlies/Nations League to give JJ & Savage caps, but I think Morrell is a great bench option to have, and also happy to start him when needed too
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Post by jimexotic on Nov 25, 2023 16:47:22 GMT
Fourth red card of the year for Joe today.
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Post by surge on Nov 25, 2023 20:41:10 GMT
Needs our support this year. Pompey in a week of realising how big a player Regan Poole has been for them.
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Post by ontheroadagain2 on Dec 23, 2023 0:01:08 GMT
Apologies for not putting this up earlier.
Saw Pompey play at Shrewsbury last Saturday. The amount of work Joe got through before he was substituted was immense. Always showing for the ball usually receiving it in such a position that he could move the ball forward quickly.
No rash tackles for a change.😉
Only a couple of mistakes, one of which could have resulted in a goal being conceded against better opposition. Shrewsbury contrive to waste the chance.
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Post by rob on Dec 23, 2023 10:40:33 GMT
Going on this season hopefully Matt Smith can come back into the mix as a regular and performing well for St.Johnstone in Scottish Premier-better level than league 1.
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Post by janglingjack on Dec 23, 2023 12:59:14 GMT
The bottom of the barrel called, he wants his footballers back.
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Post by pclaude on Dec 27, 2023 10:09:26 GMT
Going on this season hopefully Matt Smith can come back into the mix as a regular and performing well for St.Johnstone in Scottish Premier-better level than league 1. Is it? Im really not sure it is. On par, at best these days. |
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Post by rob on Dec 27, 2023 14:55:31 GMT
Going on this season hopefully Matt Smith can come back into the mix as a regular and performing well for St.Johnstone in Scottish Premier-better level than league 1. Is it? Im really not sure it is. On par, at best these days. Better standard of player in the Scottish Premier. |
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Post by jimexotic on Dec 27, 2023 15:10:13 GMT
I've given up on Matt Smith now and to a certain extent Dylan Levitt too, I've watched and followed football long enough to come to the conclusion that neither of these will ever be good enough for what we need.
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Post by athenempadu on Dec 28, 2023 2:23:00 GMT
Ampadu, JJ, Morrell, Savage I think those are a fine 4 to go with moving forwards. Important to use friendlies/Nations League to give JJ & Savage caps, but I think Morrell is a great bench option to have, and also happy to start him when needed too It looks like Charlie Crew is being fast-tracked at Leeds, and England are sniffing around too. I hope Agents Ampadu, James & Rodon are on his case! |
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Post by marsvolta on Dec 28, 2023 11:55:58 GMT
I've given up on Matt Smith now and to a certain extent Dylan Levitt too, I've watched and followed football long enough to come to the conclusion that neither of these will ever be good enough for what we need. Yeah, I know they were only likely to be squad members, but even their place in the squad seems less and less likely as time goes on. To be fair, they mostly only made inflated 26 or 28 men squads, they rarely made a standard 23 man squad. |
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Post by jimbo82 on Jan 31, 2024 10:25:10 GMT
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Post by ontheroadagain2 on Jan 31, 2024 14:30:38 GMT
Exactly my comment when I found out. |
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Post by athenempadu on Jan 31, 2024 17:21:52 GMT
I've given up on Matt Smith now and to a certain extent Dylan Levitt too, I've watched and followed football long enough to come to the conclusion that neither of these will ever be good enough for what we need. Levitt had good potential when he was younger, and the way he used to ping the ball around the pitch was quite impressive for his age, but for some reason he stagnated and never kicked on in his career. I also think Scotland is a bit of a dead end for young players, as they are soon forgotten about. People hardly ever talk about Matondo these days, and he's playing for a top 2 team. |
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Post by ddirpytnop on Jan 31, 2024 22:47:30 GMT
I've given up on Matt Smith now and to a certain extent Dylan Levitt too, I've watched and followed football long enough to come to the conclusion that neither of these will ever be good enough for what we need. Levitt had good potential when he was younger, and the way he used to ping the ball around the pitch was quite impressive for his age, but for some reason he stagnated and never kicked on in his career. I also think Scotland is a bit of a dead end for young players, as they are soon forgotten about. People hardly ever talk about Matondo these days, and he's playing for a top 2 team. I suspect either Levitt or Smith will take place of Morrell in the squad for the qualifiers if he is injured. Both are first choice for their clubs and havibg decent seasons by all accounts. No one talks about Matondo because he plays so infrequently. |
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Post by athenempadu on Feb 1, 2024 10:01:44 GMT
Levitt had good potential when he was younger, and the way he used to ping the ball around the pitch was quite impressive for his age, but for some reason he stagnated and never kicked on in his career. I also think Scotland is a bit of a dead end for young players, as they are soon forgotten about. People hardly ever talk about Matondo these days, and he's playing for a top 2 team. I suspect either Levitt or Smith will take place of Morrell in the squad for the qualifiers if he is injured. Both are first choice for their clubs and havibg decent seasons by all accounts. No one talks about Matondo because he plays so infrequently. I just thought Levitt was going to be a much better player than he his now. He had such a good relationship with Mason Greenwood on the pitch when they were coming through the ranks together at Man U, and he looked like a special player |
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Post by njdragon on Feb 1, 2024 10:47:06 GMT
predict Levitt won't make it at international level - i can't remember a time he's imposed himself on a game. Seems to pass him by, maybe its because he does nothing spectacular but morrell and James are miles in front of him
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Post by athenempadu on Feb 1, 2024 10:58:12 GMT
predict Levitt won't make it at international level - i can't remember a time he's imposed himself on a game. Seems to pass him by, maybe its because he does nothing spectacular but morrell and James are miles in front of him I've seen him do spectacular things, just not recently since he started playing for the Wales senior team. |
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Post by iot on Feb 1, 2024 11:48:24 GMT
predict Levitt won't make it at international level - i can't remember a time he's imposed himself on a game. Seems to pass him by, maybe its because he does nothing spectacular but morrell and James are miles in front of him The way things are going, I wouldn't be surprised that you're right re not making it at international level. But I think the 'does nothing spectacular' part is wide of the mark. He's not a Morrell type player, he's more of a playmaker and has the ability to play some excellent defence-splitting passes. He's had one or two really good games for us - I remember him doing really well out in Finland and he was decent in Poland as well, but he's been way too inconsistent overall and more bad than good. That's not particularly surprising, it often takes time for young players to develop consistency. I was hoping he'd kick on and develop greater consistency with a view of him being a useful option after a couple of years. Unfortunately that hasn't transpired, his career's stagnated and last time I checked he wasn't doing anything special at Hibs, so he hasn't earned his way back into the squad. |
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