The sad demise of Ravel Morrison

Ravel Morrison is in talks with Lazio and it looks like he'll be leaving WHU in the summer. After Sir Alex Ferguson decided he had to get Ravel out of Manchester it now seems the idea is to get him out of the country. Looked like he was becoming a real player after that superb goal at Spurs, but Big Sam gave up on him later in the season. Harry Redknapp coaxed some goals out of him at QPR, but revealingly he isn't interested in signing him now. While Cardiff's Russell Slade sent him back to West Ham after an unsuccessful loan period this season. There's been a dispute about fines this season and a court case (he was found not guilty of assaulting his ex-girlfriend) and Ravel has been relegated to training with the kids. On ability he should be starring in our side right now. Lazio really is his last chance.

Ravel time

Every paper seems to have an article on Ravel Morrison today. The Daily Telegraph has a nice story from Lee Clark, who at Birmingham told Ravel he could be the best player since Paul 'Gazza' Gascoigne. Morrison looked dumbfounded as he had no idea who Gazza was. Since he left Manchester at least most of his problems appear to have been about timekeeping rather than police-related, and after his spell at Birmingham, Ravel appears to have properly matured. Now Big Sam, Nolan and the rest have to keep him grounded - and away from Essex nightclubs. But if he maintains this level of progress we'll soon be fending off offers from all over Europe. It's important we keep Ravel and have genuine hope moving into the Olympic Stadium in 2016.

Time to shop at Morrison?

Could Ravel Morrison be the answer to our lack of ability at breaking down defences? My pal Matt spent ten minutes berating me on our walk to the Black Lion after the Watford game, claiming Morrison wasn't anywhere near ready. I'm not so sure. Morrison has just scored twice for the Development Squad. If he really is as good as Paul Scholes and Gazza were at 19 then surely he could come on for the last half hour of games to unlock defences? Admittedly, he's only played three times as a sub in the Carling Cup for Man United, but we've played with ten men recently and got by. Yes, it's putting a lot of pressure on him, but if Ravel is good enough then he's old enough.

Shopping at Morrison's

Today's Guardian claims we're about to sign Man United wonder kid Ravel Morrison. Good in one sense, in that Sir Alex Ferguson reckons he's the most naturally gifted kid he's seen since Giggs and Scholes. Getting him, after Newcastle showed an interest, would be something of a coup for West Ham. The downside is that United have given upon him because, apparently, he has a huge attitude problem.

In last week's Observer there was a big feature by Daniel Taylor on Morrison. He's reportedly asked for 30k a week (denied by the player), missed training and almost been to jail for intimidating a witness and in another case smashing up his girlfriend's phone. Can Sam Allardyce succeed where Fergie has failed? It might be good to get him away from Manchester, but then think of the temptations in London and indeed Sugar Hut... Would be entertaining at least, as it's a long time since we've had a proper bad boy.