In my 26 years watching the Blues, I’ve seen plenty of quick, direct players and those capable of moments of magic.
However, there’s a few who I class as totally unique, and I’d put Morley in that bracket. Which is why he’s so revered and pined after despite spending relatively little time with us. Hendo could well be the same. It’s definitely rare for us to have a genuine ball carrier or dribbler with such composure.
FWIW I’d put the likes of Currie, Eze, Bayo and maybe Kone amongst the unique band. All for very different reasons!
Anyway, shout out to the travelling Blues today. Hasn’t been much to cheer on the road this season but I hope despite any train issues, you’re enjoying a fantastic evening!
I think Henderson is fantastic and I’m not using my prior comment as a sleight against him whatsoever. I think he’s debatably been our best player this season. He picks up pockets of space really well and I think he might be a smarter player than Morley, but Morley’s technique on the ball is undoubtedly better. It shouldn’t be up for debate. It’s not even close.
Morley can stick the ball where he wants, on a 2 pence piece. Him playing the pivot was a huge part of taking the ball from our box and opening the opposition defences up, either out wide or straight down the middle route 1. What he over compensates in attacking IQ, he forfeits in strong defensive capabilities.
But as you state, with Josh patrolling the midfield, it just worked.
Hendo is also a magnificent passer of the ball, and also has a huge IQ. Hendo is our Fred Flintoff whereas Morley was our number 3 batsman. Hendo is much more versatile to play anywhere in the midfield (probably our only midfielder who can do that) and I think the reason that we’ve played so well (for the most part) without Josh is Hendo can slot into that ‘engine room’ role. But the dream scenario, with Morley, Josh and Hendo, as you say, there isn’t a team in L1 that could compete with that. Hendo for me would play in the 10 role if we had that dream lineup.
Henderson would be wasted at 10. Hes really good on the ball and can take it and keep it. He is better in the middle. He will be helped by a ball winner with him.
I honestly am completely and utterly baffled why Bolton cannot get the best out of him. But that can be to our advantage if we just go and get him. I cannot imagine he is not available for the right price.
He is absolutely exceptional at this level, and for me would be a very good Championship midfielder. He is just 25 years old. We know he likes the club, and he and his family would like to live in the area. For goodness sake, let’s just get it done before we miss out.
For me, Morley is a League 1 Pirlo. He’s fantastic. I think he would do well in the Championship. I think he’s better than Potts and would do a better job in the Premier League than Potts.
Managers get players wrong all the time. The West Brom boss took a look at Caleb Taylor last January and decided he wasn’t good enough for Baggies. They let him go for peanuts in summer. He was wrong. Caleb Taylor went on to score pivotal goals for us at the top end of League 1 and is following it up this season starting every week and getting lots of plaudits at 4th placed Millwall in the Championship. I’m not sure Morley would be that high but I’m very confident with him we’d be in the top 6, if not higher.
The last two Bolton managers don’t seem to have rated Morley. The one who seemed to get him ticking (alongside Scowen and Cam) is no longer at the club. I do worry that some might be setting Morley up for a fall if he was ever to return.
Cheers Micra, Living my dream life with me wife and dad in Ecuador’s Valley of Longevity. Hope to get over for a couple of matches at the business end. My last two were forgettable losses so it’s good to see we can win a couple on the trot. An earlier poster described today’s performance as GA-like, high praise indeed. Would be great to put together a run for the playoffs from here… Probably just a silly little dream
Posh lost a player to injury and another to a red yesterday. Bit of disruption, just when they appeared to be settling down a bit, might turn out to be good news for us…
Our results so far this year have been very positive, keeping the league leaders to a draw and then getting a couple of key bread and butter wins.
As has been said so many times, we really could do with some extra quality in the squad and I think our strength in depth is poor, but there is at least a vague possibility that the second half of this season could be something to look forward to.
