Friday 7 April 2017 12:57, UK
Having not started a single match since joining QPR on loan in January, what has happened to Ravel Morrison? Can he resurrect his career?
Morrison, 24, has rarely been far from the headlines, for a variety of reasons.
After catching the eye as a child with Manchester amateur side Fletcher Moss, the club of Danny Welbeck and Marcus Rashford's youth, Morrison became part of a group of young players, including Paul Pogba and Jesse Lingard, who emulated the Busby Babes and the Class of 1992 by winning Manchester United's 10th FA Youth Cup in May 2011.
"[Morrison] possessed as much natural talent as any youngster we ever signed," Sir Alex Ferguson wrote in his book Leading. "But he kept getting into trouble."
That disruptive streak has hampered Morrison throughout his short career that has taken him from West Ham to Lazio, via several loan spells.
Morrison has not made a single appearance for the Serie A side and with reports of him not speaking Italian hindering his progress, the latest stop on his turbulent journey is QPR, who he joined on loan for a second time in January.
Zero starts and just 56 minutes of action for the Hoops have led to more questions than answers with regards to the enigmatic talent.
"QPR fans know me and what I'm all about and they know I love giving a chance to players who I believe in - and that's the case with Ravel," boss Ian Holloway said upon Morrison's arrival.
"Sometimes it takes a few setbacks for players to flourish. It's all about hard work for him now. He's ready to work and ready to show what he's about, and it's up to me to show him the way and create an environment for him to thrive in."
Morrison and QPR seemed to be the perfect match. Morrison has never enjoyed such a prolific time in his career as he did during his first loan spell at Loftus Road in 2014, when his six strikes were instrumental in the Rs earning promotion to the Premier League.
"He [Morrison] is a great talent," then QPR boss Harry Redknapp told Sky Sports in 2014 . "He can open doors, make the difference."
Holloway made the reunion happen in January, and handed Morrison his debut less than a week later in QPR's 1-0 defeat at Blackburn - his first competitive action in England in over two years.
Just 44 minutes of action have followed - that hard work Holloway alluded to does not seem to be paying off.
The official line from the club when asked by Sky Sports as to Morrison's progress is that he has a "knock" which kept him out of the midweek clash with Aston Villa, and is "likely" to see him miss out on Friday against Brighton, live on Sky Sports, despite playing 66 minutes for QPR's Under-23s on Monday.
His problems settling seem to remain. A source close to the club has told Sky Sports that Morrison asked to be "provided with fewer instructions ahead of games" because he was "having trouble taking too many on board".
Sky Sports' David Prutton admits that Holloway's relationship with Morrison may already be wearing thin, if the midfielder is not putting in the required effort, and compared Morrison to another embryonic talent who failed to live up to his potential.
"It's never straightforward with Ravel Morrison: whether it's his fitness or his attitude," Prutton told Sky Sports. "Considering the way his career has gone, his desire to be a professional footballer has every right to be questioned."
"It's a shame as we all know what he can do. The excellence he showed at West Ham seems a long time ago now. Ian Holloway likes that type of player - he likes to indulge skillful players but only if they're given him a return and benefits the team. Ollie is ruthless though - if he puts faith in you and you don't do it, then it's a case of see you later.
He [Morrison] reminds me of Fabrice Fernandes. I remember playing against him when he played for the Fulham - he was phenomenal, an unbelievable talent.
"He [Morrison] reminds me of Fabrice Fernandes. I remember playing against him when he played for the Fulham - he was phenomenal, an unbelievable talent.
"Then he moved to Southampton and I saw it up close, you couldn't get the ball off him in a phone box. He looked like a winger from the 1970s - he could dribble and was deceptively strong. Full-backs would try and smash him, and he'd dance around them all day.
"He would shrug his shoulders and everything was just too much effort for him. Gordon Strachan was the manager at Saints and those two were close to having a few dust-ups. I could imagine Holloway maybe feeling the same.
"I was cup-tied, but we were 1-0 down in the FA Cup final against Arsenal with 10 minutes remaining and Strachan sent him out to warm up. Well, the look on Fernandes' face - it looked like someone had weed on his chips.
"Having been frustrated with being dropped, he did the most half-hearted warm-up I'd ever seen. A jog here, a little stretch there. We were only a goal down - he could have made a difference and got us back into the final as he was so talented. He couldn't get motivated for the cup final!"
Fernandes retired at 28, after several years trying to rekindle the magic his feet once possessed. Morrison is still a long way from such a sad end, but sooner rather than later he needs to prove his talent will not be wasted. Holloway has given him a chance, the time is now to take it.
Sky customers can now upgrade to Sky Sports and get 12 months for just £18 per month. Upgrade now!
