What REALLY Happened to Ravel Morrison?
Rio Ferdinand had a interview with him and it was quite revealing:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9MnBGpFeYlI
Main takeaways:
-Ravel took his experience at united for granted due to having played football there and living locally from such a young age.
-He never truly believed he was good enough break into the first team.
-He was never told directly by Fergie or Mike Phelan that he had a chance in the first team but he understands they had bigger priorities.
-Fergie speaks highly of him and he once wrote a letter to fergie thanking him for his debut opportunity (the only player ever to do this).
-He sometimes struggled to get into training as his mum did not have a car and was a single mother of 3 - one time he had to ride a bike from home to training.
-He wasn't paid very much as a youth player and would sometimes steal football boots from Rio and the lads in first team dressing room. He would then sell them to put food on the table.
-Ravel has played in multiple countries and says that in England we over-complicate football - most other countries promote a pass and move brand of football with 1-2 touches. English players think they have to do the difficult pass to prove they are good.
PERHAPS THE MOST SHOCKING OF ALL
- He enjoyed his football most at West Ham and he was offered a new deal but Big Scam Allardyce told him to sack his agent and sign with big Sam's agent instead. When he refused, the deal was retracted and he was loaned to QPR. When QPR was promoted to the prem, Harry Rednap wanted him to re-join the hoops but the move was blocked by West Ham and in a meeting with Big Sam, Ravel was told to go to Cardiff.
- He said he also enjoyed playing in Mexico, he felt appreciated. He said there if you're good enough, you play, there's less politics.
Ravel Morrison Robbed by Big Sam
posted on 16/2/21
comment by Mike. (U1170)
posted 2 hours, 8 minutes ago
He was still acting like a bit of a caaant well into his 20s though, so a large of his failure part is on him.
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A stupid comment and someone that looks at life just as black and white if I have ever seen one. Just head to the IOPPN, there are a lot of in-depth research from King's College showing how being raised in a single parent household or from his environment can have an impact on an individual throughout life.
No one is going around feeling sorry for him, he made his bed and now must deal with it. But please refrain from this simplistic line of thinking
posted on 16/2/21
comment by Ole-dirty-baztard - You want ole in, ole out, in, out, in, out, shake it all about. Do the ole Koke- ADMIN 5 (U19119)
posted 39 minutes ago
comment by Mike. (U1170)
posted 1 hour, 42 minutes ago
He was still acting like a bit of a caaant well into his 20s though, so a large of his failure part is on him.
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This. All very well trying to blame everything else but it was mainly his own fault. Don’t have much sympathy, had a gift of a career to make millions and squandered his talent being a nob
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This comment comes from a privileged perspective in my opinion. It’s very easy to say he squandered his opportunity when you’ve never had to live with the hand he was dealt. People have mentioned he didn’t have a father figure, but his mum barely played a part in his life either. Foisted him on his grandparents. No wonder he grew up undisciplined and demonstrated a lack of respect for women in his relationships that got him in trouble. His primary experience of women was abandonment/disinterest, and he had no real father figure to smack some sense into him,
posted on 16/2/21
comment by The Lambeau Leap (U21050)
posted 2 seconds ago
comment by Ole-dirty-baztard - You want ole in, ole out, in, out, in, out, shake it all about. Do the ole Koke- ADMIN 5 (U19119)
posted 39 minutes ago
comment by Mike. (U1170)
posted 1 hour, 42 minutes ago
He was still acting like a bit of a caaant well into his 20s though, so a large of his failure part is on him.
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This. All very well trying to blame everything else but it was mainly his own fault. Don’t have much sympathy, had a gift of a career to make millions and squandered his talent being a nob
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This comment comes from a privileged perspective in my opinion. It’s very easy to say he squandered his opportunity when you’ve never had to live with the hand he was dealt. People have mentioned he didn’t have a father figure, but his mum barely played a part in his life either. Foisted him on his grandparents. No wonder he grew up undisciplined and demonstrated a lack of respect for women in his relationships that got him in trouble. His primary experience of women was abandonment/disinterest, and he had no real father figure to smack some sense into him,
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Exactly my thoughts!!! It is the same line of ridiculous thinking that tries to compare IQ of African Americans vs others. As one scholar rightly noted, how can you give a man "equal education" only in the 1950s (this is still debatable of course), and expect them to have the same IQ as you in just over 50 years.
posted on 16/2/21
Haven't watched the video but from reading the OP he's had an interesting career despite the unfilled early promise. He had a shot at UTD for starters and as mentioned in the OP he has played professional football in "multiple" countries.
posted on 16/2/21
Funny how the entire focus is now on Ravel and not the focus of the article; Allardyce and his dodgy dealings
posted on 16/2/21
comment by CrøuchEndGøøner (U13531)
posted 11 minutes ago
Funny how the entire focus is now on Ravel and not the focus of the article; Allardyce and his dodgy dealings
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TBF big Sam was just a part of the OP despite the heading.
Despicable behaviour from Allardyce though
posted on 16/2/21
Aye that's true
posted on 16/2/21
Really interesting interview.
The only thing that wasn't really pressed on much is that Ravel has been unable to string games together or get himself a long contract at any time in his career. Ravel gave his reasons for this, which I accept, but it's hard to default to that argument 5, 6, 7 times over, and he wasn't pressed on that.
The excuses have dried up at this point so I really hope he can play regular football at a decent level because he's fun to watch and seems like a decent guy at heart.
posted on 16/2/21
comment by Busby (U19985)
posted 7 hours, 46 minutes ago
I also think the club could have maybe done more for Ravel, he speaks about a lack of a father figure, that should have come from within the club imo.
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I'm not too sure about that. Rooney, Rio and Neville have all spoken about how they tried to hp him. And I believe that Rio tried to get Ravel to go and live with him, but he wouldn't have it. He's got to want to help himself and there is only so much the club can do.
posted on 16/2/21
I think if the bit about big Sam is true, then that’s despicable. I’m surprised the PFA didn’t get involved. As for Ravel, he’s someone that has always saddened me. I’m desperate for the guy to succeed at some level so he can feel the adoration his talent deserves. But sadly, I think his inner demons will always prevent him from achieving that.