Tag Archives: Sam Morsy

Sam Morsy – a crucial acquisition in the quest for promotion

Posted by JJ (Tony) in Player profiles and tagged with , , ,
Photo courtesy of the Express and Star.

Photo courtesy of the Express and Star.

To the more discerning viewer the work of Sergio Busquets for Barcelona is crucial to the smooth running of the team. Granted their MSN forward line would take any defence apart, given decent ammunition. But that ammunition is dependent upon someone playing a seemingly simple role much deeper. Busquets plays the same kind of role that Pep Guardiola did when playing under Johan Cruyff. He is strong in the tackle, makes key interceptions and rarely wastes the ball.

On Saturday Sam Morsy played the Busquets role in an excellent Wigan Athletic performance at Walsall. He sat in front of the back four, nullifying Walsall’s attacks, making sure possession was retained. Moreover he put through pinpoint long passes towards the flanks. Had Will Grigg not been so profligate, with a handful of goal scoring opportunities, Latics would have been out of sight long before Yanic Wildschut’s stunning winner. But Morsy’s contribution in that Busquets role was crucial in stopping opposition attacks and launching his team forwards.

Morsy was signed at a knock-down price from Chesterfield, being in the final year of his contract. He was the captain and the driving force behind the midfield in a team that challenged for promotion last season. The Busquets role is not one he was used to at Chesterfield, where he operated in the holding midfield role where David Perkins and Max Power have excelled for Latics this season. But at Sheffield and Walsall, Caldwell opted to put Morsy in front of the back four, pushing the duo further forward.

Morsy is only 24, with his best years ahead of him. He gave an excellent account of himself at both of his previous clubs, Port Vale and Chesterfield. He is a player who has come through the lower divisions of the English football pyramid, but shows the capability of playing at a higher level.

Gary Caldwell and his recruitment team have done a wonderful job in building up a squad capable of gaining automatic promotion back to the Championship. They have signed a number of players in their early to mid-twenties. Should Latics get the promotion they seek, most of those players can be expected to make a mark on the Championship. Morsy ranks among them.

Sam Morsy has made an immediate impression on Wigan Athletic fans. He could be a key player for not only promotion, but for years to come.

A Chesterfield fan’s view of Sam Morsy

Posted by JJ (Tony) in Fan Views and tagged with , ,

Sam_Morsy_2014Reports suggest that Sam Morsy is about to sign for Wigan Athletic. The 24 year old Chesterfield captain is out of contract at the end of the season and Latics have surely negotiated a bargain fee to secure his permanent transfer. Morsy might well prove to be the type of midfield enforcer that Caldwell has been looking for.

The 5 ft 9 in Sami Sayed Morsi was born in Wolverhampton of an Egyptian father. He played in the Wolves academy until he was 16 when he joined the youth ranks at Port Vale. A year later he was in the senior squad, making his debut in February 2010. By the end of the season he was named Youth Player of the Year and given a professional contract. Morsy went on to make 71 appearances, scoring 4 goals, for Vale over four seasons.

Morsy joined Chesterfield in the summer of 2013 after a fee had been agreed for him as an under 24 player. Ex-Latics player and Chesterfield manager at the time, Paul Cook, said that “When we found out that he may be available, we moved heaven and earth to get him here.”

Morsy went on to make 39 appearances in that 2013-14 season when the Spireites won League 2. He was voted Player of the Year, also providing the assist for Eoin Doyle’s goal in the Football League Trophy final when Chesterfield were beaten 3-1 by Peterborough United.

Last season Morsy became club captain and led Chesterfield to the League 1 playoffs where they were knocked out by Preston North End.

A couple of weeks ago another ex-Latics player, Mark Grew, who had been Morsy’s coach at Port Vale told the Stoke Sentinel that:

“I’ve known Sam Morsy since he was 16 and he can’t wait for this game to come. I still speak to him on occasion and I think this is the fixture he is looking for. I am sure other clubs must be looking at him now because every time I watch him he is quality. Ever since I got him from Wolves I always thought he could play at a higher level. Whether he could reach the Premier League is another question but I think he is definitely a Championship player.”

In his time at Chesterfield Morsy made a total of 97 appearances, scoring 6 goals.

In order to learn more about Morsy’s time at Chesterfield we reached out to Keag Lytham (twitter @KLytham), a Spireites fan.

Here’s over to Keag:

Obviously as a Chesterfield fan I’m really sad to see Sammy go as in my opinion he’s the best central midfielder in the league!

He’s a real leader on the pitch leading from the back all the way to the top. Sammy always gives his all and has endless energy. As a defender it must be a blessing to have him in front of you because technically he really is gifted.

He fights for every ball looking for that killer pass; he cuts up play and gives defenders reassurance! Going forward Sammy can be very dangerous and very unpredictable, for a small man he can move! His only trait is his mouth which as a captain he should use but he talks his way into the book a lot.

That being said he is an aggressive player but that’s what being a centre midfielder is about! The fans at Chesterfield really adored and worshipped the ground he walked on. He was the first on the pitch and the last off.

A small club like us was always going to struggle to keep hold of a gem like Sammy, he really does put 110% in each game! It’s really sad to see him go, but he was destined for bigger and better things!

Good luck Sammy and congratulations on the move, I’m sure you’ll be a great success there !

 

 

Wabara the next on Caldwell’s latest wish list?

Posted by JJ (Tony) in Specials and tagged with , , , , , , ,
Reece Wabara. Photo courtesy of bbc.co.uk

Reece Wabara.
Photo courtesy of bbc.co.uk

Wigan Athletic currently stand in 5th place in League 1, just 5 points behind second placed Gillingham. They are desperately seeking an automatic promotion place.

On November 9th we posted “Caldwell’s Christmas Shopping List”. At that time Latics were coincidentally 5th in the League 1 table, 5 points behind the Gills in second place. We advocated the need for another central striker (Alex Revell was brought in soon after), a right back, a central defender and an influential central midfield player.

Since then short-term loanees Francisco Junior, Donald Love and Sean Murray have left the club, with Yanic Wildschut being signed on a permanent contract. Revell was recalled early by Cardiff City from his loan spell. Moreover Richard O’Donnell has joined Bristol City on loan.

Since November 9th Latics have a record of W5 D3 L2. Statistics supplied by www.statto.com show them lying 8th in the form table for games played between then and now.

Statto

Wigan’s average of 1.8 points per game over the period has helped then maintain their position in 5th place, but the teams that were above them in November remain above them now.

Both Burton Albion and Walsall have had managerial changes since then.  Since Nigel Clough took over from Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink at Burton on December 4th he has had a record of W4 D1 L0. Sean O’Driscoll succeeded Dean Smith at Walsall on December 18th, his record so far being W3 D1 L1.

Latics clearly cannot rely on the teams above them defaulting over the remainder of the season. History tells us that teams who have gained automatic promotion from League 1 have amassed a minimum of 90 points. To achieve that minimum target Latics would need 45 points from their remaining 20 games, an average of 2.25 points per match.

The January window is crucial to Wigan’s quest for automatic promotion. Caldwell’s squad is strong, but somehow the team rarely fires on all cylinders. The chemistry just does not seem quite right. The question is whether Caldwell can bring in the types of players who can provide an appropriate balance.

A right back/right wing back is surely high on Caldwell’s wish list. Donervon Daniels can excel when attacking, but can be suspect when up against a speedy wide player. Daniels is basically a central defender who has been helping the team by playing out of position. Rumours are that Latics are about to sign right back Reece Wabara whose short term contract at Barnsley has come to an end. Wabara is a 24 year old  ex-Manchester City youth player.  He made 43 appearances for Doncaster Rovers last season before joining Barnsley for whom he appeared 19 times.

According to press reports it appears that Aberdeen are interested in taking Don Cowie on loan for the remainder of the season. With the departures of Junior and Murray and a possible exit from Cowie, Caldwell will be keen to bolster his central midfield.

For some time now Latics have looked short of a midfield enforcer who can close down opponents when the going gets tough. Sam Morsy of Chesterfield is certainly that, being known for his toughness in the tackle. Signed by Paul Cook from Port Vale in summer 2013, the 24 year old  captain has made 97 appearances for the Spireites. His contract expires at the end of the season, suggesting that a relatively small transfer fee could secure his services.

Latics have also been linked with Oldham Athletic captain Liam Kelly. A 25 year old Scottish international, who started his career at Kilmarnock, Kelly is a holding midfielder that Oldham fans don’t want to lose.

With the departure of Junior, Latics look short of variety in midfield. Although dogged by injury during his stay at Wigan, Junior could offer alternatives when coming off the bench. Michael Jacobs is the main creative force for Latics, but there is a need for another player of his type.  So many teams will “park the bus” when they come to the DW Stadium and someone is needed who can help unlock visiting defences.

Grant Holt is now back at Wigan after his loan spell at Wolves, but it seems most likely that he will loaned out to another club. Should that happen Caldwell will surely seek another centre forward. The latest name to be mentioned is Lukas Jutkiewicz who has played for 9 clubs even though he is only 26 years old.  Jutkiewicz is a big target man, but his career strike record is not particularly impressive and he has not scored for his current club, Burnley, in 30 appearances.

Leon Barnett’s contract is up at the end of the season and he might well be looking for a move in January.  Previous rumours linked him to Preston North End. Should Barnett leave then Caldwell will seek to bolster the centre of defence with a new signing. Given the long ball approach that can prevail in League 1 he might well look for a tall player who is strong in the air. Good passing of the ball is not Barnett’s strength and it is an attribute that Caldwell will look at from any incoming player.

Latics have already announced the signings of 19 year old Torquay goalkeeper Dan Lavercombe and the 22 year old Macclesfield midfielder Danny Whitehead. Both players will continue playing for their former clubs for the remainder of the season. They are clearly players for the future.

However, Caldwell’s main priority is to recruit new players for the 20 games that remain this season. How many will be able to recruit will largely depend on the departures of players on Championship-level salaries whose contracts expire in summer.

Given the difficulties he has faced with the right back position Caldwell will be keen to bring in a new player as soon as possible. Reece Wabara might well be a Latics player within the next couple of days.