What can we do to prevent Sam Morsy’s yellow card spree?
Wigan Athletic midfielder Sam Morsy has already accumulated six yellows card this season, and we’ve only just hit October. Latics boss Paul Cook has recently made claims that Morsy is targeted by referees. I personally think referees are very lenient with the Egyptian midfielder.
If Morsy had been shown a red card in any of the matches against Shrewsbury, Bristol Rovers or Walsall, I wouldn’t have complained for a second. For me, he’s making too many needless and naive fouls, which leave the referee no other option than to book him.
With Morsy, I don’t see an aggressive or malicious player at all, like a Lee Cattermole (of old) or Roy Keane for instance; very rarely do I see him make a foul and I think ‘that’s a red card’, but too often I see him make a foul and I think ‘that’s worthy of a yellow card’.
Morsy is a player I rate very highly. His natural leadership and endeavour is a huge asset to us. The only league game he’s missed this season was away at Peterbrough (through suspension) and we conceded three goals, this just highlights his importance to our team. If he could just channel his game a little better, I wouldn’t at all be surprised if Morsy made it to the top level of English football.
So, what can Cook do to help Morsy? I’d change his midfield partner away from home. Shrewsbury for example wanted the match against us to be a physical battle, plenty of tackles and fouls; and as gifted and talented as Lee Evans is, that’s just not his game. Whereas David Perkins or Max Power would thrive in them style of games, which would relieve the pressure on Morsy to be our ‘ugly’ player constantly trying to win the midfield battle.
It’s a similar situation to Dele Alli at Spurs. He has that real competitive streak, which often gets out of control and gives him a bad reputation, but take that out of his game and suddenly he becomes half the talent he was.
I hope for Morsy’s sake he learns to channel his game overtime, because since his arrival in January 2016 he’s already improved massively as a player. Now he’s captain of the club, it’s time for him to repay the faith shown in him by Paul Cook.
Hopefully from him reading this article, and a more defensive minded player alongside him away from home, his obsession with yellow cards might come to an end.
Sam Morsy, Morsy, Morsy, Morsy.
Up the tics.