Jody Morris: I can take on attacking midfield role at Bristol City
JODY Morris is adamant he can become the midfield creator Bristol City are crying out for.
Signed on a free transfer from Scottish Premier League St Johnstone last month, former Chelsea star Morris is capable of operating in a number of different roles.
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New-signing Jody Morris pictured in pre-season training with Bristol City
Essentially a defensive midfield player at McDiarmid Park in recent seasons, he is more than happy to adopt a more progressive role now that he has again teamed up with his former manager, Derek McInnes, at Ashton Gate.
McInnes has made no secret of his desire to recruit an attacking midfield creator and he has sounded out Liverpool starlet Suso and former Queens Park Rangers man Akos Buzsaky in recent weeks.
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But teenage Spaniard Suso is by no means certain to move to the Championship on loan, while City face stiff competition from Nottingham Forest for the signature of Hungarian international Buzsaky.
City have heard nothing from Buzsaky since last week and, if he opts to move elsewhere, McInnes will consider turning to Morris to provide ammunition for his forwards.
"To be honest, I've played both roles under different managers," said Morris. "The gaffer used me as a holding player up in Scotland, but that might have been because of the other players he had at his disposal.
"But he has a bigger and better squad here than at St Johnstone and things could be very different.
"It is not something we have really discussed as yet, but I am equally happy in either role.
"I've never been the kind of attacking midfielder who bangs in ten or more goals a season. But I'd like to think I can keep the ball, take up advanced positions and create opportunities for others. I have played in the Championship before and know the league and I'm confident I can play in a more forward role if asked to."
City already have a number of holding midfielder players on their books, notably Marvin Elliott and Cole Skuse, while even the more creative Neil Kilkenny has a tendency to drop deep in search of the ball.
Paul Hartley was the last regular provider of goalscoring opportunities from central midfield, the Scot creating many of the 21 goals scored by Nicky Maynard in the 2009-10 season.
Morris insists his football upbringing at Chelsea enables him to play a similarly creative role.
He said: "You don't expect to work with people like Glenn Hoddle and Graham Rix and not know how to keep the ball.
"I have always believed the game should be played on the deck and keeping possession is definitely the most important thing.
"Any side that can do that in the Championship is going to have an edge and I would like to think I can help in that respect.
"I may be 33, but I feel as fit as I did ten years ago and I can do a job box to box if called upon."
Comments
by godspeed
Wednesday, July 25 2012, 9:45PM
“I thing Bristol city missed there biggest opportunity a few months ago to establish themselves as a big club and play in the champions league. Being that Bristol city are currently the only Scottish football club playing in the English football league they should have tried to form a coalition with Glasgow rangers before they were liquidated. Good luck with getting your new ground ashbrox”
by RedNemesis_1
Wednesday, July 25 2012, 3:52AM
“Bad news for Nathan Jones then Piledriver if he's "moved" to Yeovil only for Gary Johnson to follow him there shortly afterwards!”
by Frankclack
Wednesday, July 25 2012, 12:26AM
“Somebody must have switched DMcs laptop on, the City site has just admitted what rednem told us 12 hours ago.
Wilson and Heaton have been in Marbles. The bad news is that Wilson has strained his groin.
On the pitch, one hopes.”
by piledriver
Tuesday, July 24 2012, 9:32PM
“@RedNemesis_1:
The kind of journalism from Godsiff & Latham "wasn't required" by management (GJ) at BCFC and this warped view was upheld by the owner.
Nathan Jones was moved to Yeovil for daring to defy Johnson whose view was, "agree with me or be wrong"-"Disagree, you're negative and you want the club to fail"-That view of the world lead directly to GJ's fall from grace.
The paper is an online version that has, regretably, lost it's local roots and local contacts-What a shame.”
by Frankclack
Tuesday, July 24 2012, 8:57PM
“""City have heard nothing from Buzsaky since last week "
Neither have they heard anything from Andy Carroll, van Persie, or Messi. if that means anything we're going to have a hell of a team come August.
The hulk on the right of Morris (not THE Hulk of Brazil), is Matt Damon's older brother, on location in Marbles making a film. The one to the left of Morris looks vaguely Scottish if his smile is anything to go by.
Behind him is either Billy Bremner or Charlie Drake.
Clutching at straws?
We haven't even got enough straws to allow us to draw a short one!”
by RedNemesis_1
Tuesday, July 24 2012, 1:29PM
“Sky Sports are reporting the Mark Wilson link today so expect the Post to "follow up" on that story now. How can Sky Sports based in Middlesex beat the local paper to a story like this? ?? Disgraceful.”
by RedNemesis_1
Tuesday, July 24 2012, 1:28PM
“First picture shows name of Mark Wilson, next shows Tom Heaton. And this was taken on July 16, so the BEP is only eight days behind the news? Do they even talk to the manager or have any insiders at the club, why are we waiting eight days for this to come out? Sloppy and lazy.”
by BinRelegated
Tuesday, July 24 2012, 1:26PM
“Its a complete myth that Hartley provided "many" of Nicky Maynard's goals. He only had 4 assists for the season and two of those game in one game! I think Morris could do the job and we have a driving midfielder in Pearson who is also capable of creating but for some reason he fails to ever get mentioned.
Im more worried about the defence and I have been saying this for around 3 years now. We need a quality centre back (maybe even two) asap otherwise we will leak goals for fun no matter who is in goal. Without that quality in defence, the midfield will have to sit back and help out (as we seen last year) so its imperative that they have sound and confident defenders so the midfield can push on and create chances.
The situation is desperate and must be rectified asap and im sure McInnes is working hard to do just that.”
by RedNemesis_1
Tuesday, July 24 2012, 1:21PM
“Here's the evidence, now do some work ...
https://http://tinyurl.com/chlpsj7”
by RedNemesis_1
Tuesday, July 24 2012, 1:19PM
“Just shows how far behind the local press is that Tom Heaton and Mark Wilson both joined City's Spanish training camp but not a mention about this in the local paper yet???
I'm assuming the real reason is the official forum have not yet reported it, so they have nothing to cut and paste.
Such dreadful local journalism on our local paper, it wasn't like this years ago when we had "real" football reporters like David Foot, Peter Godsiff and Richard Latham. Reporters that did the leg work, followed up tips and leads, and didn't base stories around forum gossip or until it had been released on the official club site.”