My clipping from this morning's copy of The Sun
The Sun’s football website: http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football
The Sun’s football website: http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football
As central defenders go he has all it takes to make it to the top, but he’s only 19 years old and while he should enjoy the plaudits after performances like the one he showed against Huddersfield on Saturday, he also has to keep his feet on the ground.
His manager, Danny Wilson, is one person who can – and will - help him to continue to develop his ability so that at some stage he is ready for the next step. His mum and dad are also solid people who can give him wise council and he has plenty of team mates who can give him guidance, but like anyone, his future is ultimately in his own hands.
Fortunately Sean seems to be listening to Wilson and shrugged off speculation linking him with Newcastle, Liverpool and others after the game on Saturday. He said:
“A couple of people I know have gone up to the Premier League and it hasn’t worked out for them for one reason or another. Ben Tozer (who signed for Newcastle at about the same age and has suffered from injuries and been restricted to Toon reserve fixtures) has now signed on loan for Northampton and played really well at Anfield when they won last week.
I’ve signed a contract for another two years and just played my 50th professional game which is a real milestone and I couldn’t be happier.
I’m sure that there are scouts at every game and they watch every player on the pitch, but I’m just focused on keeping clean sheets.”
And that’s the way it should be. The Swindon faithful won't begrudge him a move to a bigger club when the time is right, but he's at the right place now to hone his skills and learn the trade. Because as good as he is, make no mistake, he's still learning.
Keeper David Lucas, 32, played his own part in Swindon’s victory, but praised Morrison saying:
“Sean’s enjoying himself at the moment and you can see it in the way he plays. Last season he had the crutch of knowing Gordon Greer (now at Brighton) would be playing most of the games, but now he knows that he’ll be playing each week and he has risen to it.”
And Morrison himself was quick to recognise central defensive partner Scott Cuthbert who played a big part in the clean sheet. Morrison said:
"I know Scott's a good honest player and always gives 100%. We've developed a good understanding at the moment and long may it continue and there be many more clean sheets to come. We worked hard for it and Alan Sheehan said to me at half time that we couldn't keep creating this many chances and not score."
It was Sheehan's corner that led to Morrison's goal.
When I watch Sean, I think back to Titus Bramble who also had everything at the same age. Physically they are both tall and well built, neither shirks a tackle and they can both spray the ball about the pitch. Sean is even taking the long throws into the opposition boxes at the moment.
However, Bramble’s problem was always his lapses in concentration at the most inopportune moments – and his off field image.
As far as concentration is concerned, this is an area that Wilson has been urging Sean to work on and, to be fair, he is listening to his boss. He proved this by frustrating the Huddersfield strikers for more than ninety minutes before nodding in the injury time winner.
My phone footage of Sean’s winner – the only time I filmed anything during the whole game! I had one of my funny feelings that something was about to happen ... again!!
And the BBC's slightly better camera work!
Away from the County Ground, Sean will have to find his own way just like the rest of us did at his age. He’ll make mistakes and have to work out who is a friend and who is a hanger-on, but he’s smart enough to be able to make the right judgments.
Listening to 606 on the way home on Saturday evening I was stunned to hear Robbie Savage laugh at a caller when they pointed out he was an entertainer, but frankly that’s all ever football has been about. Savage was a good footballer, but lacks perspective.
I hope that Sean retains his – as I’m confident he will - and keeps his feet firmly planted on the ground ... apart from when he needs to head in an injury time winner of course!
Song artist: Blue States
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