“I wish I was still playing” – Eagles legend Morrison inspired by new Crystal Palace generation
BY ANDREW MCSTEEN
(The interview was conducted after Crystal Palace’s 3-2 win over Sheffield United)
Former Crystal Palace striker Clinton Morrison is so inspired by the current form of Michael Olise and Ebere Eze for the SE25 side that he is thinking about getting back on the pitch.
Morrison scored 112 times in 315 appearances for the SE25 club across two spells (1998-2002 & 2005-2008) and retired from playing in 2016, but having witnessed the pair of attackers in action last night in the 3-2 win over Sheffield United at Selhurst Park, the 44-year-old is in awe of their skill, despite both key players returning from injury recently.
“With these two, I sometimes sit there and just think about how I wish I was still playing. They’re such a joy to watch. They’re brilliant,” said Morrison about Eze and Olise to the South London Press.
“These two are outstanding. I did a commentary today (for BBC Radio Five Live) and I’ve never clapped a player off the pitch, but I had to clap Olise off. Him playing at 50, 60%, his levels of football are a joke at the minute. If I’m a centre forward in this football team [I would just] stay in the box because they’ll create chances for me.
“You need to build a team around them,” he added. “It’s going to be difficult to keep hold of them if someone comes in for £70, 80 million – it’s hard to turn that down for what they paid – but hopefully we can do it.
“But I’ve always said it – credit must go to (Crystal Palace Sporting Director) Dougie Freedman. He’s the one who brought them there. I have a lot of contact with him and his recruitment has been outstanding.”
Michael Olise scored and provided two assists for Ebere Eze in the 3-2 victory, with both leaving the pitch early, substituted ahead of the final whistle to manage any potential injury flare-ups.
With the pair described by Morrison as “unplayable”, the former Birmingham City striker took time out to praise a pair of attackers who may not always get the headlines.
“When they go off, the game changes, but the two boys have the X-Factor and that’s what everyone’s talking about,” explained Morrison.
“But it’s not just about those two. If we look at Jordan Ayew. He’s come from AFCON (African Cup of Nations) two or three days ago (with Ghana), and is an unsung hero who worked ever-so-hard.
“He could be one of the best signings in the Premier League. They paid about a couple of million (£2.5 million) for him and he’s turned out to be a great asset for this football club. I’ve got a lot of time for Jordan Ayew. He’s an exciting player and he works hard. Even though he doesn’t get all the goals, I see the off-the-ball stuff and it enables his other teammates to go and catch all the headlines and when this team are clicking like they are today, it’s a joy to watch.
“I also thought (Jean-Philippe) Mateta was outstanding,” added Morrison. “I spoke to a couple of the Sheffield United coaches and they said he was outstanding. His hold-up play let’s all the other players around buy into it. I thought he was brilliant.
“But also Will Hughes, Jefferson Lerma, plus Marc Guehi and Andersen at the back. Chris Richards too, who’s been playing midfield, goes to right back. Young (Tyrick) Mitchell had a battle against James McAtee, who’s an outstanding young prospect on loan (from Manchester City).
“It was a big game for Palace, a must-win and they won it. I love this football club. It’s a big result.”
The win against the Premier League’s bottom team saw the South London side move six points clear of safety and just seven points off the top half of the table, but it was just their sixth league win of the season and second in their last 11.
At the time of speaking to Morrison, Roy Hodgson’s side had made just one January transfer window signing – Colombian right back Daniel Muñoz joining from Belgian side Genk for a reported £8.5 million – with the arrival of Blackburn youngster Adam Wharton for a potential fee of £22million imminent before the window closes.
The signings come at the end of a window in which parts of the Palace support have expressed their dissatisfaction of the running of the SE25 outfit which is led by Chairman Steve Parish along with four other co-owners, including American businessmen Josh Harris, David Blitzer and Jonh Textor.
At the 5-0 defeat against Arsenal just under two weeks ago, banners were displayed with the messages of ‘Wasted potential. On and off the pitch, weak decisions. Taking us backwards’ and ‘No shared vision. No structured plan. Parish out, Yanks out.’
“I don’t know a lot about the Americans, so I can’t really speak, but all I can take for face value is when I speak to Steve Parish or I message him, he will come straight back to me within 5,10 minutes or an hour, and he’ll always reply,” said Morrison about the feeling around the club in recent weeks.
“I can ask him anything about this football club and he’ll always reply. I think he’s been a brilliant chairman for here. I understand the fans’ frustration when they want money. But we ain’t going to be able to compete with the likes of the top 10 who can spend big money.
“I get what they mean when the fans are frustrated, but at the same time, they (the Crystal Palace hierarchy) are always working on stuff. They’ve just signed a right back who looks like a good player, the Colombian international, so that’s a good sign and then hopefully, maybe, a couple more come in before the deadline.
“Adam Wharton is a bright, young prospect. Is he ready to go straight into the first team? Who knows. But he’s a bright prospect and that’s what Dougie Freedman does. He might not buy ready-made replacements now, but he buys for the future and I think they’ve got a good opportunity.
“I can understand the frustration, but the club are going in the right direction. We aren’t going to be a team that’s going to finish in the top five or six.”
For Morrison, the joy of being in and around football is clearly evident throughout the interview with his trademark smile is clear for see. It regularly pauses as numerous past and current players, managers and those involved in the game take time to say hello and speak with him.
This love of the game has now manifested itself into his post-playing career, working for those now asking questions of players or giving their opinions in the media.
“If you told me I would be doing this when I was playing at Palace, I’d have laughed at you,” said Morrison about his current media work for Premier League Productions, BBC Radio Five Live and Sky Sports.
“I’m enjoying my media work but it’s not easy. You have to do your homework. You have to be knowledgeable. You can’t just turn up and think it’s going to work like that. I’m enjoying it. It’s something I really like. My long-term goal is to enjoy it as much as I have. I’ve done it for four or five years and if it ends tomorrow, I can say I’ve given it a good craic. I enjoy being in front of the TV, entertaining people and just having some fun.”
For the Tooting-born Morrison, who now lives in Nottingham, he is also lacing up his boots regularly too, but as a coach, with plans not yet formed for how far it can take him.
“I’ve done my coaching badges – my UEFA B Licence – and I am currently in the process of doing my UEFA A License. I just think it’s something that you should have. I am doing my UEFA Licence with the Irish FA – the only ones who understand me – the English don’t,” joked Morrison, who represented Ireland due to an Irish-born Grandmother, appearing 36 times, scoring nine goals and making their squad for the 2002 FIFA World Cup.
“I coach an U18 team, Beaumont Pumas, up in Leicester when I have my time off. I just try to help, to give back to the community. We’ve got a lot of talented players and had three or four that have gone to academy teams already. It helps me a lot.
“I don’t mind coaching, but I wouldn’t want to be a manager, it’s too stressful. I’d want to be a coach, helping out the manager, because I like both sides of it; talking to the players and helping out on the training pitch.
“But it’s hard work going to put on a session. You wouldn’t think it, but I get embarrassed when you have to put on a session because you always think people are judging you, but you can’t be like that.
“Dougie (Freedman) has invited me down a few times, so I might go down and have a look,” added Morrison about if he has had the opportunity to observe Roy Hodgson and his former coach Ray Lewington – known for wearing shorts whatever the weather – taking sessions at the Beckenham training ground.
“Ray Lewington, he’s always had shorts, but I’m not wearing shorts,” laughs Morrison. “He’s crazy. He’s been crazy from when he used to coach me when I was 19 and I was a problem.”