Morrison: Poster Boy For Wayward Youth

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The January transfer window did little more than raise my eyebrows on two occasions. The first was Harry Redknapp choosing to waken Ryan Nelsen from his injured slumber, and the second was the revelation that Alexander Hleb was still contracted to Barcelona. I know, crazy. Despite this, however, one signing did ignite more interest than most. Ravel Morrison left Manchester United to join Championship leaders West Ham.

Alex Ferguson has not gained a habit of allowing talented youngsters to leave Old Trafford during his tenure at the club, but there is no doubting Morrison's potential for stardom. Signing professional terms at United on his 17th birthday, Morrison was the star of the club's FA Youth Cup victory, scoring twice in the final against Sheffield United. Turning 19 last week, he has played for England sides at schoolboy level upwards. 'The next Paul Gascoigne', we were predictably informed.

Unfortunately, despite making just three League Cup appearances at Old Trafford, the young midfielder is as famous as his more successful peers. Brought up in Wythenshawe, one of Manchester's toughest estates, Morrison has been given a 12-month rehabilitation order (narrowly avoiding prison) for witness intimidation, charged with criminal damage to his girlfriend's mobile phone during a row, and advised to seek counselling regarding domestic abuse after an incident involving his own mother. Even in a footballing sense, the youth has repeatedly missed training sessions, and recently took to Twitter to brand the club's end-of-season awards dinner as "a complete joke" and criticise his contract negotiations. As one United youth player reportedly told fanzine United We Stand, "I don't know why the United fans rave about Ravel when he can't be bothered to get out of bed in the morning." Ferguson, no stranger to managing difficult characters (Rooney, Ronaldo, Cantona), made the ultimate decision. He had had enough.

During his 25 years at Old Trafford Ferguson has ruled the roost over some of the most talented players of differing generations. Throughout this time he has been a shining beacon for the philosophy that talent is necessary, but not sufficient. Indeed, he prides professionalism above any other attribute. Players such as Gary Neville, Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs formed the core of United's success in the 90s, but their presence was not through fluke. All were assiduous in ensuring their intensity and longevity. Up until now, Morrison's attitude goes against this grain, and one can assume Ferguson is too old a dog to be taught new tricks.

Ferguson's decision, although made selfishly, should be applauded for the benefit to the wider game. Forgive me for hyperbole, but we are in danger of creating a generation of footballers that feel that because they are young, rich and famous they can do what they want and screw the consequences. They are the poster boys for the f*ck around, f*ck up and then f*ck off generation. Recent incidents of infidelity and illegality have added an extra hint of celebrity gossip column to the Premier League and, for me, that should be treated with the utmost disdain and disgust. Joey Barton, Bradley Orr, Jermaine Pennant, Marlon King and Lee Hughes are all high-profile examples of current footballers that have spent time behind bars. They should be ashamed of their actions, and Morrison should be gravely embarrassed that he has worn the patience of a great manager so thin.

The difference between Barton and Scholes or Ashley Cole and Stuart Pearce could not be more stark. Our footballers, particularly those that aspire to represent at international level, must be entirely committed to football. Nothing more, nothing less. The line between fame and glory, crucially contrasting ideals, has become worryingly blurred. The latter should be craved, a desire for the former treated with considerable care.

Charity Xpro, which assists players that have fallen on hard times after leaving the game, have calculated that 122 former football stars are behind bars for a range of offences. Such statistics stem from immature men being given sums of money on a weekly basis that their peers can only dream about. But our players must be made to realise that being talented and rich does not give you carte blanche to act as you please. No footballer is, or should be, above the law.

Football has changed in an infinite number of ways in the last 50 years, but the treatment of a 'flawed genius' has shifted enormously. In yesteryear, George Best being convicted of assaulting a police officer, drink driving and failure to answer bail was forgotten in a whirlwind of his exceptional aptitude. Now, however, our expectations have altered. I do not agree with the subjection of our football heroes as role models for our children (parents should strive to take on this mantle), but we rightly require a level of decency from our players. The mantle of role model and idol is too much, but simply setting a good example is not.

Ravel has had the world at his feet. The Manchester United Academy is a place that the youth of Wythenshawe dares to dream to be, and Morrison had the potential to star in a modern-day fairytale of local boy done good. In apparently choosing a path of gang culture and criminality, Morrison has jeopardised his future. The road to redemption should be suitably tough. Lessons must be learnt.

Thankfully for the new West Ham signing, our society is prepared to forgive. If he can play a part in the Hammers' expected promotion, he has the chance to impress at England's highest level. At 19, time is obviously still on his side. After the transfer, Sir Alex stated that it was healthy for Morrison to move out of Manchester and start a new life in London, but there must a warning attached to such a statement. The capital contains plenty of opportunities for a young man to find trouble, and he has been a magnet for such disorder until now. Quite simply, he needs to grow up. Silly boy must become mature man. Is that not the least we should expect from a footballer?

The crux of the issue for Morrison perhaps lies in the quote from his new manager Sam Allardyce shortly after his signing. His words rang an alarm bell of truth: "Ravel is a talented lad and if he really wants to be a player then we will help him as much as we can along the way."

If: Two simple letters that may just define the line between the stardom or decay of England's most talented youth.

Daniel Storey - follow him on Twitter