Our one and only first team goalkeeper, Glenn Morris, signed a pre-contract agreement on a free transfer on Tuesday 20th July 2010, the day after making his first appearance in a Southend shirt, replacing Rhys Evans at half-time in a pre-season friendly against Derby County, in which Morris kept a clean sheet, as Southend drew 1-1.
Although it has not yet been made clear, it is highly expected that Morris will act as a back-up keeper, with rumour circling that Rhys Evans or Lenny Pidgeley could sign permanently, or perhaps even Wojciech Szczesny, James Shea or David Button potentially coming in on loan to take the role of number one. This is a role that Morris may be used to, after only 124 appearances in nine years at Leyton Orient, although he still struggled to impress the Brisbane Road faithful, despite winning the young player of the year award in 2003 and 2004, he failed to break into the first team until 2007, at the age of 24, until he was replaced as first choice in 2009 by Jamie Jones. The now 26 year old, six foot stopper was only 18 when making his first team debut against Dagenham & Redbridge for Leyton Orient, and Southend will be only the second club in his career, after being released in May by new Orient boss Russell Slade.
Signing on a one year deal, Morris is an agile keeper with good reflexes and is consequently an excellent shotstopper. However, he isn't a favourite with O's fans despite being their longest serving player due to his various weaknesses. These weaknesses include a lack of communication with his defence, which often mean that he is poor at collecting crosses, while his distribution is also no better than that of ex-Shrimper Darryl Flahavan, who was let down by his distribution time and time again.
However, Paul Sturrock's ninth signing on a pre-contract agreement this summer is a sound back-up and possibly even an average first choice stopper for any League 2 side, mainly in part down to his strength in shotstopping. At only 26 years old, and having only previously played for one club over nine years, this could see Morris stick around at Southend, although it is likely he will only be a back-up to another goalkeeper.
hmmm as an O's fan I disagree with nearly all of your post and I know many more that would as well. One season him and our striker Gary Alexander kept us in the football league, where Morris cleaned up the player of year awards. Although he's not played that many for 9 years, he was 17 when he signed. We have a very highly rated keeper in Jamie Jones at the moment and unfortunately Morris & Jones was a luxury we probably couldn't afford so we have gone for a cheaper option as back up as have many clubs. Also believe he was due a testimonial game, which would have been Spurs pre season. Maybe I'm being a bit cynical but it means our Chairman can keep the gate receipts for himself! Morris has seen off many keepers over the years including Rhys Evans so I can't believe either him or Pidgeley who have both made careers out of being signed and released would be ahead of Morris. Is def a better shot stopper than Jones but Jones is taller. Think his confidence suffered a few years ago but since then he's seemed to grow as a keeper each season and kicking is no issue (can't understand football fans obsession with kicking, I prefer keepers that can keep the ball out the net). I think it was time for a change for him and the club but Southend could well see the best of him. Good luck for the season, hopefully we'll meet next season when you get promoted rather than us relegated!
ReplyDeleteThat's good to hear, I was down at boots and laces today and saw Morris is wearing the number 1 training kit. I remember seeeing Evans play a couple of seasons ago and he was total rubbish.
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