Reports today suggest that our very own timid Morgan Schneiderlin has committed more fouls than any other PL player which would suggest our Morgan is a dirty player which he most certainly is not. Will this undeserved reputation help or hinder us? Will it make the opposition fearful or will it make the ref more likely to flash a yellow card? The big worry is that Morgan is just one yellow away from a suspension and let's be honest Saturday's game is exactly the sort of do or die encounter where cards are likely to be picked up.
He does try and nick the ball away from players to break up attacks, that leads to a fould being given. He often gives needless free kicks away. Dare I offer a little critique on the young man that would suggests he needs to "hold the player up" sometimes, rather than trying to win the ball.
He is also one of the most hardworking players, which suggests he gets involved in lots of incidents. Also suspect our defensive frailties have something to do with it...fear sets in. One card from a suspension is worrying though (and surprising).
I don't think he's perceived by opposition or refs as a dirty player, or 'one to watch' in the same way a Joey Barton or Ryan Shawcross would be. That's a hugely speculative statement on my part as, of course, I don't know that for certain, but whenever we've been on television he's never highlighted as such by the media. To be honest, if he gets a yellow and suspension because he's just taken his shirt off celebrating a 92nd minute winning goal against QPR, I'll take that.....
This is quite true, he does give away a lot of free-kicks but in his defence he does tend to get in early and stop counter-attacks before they get started, so often escapes bookings for arguably bookable fouls. He appears eager and clumsy rather than cynical, which is perhaps not a bad way to appear. He will be suspended soon though as he does often get one booking for five or so of these fouls! Hopefully having Cork back will fill that gap.
Honestly I think if he played for MANU or such like he'd win he ball much more fairly and be classed as an excellent world class CDM.
He's not dirty.. When you are constantly in the thick of the action trying to get the ball back with tackles and interceptions he's going to commit fouls as he'll mistime some tackles or be in the wrong place at the wrong time when the opponent turns or passes the ball quickly
It's not dirty but it could be classed as unsporting (or to put it another way, professional) because he often makes challenges where he clearly knows the chances of winning the ball cleanly are very slight. It's a balance, if you lose the ball you want to stop the counter-attack and he's very good at doing that, but he will pick up cards and suspensions.
Morgan was back on normal form against Swansea, picking up the first booking. To be honest he is not my first choice tackler, in fairness he has got a bit better.
Morgan does all the vital dirty work and a lot of the fouls are no accidents at all. He is taking one for the team as it were. He's clever enough to do most as little fouls and escape bookings. Unfortunately as we have been struggling in games thus far, the amount of break-up work he's having to do will lead to bookings. But saying that, the number of times he wins the ball without punishment should not be ignored. He's a fine player and will only get better with time alongside Lallana, even during the relegations years, Morgan has been one of my favourite players.
I look forward to the days when, faced with a choice of going down the flanks against Clyne or Shaw, going through the middle against Cork and Schneiderlin, or going over the top against (insert names of 2 world class CB's here), most teams will just give up.
He's actually had a few games recently where he has not been as good at this as you might think. Against Swansea: 2 successful tackles, 2 missed, 3 fouls Against West Brom: 1 successful, 2 missed, 3 fouls Against Spurs: 0 successful, 0 missed, 4 fouls Though he has done well on these stats in most of the previous matches. (missed meaning the tackle was attempted but didn't win the ball or commit a foul)
He has a bad habit of trying to jab at the ball even when it's clear he can't get it cleanly. I wish he would cut that out, but I wouldn't call it dirty so much as silly. Mostly, he has a lot of fouls for the same reason he covers a lot of ground. Saints defense is often disorganized and there is no one who can win headers or 50/50 balls so Schneiderlin is often left scrambling to try and make a saving tackle, or he's cheating a bit to try and get to a header. He and the entire Saints midfield and back four need to learn how to stop a team from scoring without intercepting a pass or stealing the ball.
We also keep giving the ball away cheaply in midfield, leaving Morgan to try and win it back quickly, mostly when he's chasing the play as well.
