UNRAVELLING?

In October 2013, less than 18 months ago , Ravel Morrison scored one of the goals of the season for West Ham at a packed White Hart Lane, ghosting from the half way line through the Spurs defence, and nicking it expertly over their keeper.

On Friday evening January 9^th 2015, the third anniversary of his move to West Ham - Ravel turned out for West Ham's Development Squad in a Premiership Academy game on a windswept ground in front of 300 people in Romford. Ironically the opposition were Spurs again who won 3-1. Morrison scored West Ham's goal, an athletic overhead kick from close range, which equalised the scores at 1-1.

It was surprising to find him on the team sheet, among a group of players of whom only a couple of others had first team experience. The Club website has him on a 3 month loan to Cardiff, which presumably has now ended. To initial surprise, was added mild shock that the player in the number 10 shirt was actually him: he looked a good stone heavier. Not that it seemed to affect his mobility. After all Maradona carried a few pounds too.

If you like biblical similes, Ravel has the makings of a prodigal son. Having starred for Man Utd Youth in the 2012 Youth Cup Final , he was unloaded by Ferguson to West Ham. Unrealistic wage demands were cited by Sir Alex, but the unstated reasons seem to have been unreliability turning up for training, constant scrapes with the Police, and giving team mates and coaching staff too much lip. But he went on to perform well for England Under 21s and QPR last season, after a short period in 2013-14 ,which had the press briefly nominating him to be a wild card choice for the 2014 World Cup squad in Brazil.

Currently he's awaiting trial on two charges of common assault and one of causing his girlfriend to fear violence. If he's convicted, one can anticipate a Ched Evan's type vigilante campaign against allowing a perpetrator of violence against women a further opportunity as a football star to be a `role model'.

Except that he's not actually a star yet, and may never be unless he soon discovers a role model himself. It was moving to see the evident warmth of the congratulations from his team mates when he scored and it was good too to see him return again after half time, proof hopefully that his extra weight is not a serious fitness issue.

However the evening then turned soured after 15 minutes of the second half . On the ball, and with no danger, trying to shrug off a series of challenges, Ravel retreated towards his own goal, any number of shimmies, dummies and step overs failing to let him turn or make a forward pass. Resorting to a back pass to his keeper from 30 yards out, he whacked it hard, the ball caught on the gale and went skywards. The keeper had no option but to try volley the ball as it descended, missed, and presented a goal on a plate to the Spurs striker. The website match report refers to `...poor defensive play...', but it would be fairer to say that the goal was down to Ravel's recklessness, cancelling out his classy first half goal. 2-1 to the Spurs.

Within 5 minutes, he was substituted, whacking the bench as he returned to the dug-out tent. You felt for him. He sat there for a good 10 minutes saying nothing and with no-one talking to him. Allardyce, like everyone else whose has managed him, says his future is down to him. He joked that they couldn't enlarge the door frames at the Boleyn Ground just for him if his head got any bigger. Redknapp told him that you are lucky to get 10 years at the top level of the game and he has to wise up and knuckle down.

Ravel is 22 in a fortnight. The clock is ticking.