07/07/2007

'Striker Now The Priority'

An astonishing article appears in today's Greenock Telegraph.

Roger Graham reveals that Jim McInally has decided that we no longer need a 'strong midfield presence' and that David MacGregor can do a job there. The article goes on to say that one or two strikers are now the priority.

I think the consensus of opinion amongst all Morton fans is that Morton's priority signing MUST be a strong midfielder who can dictate play in the midfield and who has the strength and experience to play against some of the wily midfielders we will come up against next season.

I'm flabbergasted to hear that McInally no longer thinks a midfielder is priority (or needed at all) and his judgement must be seriously called in to question if he actually believes we can get by in the first division with the midfield we have at present.

You just don't go from an ambitious attempt to sign a midfielder like Simon Mensing (who would have been ideal) to deciding that you don't actually need a midfielder that much. In my opinion McInally just can't find someone or the budget isn't there to sign players of an acceptable standard. Either way I think this story raises real concerns for next season.


06/07/2007

Trialists Wont Be Offered Deals

Today's Tele' (at the bottom of the Lee Robinson article) reveals that Morton wont be offering deals to the two trialists mentioned earlier in the week. However, the Irish goalkeeper will be given the chance to return and train with the club some time in the future.

The trialists have been named as Alessandro Zita (Brazilian winger) and Gary Hogan (Irish goalkeeper).

After a few google searches I couldn't find anything on Hogan but I did find Zita's myspace and a bit about him on the St. Albans messageboard. It would seem he was more of a desperate amateur rather than a genuinely talented Brazilian. It's very disappointing that we are wasting our time giving players of this calibre a trial. It's also disturbing that Douglas Rae wouldn't reveal names incase anyone nipped in to sign them before us which suggests he had them down as hot property. Check out the links and judge for yourself.

* Picture - Alessandro Zita from his myspace

St. Albans messageboard : http://www.sacfc.co.uk/index.php?option=com_fireboard&func=view&id=3706&catid=2

Zita's myspace : http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=93322334

http://www.gumtree.com/london/24/9625524.html

Robinson Signs On Loan

Various sources have confirmed that Rangers' goalkeeper Lee Robinson (21) has today joined Morton on a year long loan.

Chris Fitzgerald's article in today's Greenock Telegraph states that Walter Smith alerted McInally to Robinson's availablity. It goes on to say that Rangers have given us a favourable deal with regards to his wages and that Robinson's distribution from the back is excellent.

Interestingly McInally has already seen Robinson play six or seven times. This suggests that this deal may have been a possibility for a while.

Greenock Telegraph :http://www.greenocktelegraph.co.uk/article.php?sec=sport&id=9013

gmfc.net : http://www.gmfc.net/club-news/news-view.asp?id=176

BBC sport : http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/morton/6279392.stm

05/07/2007

Twigg Signs for Oxford United

Gary Twigg has completed a move to Oxford United.

A news story on the sport section of the BBC website says that the former Airdrie United striker has signed a two year contract with the English side.

Earlier this summer Jim McInally offered Twigg a contract at Morton but Twigg didn't come back with a reply.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/o/oxford_utd/6275718.stm

http://greenockmortonfc.blogspot.com/2007/06/twigg-ignores-morton-bid.html

Morecambe Admission Prices

I don't know if this has been announced elsewhere or posted on any of the Morton messageboards but last night I stumbled accross the admission prices for our friendly against Morecambe.

According to the Lancashire Evening Post prices for any part of the ground will be :

Adults - £8 , Concessions - £4

http://www.lep.co.uk/sport?articleid=2985946

03/07/2007

Did You Know ...

... Former Morton and Denmark player Kai Johansen was instrumental in breaking down race barriers in South African football during apartheid.

In his book Football Against The Enemy Simon Kuper travels the world to 'discover the sometimes bizarre effects football can have on politics and culture'. In a chapter on South African football he tells how on the 18th of February 1977 manager Kai Johansen picked black goalkeeper / striker Vincent Julius to play for his Arcadia Shepherds team in a match in the white-only league. As a result the South African government decided to merge the white and black leagues and allow the players to play side-by-side for the first time.

Sadly, Johansen died in May this year.


Buy the book here :

Rangers Goalkeeper Coming On Loan

Morton look set to take Rangers' goalkeeper Lee Robinson on a year long loan.

The 'exclusive' by Ronnie MacKay appears on page 51 of today's Sun and also says that Robinson is 21 years old and made his one and only Rangers appearance as a substitute against Hearts two years ago.


Name : Lee Robinson
Position : Goalkeeper
Nationality : English (born Sunderland)
Age : 21 - yesterday ! (DoB - 02.07.1986)
Height : 5' 11"
Former Club(s) : ESH Winning
Signed for Rangers : 30/01/04
Appearances : 0 (1)
Squad Number : 41

Rangers profile (d.o.b & position are wrong): http://www.rangers.premiumtv.co.uk/page/Squad/Profiles/0,,5~30094,00.html

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/scot_prem/6171533.stm

02/07/2007

Friendly Update

The friendly between Morton and Gretna on Wednesday 18th of July will now be played at Raydale Park, Gretna. The game was originally scheduled to be played at Motherwell's Fir Park where Gretna will

groundshare in the SPL next season.

The match kicks-off at 7pm.

http://www.gmfc.net/club-news/news-view.asp?id=175