Johnny Morrissey Appreciation Thread

[Joey66]

*forth man? Hmm? I hope Tommy Jackson get a mention in this series as he was the proper 4th man of the Trio

Anyway, Moggsy...

I don't really hold with the some what trendy view that the 69-70 team played 4:5:1. Just like now with 10 outfielders, the formation was flexible, nominal 4:3:3. (Though the newspapers of the day still printed the teams in the old manner - 1:2:3:5) and could be any permutation of numbers at any time...Though it has to be said that the back 4 was less flexible than now, the FB's did push up but as much as now.
Morrissey did drop back and tuck in more than Husband, but that was just his nature and a measure of his versatility...I seem to recollect him playing at LB once or twice. But in those days a winger was mostly a winger, get up, get it over or cut in and shoot.

So on to what we all know; He WAS as hard as nails, he backed down to no one, but didn't need or have to prove or flaunt it. He just was, you didn't mess with moggsy, everybody knew you'd get no change out of him...but he wasn't 'hard' in the sly, snide, dirty manner that some where and still are today.

The 'alleged' tins of salmon and ciggies I'll leave alone and let others tell the stories, from both on and off the field, tell them better than me.

I was at that game Wolves always a favorite venue for blues fans their away end Kop was brilliant!

 

[Joey66]

Think I may have posted this before, if so apologies!!
When I was about 8 I used to go to Boys Club on a Friday night in Crosby in the hall at St Nick's church, 5 a sides, table tennis etc. I'd been off school for about a week after a big dental op in Walton hospital so couldn't go to Boys Club and was particularly gutted as one of the Everton players was supposed to be turning up! Can't quite remember the exact timings but about half 8 there was a knock on our front door, me lying on the settee feeling as miserable as sin and in walks the guy who ran the Boys Club closely followed by Johnny Morrissey!!!!!! He'd been told about this mad Evertonian kid who couldn't make Boys Club that night because of his op, and only flippin' well came down to see me! He stayed about half an hour, not sure who was more excited me or me Dad, but it certainly made me feel a bit better!
He was one of my favourite players after that, fantastic player, hard as nails and definitely not to be messed with, scored some great goals for Everton as well as creating many more! He'd cost a fortune in todays market!

tell you something else he would walk into an England side now too totally rejected like the rest of our players for the London clubs elite rubbish players!

 

[Joey66]

Johnny was a 2 footed footballer, could play on both wings and could centre the ball into the box (Not like our current crew). He
scored a penalty in the 68 semi against Leeds, he wasn't picked for the 66 final, luckily enough the fella who replaced him scored
the winner. In the early 60s we used to go for a pint in the Ribble Bus Station (Near The Adelphi I think) and Johnnys Dad (or he
said he was) used to drink there quite often, he used to tell us some stories about young John and other things, he was a right
character. In about 1970 I can remember Johnny being called up by Alf Ramsey to play for the English League Team and saying
that he had chosen Morrissey for his contribution to English football. Obviously not just an Everton favourite!

should have played for England i n the season we won the league, overlooked for the elitist reasons as other great blues players of that time were!

 

[Joey66]

He went to Oldham Athletic, wasn't there long, I think he finished with football after that brief stay.

Well he did a ten year stint with us he bided his time to get in the side derek temple was in the way rightly - in and out scored v Liverp[ool at the return Goodison Derby in the 2-2 draw so underestimated by the opposition other than Jack Charltonlol

 

[royvernon39]

I loved the way Morrissey would simply have a go at the full-back. Nowadays wide players more than often
knock it backwards or sideways and fail to make things happen. Cleverley admittedly has no pace and is reluctant to go on the outside but neither did Sheedy who would look up and try to deliver a forward pass or a centre.

btw, this might be treason but the only other winger who came close to Morrissey for postive play, in my book, was
LFC's Peter Thompson.

 

[Joey66]

I loved the way Morrissey would simply have a go at the full-back. Nowadays wide players more than often
knock it backwards or sideways and fail to make things happen. Cleverley admittedly has no pace and is reluctant to go on the outside but neither did Sheedy who would look up and try to deliver a forward pass or a centre.

btw, this might be treason but the only other winger who came close to Morrissey for postive play, in my book, was
LFC's Peter Thompson.

Dixie Dean at that time of the other lot where Thompson , and Callaghan were on their wings the great Dixie Dean stated if they had been in his era he would have scored 100 league goals that famous 60 goal season!
So do not be afraid to mention them they were the reason we ended up with a great winger who lasted longer in Moggsy!

 

[dave abrahams]

I loved the way Morrissey would simply have a go at the full-back. Nowadays wide players more than often
knock it backwards or sideways and fail to make things happen. Cleverley admittedly has no pace and is reluctant to go on the outside but neither did Sheedy who would look up and try to deliver a forward pass or a centre.

btw, this might be treason but the only other winger who came close to Morrissey for postive play, in my book, was
LFC's Peter Thompson.

I think Peter Thompson was brilliant now and again, a good player, but Johnny Morrissey was consistently good and much more of a team player.

 

[ToffeeDan]

Our little thug on the wing. One of my first heroes though, old Johnny Marlboro.

Howard used to tell the story of a brutal tackle by him early doors at Elland Road when he said "ffs Johnny, we've got 80 minutes left to get out of here on two legs"

 

[Joey66]

Our little thug on the wing. One of my first heroes though, old Johnny Marlboro.

Howard used to tell the story of a brutal tackle by him early doors at Elland Road when he said "ffs Johnny, we've got 80 minutes left to get out of here on two legs"

Yes Norman hunter took HK out inside ten minutes cut him in half, they killed Moggsy in one game too went to Leland road a bit to see the blues in the days of th A roads over the Pennines- my older brother told me a story in the 1-1 draw in the FA cup before the drink drive law my late father and his mates stopped at a tetley pub his mate had a transit van full of miners as mates heavy drinkers pulled in before the kick off drank the bitter pumps dry as they were leaving the locals entered to find the bitter pumps drylol
All the barrels empty moaning like hell at my dad and his mates we got a retaken pen at the end to draw!

 

[kev]

I never really saw him as " the fourth man" in a midfield, mind you my tactical knowledge then was not so keenly honed as now , at such a tender age. While we played different formations with different players my Hare Krishna chant of " Gordonwest, Tommy Wright, Keith Newton , Howard Kendal,;Brian labone, Colin Harvey , Jimmy husband, Alan ball; Joey Royle, Johnny Hurst , Johnny Morrisey , Harry Catterick ,; Harry Catterick , Harry Catterick etc " suggests he was one of the front three with Husband and Royle. Lovely barrel of a player . Got to dash now , got keys for parkrun, more later.

Loved that chant, although I always remember it as Sandy Brown rather than Keith Newton

On topic - One tough nut that Moggsy. Used to shrug off challenges that would see bans handed out now, and he could dish a bit out himself at times.

 

[Dario Terracotta]

*forth man? Hmm? I hope Tommy Jackson get a mention in this series as he was the proper 4th man of the Trio

Anyway, Moggsy...

I don't really hold with the some what trendy view that the 69-70 team played 4:5:1. Just like now with 10 outfielders, the formation was flexible, nominal 4:3:3. (Though the newspapers of the day still printed the teams in the old manner - 1:2:3:5) and could be any permutation of numbers at any time...Though it has to be said that the back 4 was less flexible than now, the FB's did push up but as much as now.
Morrissey did drop back and tuck in more than Husband, but that was just his nature and a measure of his versatility...I seem to recollect him playing at LB once or twice. But in those days a winger was mostly a winger, get up, get it over or cut in and shoot.

So on to what we all know; He WAS as hard as nails, he backed down to no one, but didn't need or have to prove or flaunt it. He just was, you didn't mess with moggsy, everybody knew you'd get no change out of him...but he wasn't 'hard' in the sly, snide, dirty manner that some where and still are today.

The 'alleged' tins of salmon and ciggies I'll leave alone and let others tell the stories, from both on and off the field, tell them better than me.

Ha ha,the salmon tins allegedly moggsys best mate was bobby Campbell ex rs who managed Chelsea,they stuck John west wrappers on a garage full of the cheapest salmon they could get their hands onlol

 

[Joey66]

Loved that chant, although I always remember it as Sandy Brown rather than Keith Newton

On topic - One tough nut that Moggsy. Used to shrug off challenges that would see bans handed out now, and he could dish a bit out himself at times.

He was never a midfielder Harvey's comparison of the two sides from the late 60's to the mid 80s team was the fact the late 60;s team had a three man midfield Husband and Moggsy supported Royle a magnificent footballing side shear skills with the Ball of fire driving the team on they could play at the back too!
John Hurst most understated Everton player ever captained Englands under 23 side he could play better tha an Stone will ever be!
Moggsy was so special on that left wing his footwork beat the fullback the wham income either a shot or a superb cross !

 

[AndyC]

Loved that chant, although I always remember it as Sandy Brown rather than Keith Newton

On topic - One tough nut that Moggsy. Used to shrug off challenges that would see bans handed out now, and he could dish a bit out himself at times.

Definitely was Sandy Brown and not Keith Newton in the Krishna chant.

 

[McMagic]

I loved the way Morrissey would simply have a go at the full-back. Nowadays wide players more than often
knock it backwards or sideways and fail to make things happen. Cleverley admittedly has no pace and is reluctant to go on the outside but neither did Sheedy who would look up and try to deliver a forward pass or a centre.

btw, this might be treason but the only other winger who came close to Morrissey for postive play, in my book, was
LFC's Peter Thompson.

You are quite right it is Treason!

 

[Joey66]

Ha ha,the salmon tins allegedly moggsys best mate was bobby Campbell ex rs who managed Chelsea,they stuck John west wrappers on a garage full of the cheapest salmon they could get their hands onlol

Entrupener as well as a great winger too then Dariolol