Rob Davies
Russell Martin spoke tonight about the possible return of Morgan Whittaker from his highly impressive loan spell at League One leaders Plymouth Argyle.
The winger has been a huge success for the Pilgrims and has fast become one of the most exciting players in the division with rumours suggesting that Ipswich Town are keen on landing the former Derby County man.
At just 21, Whittaker has nine goals and seven assists in 23 appearances for Plymouth this season – impressive figures at any level let alone in a division with heavyweight like Ipswich, Sheffield Wednesday and Derby County.
So the logical answer would be to either keep the player at Home Park and review at the end of the season or bring him back to SA1 to offer some genuine pace and creativity. Surely?
Well, that’s not quite what it seems. Martin said after the defeat to Burnley that a decision was “imminent” but seemed to suggest that it wasn’t exactly his desire for the player to return with his preferred position in the team already well stocked.
It’s never quite appeared from the outside that Martin has been a fan of Whittaker despite the player netting a hat-trick against Plymouth in the EFL Cup last season and offering promise in the brief appearances for the Swans.
The manager’s comments suggests it’ll be tough for him to force his way in with the likes of Luke Cundle, Oli Cooper, Olivier Ntcham, Joel Piroe and even Jay Fulton options in that attacking midfield area.
Therefore it suggests that the decision for Whittaker to return is more down to Chief Executive Julian Winter and Head of Football Operations Josh Marsh, with them viewing him as a valuable asset to the club.
Martin said: “I didn’t think there was (the possibility of him being recalled) but I think there probably is because the ownership group have an opinion on that. Josh (Marsh, Swansea’s head of football operations) and Julian (Winter, the club’s chief executive) have an opinion on that with Morgan.
It has to be imminent because the clause in the loan, or whatever it is, is imminent. I don’t know where that’s at at the minute, there has been a lot of conversation about it.
“If he comes back he will be welcomed back into the group. He wants to play where he has been playing at Plymouth, which is probably the most competitive position on the pitch for us with Olivier Ntcham, Luke Cundle, Oli Cooper, Jay Fulton, Joel Piroe when he plays there.
“So I think it’s a really tough position to get in, but if he does come back he comes back with the mentality that he wants to fight and get in the team, and then we will just have to take it from there.
“I don’t have a definitive answer for you on that and I’m sure I will get told in the next, well probably this evening I would have thought, and if not it will be tomorrow.
“He has done brilliantly, really well. If he comes back hopefully he can build on that momentum and see where it takes him here.
“I think his preference would be stay and play football where he’s guaranteed every week I think.
“But he’s our asset, he’s the club asset and there is a bigger picture in terms of what Josh and Julian see in terms of his value, in terms of what he might be able to add here, and all that stuff. We will just have to wait and see. I’m quite relaxed about it either way.”
So, with the manager even admitting that Whittaker would prefer to stay at Home Park, is the only logical explanation that the player will be on his way back out in January to help strengthen other areas of the team?
The links with Ipswich have continued for some time and with suggestions that the League One club are still owed money for the Flynn Downes transfer, it does perhaps then hold some water.
Whatever the future holds for Whittaker, if he was to be sold in January for the paltry figure of £1m – as has been quoted in other media reports – then it would be a sad exit for a player who could have offered plenty in a team that sorely lacks pace of any kind.
Indeed we should be looking to the division below for young and exciting players as we have always done in the past; not selling them at the first sign of seven figures for what could be a genuine asset in the future – see Brennan Johnson at Lincoln as a prime example.
Time will tell on this one. If he is to return then we can only hope that he will be given the opportunity he deserves.
If the swans cash in on him then it just shows a complete lack of ambition. He is a quality youngster with alot of potential and is regarded as the hottest property in league 1. A league where swans scout talent from so why on earth would they want to sell him.
Yes RM give the lad a chance the strikers we have are not playing that well and Whittaker could do a god job for the Swans only time will tell there must be something going on between him and Whittaker what more as he got to do to get a recall I at the moment do not know which direction RM s taken the club only he knows and we will see now what happens in this transfer window what ambitions the board have for the club.
If he comes back he has to be given a run in the team at 10. Otherwise don’t bother and muck his career about. That must be a prerequisite. We don’t currently have a packet and goal threatening 10. I’m afraid whilst having a brilliant left foot, Piroe is anonymous. He lacks pace, can’t head and can’t hold the ball up. Why is Russell vso fixated on him. Doesn’t add to the team.
Not for the first time there seems to be a lack of understanding between the board and Martin .It is difficult to see any positives in the manager’s comments on Whitaker last night .The lad is playing superbly in a top of the table side and the only acceptable reason for bringing him back to the Liberty would be to play him yet Martin seemed to stress how difficult it would be for him to break into the side and how the player himself would much prefer to stay in Plymouth ! All very strange.
Watching highlights only from Perth and also reading fans forum it appears Mr Martin is totally inflexible. His judgement of players seems flawed when you consider signings from his previous club. The football style he insists on is admirable yet deeply flawed without pace. We cannot defend set pieces , he is not going to improve us in this area. I see no point in keeping players who want to leave as they will always lack commitment. The Whittaker situation suggests dissent between himself and others within club. I don’t think his judgement is necessarily the one to take on the player.
It seems that idwal Roberts summed up his career rather well, we are probably limited in options as it is unlikely Norwich will want him. Given the low standard in division we should avoid relegation , but where do we go from there?
Would imagine another inconsistent season before future options can be implemented , hopefully avoiding the drop.
I’m an Argyle supporter and have been all my life! This lad, has without doubt a big future in the game and I’m, of course, he remains with Argyle for the rest of the season and continues to contribute in a massive way towards our push for promotion. I’m realistic, he’s a Swansea player and an obvious asset, but in your case surely not to sell, well not yet at least. If you have him back play him and at no.10. Don’t have him back sit him on the bench and wait and see who has the fullest ‘back pocket’! Strange decision coming from the Swans.