| Stats The Way A-Ha A-Ha… Morsy v Matusiwa 08:44 - Oct 13 with 1917 views | Chris_ITFC |
Morsy v Matusiwa, posted with zero agenda, completely just curiosity in light of the other Morsy thread.
I’d summarise as:
Morsy relied upon more for possession, with more attacking threat, but less discipline.
Matusiwa just as trustworthy on the ball, but better in the air and proactive in defending (clearances/interceptions).
Considering we’re comparing peak Morsy, rather than 2025 Morsy, our boy Azor stacks up bloody well in just his first 8 games in England.
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| Stats The Way A-Ha A-Ha… Morsy v Matusiwa on 09:02 - Oct 13 with 1780 views | NthQldITFC |
The things that stand out to me, that reflect the so called eye test, are a significantly lower 'fouls from tackle attempts' and 'clearances'/'interceptions'. The first results in us winning and keeping the ball in play a lot more and prevents lesser opponents from slowing the game taking free kicks, and the combination of the other two gives us counterattacking opportunities when opponents are not in their typical low block against us.
Morsy great, Matu better! |  |
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| Stats The Way A-Ha A-Ha… Morsy v Matusiwa on 10:10 - Oct 13 with 1525 views | Smoresy |
Prime Morsy for me currently but Matusiwa's had an excellent start. He's superb defensively.
Morsy was so trustworthy on the ball in 23/24, despite the frequency with which he demanded it in awkward situations, and he was so influential, nay instrumental, to our attacking play. Matusiwa hasn't been as trustworthy on the ball imo, supported by the "times tackled" stat, and he averages significantly fewer touches in a game than Morsy did. I suspect the "possession lost" stat relates as much to errant passes and shots as it does losing the ball at close quarters, and Morsy did a lot more in possession in your average game.
However, current Matusiwa is probably a better complement to Cajuste than prime Morsy would have been, because Cajuste isn't nearly as safe in his play as Luongo was. Your title lends itself more to a Cajuste v Luongo comparison really a-ha. |  | | |
| Stats The Way A-Ha A-Ha… Morsy v Matusiwa on 10:37 - Oct 13 with 1406 views | Chris_ITFC |
| Stats The Way A-Ha A-Ha… Morsy v Matusiwa on 10:10 - Oct 13 by Smoresy |
Prime Morsy for me currently but Matusiwa's had an excellent start. He's superb defensively.
Morsy was so trustworthy on the ball in 23/24, despite the frequency with which he demanded it in awkward situations, and he was so influential, nay instrumental, to our attacking play. Matusiwa hasn't been as trustworthy on the ball imo, supported by the "times tackled" stat, and he averages significantly fewer touches in a game than Morsy did. I suspect the "possession lost" stat relates as much to errant passes and shots as it does losing the ball at close quarters, and Morsy did a lot more in possession in your average game.
However, current Matusiwa is probably a better complement to Cajuste than prime Morsy would have been, because Cajuste isn't nearly as safe in his play as Luongo was. Your title lends itself more to a Cajuste v Luongo comparison really a-ha. |
A-ha… but is that what the people really want…
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| Stats The Way A-Ha A-Ha… Morsy v Matusiwa on 11:58 - Oct 13 with 1172 views | Churchman |
Morsy’s biggest attribute a couple of years ago was his ability to influence or ‘drive’ the game. One look and you knew who the Captain was. Strong character, flippin’ good player.
Matusiwa doesn’t have that level of influence yet, but whatever the stats say, he looks a better player to me. He’s still settling, but is establishing partnerships and looked good right from his first game. I’m impressed with him.
If Sam was still at the club, much as I like him, he wouldn’t get in my team in front of Matusiwa.
It’s a game of opinions. |  | | |
| Stats The Way A-Ha A-Ha… Morsy v Matusiwa on 12:10 - Oct 13 with 1078 views | gsoly |
| Stats The Way A-Ha A-Ha… Morsy v Matusiwa on 11:58 - Oct 13 by Churchman |
Morsy’s biggest attribute a couple of years ago was his ability to influence or ‘drive’ the game. One look and you knew who the Captain was. Strong character, flippin’ good player.
Matusiwa doesn’t have that level of influence yet, but whatever the stats say, he looks a better player to me. He’s still settling, but is establishing partnerships and looked good right from his first game. I’m impressed with him.
If Sam was still at the club, much as I like him, he wouldn’t get in my team in front of Matusiwa.
It’s a game of opinions. |
Seems that Matusiwa is much more of a lead by example type, but he's clearly uber professional, I would imagine his training levels match Morsy's. He's also, and I take no joy in saying this, a much better player. I think Morsy was an issue for us last year and he did incredibly well, all things considered, but it's clear that, just physically for one, Matusiwa is on another level. Morsy had a unicorn season in the Champ above his level, but I think the right decision was made in the summer, all round. |  | | |
| Stats The Way A-Ha A-Ha… Morsy v Matusiwa on 12:15 - Oct 13 with 1060 views | nrb1985 |
| Stats The Way A-Ha A-Ha… Morsy v Matusiwa on 11:58 - Oct 13 by Churchman |
Morsy’s biggest attribute a couple of years ago was his ability to influence or ‘drive’ the game. One look and you knew who the Captain was. Strong character, flippin’ good player.
Matusiwa doesn’t have that level of influence yet, but whatever the stats say, he looks a better player to me. He’s still settling, but is establishing partnerships and looked good right from his first game. I’m impressed with him.
If Sam was still at the club, much as I like him, he wouldn’t get in my team in front of Matusiwa.
It’s a game of opinions. |
My rather simpler distillation would be that prime Morsy is the probably the better player for a promotion chasing championship team but Matusiwa is very much the chap you’d prefer in the PL. | | | |
| Stats The Way A-Ha A-Ha… Morsy v Matusiwa on 12:34 - Oct 13 with 1000 views | FrimleyBlue |
| Stats The Way A-Ha A-Ha… Morsy v Matusiwa on 11:58 - Oct 13 by Churchman |
Morsy’s biggest attribute a couple of years ago was his ability to influence or ‘drive’ the game. One look and you knew who the Captain was. Strong character, flippin’ good player.
Matusiwa doesn’t have that level of influence yet, but whatever the stats say, he looks a better player to me. He’s still settling, but is establishing partnerships and looked good right from his first game. I’m impressed with him.
If Sam was still at the club, much as I like him, he wouldn’t get in my team in front of Matusiwa.
It’s a game of opinions. |
It's interesting reading certain things on this thread. Not aimed at your post directly btw.
But there's a lot of positive talking about morsy. Of course there is and rightfully so. But there is an ignorance imo about how protective morsy was of the ball. There were many occasions his loss of the ball transitioned into attacks for the opponents which lead to goals conceded however because it's morsy they are basically forgotten. A good ball protector yes. But not as amazing as some make out.
Azor is a bit more mobile with the ball and tries different angles of turn where as morsy whilst good at it, was a bit xoolander with his turns. It lead to a good bit of protection compared to azor but azor is trying different things which overtime you can see opens us up better to get up the pitch.
Prime morsy is a solid player. But that's his ceiling
Azor is a potential solid prem player and we are seeing his development grow weekly with town and it's a lovely sight to see.
When you review azors highlight footages. He had a knack for placing diag balls over the top so I'm sure we will start seeing some more in a town shirt as he develops understandings with our wide players.
Anyways. Morsy. Solid captain. Solid player but not spectacular. Azor had the ability to be spectacular. |  |
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| Stats The Way A-Ha A-Ha… Morsy v Matusiwa on 12:42 - Oct 13 with 954 views | gsoly |
| Stats The Way A-Ha A-Ha… Morsy v Matusiwa on 12:34 - Oct 13 by FrimleyBlue |
It's interesting reading certain things on this thread. Not aimed at your post directly btw.
But there's a lot of positive talking about morsy. Of course there is and rightfully so. But there is an ignorance imo about how protective morsy was of the ball. There were many occasions his loss of the ball transitioned into attacks for the opponents which lead to goals conceded however because it's morsy they are basically forgotten. A good ball protector yes. But not as amazing as some make out.
Azor is a bit more mobile with the ball and tries different angles of turn where as morsy whilst good at it, was a bit xoolander with his turns. It lead to a good bit of protection compared to azor but azor is trying different things which overtime you can see opens us up better to get up the pitch.
Prime morsy is a solid player. But that's his ceiling
Azor is a potential solid prem player and we are seeing his development grow weekly with town and it's a lovely sight to see.
When you review azors highlight footages. He had a knack for placing diag balls over the top so I'm sure we will start seeing some more in a town shirt as he develops understandings with our wide players.
Anyways. Morsy. Solid captain. Solid player but not spectacular. Azor had the ability to be spectacular. |
Also, a lot of the negativity around Cajuste from last season (lack of defensive nous, essentially) has to be viewed alongside the fact he was playing with Morsy. Probably, on paper, the weakest CDM in the league. Phillips was our big gamble and it did not pay off. | | | |
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| Stats The Way A-Ha A-Ha… Morsy v Matusiwa on 12:56 - Oct 13 with 865 views | HighgateBlue |
| Stats The Way A-Ha A-Ha… Morsy v Matusiwa on 12:42 - Oct 13 by gsoly |
Also, a lot of the negativity around Cajuste from last season (lack of defensive nous, essentially) has to be viewed alongside the fact he was playing with Morsy. Probably, on paper, the weakest CDM in the league. Phillips was our big gamble and it did not pay off. |
You may be right that Morsy was the weakest CDM in the league, but the same can be said for many individuals as regards their respective positions.
Did Cajuste perform better with anyone else alongside him? No. Did Morsy achieve more points per game than any of our other midfielders? Yes.
Cajuste is with us this season and Morsy is not. But that is not a reason to rewrite how good Cajuste was last season. I can't see for a minute that he can claim to have had a materially better season than Morsy. The opposition came through both of them like a knife through butter enough times, and at least Morsy was able to stay on the pitch for the whole game on occasion (except when he was suspended of course!) |  | | |
| Stats The Way A-Ha A-Ha… Morsy v Matusiwa on 13:05 - Oct 13 with 797 views | HighgateBlue |
| Stats The Way A-Ha A-Ha… Morsy v Matusiwa on 09:02 - Oct 13 by NthQldITFC |
The things that stand out to me, that reflect the so called eye test, are a significantly lower 'fouls from tackle attempts' and 'clearances'/'interceptions'. The first results in us winning and keeping the ball in play a lot more and prevents lesser opponents from slowing the game taking free kicks, and the combination of the other two gives us counterattacking opportunities when opponents are not in their typical low block against us.
Morsy great, Matu better! |
The clearances/interceptions point is a really good one. Not only are these vital stats for that position, but as you say, it gives us possession when the opposition are not set up to deal with it. Delap may have benefitted from that last season.
Azor is only a few games in, so the stats can't be viewed conclusively yet, and one has to give him at least a couple of games to find his feet (which he very much seemed to). Those early games of course feed into the stats, and probably pretty negatively. By the 'eye test' he seems to have really settled in, and be a professional, effective, and very likeable team player.
Having said all that, the Morsy stats do seem better overall. Maybe in time Azor will eclipse them. But Morsy was an absolute rock for us. Granted, he was found wanting in the Prem, as so many others were. But I'm not convinced that was because he was dropping off in level.
I imagine things weren't 100% rosy behind the scenes with Morsy in the summer, and I'd be astonished to see him back here playing. But I do think that Azor has Morsy's Ipswich Championship performance to aim at, rather than having surpassed it already.
I find it hard to talk of 'ceilings'. Clearly Matusiwa is younger, and clearly Morsy is not now going to improve. So we know how good Morsy was, and it's /possible/ that Azor eclipses that. In that sense, he may have a higher ceiling. I'm certainly going to enjoy finding out. | | | |
| Stats The Way A-Ha A-Ha… Morsy v Matusiwa on 13:25 - Oct 13 with 724 views | Churchman |
| Stats The Way A-Ha A-Ha… Morsy v Matusiwa on 12:42 - Oct 13 by gsoly |
Also, a lot of the negativity around Cajuste from last season (lack of defensive nous, essentially) has to be viewed alongside the fact he was playing with Morsy. Probably, on paper, the weakest CDM in the league. Phillips was our big gamble and it did not pay off. |
The question I had last season re Cajuste was despite looking classy, did he actually deliver? Did he hurt teams? The answer for me was not enough and added to his inability to last 90 mins I questioned his value. At this level? Different story, but I want to see him hurt teams week in week out.
Morsy actually did better in the Premier than I thought he would. But time ran out on him and he got found out in the end. He is and was a top end Championship player for me.
Phillips? I agree. That was a gamble that killed us. He just didn’t perform. You could see what a good player he used to be. But on the rare occasions he was fit, that extra second or additional touch he needed meant he was toast.
Overall our midfield was woeful. It neither protected the defence or supplied the forwards. Even when it did compete, twenty mins was about all you got. A generalisation, but very much how I saw the season.
The current midfield looks potentially stronger to me. Matusiwa and Nunez are good, mobile players. Can they improve through the season and, if the fates smile on us, compete in the Premier League? No idea but those two offer more than the 2024/25 Sam and Massimo in my view. They may also provide a better platform for Cajuste to prove me wrong. I usually am. | | | |
| Stats The Way A-Ha A-Ha… Morsy v Matusiwa on 13:48 - Oct 13 with 617 views | Chris_ITFC |
To undermine my OP, stats shmats.
It’s very simple.
Matusiwa is the Messi of defensive midfielders to Morsy’s Ronaldo.
Both superb, both brilliant in their own ways, loved by some, adored by others. Morsy’s brilliance was squeezed out to the last drop, with sheer guts and determination at the heart of it. Matusiwa is cooler, silkier, calmer, more technically finessed, and maybe, just maybe, a tiny bit better. | |
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| Stats The Way A-Ha A-Ha… Morsy v Matusiwa on 14:23 - Oct 13 with 531 views | Smoresy |
| Stats The Way A-Ha A-Ha… Morsy v Matusiwa on 12:34 - Oct 13 by FrimleyBlue |
It's interesting reading certain things on this thread. Not aimed at your post directly btw.
But there's a lot of positive talking about morsy. Of course there is and rightfully so. But there is an ignorance imo about how protective morsy was of the ball. There were many occasions his loss of the ball transitioned into attacks for the opponents which lead to goals conceded however because it's morsy they are basically forgotten. A good ball protector yes. But not as amazing as some make out.
Azor is a bit more mobile with the ball and tries different angles of turn where as morsy whilst good at it, was a bit xoolander with his turns. It lead to a good bit of protection compared to azor but azor is trying different things which overtime you can see opens us up better to get up the pitch.
Prime morsy is a solid player. But that's his ceiling
Azor is a potential solid prem player and we are seeing his development grow weekly with town and it's a lovely sight to see.
When you review azors highlight footages. He had a knack for placing diag balls over the top so I'm sure we will start seeing some more in a town shirt as he develops understandings with our wide players.
Anyways. Morsy. Solid captain. Solid player but not spectacular. Azor had the ability to be spectacular. |
I think the stats and video speak for themselves at Championship level - he was one of the least dispossessed midfielders in the league in 23/24, despite our proclivity for inviting the press and welcoming precarious positions. In the PL it was a different story and I would agree that Morsy's ceiling was below Premier League. | | | |
| Stats The Way A-Ha A-Ha… Morsy v Matusiwa on 14:36 - Oct 13 with 496 views | NthQldITFC |
| Stats The Way A-Ha A-Ha… Morsy v Matusiwa on 14:23 - Oct 13 by Smoresy |
I think the stats and video speak for themselves at Championship level - he was one of the least dispossessed midfielders in the league in 23/24, despite our proclivity for inviting the press and welcoming precarious positions. In the PL it was a different story and I would agree that Morsy's ceiling was below Premier League. |
Morsy's hand off and turn with the ball contained within an impenetrable forcefield in 23/24, were a source of much pleasure. As was his bite. Love him forever. Matu is a step up. | |
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| Stats The Way A-Ha A-Ha… Morsy v Matusiwa on 14:52 - Oct 13 with 452 views | WeWereZombies |
| Stats The Way A-Ha A-Ha… Morsy v Matusiwa on 10:37 - Oct 13 by Chris_ITFC |
A-ha… but is that what the people really want…
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That's interesting but what I want, what I really really want...are the Cole Skuse vs Jim Magilton stats. |  |
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| Stats The Way A-Ha A-Ha… Morsy v Matusiwa on 15:38 - Oct 13 with 357 views | Chris_ITFC |
| Stats The Way A-Ha A-Ha… Morsy v Matusiwa on 14:52 - Oct 13 by WeWereZombies |
That's interesting but what I want, what I really really want...are the Cole Skuse vs Jim Magilton stats. |
Debate over.
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| Stats The Way A-Ha A-Ha… Morsy v Matusiwa on 15:54 - Oct 13 with 292 views | Everydayblue |
All I know is this.... It took us 3 and a half years to find a player that can actually be compared to Morsy...
That, in itself, is some achievement, imo.
Matusiwa has settled in brilliantly. And got a fare few years ahead of him, to boot.
Fantastic bit of business from Ashton and co. | | | |
| Stats The Way A-Ha A-Ha… Morsy v Matusiwa on 16:28 - Oct 13 with 205 views | Swansea_Blue |
Good thread. Matusiwa has settled in just fine hasn’t he. Interesting to see the stats backing up the observation of Morsy being the slightly better link player. That’s probably got a bit to do with why we don’t always look as slick playing out when we go through him and Furlong on the right. Small margins though, as we weren’t always on it in 23/24 either. |  |
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| Stats The Way A-Ha A-Ha… Morsy v Matusiwa on 17:34 - Oct 13 with 74 views | NthQldITFC |
| Stats The Way A-Ha A-Ha… Morsy v Matusiwa on 15:38 - Oct 13 by Chris_ITFC |
Debate over.
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Ha! You could have 2016-17 Jonathan Douglas beating 1996-97 Azor Matusiwa for sprints per 90 too. Just about. Possibly. | |
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| Stats The Way A-Ha A-Ha… Morsy v Matusiwa on 17:35 - Oct 13 with 71 views | gsoly |
| Stats The Way A-Ha A-Ha… Morsy v Matusiwa on 16:28 - Oct 13 by Swansea_Blue |
Good thread. Matusiwa has settled in just fine hasn’t he. Interesting to see the stats backing up the observation of Morsy being the slightly better link player. That’s probably got a bit to do with why we don’t always look as slick playing out when we go through him and Furlong on the right. Small margins though, as we weren’t always on it in 23/24 either. |
Not to become too nerdy, although this thread seems a safe space, but I do think Morsy was helped by Chaplin in that regard. I was amazed to read that Szmodics had 15 touches against Norwich. 15! And when you watch us in the build up phase this season, it's almost like we're in a 6-4. None of the forwards really drop in and it feels like a decision KM has made. When we can play it through Matusiwa or (preferably) Cajuste, they have the ability to break the press and then we are basically away and flying at the opposition with four forwards ahead. Just feels like a big tweak to counteract teams sitting in... i.e., let's give them a sniff at pressing us, so they're more inclined to do so. So also tricky to compare Morsy & Matusiwa because they're not playing in the same system. | | | |
| Stats The Way A-Ha A-Ha… Morsy v Matusiwa on 17:45 - Oct 13 with 45 views | Mullet |
| Stats The Way A-Ha A-Ha… Morsy v Matusiwa on 15:54 - Oct 13 by Everydayblue |
All I know is this.... It took us 3 and a half years to find a player that can actually be compared to Morsy...
That, in itself, is some achievement, imo.
Matusiwa has settled in brilliantly. And got a fare few years ahead of him, to boot.
Fantastic bit of business from Ashton and co. |
What, when he left a couple of months ago?
It was obvious to me weeks ago Matusiwa was a massive upgrade, the eye test alone is enough. |  |
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