What does a first-team development coach do? What lies ahead for Joe Morrell on his Portsmouth return
Former Pompey midfielder Joe Morrell is set for a Fratton Park return as the Blues’ new first-team development coach
Joe Morrell is heading back to Pompey following his appointment as the Blues’ newest first-team development coach.
It’s a hugely-important role the Fratton Park outfit had been looking to fill since December last year following Zesh Rehman’s decision to move to Saudi Arabia.
It’s also a position within John Mousinho’s backroom team the club felt required a thorough recruitment process as the head coach and sporting director Rich Hughes identified what responsibilities the new post-holder would have moving forward.
Indeed, speaking to The News last week, Hughes revealed discussions were held about how Pompey could evolve the role to ensure Mousinho and the first team ultimately benefit.
But what exactly is a first-team development coach and what does the job entail?
Well, The News endeavoured to find out and here’s what we discovered.
The role of a first-team development coach
First and foremost, a first-team development coach like Morrell will help bridge the gap between the senior squad’s immediate tactical needs and the long-term development of an individual player.
Unlike Mousinho, whose primary focus will be on collective team tactics, winning the next match - which so happens to be against fierce-rivals Southampton - and opponent analysis, Morrell will likely be tasked with maximising the potential of all first-team players available to the head coach.
To achieve this, a broad remit of responsibilities will fall on the 29-year-old’s shoulders.
Creating individual development plans (IDPS), for example, will be high on the to-do list.
These plans are drawn up so a player can work on and improve a specific technical skill; develop a better understanding of tactics or the manager’s overall philosophy; and know what parts of their physique needs attention.
The personal development plans can then be integrated into Mousinho’s training schedules. Morrell will also be expected to keep the boss updated on who within his squad is looking sharp, who is successfully improving their weak points, and which fringe players are ready to step up for a starting role.
Collaborating with Pompey’s performance analysts and sports science staff will be essential for the successful execution of this role. After all, they too will be tracking physical workloads, a player’s progress against milestone markers and technical data.
Meanwhile, quite a few hours of the week in front of a computer screen and indoors away from the training pitch can also be anticipated as the first-team development coach will be expected to conduct video analysis sessions with individual players.
Managing any academy to first-team transitions will also likely fall under the responsibility of Morrell.
It’s safe to say the former midfielder will be expected to act as a mentor and technical guide for any up-and-coming youngster invited to train with the first team.
The same duties will also apply to any of Pompey’s latest recruits, especially those who have arrived at Fratton Park from abroad.
For the likes of Iyad Mohamed, Rocco Shein, Luke Brooke-Smith, Marko Milovanovic and Eoin Kenny, Morrell will need to be on hand to ensure they’re coping well to their new surroundings and the expectations placed on them.
Finally, there will also be the need to monitor those players currently away from the club on loan.
Pompey have seven senior squad members presently plying their trade elsewhere on temporary arrangements.
Morrell will likely be asked to maintain contact with them, review any match footage of them playing, and report back to Mousinho on their progress.
With this type of workload, Morrell is clearly walking into a role that is crucial for the overall success of Mousinho’s first team.
We wish him the best of luck.