Cambridge look to 'grow' with change of style

Michael Morrison played 41 games last season, scoring one goal

Cambridge United captain Michael Morrison hopes a switch to a more possession-based style can lead to the club's best season since returning to League One.

The change of approach has been gradually introduced by head coach Garry Monk since he was appointed in March.

The U's have finished 14th, 20th and 18th since winning promotion from the fourth tier in 2021 under former boss Mark Bonner.

"It's the best way to play, it's certainly more enjoyable as a player to have the ball more than not having it, and as the season goes, we'll no doubt grow with what we're trying to do," Morrison told BBC Radio Cambridgeshire.

"We're not talking about keeping the ball on the edge of our area. If there's spaces in behind to exploit, there's no hard and fast rule that you can't knock the ball in behind and Shayne (Lavery) can run onto it and score.

"It's about identifying the space, where they're weaker, where there's a one v one situation, it's about getting the ball to our attacking players in better positions.

"By working the ball through the centre-halves into midfield and through the team, they get better service and hopefully we'll get more goals from doing that."

Morrison previously played under Monk during his time with Birmingham City, who are also in League One this season, but are among the rival teams with far bigger playing budgets.

"I think there's probably 12 teams that can argue that they should be at least in the play-offs and six that think they should be in the top two. It'll be interesting to see how that dynamic goes - it wouldn't surprise me if you see a few managers get the sack early on because their team's not where they should be," the 36-year-old said.

Morrison referenced Birmingham City's signing of Charlton striker Alfie May for an undisclosed fee, saying such a move for a player over 30 was not in Cambridge's "financial remit".

He continued: "But when you look at teams a little bit closer to us, Northampton for instance, they lost a midfielder [Marc Leonard] from Brighton and he's gone to Birmingham as well, they're in the same boat as us with trying to sign players and keep hold of their best talent."

Avoiding relegation this season is once again the "bare minimum" target for Cambridge - but Morrison has set sights higher in talks with team-mates.

"We've talked as a group about 'can we be the team that's got the most points in League One (since promotion)', so that's over 58 points," he added.

"If we can get over 58 points and get to 60, that would be a real achievement and put us in a good place."

Cambridge, who beat West Bromwich Albion 1-0 in a friendly last Friday, start the new league campaign away to Stockport County on Saturday.