04-11-2017, 12:54
I just thought I'd add why I'm saying this about Ricky. I don't want to turn him into a poor man's Maro Itoje, BUT we've seen Chris O'Grady at centre forward. He knows the game, he works, is reasonably strong, has a bit of skill and fights a decent battle with centre backs. The trouble is he doesn't have any really deadly weapons. He can win headers but isn't unbeatable in the air. He's decent on the ground, but has no devastating skills. He isn't the slowest around, but his pace won't scare anyone. He'll score a few goals but he isn't super sharp. No centre back is going to be terrified of playing against him.
If Ricky trots out you see a biggish, strong lad. If his muscles looked a bit more ripped, if his skin glowed, if his body language said I'm 19 and I'm IT - the opposition would immediately be thinking who is THIS guy. If he then showed he could play, which he can, that he's got a bit more pace than expected, knows what to do and can score a goal you've got a real handful. There's lot in sport that happens inside players' heads isn't there? If you can look and act the part, you'll play the part (if you've got a decent level of ability behind you - if you're just pretending to be George Weah's cousin you'll need more than muscles) ........ And Ricky's task to make the breakthrough is to convince people he's the real deal, so he can become the real deal.
If Ricky trots out you see a biggish, strong lad. If his muscles looked a bit more ripped, if his skin glowed, if his body language said I'm 19 and I'm IT - the opposition would immediately be thinking who is THIS guy. If he then showed he could play, which he can, that he's got a bit more pace than expected, knows what to do and can score a goal you've got a real handful. There's lot in sport that happens inside players' heads isn't there? If you can look and act the part, you'll play the part (if you've got a decent level of ability behind you - if you're just pretending to be George Weah's cousin you'll need more than muscles) ........ And Ricky's task to make the breakthrough is to convince people he's the real deal, so he can become the real deal.