S
windon Town desperately needed a defensive addition before the expiration of the Emergency Loan deadline. Since Louis Thompson’s injury playing Jack Stephens in central midfield has become a necessity leaving Swindon with no defensive cover for the back three of Rossi-Branco, Nathan Thompson and Turnbull. Banking on these three to play all nine games in a rather hellish April run-in would have been optimistic in the extreme. Thankfully, considerable aid has arrived in the form of Sam Ricketts on loan from Wolves until the end of the season (including the play-offs).
Sam Ricketts is a wholly
untypical Lee Power/Mark Cooper signing. For a start he’s old, so very old. At 33 he is five years older than Swindon’s former oldest codger, Andy
Williams, who is four years older than any other member of Swindon’s first team
squad. Ricketts’s arrival raises the
average age of Swindon’s first team squad from 22 to 23. He is not a ‘saleable asset’. Reportedly* on a weekly wage at Wolves in the
five figure region - let’s say £10,000 - he earns approximately £8,500 more
than the average weekly wage of a Swindon Town player. Given Swindon’s tight budget, and Lee Power’s
penchant for haggling, I would presume that Swindon are not paying Ricketts’s
wages in full; probably no more than £4,000 per week. His signing says a great deal about Lee
Power’s feelings about Swindon’s chances to finish in second place and achieve
automatic promotion – it’s on!
Ricketts ought to help Swindon
defensively. Vastly experienced with
excellent positional awareness, and good aerially, he brings
qualities that are not the strongest suit of Swindon’s first team squad (of
course, largely because of their inexperience). He will improve Swindon’s ‘game management’ (apologies for the inane
football jargon); particularly in those periods when Swindon are not in
possession and come under pressure (in Swindon’s case usually 15 minute spells). The fans of Ricketts’s previous clubs all
speak very highly of him. The
statements: “a true pro”; “a class act”; and “sorry to see him go” are used
again and again on fan forums. He seems
to be the type of person who improves the culture of the organisation in which
he operates: a hard worker, disciplined and thoughtful. A giver, not a taker. Ricketts is also, clearly, a leader. He has natural authority when interviewed and
even more on the pitch. Physically, he
looks the part. At 6’1” with his
chiselled, aquiline features, prominent cheekbones and broad shoulders, he
could easily play the part of Maximus Decimus Meridius or Aragorn son of
Arathorn**.
Back to the football, Ricketts
will probably play instead of Rossi-Branco as Swindon’s right-sided centre back
in the back three. However, in games
when Rossi-Branco’s aerial presence is needed, Ricketts might have to accept a substitute
berth as he won’t start ahead of the excellent Nathan Thompson and Turnbull in
the back three. Equally, as his energy
levels and pace are declining, he would probably not play ahead of wing-backs,
Byrne and Toffolo, who are, in any case, virtually wingers. He would also not start in central midfield
unless Jack Stephens was injured.
My only slight concern about
Ricketts’s signing is the short period of time in which he has had to adapt to
Swindon’s unique playing style. Ricketts
has always played in a back four throughout his career and largely for teams
who did not play possession based football. Nota bene: he played for Swansea under Kenny Jackett, not Roberto
Martinez. Although experienced and
versatile, receiving the ball in tight, pressurised, dangerous areas, and being
expected to opt for the short pass rather than an aimless long punt, might
require a longer period of adaptation than one week!
Perhaps the most intriguing
aspect of Ricketts’s signing was his principal motivation for joining. Ricketts wants to be a manager after his
playing career – he is already a de facto player/coach at Wolves – and wants to
immerse himself in Swindon’s culture, style and observe their training
sessions. Surprised at Swindon’s
technical excellence in the away fixture at Wolves last season, Ricketts wants
to understand how Swindon, with their meagre resources, play with such
panache. Luke Williams: your coaching
sessions are going to be observed acutely.
Not only has Swindon become a
nursery for technically gifted young footballers, but it might also be becoming
part of a Grand Tour for aspiring young managers. The football community is impressed.
*I do stress reportedly.
**I know that this is bordering on the homoerotic.
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