While Jon Brady has recalled loanees Jack Shorrock and James Plant, it looks like Rico Richards will remain at Walsall despite a lack of gametime.
Rob Fielding writes….
Do you remember Kaid Mohamed? Micky Adams signed him on a two-year deal but after a handful of games the Vale manager seemed to lose faith in him and the winger was not seen in a Vale shirt for the rest of his spell under contract. Mohamed ended up being farmed on loan to AFC Wimbledon, Bristol Rovers and Northampton Town. His total time in a Vale shirt over two years totalled eight appearances with only three starts.
Is Rico Richards this season’s Mohamed? His campaign so far has been decidedly odd. He showed glimpses of his potential last season, especially when coming off the bench (scoring four goals with three of them coming when used as a sub). So, it was regarded as a bit of a coup when Vale snapped up their former loanee on a permanent deal. Rico, aged just 21, looked a potential future star especially with some of Vale’s squad in their late 20’s or early 30’s.
However, after just two appearances for the Valiants, Richards was rapidly shipped off to Walsall on loan. Manager Darren Moore said it was at the time it was so he could “benefit from regular game time and will come back to Vale Park in a better position to stamp his mark on regular first-team football.”
It seemed an odd decision at the time. Vale have a plethora of similar skilled midfield players – none of Ryan Croasdale, Funso Ojo, Rhys Walters, Jordan Shipley or George Byers possess Richards’ dexterity or quick thinking in the box. Furthermore, Richards could also slot in further up the field and provide assists for strikers. Ironically, after Richards departed common criticisms of the Vale team was the similarity of the midfield partnerships and the lack of service for front players. Did Moore send Richards out too soon?
Furthermore, when Richards did arrive at Walsall his luck ran out. He got injured. What’s worse is he got injured just as a side found form and therefore a chance of breaking into the starting eleven became remote. As a result, Rico has made just eight appearances for the Saddlers and is often not even in their League squad.
When Jon Brady replaced Darren Moore at Vale Park changes occurred. They included the recall of both Jack Shorrock and James Plant from their loan spells. It’s logical to assume Brady wanted to assess the pair to decide whether to keep them at the club for the remainder of the season or loan them out again. But that’s not happened for Richards, who remains at Walsall and struggling for gametime.
Perhaps one of the reasons why there was no recall is the games he played for Vale earlier this season? As a result, Rico has played for two League clubs this season and is ineligible to play for a third. So, it seems the situation with Richards is different to that of Shorrock and Plant – unlike that pair, if Brady recalled Rico and decided he wasn’t part of his plans he was stuck with the player, unable to loan him elsewhere (unless it was to Scotland or non-league). It therefore looks like Rico could well be stuck in limbo at Walsall.
The youngster at least has a two-year deal at the club and therefore a chance to impress when he returns in the summer, but for this season, it’s highly likely that we won’t see him in a Vale shirt again. That’s a pity for the youngster and for admirers of his abilities.
Let’s hope he returns next season as a comeback kid and not this era’s Kaid Mohamed!
Like all these loans out… Why have them back? They weren’t good enough to keep a place in a league 2 side so what makes people think they could hack it in league 1. Paton is another example. We loaned him out cuz he wasn’t good enough, now a league higher and we’re playing him and he’s not up to it. He can score against lower teams in the cup but just not at our current level
I feel sorry for Rico, was extremely happy when he signed as i commented at the time. Undoubtedly has potential but looks like we won’t see him until next season which is a pity because as an attacking creative player , although i rate plant and shorrock, they are not in the same league as this lad for creativity( at the present time)
Richards’s playing style won’t suit every manager. He’s highly creative, producing spontaneous bits of skill, threading passes through the eye of a needle, able to quickly change attacking movement or direction, but perhaps lacking physical attributes preferred by some. He can definitely make things happen. The question next season is whether Jon Brady can fit Richards into the formation and style he wants. I see Richards as a “Stan Bowles” type of player. Genuine potential, that’s why a club of Aston Villa’s statue developed him. With maturity and discipline Richards could become a focal point of the Vale team. Unquestionably he’s got the ability to influence and change games, but sometimes these “luxury players” find it difficult to establish themselves in the lower divisions. If Jon Brady reads this, I hope it’s thought provoking.
Rico is good enough and is only young, we should bring him back, better option than paton, he has had a few chances and shows flashes but thats about it tbh.
It doesn’t look like Ricos situation at Walsall is going to change anytime soon. If this is the case then I would bring him back to the club where Jon Brady can see him in training and he can become part of the squad.