Swansea youth product Richards has been on loan at Crystal Palace since January - how's he doing?
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| Jazz Richards being presented as a Crystal Palace player |
Ever since Ian Holloway (he really does like Swansea doesn't he?) announced his intention to take Ashley Richards to South East London, we haven't really heard much from the former Wales u-21 Captain, so I thought I'd do a bit of digging around on the internet, Palace forums and the like to see how he's been faring. Originally the rumour was of a £750k transfer, but I have to say I was pleased when it turned out to be a loan, as I do like Jazz Richards, and think given more game time he can develop into a handy squad player - one capable of challenging players like Dwight Tiendalli, for example. Given both his youth relative to Tiendalli and Rangel, and the fact that Richards is from Swansea, there's good reason to believe he might be with us for some time yet.
At first glance, things weren't good. The first forum I found contained a thread announcing his arrival, however I had to trawl through 6 pages of "Jazz" puns before finally people started discussing the player himself (lots of pleasing mentions such as "he's from Swansea so you know he can play" though). Understandably, most Palace fans hadn't seen much of him so it was interesting to read through all the posts, feedback and comments seeing their opinions on him develop. One thing to note is that Palace are really pushing on in the table, and currently lie third - so it's not like he's playing for a side scrapping it out at the foot of the table. Holloway has Palace playing some great football and most of the fans seem to respect Jazz's ability on the ball, and willingness to get forward in attack.
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| Surely the only international captain ever to call himself "Jazz"? |
So, two assists in his first three games - from full-back. Not bad at all! Next up were Middlesbrough, themselves occupying a play-off berth - but they were duly dispatched 4-1. Some fans seemed to think he struggled with the Boro wingers, however this is surely picking holes in a performance which was overall, very impressive. He featured again in Palace's 2-1 win over Bristol City, and at about this point fans started coming back to the forums to comment on his performances so far - and most of them are pretty effusive if I'm honest. Some think he's slightly shaky in defence, but I'd say given how much football he's played in the last few years it'd take at least six or seven games until any player was fully "up to speed" as it were. Next up were Sheffield Wednesday away, and football can be very strange in how it brings people together. Palace lost 1-0, with the winner coming from Leroy Lita - himself on loan from Swansea until the end of the season. Who are Sheffield Wednesday managed by? Dave Jones no less.
One cause for concern, despite Palace's charge up the table, was their away form - with no win coming in their last 10 outings away from Selhurst Park. This was put to bed in their next game though; a 1-0 win at Derby, where they had keeper Speroni to thank for an 88th minute penalty save - tipping Connor Sammon's effort onto the crossbar. Does anyone else think it's impressive Jazz has gone straight from playing reserve football (or "development side football" as it's probably now known), to playing every game for a team towards the top of the Championship? Ok, first choice right back Joel Ward has been out injured, but this is still an impressive effort from the Swansea youth product.
Sadly, he picked up a toe injury which forced him off at Derby, and he's missed the last two games - however he was on the bench for Palace's last match, facing Leeds at Elland Road. All of the sounds coming out of the Palace camp seem to indicate he'll go straight back into the team once fit, and it seems Jazz's arrival (along with Stephen Dobbie's from Brighton) has coincided with Crystal Palace's surge up the table. Palace fans have, tentatively, drawn comparisons between Richards and Nathaniel Clyne, and let's be honest, they'd know. It remains to be seen how the rest of the season works out for Crystal Palace, and whether they decide they want to make a move for Richards may well depend on whether they manage to secure promotion this season - however with Richards' contract set to expire in the summer it would seem prudent for them to make a nominal offer.
The Swans have been quick to secure contracts for first team players, however the fact Jazz's has run down to this extent does make me wonder whether he'll be free to move on in the summer. As far as I'm aware, for the Swans to be eligible for compensation (due to the fact that he's under 23), we'd have to offer him a renewed contract? All in all, I wouldn't blame him if he wanted to move on, as his playing time has been limited, however I would like to see him have another go at breaking into the Swansea first team. There are much-heralded players in our squad against whom the accusation "they can't make the step up" was levelled (before promotion to the Premiership), and I think this may be a similar situation. Jazz is mobile, good on the ball, has an eye for a pass and likes a tackle, and I think surely, given game time, Richards could develop into a useful utility back - a sort of "South Walian Phil Neville", if you will...
Sorry Jazz.
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| Jazz Richards - the Phil Neville of South Wales? |