Baby Yaya

[RugbyRover]

Thought I'd talk about Taylor Richards.

Not a big fan when I first started watching him tbh. Maybe I was resentful that he was playing instead of Super James Coppinger.

I just saw probably the slowest player to wear a Rovers shirt since Ray Deans come down from Scotland. Also carrying the broadest backside to be seen in a Rovers shirt since, well, since Ray Deans come down from Scotland.

He seemed so slow, players just ran past him far too easily. Aye Aye I thought, typical premiership youngster, too much too young. Big time Charlie.

But now I get it.

The way he uses his strength and backside to lever people off the ball and prise it away from them is great. He must be a right pain in the arse to play against. His first touch is impressive, his eye for pass equally so. He is the man who turns our hard working, disciplined displays into match winning ones.

The one thing he hasn't got is pace, but then I remember the big man at Man City and Barca.....Yaya Toure. He wasn't blessed with pace either and that didn't hold him back.

A bad comparison for sure when you think he's playing against 3rd division footballers, but I'm going to follow his career with great interest from now.

 

[Chris Black come back]

He’s really slow but the ball is attached to him with elastic. Impossible to dispossess the guy. An absolute tank.

[pib]

Is he slow or just languid?

Remember the game at the start of the season (might have been MK or Bristol Rovers)? Bursik was beaten to the ball way out of his goal, and who would come flying back to deny a certain goal but Richards, who i had spent the previous half an hour grumbling about not giving us enough off the ball.

He's an unorthodox footballer to watch for sure, I assumed it was a fluke at first that he seems to keep hold of the ball when he seems like he's run (walked) it into a 30/70 situation but he seems to just slalom his way through players as if they aren't there.

[DonnyBazR0ver]

Yes, I'm amazed at times when he comes out of challenges with the ball when the odds seem to be against him. Yesterday was another good example for his goal. It was good to see him driving at the defence and having a pop. To date his shooting has been more about placement rather than pace but yesterday saw him combine the two with great effect. A sublime finish.

He definitely seems to be warming to the task and really showing what he can do. He's one of those deceptive payers that might not grab the attention of the opposition but all of a sudden can conjour some magic.

We are blessed to have such a variety of payers who make up a really good balanced team. We are really beginning to see the fruit of DM's vision and coaching to get the best out of them, including the raw talent exposed to the long haul of proper football for the first time.

[MachoMadness]

Reminds me a bit of JET on his day.

[Filo]

Reminds me a bit of JET on his day.

Far far better than JET

His biggest strength for me is nicking off a defender in advance positions and his eye for a pass

[pib]

Don't forget JET produced the goods for us in the Championship, as part of the team that produced the best Rovers finish in most of our living memories.

[DonnyOsmond]

I believe he signed for Brighton last season on a two year deal, so he'd be out of contract after this season. Maybe if we go up he'd consider joining us permanently?

[Chris Black come back]

IF (big IF) we go up then some of these loanees become potential signings.

[RugbyRover]

Brighton paid 2.5 million for him from City.........

[Move DRFC]

Genuinely think his goal on Saturday was one of the best I've ever seen from a Rovers player.

The strength and skill to beat 2 men on the half way line then his run was perfect and the finish well just wow. It oozed class and was total Premier League quality.

[Branton Rover]

The lad is as strong as an ox and highly skilled to boot

[i_ateallthepies]

Reminds me a bit of JET on his day.

Beat me to it MM.

[jmt23]

He is better than JET, similar skill wise but has much more urgency about him, nowhere near as lazy.

I have one memory of JET - the absolute bomb of a shot against Derrby (I think) I have never seen a ball hit so hard, and move so fast - the whole west stand gasped before chearing.

[NickDRFC]

The similarity to JET is that they come away from situations seemingly in their opponent’s favour and you’ve no idea quite how they’ve done it, as pib has alluded to earlier in the thread. The goal on Saturday is a prime example.

He seems to have grown in confidence almost on a weekly basis since joining and has become a key player for us - long may it continue!

[BillyStubbsTears]

Doo do-do do-do.

[Arsenal Of The North]

You watch him in the next game, I don’t think I’ve seen him jump up for a header yet. Other than that, I like the look of him. Strong and direct. Carries the ball really well

[GazLaz]

He’s nothing like YaYa. On the first game I watched him I tweeted he could potentially be the best player we’ve had at the club in a long time. I’m probably right.

[Chris Black come back]

Has made 18 appearances this season. Has completed 90 minutes only once (12 September, in 1-1 home draw vs MK 'Dons').

[NickDRFC]

Has made 18 appearances this season. Has completed 90 minutes only once (12 September, in 1-1 home draw vs MK 'Dons').

It’s his first season of senior football and we can make 5 substitutions every game. I’m not surprised he’s rarely played 90 minutes.

[Spud]

He’s nothing like YaYa. On the first game I watched him I tweeted he could potentially be the best player we’ve had at the club in a long time. I’m probably right.

Only probably? Don't under sell yourself Gaz

[Move DRFC]

Really good article on Richards this. https://theathletic.com/2247223/2020/12/27/taylor-richards-brighton/