Aberdeen lost a player with giant potential when Calvin Ramsay completed his record-busting move to Liverpool this week. But the Dons are getting a MONSTER in his place following the arrival of Jayden Richardson.
That’s the view of the Pittodrie new boy’s former team mate Jim O’Brien who was blown away by the 21-year-old during his year on loan at Notts County last season. Richardson made the 300 yard leap across the River Trent to join County on loan from Premier League new boys Forest last summer.
He helped drive the club into the National League play-offs only to suffer extra time agony in a quarter final defeat to eventual winners Grimsby Town. It was the second time in a year the full-back had felt the pain of play-off defeat having fallen at the semi finals with Forest Green Rovers in the League 2 version in 2021.
But O’Brien reckons that hurt and the expectation levels at County will only stand the youngster in good stead now he’s finally cut ties with Forest and made the 415-mile journey to join the Dons under Jim Goodwin.
Ramsay might only have played 39 times for Aberdeen but his £8m move to Anfield means he leaves a huge void to fill on the right side of the Dons defence.
It’s one former Motherwell and Ross County man O’Brien is confident Richardson will fill.
He said: “I was very impressed with Jayden last season. Once he gets a bit of space in front of him he goes for it and can take the team up the pitch no problem.
“Jayden is a strong boy. A monster for such a young kid.
“Once he gets a hold of you it’s tough to get away from him. I speak from experience in training!
“He’s very fast, robust, an athlete and perfect for the modern day wing back.
“One of the things he got better at through the season was his final ball.
“He was picking out team mates with crosses and passes rather than just slinging the ball across.
“A few times I thought he should have been a bit more greedy and gone for goal himself.
“But he’s definitely a team player, works hard, is fit and is one who as soon as he came in I thought he had a real chance.
“Depending on how Jim is going to put his team out he can play as full-back or wing back.
“Defensively he was learning all the time, when to tuck in and about positional awareness.
“But there was certainly no problem in one v ones up against a quick opponent.”
Richardson made four appearances for Forest last August and September before being sent across the river to County.
It may have been a drop of four levels into the National League but the fallen giants still have a big following and even bigger expectation levels among that support.
It meant pressure to win was on the players every single week.
And even though it ended in the cruellest of play-off defeats - an injury time equaliser depriving them of a win over Grimsby followed by a 119th minute winner for The Mariners in extra time - O’Brien insists Richardson has grown as a player as a result.
He said: “That play-off still stings. I was in bed for three days afterwards and never spoke to anyone.
“The dressing room afterwards was silent. Even the manager struggled to get words out. It was a goal in the 90th minute then the 119th minute. You can’t legislate for that.
“But for the young boys who were in on loan it won’t be the last big game they play in.
“Especially for Jayden at Aberdeen.
“The expectation up there is huge so that experience of the play-offs will stand him in good stead even if he was on the losing side.
“People might think the National League is a poor level but it’s decent.
“However Notts County as a club are expected to win every game so that will have been a good grounding for Jayden heading to Pittodrie where there’s that expectation from supporters.
“I can’t speak highly enough of the kid.
“I texted him on Monday night after hearing of the move and he replied saying he was looking forward to the challenge. I’m sure he will do well.”
