Cod Almighty | Article

by Various

1 July 2004

Never one to worry about the burden of expectation, Russell Slade announced shortly after signing Simon Ramsden that he is no less than "the future of this football club". Ramsden was snapped up after being released by Sunderland (one appearance, coming on as an 89th-minute substitute in a sewn-up fourth round FA Cup tie) during the summer. He spent the 2002-03 season 'toughening up' on loan at Notts County, starting nearly half their league games. A promising campaign under his belt and it was back for an impressive season in the Mackems' reserves. It was during this season that Slade saw Ramsden in action on several occasions, apparently. Shining so brightly wasn't enough for Mick McCarthy to keep the boy on, and Slade moved quickly.

Pre-season viewings have shown Ramsden to be a ball-playing, tidy tackling centre-back, seemingly assigned to be the libero in Slade's back three. Not that Town have any other defenders in that mould - which is where a problem might occur for the Mariners: Ramsden seems pivotal to Slade's determination to play 3-4-3, and if you remove a player like this, with his passing and his moving upfield when needed, then who can replace him when he's absent?

But that is a worry for Slade. Ramsden the player shows an accomplishment on the ball that is rare, can make himself move that extra yard when under pressure, and, if he ticks and is fit, then the club's future is his to dictate.