Scouting: Ricky-Jade Jones 🔎
Name: Ricky-Jade Jones
Age: 22
Club: Peterborough United
Position: Forward
Appearances: 193
Goals: 38
Assists: 11
Peterborough United forward Ricky-Jade Jones has been linked to clubs within the Championship for a potential summer move; those being Middlesbrough, Cardiff, Luton and Sheffield United. He’s a forward from Posh, It’s inevetible he was going to get linked to better teams higher up the pyramid — It’s what they do. Assombalonga, Toney, Marriott, McLean, Mackail-Smith, Gayle, Mason-Clark, Washington, Dembele, Szmodics, Taylor, Tomlin and others who’s names have escaped me, but this club has the special conveyor belt magic to produce monster forwards for a certain level. When looking at players, you want to watch them up against the better teams in their divisions to see if they can handle comparatively a step up in quality so you get a better understanding and a base level marking point of where they actually are as a player. Utterly pointless scouting players vs the worst teams in the league because at most you learn nothing.
Team style: Posh in general are an attacking team, they dominate the ball but not to control, but to get wave after wave of attacks. This season they’ve struggled to sustain pressure in the final third and get their attacking players into threatening positions, It’s why they rank 2nd for possession but 24th for passes into the final third (Birmingham rank 1st for passes into the final third for comparison) and 1st for counter attack shots. They’re in general what I like to call a basketball side that create a lot and concede a lot of chances but not always by design. Team quality overall has dropped from previous seasons as you’d expect, so player quality in my eyes is around the top 12 area.
Performance vs Wrexham: 4th January 2025.
First half: In the opening 20 minutes of this game, Jade Jones out of possession has fluidity with his other teammates in the forward line to move about depending on the previous play. Conn-Clarke would sometimes lead the press centrally and Ihionvien and Jones would be left or right but Jones is not an intense presser whereas the other two are, he would quickly get back into shape or slightly jog towards the Wrexham defender in settled possession. Due to his small stature, he’s not a player being used as an outlet, Posh are trying to play through the lines and get the balls into the channels for Jones to run onto as his straight line speed is frightening, he swallows ground up very quickly.
He’s not at all looking to be involved in build-up but when the ball is played into him his first touch or layoff has been very consistent in this first half. However in goal scoring situations or potential goal scoring situations his movement is either late or doesn’t see the run to make and instead stays static. Has adapted to aerial duels vs O’Connell; despite not getting first contact, he’s made it awkward by backing into him rather than being flat footed, and his team mates have picked up the second ball on both occasions.
Second half: Good run down the right side channel to win a corner in the opening few minutes, noticed O’Connell was out of position after being dragged centrally and made the run. Same as the first half, not looking to get involved in build-up but again has an excellent first touch/action to get Posh on the attack. Handled himself in physical duels too vs players with a bigger frame but he did have speed advantage going into the duels. Feeding off scraps this half, effort levels still there, getting back into shape, running channels even if the ball isn’t getting where he wants it to be. Also once again his first time pass back into midfield is clean and precise. Shown great desire to get into the box when Mothersille was chasing after a loose ball into the corner.
Match conclusion: Worked hard for the team, ran channels, really impressive one touch passes under pressure but ultimately wasn’t a difficult game for the Wrexham backline. His other forward teammates did more running and put on more intense pressure than him off the ball and was late or flat footed when ball was out wide, didn’t really know what to do in settled possession when Posh had the ball looking to cross into the middle. Only seems to come alive when there’s open space in front of him to run into.
Performance vs Huddersfield: 10th August 2024.
First half: Opening 20 had nothing from an attacking pov but once again off the ball he’s not that intense and the other forward players are doing much more running than him. Lost three of his duels so far without attempting to jump. Not looking to be involved in build-up; was behind the play in transition and stayed at the back post in a good crossing situation from Conn-Clarke. Nice run up field in open space to cross into the box, got away from his man with a piece of skill. Nice backing into Helik, trapping the ball and laying it off to a teammate. Very impressive aerial win into open space to take it wide from the centre back and a clean strike which clips the post and goes wide. Every time Posh have made their way into wide areas to cross the ball, Jones isn’t alert enough and instead jogs towards the back post.
Second half: A lot more intensity in his off the ball work, charging down defenders with speed and purpose. Still not really active in the box and moves slowly into any position. Excellent first touch into stride on the hour mark and lay off to sustain pressure in the final third. 76th minute nice break but Jones doesn’t know whether to go to the ball or make space for himself in the box and the chance goes to waste. Continuing to work hard off the ball and pressing with intensity towards the end of the game in the 80th minute. Not really had a sniff in this second half, Posh progressing up the field quite well but no end product in the final third.
Match conclusion: Off the ball work increased in intensity as the game went on, but outside of one moment in the first half where he won an aerial duel, took it past a player and got a shot off, the Huddersfield defence wasn’t troubled in wide areas or in the box, he couldn’t really get into the game and sustain pressure in the final third after Huddersfield went 2-0 up in the first half.
Performance vs Rotherham: 12th October 2024.
First half: Intensity off the ball is there from the start, single pressing the central defenders and then the keeper as Rotherham pass it between their defence. Posh regained possession after the first few minutes with lots of passes within their defence and midfield, mainly full back into central areas, but when the ball is wide, RJJ is looking to run down specifically the left channel if the ball is with only the centre back. When the ball is wide with the full back, he’s late to notice the runs or movement to help the crosser of the ball, he’s behind play again and the cross goes to waste.
Had a couple touches and kept the ball well when dropping into the middle to keep the ball ticking but when Randall specifically has the ball on the edge of the box, his movement is poor and standing offside for no reason. And as I alluded to earlier, in crossing situations, he jogs with no intensity and almost ball watching when he could be trying to create separation or look to help his teammate crossing the ball by making a near post run. Has continued to single press with intensity and a good in possession outlet to pass to when the ball is on the floor. Nice first touch and into pass wide. Missed a very good chance after a quick blindside run after a in swinging cross from Poku. His natural instinct was to put a limb out rather than use his head which would have been a much easier thing to do.
Second half: Made a nice run and got ahead of his man from a crossing situation but keeper got an arm out. Similar situation a few minutes later and he slowly jogs and kept looking at the ball rather than looking for space and looking at his teammate on the ball. Got moved to the left when Ihionvien came on and looked a lot more comfortable in his role. Got the ball into space in front of him and drove at the full back and got a cross in or a shot off.
Match conclusion: Had intensity off the ball but had no impact on the game until he moved to the left at the end of the second half. Didn’t engage with the opposition centre backs, box movement was poor, but ultimately didn’t get involved all that much apart from one play in the first half when he kept the ball moving.
Player breakdown.
Movement: It needs a lot of work. Truthfully told I don’t see his long term future in his current position if he was to go higher in the pyramid. The runs are inconsistent at best, there’s no sharp runs, no deceptive feints — It’s either a jog to the front post or lurk at the back post more often than not.
Shooting technique and shot placement: Jones’ actual technique isn’t bad at all, It’s low and hard in situations where the ball is played down the sides but when it comes to actual box finishing he scuffs his lines a lot and doesn’t get a clean connection. It’s snappy with split second thinking where it is almost central all the time. In the games watched above he didn’t get shots off and doesn’t really get shots off in open play regardless of the opposition. He has the ability to create his own shots if there’s open space to run into but if that is shut off he won’t pop up out of nowhere and score. When the team is better than it is this year however, he does get more shots off but the end product is still inconsistent.
Carrying: He’s not really had the opportunity to carry but when he has it’s only been when he’s been played into space rather than receiving the ball back to goal and turning and then driving. His carrying isn’t bad by any means, vs Rotherham he had two moments where he carried into space using solely the inside of his foot rather than multiple touches and managed to shift onto his left and get a shot off. His running style lends itself to upper body power rather than being light on his feet so the carrying can look a bit more awkward than someone who’s naturally used to it.
Link-up: I think Peterborough underutilise this part of his game. In the games I watched the most consistent part of his in possession game was receiving the ball and cleanly taking a first touch and quickly moving the ball on or his first touch whether that be a pass or header to a teammate was clean too. It’s very bounce pass oriented but it’s effective in the final third and allows you to sustain pressure.
Pressing: Given his straight line speed, I assume Darren Ferguson didn’t want Jones to use all his energy with pressing relentlessly, which is why I again, assume, players like Randall, Conn-Clark and Ihonvien did more of the intense work than him for longer periods. But he was still intense himself in moments, got back into shape and jumped at the right times when the ball was moved over, and covered at right back vs Wrexham late in the game. His work-ethic and commitment to the team cannot be questioned.
Aerial: Not really a factor in his game, but not from the want of trying outside the box. He will at times win some from running from behind the defender and then getting in front, but from a standing start, he may inconsistently back into the defender and try and use his physicality but 75% of the time the opposition will climb above and win the duel. Is very uncomfortable at using his head when a ball is crossed in too, would rather chuck his limbs at it which probably isn’t the best idea.
Hold-up: Similar to his aerial ability, not much to write home about. He’s not going to make it stick with his chest and be an outlet, Posh opted not to go long to him and instead he would look to run down the channels. He does sometimes hold the back of the defenders shirt and back into them and win fouls that way but it rarely works in open play.
To conclude, I don’t think he can currently make the step up to the Championship, unless a team is certain they can refine his skills as a number #9. Long term he’s a winger for me as he consistently looks to play in wider areas and is happier running into space. I honestly don’t think he’s ready to lead a line consistently for Posh too and they’re 15th in League One. He can handle the physicality, he can produce some moments but he’s not really in games and he’s not effecting enough through goal contributions in a side that creates a lot and scores a lot. Wouldn’t surprise me if he’s used wide permanently next season and Posh bring in another 9.
Current level: Upper League One squad player.
Potential level: Top 6 League One starter/Bottom half Championship squad player.