Scout Report — Calvin Ramsay
General Info:
DOB: Jul 31, 2003
Height: 177cm/5ft 10in
Place of birth: Aberdeen, Scotland
Position: Right-Back
Current Market Value: €600K
Technical:
Calvin Ramsay is a raw, modern full-back. He has excellent close ball control, making him a great ball carrier and allowing him to get out of pressure simply. He doesn’t play with much flair, but is effective at beating defenders with his pace. He prefers to beat defenders by knocking the ball past them. He runs with the ball often and, due to his close control and pace, is hard to dispossess.
His short range passing and decision making is excellent. He rarely loses the ball after passing and often makes the correct decision when passing, be it going forward, laterally or backwards away from pressure. His medium to long range passing is adequate and not something to be relied on.
Ramsay is an adept crosser compared to full-backs in the Scottish Premiership, albeit too ambitious at times. This is a facet of his game that will need improvement against opponents who are more defensively organized because his current crossing ability is inconsistent.
In addition to what is already excellent technical ability, Ramsay is capable of using his left-foot comfortably. He rarely needs to use it, but when he does it looks natural.
Defensively, Ramsay needs to improve if he is to succeed outside of Scotland. His defensive 1v1s leave more to be desired. He mistimes his ground challenges enough to be targeted by attackers, especially in transition. Aerially, not much is to be expected at 177cm, but he does struggle to defend these as well.
Tactical:
In build up from goal kicks, Ramsay can be found hugging the touchline. His excellent close control makes him an ideal target from goal kicks, and his ability to carry the ball with pace make him an asset when entering the middle third from wide area.
When in the middle third, Ramsay will hesitate to join the attack unless during a transition. Instead, he can be seen waiting in the Aberdeen rest defense until the ball enters the final third.
While in the rest defense, Ramsay can be seen playing in a pseudo-pivot role and is used to maintain possession.
Despite being a good tool for ball retention, Ramsay can and does make overlapping runs into the final third or will carry the ball himself.
When Aberdeen are out of possession, Ramsay presses high and aggressively. This is often done against the attacking left-winger, pivot or left-pivot.
Ramsay is clever in and out of possession, and plays like a full-back that belongs in a modern era team.
Physical:
Ramsay is fast with good acceleration. He can reach top speed quickly with and without the ball. He looks stocky, but is a poor physical defender due to being pushed off the ball too easily.
Additionally, he struggles in the air and rarely challenges for aerial duels.
He doesn’t make up for his lack of strength with pace because his decision making is still in development.
To make up for his physical shortcomings, Ramsay is hard to dispossess without fouling and can play his way out of trouble.
Mental:
Ramsay can make poor decisions at times when defending. When defending in a unit, Ramsay will lose an attacker that he previously acknowledged very easily. Attackers with a quick change of direction will punish Ramsay.
He will mark attackers tightly when the ball is in front of him, but will forget about his attacker when the ball moves laterally or behind his defensive line, showing weak signs of concentration and ability to multitask.
Ramsay shows great tenacity to press. His pace and aggression suits this style, however he has been caught out of position often by overcommitting to a pressing target.
Set Pieces
Ramsay is Aberdeen’s corner taker from right-sided corners. The delivery is often a deep, floated cross to the back post area with little variation. While not a diverse range from corners, Ramsay is certainly threatening from them for Aberdeen.
Ramsay has the ability take freekicks with an eye for a shot on goal or to deliver a floated ball into the penalty area from range.
Ramsay could improve in this area with more variety in his delivery, but is more than adequate for the Scottish Premiership.
Potential and Conclusion:
Calvin Ramsay is a raw, pacey, technical full-back who thrives in close quarters environments. His greatest shortcomings are caused by inexperience and nothing else. He is technically and tactically better than most players in similar positions in the division, and his physical weaknesses will be improved with greater decision making.
With guidance and patience, Ramsay will develop into a full-back that is capable of playing an elite, modern brand of football.
At the moment, Ramsay would develop best if he continued to play in the Scottish Premiership. While promising, he is still inexperienced and would benefit from more game time at one club.
A move to a big club too soon could be risky due to the chances of less playing time against harder opponents he isn’t ready for.
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