Manchester City News 24/7Writer: Lando78 
Date:Tuesday October 20 2009
Time: 9:14PM
UK time is: 13:32:55
Vital Login
Social Login
Choose your club
Other Sites
Network Navigation
Vital Partners
'If It's Football, It's Vital'
The Rise & Fall Of Micah Richards
Manchester City fan and budding blogger, Lando78 sent us the following.
Micah Richards has had a somewhat tempestuous relationship with the City faithful and backroom staff. At one time worshipped by the City faithful the Blue's powerhouse is going through a torrid time of it at the moment. Is it the end of the road for Micah or is there hope lying around playing at the DW Stadium?
Bursting onto the scene in October 2005 in a debut sub appearance against Arsenal, Richards was a revelation. He scored a bullet of a header against Aston Villa to award the Manchester City an FA Cup replay and was praised by fans, players and pundits alike not afforded since Wayne Rooney came through the ranks at Everton. He ran away with the club's Young Player of the Year award for 05/06 and things were only just getting started for the Birmingham born lad.
Sven-Göran Eriksson rated him very highly, Carlos Tevez admitted that he was the hardest opponent he had ever played against and Match of the Day pundits slavered over his powerful performances alongside Richard Dunne.
So high in the public eye was he when he swore in his first post match interview on national TV nobody batted an eyelid. Such is the luxury afforded to stars on the rise in England. He was confident, quick and showed strength at the age of 16 that most 35 year olds can only dream of.
On 15th November 2006 Richards won his first England cap against the Netherlands after regular right back Gary Neville withdrew through injury. It made him England's youngest-ever defender, breaking the record previously held by Rio Ferdinand.
Last season however the young powerhouse lost his way. Caught doing an impression of a kebab skewer in a Manchester night club the Leeds raised stud was criticised by the boss for poor training and suddenly began to feel the negativity from City followers.
This season, with Zabaleta proving that he's not the long term answer to the Blue's right back birth, Richards knows he is in the last chance saloon and must grasp it with both hands if he is to make it at City.
To read the article in full, click here.
Vital F1 Prediction League - Join now for the British GP
Seconds Out! Vital Boxing is here!
Your Comments
Well I feel that this article is more than a tad over the top although it did redeem itself somewhat in the closing paragraph. He had a nightmare in the derby match at the swamp but other than that hasn't done badly this season and I'm sure that he will improve further with experience, guidance and growing confidence. Still the best right back in our squad although there is admittedly room for vast improvement.
Kevinho
Loads of talent. Poor attitude. Strikes me that he's too unfocused to be a defender. I know this sounds strange, but with a little technique, I think he might be a good center forward... or maybe I've just lost my mind.
Teddy_KGB
Im not even sure if he was as talented as we first thought a few seasons ago. Hes still growing into a man and he is struggling with the extra bulk. The same bulk and speed that helped him burst onto the scene 3years ago. Im amazed how bad he has fallen of his game, his reading of the game is novice-like to say the least. It was no suprise wigan scored from his lasp of concentration. As a fullback his ball distribution has always been poor, rotten first touch, passing is poor, offers nothing in the attacking third and he cant cross. As a centre back his positional play is shocking. Nedum onuha is far better player, yet doesnt get half the attention?!? Richards doesnt know whether hes a fullback or cb. No knows what he is - hence the confusion in his game. This is a prime example of youth football coaches selecting big strong athletes and ignoring technical ability. When ever micah plays, he will cost goals. The lad is trying his best, he isnt on the party scene anymore and he wants to be a part of citys bright future. City will need better players to be where we want to be. He can be a good squad player i.e. john o'shea. I hope the lad becomes a great, but im seeing no improvement.
enzo city
Fingers crossed Micah can get it together.
Johnny Baguette
he's got a club foot and that ain't going to improve at his age. Like done he shone in the lower half of the table but is vulnerable at the top.
SkyBlueSuedeShoes
I think Lando is correct in likening him to Titus Bramble. Bramble is another player who showed immense promise in the early stages of his career, but for whatever reason decended into farce every time he took to a football pitch. Nowadays however, Bramble has matured into an excellent defender, altthough the damage to his career has been done and he is at Wigan, rather than a bigger, better known club. I for one cannot see Richards remaining at City beyond the summer, it's possible he will be sold in January, but whatever happens I will wish him luck. I'm not sentimental enough to want to keep him around merely because he's an academy graduate, and on current form he is not good enough, and I can't see where any major improvements to his game are going to come from. Sometimes a player needs to move on to rejuvenate his career (ala Richard Dunne). I won't be too disappointed if he does leave.
fifthcolumnblue
I hope micah can rejuvenate his career at city. But you can see hughes is preparing for the likely outcome of micah going with buying lescot and toure. Glen johnson turned us down, in hughes ideal world he would be our right back now. And constent press speculation with city wanting puyol and maicon. Its inevitable city will sign a top rightback in january, leaving micah with not much options. With zableta suspended he will get a run in the team, i hope he doesnt make any mistakes. Sadly i am agreeing with fifthcolumnblue words above.
enzo city
ANOTHER OVER THE TOP ARTICLE BY A MUPPET.
bluemooner_mcfc
You are more than welcome bluemooner to send us a front page article giving us your take on the situation. Perhaps Lando and the rest of us can be allowed to comment on your thoughts.
Tudor
That wasn't over the top. It was quite a reasonable analysis of the situation.
SkyBlueSuedeShoes
Tudor as you know i dont mind anyone having a go at my posts and i expect likewise. - it seems people are gunning for micah even from last season and they have started on SWP aswell so who is the next victim of new breed city ?
bluemooner_mcfc
A good and well balanced article Lando. We all hope Micah improves and grasps the opportunity but if not we need to move on and acquire a world class performer. Sorry you got abused for daring to take an objective view on a City player, the same has happened to me from the same source - hope it doesn't drive you away from the site or from writing front page articles.
Wswilly3
WSW3 - You abused BM just as much he abused you but as always see it from your point of view. I've nothing against you but don't act all melodramatic and blinkered about it.
Kevinho
Kevinho - how can you defend people that call others Muppets for writing a well balanced article? He committed the same crime as I did of daring to have a view on Micah Richards that differed from yours and Bluemooner. We are not against him and want him to succeed but do not believe he has played consistently well this year. Why you and Bluemooner feel it is ok for Lando to be called a Muppet for his article is beyond me but I suppose you will see that as abuse from me. Will you both be happy when nobody bothers to write front page articles because of your caustic remarks?
Wswilly3
Willy - Where did I condone BM calling Lando a muppet? Show me where I said that as I can't see it anywhere. Where have I said that others can't comment on front page articles if they have an opinion different to mine? Again it is nowhere to be seen. I do remember you criticising several members allegiance to City for having a different opinion to yours on a thread a couple of months ago, yet you chose to skip this question the last time I asked it. At least get your facts right before accusing me of being some kind of Vital facist.
Kevinho
WILLY - get a life FFS just because i called someone a muppet doesnt mean they have to go into there shell for it and theres plenty on here who think it s awell written article but i think its over the top and if i want to call someone a muppet then i will and just because you feel im out of order in that then than thats also fine - lets not forget you called me and kev " bum chums" or something like that because we agreed with each other not long back but yet your tongue is a darker shade of brown with the article author? - double standards me thinks mate and you are taking things way tooooo seriously and need to lighten up.
bluemooner_mcfc
Bluemooner and Kevinho are you trying to drive every decent member off the site with your mixture of crudity and fiction? I have never ever called you 'bum chums' that is definitely part of your vocabulary and mindset and not mine and references to brown tongues is pretty basic and again totally uncalled for. But as you say above "if I want to call someone a muppet, I will " and I suppose that form of derision is pretty mild in your world. My initial point was to hope that the author was not put off from writing further front page articles because he had dared to take a contary view to yourselves and therefore became a target for your contempt. I should have guessed that you would then both turn your abuse onto the next target of a contary view. With the greatest of respect I do not need to lighten up, you need to clean your act up and perhaps as Tudor suggests, write some front page articles yourselves.
Wswilly3
WILLY - sort your neck and and lighten up and theres no way the author would be put off just because a couple of people dont agree with the article and think the article is harsh - do you expect every member who does articles to have EVERY SINGLE member agreeing and waxing lyrical over them or do you expect other views from other members because after all its a forum and not everyone agrees with stuff even though probably in your perfect world they do. - i aint got a probelm with the article and if i dont agree with a article or post on the forums then i air my views the same as everyone else but you seem to be targetting me and kev and trying to make out we are on a mission of some sorts which is wrong and out of arder - and for the name calling im sure i will dig out later exactle the post you made with comments regarding me and kev a few weeks ago and prove to you that your comments were un called for. -
bluemooner_mcfc
Wswilly3 - I think that BM has got the name wrong but he did take offence to you calling him a nodding dog for agreeing with me on an article. I know that we agree to disagree on the current right back situation but I don't understand your hostility towards me when I have never tried to stop anybody having their opinion on any subject nor have I used any offensive or rude language. I suggest that I am also allowed my own opinion on any subject and I will continue to voice it. Like I say I have no animosity towards you or anybody else whatsoever so I don't know what the problem is - mountains and molehills spring to mind.
Kevinho
Have Your Say
Log in...
with your social network OR with your Vital account
Recent Articles
Back To The Battle Again - Joe Kinnear First Up! (Wednesday June 19 2013)
Isco Torn Between Man City & Real Madrid (Tuesday June 18 2013)
Yankees' Lawyer on Man City MLS Partnership (Tuesday June 18 2013)
Welcome To Manchester Pelle! (Friday June 14 2013)
VIDEO: Man City World's Highest-Paying Sports Team (Thursday June 13 2013)
Pellegrini - Through Real Madrid Eyes (Wednesday June 12 2013)
Focus On...Matija Nastasić (Wednesday June 12 2013)
Jesus Of The North West Looks To The Wings (Wednesday June 12 2013)
Video: Jesus Navas Announcement Due Any Day (Sunday June 9 2013)
Focus On......Gareth Barry (Saturday June 8 2013)
Archived Articles
Vital Members League (view all)
| 1. | Buzz Lightyear | 110 |
| 2. | Bluedub | 107 |
| 3. | fifthcolumnblue | 106 |
| 4. | Spooks | 87 |
| 5. | citizhun | 69 |
| 6. | Skoorb | 68 |
| 7. | Johnny Baguette | 68 |
| 8. | CITYBOY1000 | 67 |
| 9. | OziMan | 49 |
| 10. | kennyclementstache | 40 |
League Results (view all)
| Latest Results |
League Table (view table)
| Team | P | W | D | L | GD | Pts |
| 7. Fulham | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 8. Hull City | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 9. Liverpool | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 10. Man City | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 11. Man Utd | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 12. Newcastle | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 13. Norwich | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Breaking League News
| Saints Starlet Linked To Cherries Loan Move
» Southampton : 19/06/2013 13:18:00
|
| Mata, Mourinho and Barcelona - There`s More!
» Chelsea : 19/06/2013 13:05:00
|
| Staying or Going?
» Chelsea : 19/06/2013 13:04:00
|
| Midfielder Link
» Chelsea : 19/06/2013 13:02:00
|
| The Answer is NO!
» Chelsea : 19/06/2013 13:01:00
|
| Cavani Talk Lingers On!
» Chelsea : 19/06/2013 13:00:00
|
| Romeu, Romeu, wherefore art thou Romeu?
» Chelsea : 19/06/2013 12:58:00
|
Current Site Poll (view all polls)
|
|
4 © - All content copyright Vital Network Ltd, not to be reproduced without explicit permission Copyright Issues
Cookie Policy
At Vital Football, we along with most other modern websites use small files called 'cookies' to create the most secure, effective and functional website possible for our users. Without these files our business model, based on advertising, breaks down and we would be unable to continue to provide the services that you are here to utilise. By continuing to use this website after seeing this message, you consent to our use of cookies on this device unless you have disabled them. For full details please read our Cookie Policy which can be found here. However, if you would like to disable cookies on this device, please view our Cookie Policy which contains an opt-out tool for disabling advertising cookies. Please also visit our information pages on 'How to manage cookies' if you would also like to block all other types of cookies. Please be aware that parts of this site will not function correctly if you disable cookies.