However, the England defender knows they need to climb the Barclays Premier League table sooner rather than later, starting at West Brom on Sunday.
With only one win in nine games in all competitions, City are struggling for consistency going into the festive programme.
Ands Richards claims they need to stop shipping goals if they are to turn things around.
He said: "We know we are not in the best position in the league so a win could take us up a few places. We do need a victory on Sunday and hopefully we will get that.
"Some of the football we have played this season has been amazing compared to last year. We tend to play on the counter-attack a lot more.
"There are certain things though we need to brush up. We need to defend as a team a bit more.
"When we attack we leave ourselves more open at the back. But I think in time we will be all right."
Manager Mark Hughes intends to ring the changes again following the defeat by Racing Santander in the UEFA Cup on Thursday night.
Hughes gave a number of key players a rest with qualification for the last 32 already secured and a hectic domestic programme to come.
He said: "We will welcome back a number of players, so we will be a lot stronger than we were in Spain.
"A number of English teams have had negative results this week (in the UEFA Cup) because it is difficult when you have already qualified. We expect the performance against West Brom to be much better."
Hughes will monitor Robinho's fitness ahead of the match at The Hawthorns.
The former Real Madrid striker suffered a recurrence of his ankle injury last night.
Skipper Richard Dunne could return after missing the match in Spain to deal with a family matter as could Jo and Daniel Sturridge following a virus and Achilles injury respectively.
Hughes remains upbeat about City's situation as he plans to draft in possibly four new players in the January transfer window thanks to the financial backing of the owners, the Abu Dhabi United Group.
He added: "Ideally we would have liked to have more points than we have, that goes without saying. But we're working hard to change that.
"There are a lot of changes going on at the club which will help it in the long run. But first and foremost we have to make sure we get it right on the pitch.
"That's our aim. We've produced football which has been good, but we haven't done it on a regular basis.
"What we are looking for is a consistent level of performance and we have struggled in that respect."
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Showing comments 1 to 25 and replies | View All
Ste , Cheshire (19/12/2008 at 14:17)
Bill, Carlisle, Cumbria (19/12/2008 at 14:22)
It depends upon which context the phrase is being used !
The Admiral Mann (19/12/2008 at 14:28)
Firstly Micah how about you and most of the first team,with the exception of zabalete and Ireland and possibly Kompany putting a shift in for a change,I mean most of us fans are facing the credit crunch the least we expect from the players is to earn there over priced salaries.
Do your talking on the pitch
Matt Slater (19/12/2008 at 14:31)
Dear Santa Hughes.
Reading these pages makes me all full of rage, a lot blues don't even think you deserve a wage.
Ted Knott & others despise you & some even want you to join the dole queue.
But I will stick with you because I am blue through & through. Over xmas I will down a few tins but please Santa Hughes can you bring us some wins!!!
Dibble (19/12/2008 at 14:42)
you spent most of last night standing and watching especially there 3rd goal
your only young so the odd bad game is acceptable but not putting the effort in is not, sort your head out micah fast
Blue Sutt (19/12/2008 at 14:44)
briscoejunior (19/12/2008 at 14:49)
Private Fraser, Warmington-On-Sea (19/12/2008 at 14:50)
1. Capable of playing for a top 4 side and competing well in Champion’s League
Robinho
2. A solid performer at a consistently top half team (eg Everton/Villa)
SWP, Ireland, Kompany, Zabaleta, Petrov
3. Mid table; never threatening top half but usually comfortably placed (eg West Ham/Spurs/Boro)
Hart, Garrido, Richards, Johnson, The whole management team
4. Playing for a club just good enough to stay in Premiership, but likely to be close to relegation battle (eg Fulham/Bolton)
Dunne, Elano, Schmiecal, Benjani, TBH, Ball
5. On cusp of Championship & Premiership; too good for the former but not good enough for the latter (eg West Brom)
Vassel, Sturridge, Jo, Onahua, Hamann, Caciedo, Fernandes
6. Championship only
Evans
7. Too early to assess
Berti, Bojinov
This is a realistic assessment. If the management team were better than mid table, they could make the sum of the whole greater than the sum of the parts….but they aren’t!! So that means to me we’re somewhere between mid table and struggling to stay up. It's certainly not 'amazing' me Micah!
AlexC83, Manchester (19/12/2008 at 14:52)
True Blue,Galway.Ireland, Galway (19/12/2008 at 14:54)
Blue Sutt (19/12/2008 at 14:54)
you are even bobbins on the computer games. sell this over-hyped pre madonna !
Sam Haggar MCFC4EVER (19/12/2008 at 15:03)
GK Hart
RB Zabeleta CB Dunne CB Richards LB Garrdo
RM SWP CM Komany CM Elano LM Ireland
CF Sturridge CF Jo
Subs Schmeichel TBH Onouha Fernandes Hamann Evens Caicedo
Big game of the season it will be nerves but city will scrap it
1-0
kevin cairns, morecambe (19/12/2008 at 15:17)
bluethunder01, still at Maine Road 1970 (19/12/2008 at 15:24)
On Micah's comments, I have to agree with most - there has been some amazing football - Amazing that premier league players are getting paid to produce it on too many occasions.
Jonesy1, Lancaster Lancs (19/12/2008 at 15:24)
The Admiral Mann (19/12/2008 at 15:34)
Zin Zimmer m14 born and bred...... any1 want to buy a watch.
zin zimmer, manchester
10/12/2008 at 17:22
Diarra is sewn up as you say eh,have you got the time SIPPY!
cptpattern, Sunny Peel Hall, Wythenshawe (19/12/2008 at 15:40)
Raph, Rossendale (19/12/2008 at 15:48)
The table doesn't lie. We're 2 points off the bottom and have already lost 5 at home because we're rubbish, and playing pretty football when 3 nil up at home to the likes of Portsmouth cuts no ice with me.
Too much talk this season and not enough application where it counts
bluefield, chesterfield (19/12/2008 at 15:49)
cptpattern, Sunny Peel Hall, Wythenshawe (19/12/2008 at 15:50)
Mabalsa Ricci, Manchester (19/12/2008 at 15:50)
Richards needs a reality check...
Dump him in the reserves until the end of the season, tell him if he works hard enough he might get involved with the first team, if however he doesn't change his atittude and buck his ideas up... flirt him off in the summer.
Berni Blue, Timperley (19/12/2008 at 15:55)
ted knott, droylsden (19/12/2008 at 16:02)
Nick,The Man Sheikh Mansour logs on to read., caterham,Surrey,(Blackley Born & Bred) (19/12/2008 at 16:02)
citydan (19/12/2008 at 16:07)