Richards eyes greatness with City

January 14, 2010

Micah Richards

MANCHESTER City defender Micah Richards has revealed manager Roberto Mancini told him he has the potential to become a great player.

Richards, 21, is enjoying a run of games in the side under the former Italian international and scored a fine goal in the 4-1 defeat of Blackburn.

His good form could force England manager Fabio Capello to hand him a recall in World Cup year.

Richards' priority, though, is to continue to improve after a pat on the back from Mancini.

"He told me that I was a good player but that if I listened and learned he would turn me into a great player," Richards said on www.mcfc.co.uk.

"Those words were really encouraging but I know that it is down to me to work hard.

"I keep saying it but I am still young. There are aspects of the game that only come with experience and I am gaining that all the time whether I am in or out of the side.

"I know I had a dip in form last season but I believe that I have been better this time around and in recent weeks I have done okay.

"All I am concentrating on at the moment is playing well, winning games and staying in the side when the injured players come back."

Richards has come through the ranks at City and is in no hurry to go anywhere else.

He said: "Everyone seems to get linked with someone at various stages of the season and me more than most.

"I have always said that I wanted to stay here so I don't know why these rumours keep appearing.

"I have not expressed any wish to leave and yet some people are reporting things as if they are done deals. Why would I want to leave a club that is so obviously on the up and up?

"There is still so much for me to learn and my best is to come, and this will be great place to be in coming seasons, I am sure of that."

Has Richards' form improved this season? Have your say.

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Andrew Shaw (14/01/2010 at 13:06)

There is no doubt that Micah has the potential and it is interesting to note that as we hear less and less of him being out and about, spouting off about how good he is on his own website, his lifestyle etc etc which presumably means he is keeping his head down and staying in more and not getting noticed for all the wrong reasons, surprise surprise, his performances have improved. This was happening under Hughes as well but maybe the penny has finally dropped. Let's hope so because there is nothing more frustrating for City fans than to watch a potentially fine player from our own academy waste all his talent for the sake of a good time. As I said in an earlier thread, if he had been caught where he was with the ball last year, the way he was against Blackburn we would have conceded a goal. It is to his geat credit that he is so much back on track that he had the wherewithal to get out of that situation and burst forward to score. He now needs to consistently achieve to get back to where he was a couple of years ago and then he can push on and then, and only then, Capello may just give him another look. It may be just too late for this summer, you never know, but waiting makes the heart grow fonder.

Real Mancs Are Blue, Manchester (14/01/2010 at 13:06)

Ahh, richards had a good game, his first in 6 months so we get our usual 'Richards is king of the world' story. What a refreshing change. People like Mancini blowing smoke up his botty do nothing for the lads ego, when hes had another 20 good game sthen we can start praising him again.

bludo, Birmingham (14/01/2010 at 13:19)

Harry Rednapp - read and learn please.

a lesson in pride , Manchester (14/01/2010 at 13:21)

Real Mancs are Blue......Well said mate. Mancini is doing what all new managers do by wiping the slate clean and judging the players himself. Its not like he has had an abundance of defenders to choose from, so lets wait and see after a few more games and after a few more defenders coming back from injury whether Micahs still in the side and playing well and only then can we start saying he's the best thing since sliced bread again.

Evan Georgiou (14/01/2010 at 13:22)

I really like what Mancini does....he gets ALL his players to BELIEVE,even the one's we wrote off long ago...Benjani,Garido,Sylvinho,Petrov and Richards...imagine when he has finished with the rest of the squad?Imagine Ade,Tevez,Bellers,Robi,Jolo,Kolo,RSC all playing out of their skins....then we will be unstoppable......I say bravo Roberto....when you finished with the team you can start with the negative fans......Forza Mancini....from a sunny Cape Town....

Portsmouth Blue (14/01/2010 at 13:24)

This guy has the potential to be one of the best he just needs to keep his feet on the ground and his head out of the clouds.

Shaun, At My Desk (14/01/2010 at 13:25)

Two decent performances in eighteen months,and so the circus arrives in town? Pleeeaassee!!

Never Boo a Blue (formerly The Grimreaper), Sale (14/01/2010 at 13:36)

Read an interview last week with Micah and it is pretty obvious he is a insecure and shy young lad. He needs a manager who will look after him and keep him on the straight and narrow, dare I say it, he would have progressed to be a regular England international and a dead cert for South Africa if he had been under Ferguson these last 3 years. Now, hopefully Mancini will get him back on track.

Vincent Vega, Manchester (14/01/2010 at 13:46)

Great potential - keep working Micah!

Raph, Rossendale (14/01/2010 at 13:59)

One charge upfield and he thinks he's Franz Beckenbauer.

Gaz M (14/01/2010 at 14:00)

Real Mancs Are Blue - he's been in good form for over two months now.

Kippax Lover, Failswerf, Manchester (14/01/2010 at 14:32)

Dunne and Richards were awesome under Sven.

Hughes came along and suddenly both looked like pub players (some on here referred to Dunne as 'Captain Donkey'). Hughes bought Lescott, Toure, Bridge etc to resolve the problem and guess what? They too looked like pub players. People were soon saying we should have never got rid of Dunne. But he wouldn't have fared any better than Kolo, Toure or Bridge with MH as boss.

Dunne leaves and looks like a top class defender again for Villa.

Hughes leaves and Toure improved before he left keeping 2 clean sheets and the same can now be said of Richards.

Richards looked like the old player - back to England form - on Monday.

The difference? A proper coach in RM whose tactics don't leave his defenders exposed and looking like pub players. Simple as.

FORZA MANCINI

SkyBLUE in TORONTO, Toronto Canada (14/01/2010 at 14:46)

Was Great under Pearce and Sven - Brutal under Hughes and is showing promise again. I was not one of the "anti-hughes" people on this site - but the evidence may be starting to show - that our defensive woes came from his lack of ability to work with the defenders.

Giles, Voice of City Fans (14/01/2010 at 15:11)

Some chump commented that 'Richards' was great and another 'awesome' under Sven? We lost virtually every game since the New Year, gave away sill goals (8-1 anybody) and that was 'awesome'. Please go write on the United site.

Richards has gone down hill since he first pulled on an England shirt yet one good performances in 2 and a half years and the ego has landed again.

I would ship him out and quickly.

Peter Beagrie`s beagle (14/01/2010 at 15:12)

All players who are of a good standard have the potential to be great players, it depends on how they are managed and how much ambition they themselves have.

I believe Mancini has a talent for getting the best out of players, and Richards is obviously ambitious, so he can only get better under Mancini, this would never have happened under Hughes. CTID

MancRobbo, Manchester (14/01/2010 at 15:16)

Off Topic

Apologies if it's a load of rubbish but......

Someone I trust who has given me accurate info before has told me Cook was at the Liverpool game last night to offer £70m for Torres.

I'd prefer Gerard currently as we're very strong upfront but lets see what happens. Even if he's not interested it'll stir up some more trouble.

In fact while we're at it throw a cheeky bid in for Rooney, the least that will happen is they'll need to give him a new inflated contract as Chelsea did with JT.

CTID

Fred Eyre's Stationer, Leeds (14/01/2010 at 15:35)

Real Mancs Are Blue, Manchester
14/01/2010 at 13:06

I'd say he's been pretty consistent and solid for at least the last 5 or 6 matches mate.

Sometimes if someone says something nice to you and gives a bit of encouragement it spurs you on, which is clearly what Mancini is doing with Richards - he's a good man manager.

Sean Lynch (14/01/2010 at 15:36)

If City beat Everton on Saturday I'll be eyeing greatness with Mancini and the title 'glimmer of hope' we've got will become a real promise.
City will be talked about as real contenders for the title with another win at Everton, it gets talked about now but nobody believes it yet !

Nonna Mancini, In My Bungalow (14/01/2010 at 15:39)

I honestly thought Micah was going to be better than Des Walker, who we all know was unbeatable, and a real World Class player, one of a handful capable of changing the direction of a game on his own - priceless.

Then for whatever reasons, injuries, mental state, coaching regimes etc. he seemed to lose confidence and pace.

Over the past few months I've seen signs of a return to form and potential, culminating in that fantastic goal against Blackburn. I like the direction he's moving in, and I like the Mancini public approach to Micah.

If he fulfills his potential, he will be a Legend, and not just one of those Soccer AM pseudo - greats either.

Bert is my hero, Cheshire! (14/01/2010 at 15:40)

I think Micah has been improving for some time now, but what I think everyone notices is how much harder everyone works in and around our box when we don't have the ball. There are more City players in our own box and they do attack the ball to cover and get in blocks and tackles.

bubba, cleethorpes (14/01/2010 at 15:54)

I congratulate Richards on his goal (even though he didnt really want the ball from PZ), but I cannot get carried away on the strength of a couple of games. His awareness, concentration, and ability to effectively mark an opponent in many games have been found wanting. Ditto for Wayne Bridge, and I suggest that the combination of MR+WB, brought far too much pressure on the whole defence, and we conceded too many goals. Everton will be a much sterner test for likes of Richards, and of course Mancini. I feel that Mancini's line up for Everton will require much more in the terms of workrate, so will be suprised if RM can afford to start with Petrov. Pip..Pip..

sheikh maheed, cloud cuckooland (14/01/2010 at 15:56)

richards is a centre back and nothing els. this notion he is a right back needs kickin into for good because although he does show steady improvement with the ball at his feet he is miles away from top class in that position when alternatives are compared. if he will just finally fully grow up we have as strong a contender for best young centre back in europe as anyone out there. i think the england thing confused the kid for a while about where his best position is and i am still amazed some still dont seem to recognise the only place he should be filling. there has been plenty of verbal about buying a centre back in this window but the fact is we already have him. get another right back to argue it out with zabaleta and its job done.

sheikh maheed, cloud cuckooland (14/01/2010 at 15:59)

and anyone thinking we should get rid of micah has clearly no clue what their on about. it would cost 30 million to replace what he`s going to bein 2/3 years

wattle37 (14/01/2010 at 16:01)

Giles, Voice of City Fans, .
14/01/2010 at 15:11

Sorry mate but your not the 'voice of City fans'. And you call Micah egotistical? All you do is slag players and fans off. Get a life fella! Its never been this good supporting City. Cheer up!!!!

True Blue Middlesbrough, middlesbrough (14/01/2010 at 16:04)

He will get better because his idol Patrick Viera will now be one of his mentors.This signing will help in changing the mindset of the playing staff(especially the young headstrong players)into winners.The appointment of our new manager has brought about the same Buzz i felt when Mercer and Allison were in charge of City.The difference is we now have owners who can give the manager all the financial backing to see his and their aims through.

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