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.
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