City v AC Milan

[blues2win]

The Club see him as a right back not a centre back so no they haven't give him lots of games in the latter position. To be fair he's been injured for much of the last two seasons anyway. Interesting to see if Micah's new club plays him as a right back rather than a centre back. I suspect the former.

I would sell Nastasic who hasn't worked out. Then we'd have Vinny, MDM Mangala and Sagna as a back up. Retaining Micah merely for a reserve centre back role isn't justified on his wages imo. That said the club were apparently prepared to keep him instead of going for Sagna but he wasn't happy with how much game time he was likely to get. A perfectly fair position at his age.

I understand why City fans want to see home grown talent coming through but we're a much bigger Club now and we'll have to be a little patient. The Club are clearly investing heavily in young talent so sooner hopefully rather than later this will bear fruit and we'll be able to cheer on our youngsters coming through into the first team on merit.

[Ted Hughes]

The Club see him as a right back not a centre back so no they haven't give him lots of games in the latter position. To be fair he's been injured for much of the last two seasons anyway. Interesting to see if Micah's new club plays him as a right back rather than a centre back. I suspect the former.

I would sell Nastasic who hasn't worked out. Then we'd have Vinny, MDM Mangala and Sagna as a back up. Retaining Micah merely for a reserve centre back role isn't justified on his wages imo. That said the club were apparently prepared to keep him instead of going for Sagna but he wasn't happy with how much game time he was likely to get. A perfectly fair position at his age.

I understand why City fans want to see home grown talent coming through but we're a much bigger Club now and we'll have to be a little patient. The Club are clearly investing heavily in young talent so sooner hopefully rather than later this will bear fruit and we'll be able to cheer on our youngsters coming through into the first team on merit.

I think 'the club' just used him to fill a hole though, that's what I'm saying. He was a centre back, end of. Imagine if we'd moved Vincent Kompany to right back, & then all the fans gave himnshit for not getting back into position quick enough. How many 80 yard sprints would Vinny get through in 90 mins ? How many injuries would he pick up ?

Nowardays, someone like myself can criticise Nastasic without a load of juvenile responses, because everyone else has started to realise he's not actually Bobby Moore reincarnated. To take that a step further, neither Nastasic, Boyata, or Rekik are anywhere even close to being the same prospect that Micah was at 17. He was Iheanacco as a centre back. If we took Iheanacho & played him in Garcia's position year in year out, then rarely ever gave him the chance to play in or learn his own position, then sold him; we would be doing similar to him as we have to Micah Richards. He was worth 10 of Nastasic or Rekik & we've fucked him up.

[Nigels Tackle]

can't lay the blame totally on the club
micah should have had the balls to speak up for himself and manage his own career properly

[DoomMerchant]

can't lay the blame totally on the club
micah should have had the balls to speak up for himself and manage his own career properly

Yep. Agreed.

[Ted Hughes]

can't lay the blame totally on the club
micah should have had the balls to speak up for himself and manage his own career properly

Yep. Agreed.

How many kids do that ?

Next thing we have Arsenal sniffing around a £20 mil bid for him at right back, England call ups, two takeovers, 3 managers.

You're going to tell a new manager you don't want to play in the position he wants to pick you for ?

[Nigels Tackle]

can't lay the blame totally on the club
micah should have had the balls to speak up for himself and manage his own career properly

Yep. Agreed.

How many kids do that ?

Next thing we have Arsenal sniffing around a £20 mil bid for him at right back, England call ups, two takeovers, 3 managers.

You're going to tell a new manager you don't want to play in the position he wants to pick you for ?

that's exactly why they have agents....

[Ted Hughes]

Yeah well if he'd been like Yaya & Tevez, or Robinho, rather than a nice lad who loves City, he might be playing next to Vinny now having just come back from the World Cup.

[blues2win]

I think that's a stretch Ted really. Where's the evidence he's such an outstanding centre back. He's quite short for that position; under 6 feet although I accept he does have a good jump on him. He is a nice guy but personally I don't think he's got a great football brain or positional sense. Bottom line though it seems it's Micah's decision to leave and I wish him well except in games against City.

[Tru_Blu]

Gael looked good on the right. His crossing using his right foot may be even better than his left. I wanted Micah to become a legend at city but its clear its time for him to move on. The drive to become better has left him here as we are now a winning squad. He needs to move to get the drive back and improve.

[Ted Hughes]

I think that's a stretch Ted really. Where's the evidence he's such an outstanding centre back. He's quite short for that position; under 6 feet although I accept he does have a good jump on him. He is a nice guy but personally I don't think he's got a great football brain or positional sense. Bottom line though it seems it's Micah's decision to leave and I wish him well except in games against City.

Tbh I thought I'd already addressed that side of it by comparing the ridiculously short spell Micah got in his chosen position, at a time of crisis followed by upheaval at the club, then was kicked over to fullback. Compare that to the careers of Nastasic etc, who we have been repeatedly told require loads of time in order to become decent players. & we have to be fair & give them a chance.

They require many seasons playing in their chosen position alongside world class players but Micah is supposed to know the job by playing there two games per season.

How does that work ?

As tor being small, he would out jump & out strength & out sprint Nastasic & Rekik wearing a full suit of armour.

[Dameerto]

I've always seen him as a fullback that can cover central defence.

[DoomMerchant]

Gael looked good on the right. His crossing using his right foot may be even better than his left. I wanted Micah to become a legend at city but its clear its time for him to move on. The drive to become better has left him here as we are now a winning squad. He needs to move to get the drive back and improve.

It's been done to death but....clichy is a right footed player who's dad pushed him onto his left at a young age, so it's no surprise he could be equal or better on his right.

Cheers

[Ted Hughes]

I've always seen him as a fullback that can cover central defence.

That's because he's played most of his City career as a fullback who occasionally covers central defence.

The truth is that he was one of the best central defenders ever to play for City's youth team who was so good that if he played, they probably won, if he didn't they probably lost. He was absolutely outstanding. Lake is the only one I can think of as similar talent, but he didn't play cb in the youth team, he moved there later.

Micah Richards was easily the best young cb talent in the country, who was moved to right back at first team level because he was a kid, & there was a vacancy at right back & we had cbs. He was never allowed to move back even though he always saw that as his future position. Now we have arrived at that future & he's still at right back.

I recon now that if you gave him 20 games next to VK, he'd piss all over Nasti/Rekik etc, but instead he'll end up playing right back for Spurs or similar.

[The Italian Job]

Gael looked good on the right. His crossing using his right foot may be even better than his left. I wanted Micah to become a legend at city but its clear its time for him to move on. The drive to become better has left him here as we are now a winning squad. He needs to move to get the drive back and improve.

It's been done to death but....clichy is a right footed player who's dad pushed him onto his left at a young age, so it's no surprise he could be equal or better on his right.

Cheers

He still guides the ball predominantly with his left foot tho, which, in my eyes, makes him left footed, no matter what he once was.

I've always seen him as a fullback that can cover central defence.

Me too. I don't get where the idea comes from that Richards was shunted to fullback. It's his natural position and rightly so. When fit, he is great at it, as evident in our what I now like to call "6-1 season", after "title winning season" has become a rather ambiguous term. Coincidentally, he was particularly magnificent in that very memorable game.

[carl_feedthegoat]

I've always seen him as a fullback that can cover central defence.

That's because he's played most of his City career as a fullback who occasionally covers central defence.

The truth is that he was one of the best central defenders ever to play for City's youth team who was so good that if he played, they probably won, if he didn't they probably lost. He was absolutely outstanding. Lake is the only one I can think of as similar talent, but he didn't play cb in the youth team, he moved there later.

Micah Richards was easily the best young cb talent in the country, who was moved to right back at first team level because he was a kid, & there was a vacancy at right back & we had cbs. He was never allowed to move back even though he always saw that as his future position. Now we have arrived at that future & he's still at right back.

I recon now that if you gave him 20 games next to VK, he'd piss all over Nasti/Rekik etc, but instead he'll end up playing right back for Spurs or similar.

Could have , should have ,might have....the fuckign reality is he isnt any good now and hasnt been any good when he has played over the last 2 years.....its fucking years ago since he looked like he could become a great player but right now he has zero chance and quite rightly so, of becoming a first team regular player.

On another nagtive note , he does not possess a football brain at all and even more annoying, for a big guy he criminally gets outheaded far too often.
He should be sold , end of.

[Foreverinbluedreams]

I've always seen him as a fullback that can cover central defence.

That's because he's played most of his City career as a fullback who occasionally covers central defence.

The truth is that he was one of the best central defenders ever to play for City's youth team who was so good that if he played, they probably won, if he didn't they probably lost. He was absolutely outstanding. Lake is the only one I can think of as similar talent, but he didn't play cb in the youth team, he moved there later.

Micah Richards was easily the best young cb talent in the country, who was moved to right back at first team level because he was a kid, & there was a vacancy at right back & we had cbs. He was never allowed to move back even though he always saw that as his future position. Now we have arrived at that future & he's still at right back.

I recon now that if you gave him 20 games next to VK, he'd piss all over Nasti/Rekik etc, but instead he'll end up playing right back for Spurs or similar.

Could have , should have ,might have....the fuckign reality is he isnt any good now and hasnt been any good when he has played over the last 2 years.....its fucking years ago since he looked like he could become a great player but right now he has zero chance and quite rightly so, of becoming a first team regular player.

On another nagtive note , he does not possess a football brain at all and even more annoying, for a big guy he criminally gets outheaded far too often.
He should be sold , end of.

Outheaded? Whatever about the rest of your post that little nugget is pure bullshit.

[carl_feedthegoat]

I've always seen him as a fullback that can cover central defence.

That's because he's played most of his City career as a fullback who occasionally covers central defence.

The truth is that he was one of the best central defenders ever to play for City's youth team who was so good that if he played, they probably won, if he didn't they probably lost. He was absolutely outstanding. Lake is the only one I can think of as similar talent, but he didn't play cb in the youth team, he moved there later.

Micah Richards was easily the best young cb talent in the country, who was moved to right back at first team level because he was a kid, & there was a vacancy at right back & we had cbs. He was never allowed to move back even though he always saw that as his future position. Now we have arrived at that future & he's still at right back.

I recon now that if you gave him 20 games next to VK, he'd piss all over Nasti/Rekik etc, but instead he'll end up playing right back for Spurs or similar.

Could have , should have ,might have....the fuckign reality is he isnt any good now and hasnt been any good when he has played over the last 2 years.....its fucking years ago since he looked like he could become a great player but right now he has zero chance and quite rightly so, of becoming a first team regular player.

On another nagtive note , he does not possess a football brain at all and even more annoying, for a big guy he criminally gets outheaded far too often.
He should be sold , end of.

Outheaded? Whatever about the rest of your post that little nugget is pure bullshit.

No its not ,when he does win headers, more often than not he barges into people and we concede a foul.

[Clowncrete]

Didn't Micah have a knee problem preventing him from constantly jumping and winning headers and playing as a CB? I think someone here said it an year ago.

[Mikhail Chigorin]

I think that's a stretch Ted really. Where's the evidence he's such an outstanding centre back. He's quite short for that position; under 6 feet although I accept he does have a good jump on him. He is a nice guy but personally I don't think he's got a great football brain or positional sense. Bottom line though it seems it's Micah's decision to leave and I wish him well except in games against City.

Tbh I thought I'd already addressed that side of it by comparing the ridiculously short spell Micah got in his chosen position, at a time of crisis followed by upheaval at the club, then was kicked over to fullback. Compare that to the careers of Nastasic etc, who we have been repeatedly told require loads of time in order to become decent players. & we have to be fair & give them a chance.

They require many seasons playing in their chosen position alongside world class players but Micah is supposed to know the job by playing there two games per season.

How does that work ?

As tor being small, he would out jump & out strength & out sprint Nastasic & Rekik wearing a full suit of armour.

Just being relatively small doesn't automatically mean that you'd be useless in the air.

Delving back into the mists of time, in the late 60s and early 70s, Liverpool had a [utility] defender called Ian Ross who was only around 5'8" or 5'9" tall.

During a lengthy injury spell to one of their centre-backs (Tommy Smith), Ross filled in, in that position and all the so called pundits of the time predicted that Liverpool would struggle in the air because of his short stature (it was an era of especially sizeable centre-forwards such as Derek Dougan, Ron Davies, Wyn Davies, Bobby Gould and others of that ilk).

It was soon noted that Ross's timing and jumping ability were excellent and he soon put such aerial concerns to bed. He had a lengthy run in the first team, so much so that the only way Tommy Smith could initially get back into the side was at right-back and this only followed an injury to Chris Lawler.

In this analogy, I suppose you could try to argue that "if you're good enough, you're big enough".

[City64]

Jovetic looks sharp and a sublime finish for his goal . Zucculini looks a player , and Navas was quality . A C Milan keeper was pure shite lol.