Aston Villa supporters have resigned to the idea that Micah Richards is unlikely to leave the club this summer. Richards, whose massive wages undercut any possible move, is far from a starting spot in Steve Bruce’s first eleven.
Micah Richards has been around forever. One could be forgiven for being unaware the English defender is just 29.
From the age of 17-22, Richards was an automatic starter in the early stages of the Manchester City global takeover. In his 245 appearances spread over a decade, Richards won both a Premier League title (yeah, that one, with Sergio Aguero’s last gasp winner over QPR) and an F.A. Cup to boot.
Yet, here we are; four plus years into a miserable death spiral of Richards’ career, and the nightmare has no awakening in the near future.
Micah Richards enters year three of four on the deal he signed in the summer of 2015. That season, Richards transitioned to center back from his traditional fullback role under then-Aston Villa manager Tim Sherwood.
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He was tipped as a possible candidate for captain based on his unabashed, fearless attitude on the pitch. One that, despite all his faults, he still shows in the Villa dressing room today.
Micah Richards enters this summer as a truly position-less defender with an ailing knee syndrome.
He is 100% not a center back in any situation. Even if he were, the combination of: John Terry, James Chester, Nathan Baker, Chris Samba, Mile Jedinak & company surely prevent that. Moreover, his appearances at right back over the past two years have proved equally terrible.
Despite being blessed athletically, Richards’ constant woeful touch and spatial awareness prevent any net positives in an attacking or defending right back role. And again, James Bree, Ritchie De Laet, Alan Hutton, and Ahmed Elmohamady further assure Richards he won’t play a minute at the position.
Perhaps another Championship club will roll the dice on a former England international with 13 caps. Maybe, just maybe, a club is willing to try Micah Richards out in a defensive midfield role, where his aerial dominance could have an effect.
His reported £50,000 weekly wages prices out as much as 2/3 of the English Championship. Any way one slices it, Micah Richards is likely to stay at Aston Villa this season.