Transfer Rumours - Micah Richards

Micah Richards' contract status (and potentially availability) had the papers in a frenzy today as it has been revealed that a new contract with Manchester City has say unsigned by Richards for nearly two months.

As regular readers will know, I think Richards is simply the best defensive prospect I have ever seen. And I have said this for quite some time. Richards was apparently all set to join the Chavs at Chelsea during the winter transfer window but the deteriorating relationship between Jose Mourinho and Roman Abramovich quickly ended that possibility.

Some will be surprised that Richards has not quickly signed up to stay with the newly monied Manchester City but perhaps he understands that his development will be better aided by Champions League football and a mananger like Arsene Wenger. Wishful thinking perhaps, but Richards was a massive Gooner growing up and still lists his style of play as a mix between Patrick Vieira and Sol Campbell. Geez.

As I write this, Micah Richards has moved into the middle of defence alongside John Terry after having a stellar first half against Germany in setting up a goal and causing menace along the entire right flank. The boy is a phenom.

Will we sign him? Unlikely. I simply can't see Wenger spending £15-25m on a defender when he's been able to find the likes of Djourou and Clichy for a fraction of that money. But if there ever was a player for whom Wenger could make an exception of is policy.... it is Micah Richards. This afternoon Richards has responded to the press about his contract but stating that "City is my club. I'm treated like a proper first-teamer and that is enough for me." Hardly convincing. Moreso as the contract remains unsigned.

Cross Bar Challenge

All eyes on tomorrow night as Yappy Jens ( (c) Eoin Heffernan 2007) squares up against an England side he saw fit to belittle in the press as ill equiped to deal with pressure. After a fortnight of school boy errors one would think he would keep those variety of opinions to himself. Alas, he is German. And he's probably correct. Either way, Arsene Wenger will be very keen to keep a close eye on this match and hope for obvious signs of a Lehmann revival.

Of particular interest will be how he fares against Micah Richards on corners and free kicks. The very flappable Lehmann will be tested in the air by superkid Richards a player that I have long, long, long rated. To repeat.... this boy is by far the greatest prospect in defence that I have ever seen. His talent will take him to the very top of football. Unfortunately that will not be with Arsenal as new megarich ownership at Manchester City and a manager (who clearly rates the boy and plays him where he should play) will never sell Richards. They dont have to and they both now how special a talent this kid is.

Alas, in spite of my shouting to the moutain tops that we must secure his transfer, Richards will not be an Arsenal player... in SPITE of being a Gooner. ARGH!

To cheer myself up I have added a little video from French TV which seems to be a piece stolen wholly from Soccer AM's Crossbar Challenge. All you morons who litter the otherwise fantastic Gunnerblog should note just how much the team seem to like Gallas here.

Enjoy.

Transfer Rumours - Micah Richards

Micah Richards is an absolute must buy for Arsenal Football Club.

Arsenal have Toure, Gallas, Senderos and Djourou in the middle of the defence. Internationals all. With an average age of 23. And there are also several interesting centre half prospects on the way in the youth system.

At right fullback, the club have Eboue, Lauren, Hoyte and Gilbert. Compare this group to Manchester United's *depth at right fullback and you get a true sense of how strong Arsenal are at the two main positions Micah Richards has played in the Premiership.

But this boy is simply the best defensive prospect I have ever seen in all of football. Chivi, Rio, Kompany, Cashley, Terry... Richards can be better... MUCH better than any of them. In Arsenal terms he is the one player who could be on par with Kolo Toure for pure athletic ability. But even Toure doesn't win 99% of his headers. The performance yesterday against Newcastle was startling. Micah Richards won absolutely ever header and in fact set up a goal with a header onto Samaras that Graeme Poll disallowed.

I've talked about Micah Richards before and have followed his career closely since his promotion to the Manchester City first team and debut against Arsenal last October when only 17.

Taking to Four Four Two magazine, Richards notes Nicolas Anelka and Shawn Wright Philips as the two best players he's played with. Hmmmm. He also believes that he plays a bit like Sol Campbell with perhaps some Patrick Vieira thrown it. Hmmmm. His heroes are Ian Wright, Theirry Henry and Patrick Vieira. Um. Sense a trend here?

At the moment Richards is very much more a Sol than a Rio in terms of bringing the ball out of the defence. He's more apt to make a 15 yard pass out of the back then to carry the ball into the midfield. But he knows this and is working in improving this part of his game.

This is not to say that Richards doesn't have good technique. In fact, he drips class on the ball. A graduate of the Brazilian Soccer School, he is well versed in Futebol de Salão and his training was based on having the ball at his feet to develop quick feet, close dribbling and passing skills.

Now with Gary Neville injured for the Holland match this week, Richards has every chance of getting capped for his country at 18 years old. The predictable hype around the player will only shyrocket his value but Wenger has proven with Theo Walcott that he will spend the necesarry money to secure the right player. If it takes more than the £10m that Arsenal thought was over the odds for Curtis Davies then fine. Spend it. We must move mountains to sign this player.

I've seen this movie before

What follows are the meanderings of a furious Gooner… I’ve left proper grammar and considerable common sense aside as I…like Jackson Pollock… spray the paint drops of my disgust upon the canvas of this blog.

I apologise in advance… I’m fucking furious.

ARGH! What the FUCK?!?!?!?!?!?!?

I’m so fed up with this shit. For 90 minutes, we absolutely smacked Manchester City. We created chance after chance after chance… after chance.

Yet we lost.

Away.

Again.

I’ve seen this fucking movie WAY too many times now… ‘cause unlike most 90 minute movies… this movie is no fucking comedy…

We were first to every ball and played some lovely stuff in all areas of the pitch. Yet we’re now 8 points behind Manchester United.

I’m FED UP with seeing 7 defenders standing on the foot of the area daring us to get past.

I’m FUCKING beside myself with Arsenal making superstars out of very mediocre defenders whenever we’re away from home. Look at every match report from our away defeats of the past 12 months and you’ll see words like valiant, committed, supurb (etc etc) associated with defences we could not breach.

I’m can’t fucking STAND the sight of Fabregas definitively bossing the midfield but then simply unable (for a variety of reasons) to connect with passing options in the final third.

So... someone CROSS THE FRIGGIN’ ball… it worked on Wednesday for Flamini’s goal and it worked against Villa… we really need to mix things up in the final third… how is it possible for City to be able to defend a one goal advantage for an entire half?!?!?!?

I think I know. We are PREDICTABLE. Everything goes through the middle and even if balls go out wide to Hleb, Hoyte, RVP or Eboue, the ball STILL gets sent… on the deck… back into the middle… to one of our midfielders (usually Cesc) to be met by 6 central defenders almost encircling him just outside the area.

This past week, it was suggested to me that Stu Downing could be on his way to the Arsenal… not only did I laugh at the mere suggestion of this, I scoffed at Downing’s ability to play… ahem… Arsenal football. His strengths, I said we not suited to our passing… as he “only” runs down the flank, beats his man and sails in balls (very effectively against Chelsea) into the striker. It wouldn’t fit us, I said, BUT perhaps we need this option. Without Reyes and Cole, we really lack penetration on the left hand side… Im not sure Rosicky ever actually ran down the left today… ok ok… I still don’t want Downing and I will note how effective Walcott was wide left when he came on, particularly in skinning Richards and forcing a corner. But we need penetration on the left to make full use of Henry. Walcott (for now) is not the answer here... when Reyes/Cole go, they must be replaced like for like.

Lets make something 100% crystal. I am not calm. The margin of error in winning the league these days is such that this defeat today is really something of a body blow to the campaign. These issues away from home MUST be fixed now. The talent is there but we need (and I hate myself for writing this) a plan B. Yes, Adebayor is something of a plan b, but I’d like to see Arsenal mix up their style of play throughout matches whether winning 3-0 or chasing a deficit.

The only positive to take from today is that we are fortunate that this happened while the window was open… we’ve got loads of money to fix this situation or simply to add some confidence to the side.. .a summer of listening to Cole and Reyes dream about moving cannot be good for morale. It certainly hasn’t done the fans who have effectively paid for Emirates any good either.

So BUY someone, Wenger… Mascherano, Gallas, Torres, Tevez. NOW! Buy someone good. FUCKIN' make statement of intent and lets go win this league. The nucleus of the side is very strong, but lets make it silly… an excellent side for an excellent stadium, as you’ve said. Let’s make some fucking noise in the market… Rosicky was a great start that was simply not followed (although I did enjoy the Merida signing).

Random thoughts. In spite of the defeat…I really liked our defence tonight. Ok, Hoyte was to blame for the penalty, but we were so quick and strong at the back… it was impressive. Particularly Toure who sweats blood for the cause… and young Djourou who has the balls of a horse trying some of the moves he pulls off under pressure…

Van Persie is too left footed… defenders know he’s going to play off his right and move to his left for a shot.

Thierry Henry strolled around today. Shit on my head for saying this Gooners, but there were several counterattacks where... at speed... Fabregas played to Henry only for the move to grind to a strolling Gallic halt…as blue shirts scampered back into a 7 man wall… in front of the area… again.

Micah Richards is a phenomenal prospect. Wenger should move heaven and earth to sign this kid. WHATEVER it takes ‘a la Walcott… £10m, if necessary.

Anything less than a statement of intent is absolute Pollacks.