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MEN has Richards being offered an improved deal despite having more than three years left on his current one. The quotes from Mark Hughes don't say he is being offered a new deal now but Hughes seems fairly committed to Richards in what he does say.

I am not sure Richards has done enough (or anything even!) to justify a better deal even if the club do want to tie him down for more than 3 years. His progress since reaching the fringe of the national team has been limited at best. Other players have benefited from the quality that has come into the team but this does not seem to be the case with Richards and I remain to be convinced that he is good enough for a team expecting to be serious contenders domestically and in Europe during the next 5 years.

Edit - missed off link on original post

http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/ ... hards_deal

I would want the club to wait another year before considering this.

In my view he needs to do much more to earn an extension to his already lucrative contract. If we negotiate it now, on much improved terms no doubt, it's more likely to make him complacent than act as an incentive to prove his worth if you ask me.

I would also want to see which other RBs are available in January and next summer before deciding.

Don't get me wrong - I'm not having a go at the lad and obviously I really want Micah to succeed and fulfill the potential we all thought he had a few seasons ago, but sadly that is more of a hope than an expectation as far as I am concerned.

AlpsMaster wrote:I would want the club to wait another year before considering this.

In my view he needs to do much more to earn an extension to his already lucrative contract. If we negotiate it now, on much improved terms no doubt, it's more likely to make him complacent than act as an incentive to prove his worth if you ask me.

I would also want to see which other RBs are available in January and next summer before deciding.

Don't get me wrong - I'm not having a go at the lad and obviously I really want Micah to succeed and fulfill the potential we all thought he had a few seasons ago, but sadly that is more of a hope than an expectation as far as I am concerned.

Spot on that mate, we need to consider our options in January before we dive into giving Micah a new deal.

Yeah spot on Alpmaster. He earns more than enough an needs to drastically improve his game before any negotiations take place.

MARKMAKAVELI wrote:Yeah spot on Alpmaster. He earns more than enough an needs to drastically improve his game before any negotiations take place.

awwwwwww

naughty naughty

Bingo Lewis wrote:

MARKMAKAVELI wrote:Yeah spot on Alpmaster. He earns more than enough an needs to drastically improve his game before any negotiations take place.

awwwwwww

naughty naughty

HA HA HA

Markmak struck off the Micah Guest list for Circle once he gets back to Manchester.

i'm not opposed to this per se.

I'm hoping instead of giving him a pay raise, they've added in performance based incentives that could lead to him earning like a real star, if he achieves the kind of numbers/performance expected of stars.

If that's the way to best motivate him then maybe it's worth exploring. It's not like we have to be super careful of our wage bill anymore, and it's not like we have to take an offer of 5m from anyone. He can up his game and become the player that so many people thought he could become when he first came on the scene ... or he can linger in mediocrity and be payed accordingly.

might work.

I would be happy with Richards to be offered a new contract but in January! I would like to see how he does up till then. See if he still has a first team place.

If it's performance related Im another one in favour - he needs some reason to up his game NOW.

Every player we have deserves a new contract as when we win the Prem and both domestic cups, there value will triple. Keep 'em tied up because Micah cost us nothing; didn't we learn from Daniel?

Excellent news as far as I am concerned. Don't get why so many are on the back of a player with so much potential. He is still a kid and I reckon in about 5 years time will be one of the best defenders in the Prem.

Blue2 wrote:Excellent news as far as I am concerned. Don't get why so many are on the back of a player with so much potential. He is still a kid and I reckon in about 5 years time will be one of the best defenders in the Prem.

That's what I'm talking about. He has the potential, and that is worth a lot, monetary or in the team!

Well said that man!

potential is interesting im more interested in performances, however, with the home grown rules coming in we should get him tied down to a new contract IMO

Beefymcfc wrote:

Blue2 wrote:Excellent news as far as I am concerned. Don't get why so many are on the back of a player with so much potential. He is still a kid and I reckon in about 5 years time will be one of the best defenders in the Prem.

That's what I'm talking about. He has the potential, and that is worth a lot, monetary or in the team!

Well said that man!

He had he ability once, so maybe he has had a mare the last 2 years but i wouldnt want him sold until we are certain he is NOT the real deal.

If he applies himself, I am sure he will learn from the better defenders we have brought in recently, particularly the positioning and anticipation that Toure seems to manage. All Micah needs is the anticipation/intelligence to work out where the ball is going to end up, and he could be a great player. Even if he doesnt manage the defensive aspect, he WAS (but not recently) a huge threat at set pieces.

I wouldbe gutted to see him leave and then find that another club can deploy him in the right way, look at Bramble - nightmare,worst player in the league, joke, for Newcastle but a good player for Wigan under a decent manager.

EDIT to say: Richards at 19 was an England player on merit. At 21, he is maybe 4th choice. This next few months as far as i'm concerned, I think Micah is a bit behind Johnson attacking wise, but defensively he is much better. You have to remember that Micah was a CM, and has had to, and is still learning a new position. He should be kept at RB, not played as CB because he IS NOT GOOD ENOUGH

The new contrtact does not seem to be mentioned anywhere else and this article in the Independent

http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/foot ... 08240.html

suggests that Hughes think Richards has to make a step (or steps) up to be the best English right back. In the original post I was not proposing getting rid but questioning the reasons behind renewing a contract that has three and a half years to run. The Dan Sturridge comparison is irrelevant until Richards contract is in its final year and Man City dont have to pay in advance for potential now that is one advantage of being minted, of course we want to keep the talent but we dont need to create a rod for our own backs by paying stupid money for every player that might make it.

At the end of next season Richard would still have two years left on his deal and from now would have a season and a half to show he was worth an improved offer. Right now the deal he has got is for his potential lets see him earn a better one.

Beefymcfc wrote:Every player we have deserves a new contract as when we win the Prem and both domestic cups, there value will triple. Keep 'em tied up because Micah cost us nothing; didn't we learn from Daniel?

3 years left so we do not have an immediate issue - we should not consider it at all for at least 12 months

I have a particular view that Micah's dramatic loss of form and even basic competency directly relates to the massive contract he was handed - it was almost immediate - and this is something that fuels the view that fans have that he is up his arse and doing the big I am

He needs motivation with an edge that makes him hungry and not another over-commitment

If we win the PL and if he was deemed to have been key (very big IF that) - then the extra it would cost us in a new deal then would not be an issue

Beefymcfc wrote:Every player we have deserves a new contract as when we win the Prem and both domestic cups, there value will triple. Keep 'em tied up because Micah cost us nothing; didn't we learn from Daniel?

Mills or Sturridge? Because they both have a tale to tell on the subject. Different messages though.

Slim wrote:

Beefymcfc wrote:Every player we have deserves a new contract as when we win the Prem and both domestic cups, there value will triple. Keep 'em tied up because Micah cost us nothing; didn't we learn from Daniel?

Mills or Sturridge? Because they both have a tale to tell on the subject. Different messages though.

You're sharp as a razor sometimes chief.

And its exactly what I was thinking. We don't NEED to tie down the likes of Micah half as much as we used to because he wants to play at the very top and if he's not playing well enough for a lucrative new contract, then will another top side come in for him? Not likely.

On the flip side, if we give him a new contract for 5 years and he doesn't improve at all, who's going to afford him?

I still haven't lost all hope for Micah but he's far from what's required to be a first teamer as things stand.

If Hughes & Co think he's worth it or decide he's not I'll leave it up to them. I don't know if he's going to make it or not, same as everyone else on here. The coaches are in the best position to judge that as they know him personally & see him every day.

I do feel though, he's being singled out for criticism in a way which most other players aren't. Zabaletta fucked up yet again v Wigan & possibly cost us 2 points & also fucked up by a crap challenge for the header for the 1st goal leaving a player to get in behind him. He seems to be immune from the kind of character assassination Richards would've got for the same thing. Why?


Why are so many people picking on a 21 year old kid who'se mistakes so far this season have been no worse than anyone elses?

Ted Hughes wrote:If Hughes & Co think he's worth it or decide he's not I'll leave it up to them. I don't know if he's going to make it or not, same as everyone else on here. The coaches are in the best position to judge that as they know him personally & see him every day.

I do feel though, he's being singled out for criticism in a way which most other players aren't. Zabaletta fucked up yet again v Wigan & possibly cost us 2 points & also fucked up by a crap challenge for the header for the 1st goal leaving a player to get in behind him. He seems to be immune from the kind of character assassination Richards would've got for the same thing. Why?


Why are so many people picking on a 21 year old kid who'se mistakes so far this season have been no worse than anyone elses?

Ted, I don't think this thread is a criticism of Richards himself; that is certainly not the view I am proposing. If I am criticising anything it is the management of the player,like most on here I am really asking whether the best way to motivate Richards right now is to offer him a more lucrative contract.