Richards - Work Harder

[Bluemoon]

Mancini has warned City full-back Richards not to expect an immediate England recall - even with Capello gone.

Richards was largely ignored by Capello and has not won an international cap since November 2010.

"Micah can be a top full-back but he needs to improve," said Mancini, who has praised Richards' potential.

"At this moment for the national team, probably [Liverpool's Glen] Johnson or [Tottenham's Kyle] Walker are better."

“I don't want to say Micah can't play for the national team - if he wants, Micah can play always”

With a new England manager set to be unveiled, and the Euro 2012 finals only four months away, Mancini says Richards will have his work cut out to make the squad for Poland and Ukraine.

"I think he has improved a lot in the last year but he can still improve, he can do better," said the Manchester City boss.

"But I don't want to say Micah can't play for the national team - if he wants, Micah can play always.

"But if an England manager has a choice of three - Johnson, Walker, Micah - one of these players stays out."

Mancini has described Richards as "fragile" in the past and says he still must prove himself to impress the next England coach.

"Micah played for England with Capello but there are a lot of players in England," said Mancini. "One manager can call only 20-22 [players] for a European Championship."



www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/16983867

[jrockblues]

I think this is a don't go off the boil message to Micah. Personally, I'd have him ahead of both the others mentioned as you also have the added bonus of a goal threat from set pieces as well as providing cover at centre half.

[feedthegoat]

think mancini needs to ease off critising his players a bit though...

on another note, just saw that micah has had to close his twitter account due to him receiving racist comments

[jrockblues]

Yeah, saw that too. Been reported to the police though so hopefully some idiots will get a knock on the door soon.

[trautmansdropkick]

I think that if Mancini has said stuff like this to him it was probably in a very encouraging and "pep up" type of way. When the moronic journos put it down in writing they prefer to have it read as though it were a dire threat of imminent disaster.


I'm glad, for the wrong reasons, that Richards has stopped being a twit. Far too many "Joey Bartons" are realy doing themselves OR their clubs any favours by just gobbing on about nothing and everything. What happens at MY club MUST be behind closed doors and remain there IMO.

[eaststand]

Micah Richards and the rest of the city players on Twitter have always been pretty good, very little goes up there about the club or what people see in other matches. Whereas Rio and Shrek give a running commentary on everything anyone does as long as its got nothing to do with United and everything to do with slagging anyone else off. It's scouse and rag morons trying to provoke a reaction out of a prem footballer because it'll show how great they are to their equally thick friends. Apparently Micah Richards has shut it down because it's been going on repeatedly for 3-4 months now and the police haven't made any ground on actually doing anything with any of the people who've directed racial abuse at him.

About the RM kind of knocking him down a peg to push him further on, i think it is a little harsh and a slightly risky tactic but if it pays off then great because i think Richards does have another level to hit as well as forming himself as an integral part of the team in the sense of being a seasoned pro. Probably what Mancini sees is the fact that he's played well over 250 games in the premiership and is only 23. By the time he's 26-27 he will hopefully have nearly 500 domestic appearances and four years experience in the champions league with possible international experience which would be invaluable to us, so maybe he's just trying to keep him on his toes?

[trautmansdropkick]

Yeah, Eaststand - it's certainly an encouragement and request for Richards (and others) to keep their concentration and focus on track