Tottenham move could be the kickstart that Richards needs

Micah Richards has been continually linked with a move to White Hart Lane in recent weeks, as question marks remain over the City star’s long term future at Eastlands. A move to Tottenham could be the kickstart the 21-year-old defender needs, so he can fulfil his undoubted potential.

It’s fair to say that Richards career has curtailed somewhat recently, after making his debut for England aged just 18, and in the process becoming the nation’s youngest ever defender and he hasn’t hit the heights as quickly as people expected. Injuries and some off-field issues may have contributed to his loss of form and his fall from the international set-up.

Should he join Spurs then it could be a chance for him to carry on where he left off and get himself back into the England set-up. Looking at the forums the general consensus amongst Spurs fans is that he would be a good addition to the squad as he would offer some much needed pace, strength and aerial ability. Equally there are some fans that worry about his attitude and believe that he isn’t consistent enough, however he is still only 21-years-old and those problems can be overcome with good management.

It could be that he has been mis-managed at City as they have gone through a number of managers during his time there, and constant changes like that can’t be good for a young player’s development. Richards also famously launched a touch-line tirade at Stuart Pearce when he was in charge of City. Pearce was the man who gave Richards his City debut and it is possible that his attitude problem didn’t get sorted out there and then, and has developed and held him back. Harry Redknapp is an excellent man-manager and as he has shown throughout his managerial career that he knows how to get the best out of young players and help shape their careers. Aaron Lennon, Tom Huddlestone and Gareth Bale are prime examples and you do wonder if he could work his magic with Richards as well.

However another question must be asked which is would Richards want to leave Manchester City, given the clubs’s massive ambitions? It remains to be seen whether Roberto Mancini truly rates him as he has been at the club for only six months and has yet to properly make his own stamp on the team. Interestingly City have recently signed German defender Jerome Boateng from Hamburg and he is a very similar player to Micah Richards so it could be that Mancini already has plans to move Richards on in the summer. Should he be deemed surplus to requirements then Tottenham would be a decent move for Micah and White Hart Lane could be a place where he finally can get his once promising career back on track.

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