12 Aug 2016 10:28:32
Long time reader, 1st time poster. I've just seen Micah Richards in the Ageas Hilton. Make of that what you will, I know we were linked to him a while back, but could be cherries bound also?

1.) 12 Aug 2016
12 Aug 2016 10:41:33
I'd take him. Good cover. Would tick a box.

2.) 12 Aug 2016
12 Aug 2016 15:07:03
Are you sure it was him? Did he have a shirt on with his name and number on the back? 😉.

3.) 12 Aug 2016
12 Aug 2016 15:08:20
He is dreadful.
I find it funny that fans are frustratingly pushing les and puel to splash the cash yet they'd be fine with players like balotelli, richards, osvaldo. I'm glad you guys aren't part of the scouting team.

4.) 12 Aug 2016
12 Aug 2016 16:52:10
No, I'm not totally sure it was him, I didn't ask him who he was. Also I didn't express a preference for us to sign him or not Vick, and haven't ever spoken to Les or Claude. I saw a man who appeared to be him in the hotel, I didn't see him because I love him and want him to play for us, I am not given to fancy like a certain nephew. Just to be clear.

5.) 12 Aug 2016
12 Aug 2016 17:02:32
I wouldn't want balloteli or Osvaldo. Richards would be available for little and is proven as a sturdy CB in the premiership. Ok, he's no Fonte or Terry but he would give us depth. I'm glad you aren't on the scouting team either with your "he's no good on FM15 therefore I don't want him" malarkey.

6.) 12 Aug 2016
12 Aug 2016 17:54:33
Completely agree with Vick - my thoughts exactly, well said!
#inleswetrust.

7.) 12 Aug 2016
12 Aug 2016 17:59:51
Richards was one of the most appalling players that did not try very hard for Villa last year.

not our kind of player at all

Not saying you didn't see him but he's not coming here.

8.) 12 Aug 2016
12 Aug 2016 18:02:43
I agree, he would be a better option as backup to Fonte and VVD.

9.) 12 Aug 2016
12 Aug 2016 19:14:43
First of the fm15 database is based before the start of the 15/ 16 season which probably means richards attributes hasn't plummet by then, which, if as you say, I base my judgement on fm15 "scouting", I would be perfectly fine with him joining. But since I actually watched a handful of games and read/ listened to the opinions of villa fans who watch their team play the whole season, I looked past the good'ol fm scouting judgement, sorry to disappoint. And you don't need to play fm to see that he wouldn't cut it out for us. Aston villa fans would be laughing their heads off if a team is actually willing to give them money to take one of their worsts performers away from them. He's no better than what we have. Right back maybe but we as of now we have THREE.

10.) 12 Aug 2016
12 Aug 2016 20:02:19
But he isn't primarily a right back though is he? And no one has said we want him as a starting CB have they? In fact, what has been said is he may have been spotted in Southampton and I have said I'd take him as back up. He may have been a poor player at villa, but it was the team at bill that was relegated, not him on his own. He also didn't care at villa, but he may care at saints when he is not guaranteed to play therefore in order to do so he needs to perform and train hard. It's an option in my opinion and quite frankly I would take him rather than no one at all.

11.) 13 Aug 2016
13 Aug 2016 04:55:21
He's a defender who has been played as rb and cb but was mostly used as a cb for villa. He looked decent as a rb for city before he lost his way though. But as a back up cb he's just as error prone as yoshida and would hardly be an upgrade, in my opinion. By saying "no better than what we have" I meant all the senior cbs we have, not just our 2 rocks in defense, meaning it includes error prone yoshida and an unproven gardos who I think can still come good. Heck even yoshi has been doing okay in the recent friendlies. Of course that's your opinion and you have every right to say it and you do make a compelling argument (Lets face it, the whole villa defense was underwhelming last season) but I have as much of a right to disagree just as you're disagreeing with me right now, which can be done without making childish assumptions of judging players based on a game which I find quite insulting. Admittedly I stepped out of line earlier about the whole "not glad you guys aren't the scout" thing and I'm sorry for that. Frustration has gotten the better of me I'm afraid. Frankly I'd love to see a cb coming in but seeing that we have 4 already competing for 2 slots that would be unlikely unless one leaves.

{Ed001's Note - I have to say I agree with you, Micah Richards is utter dross, lazy and arrogant. Manager after manager has hated his attitude, Mancini even publicly saying of Richards that he 'was always the last on to the training pitches and first off them'. He is a bad apple that should be avoided at all costs.}

12.) 13 Aug 2016
13 Aug 2016 08:58:06
Fair enough, to be fair I do accept that yoshi has improved a bit and Gardos has yet to prove himself. My issue with Gardos is that he has been on the books for a few seasons now and has always been injured. I was somewhat insulted by your comment suggesting we would sign Osvaldo and balloteli and I bitt back. Thank you for your apology and I extend to you mine, sorry. I do in fact agree that he is not worth the cost of printing his name on a shirt.

13.) 13 Aug 2016
13 Aug 2016 09:57:39
Glad that's sorted st james! In truth I wasn't certain who was the one who said about the osvaldo or balotelli rumours (If those who brought it up read this, I apologize for any offense I caused) posted here and it was a case of generalizing some sections of the saints fans which admittedly I shouldn't do. I think Gardos will come good and Yoshida might think he has a point to prove this season, with the extra matches we might see more of gardos providing he stays injury free and I'm looking forward to that this season. We have yet to see the best of the Romanian.

14.) 13 Aug 2016
13 Aug 2016 11:04:03
I do hope so, in actual fact that could be why CP isn't overly worried about that position given that he has had some time to run the rule over Gardos in training and might like him. We did also pick up that free player from Nice and he is a defensive player. Perhaps that area isn't as much of a concern to him as we thought. We will wait and see. You going to the game today?

15.) 13 Aug 2016
13 Aug 2016 13:34:10
Nah, mate. I'm an Aussie saint. I do have plans to go this december but the job's been getting in the way lately. Haven't been to st. Marys for a full 18 months!

16.) 13 Aug 2016
13 Aug 2016 14:06:45
Hi Vick, My partner spent 6 yrs down under between the age of 18-24 yrs old. He was in Rockingham, West Australia and absolutely loved Aussie Rule Football Supported South Fremantl (the Bulldogs). Funny enough they played in red and white. Their oppo was East Fremantle (the dockers) who played in blue and white! Agree about Micah Richards being crap and we got better in the reserves and academy. Still think that before the end of August we'll have one or two more additions.

17.) 14 Aug 2016
14 Aug 2016 11:05:18
He was on the bench for Villa yesterday, so perhaps not Micah Richards after all, my bad. COYR.

18.) 15 Aug 2016
15 Aug 2016 10:02:43
So, we’ve gone from “I’ve seen Micah Richards in Southampton” to “I’m not sure it was him” to “It can’t have been him because he was in Birmingham at the time. ” Cracking first contribution.