Following a 1-1 draw with Wolves, Aston Villa club captain, Micah Richards picked up a knee injury which caused the defender to come off and such was the severity of his injury, he hasn’t returned to the side since.
After a fairly average loan spell with Fiorentina, Manchester City released the defender. He was then signed on a free transfer by Villa in what was a deal that on the face of it, looked like a good bit of business from the club.
Despite falling out of favour with City towards the backend of his career, the Premier League winner was at one time an essential player for City and played a huge part in their maiden Premier League title-winning campaign.
In his first season with Aston Villa, the defender played 24 games in the league and had become a vital player for Remi Garde. The season of his injury, however, Richards had fallen down the pecking order at the club and following his injury, here’s what the fans had to say.
Seriously Micah won't be missed luckily ref didn't give a penalty
— STEVE .W (@sjw88sjw) October 16, 2016
thought Richards was average at best, no loss#avfc
— gareth jones (@petrolhero4) October 16, 2016
https://twitter.com/LloydyAVFC/status/787582244189765633
good news at last.
— Son Lyme (@Son_Lyme) October 16, 2016
How Micah was playing in the first place beggers belief,Hutton no better!!! Surely not Baker in on Tuesday.
— barry clarke (@BclarkeBarry) October 16, 2016
He had once been an important in the side but in his second season with the club, Richards had lost his place in the side to James Chester and Tommy Elphick.
A physical presence at the back, Richards didn’t really add any more elements to his game and was a very one-dimensional player. While no fan wants to see any of their players injured, it’s safe to say that the fans weren’t too downbeat about losing the Premier League winner.
With Nathan Baker at the back, Villa had moved on from the defender and even now, post his injury, he’s nowhere near the first-team.
His contract runs out next year and it would seem likely that he will leave the club on a free next summer as Villa go forward with Dean Smith.
