We all have our opinions on players who play for this club of ours but I don't think anyone causes such a debate as Richardson. Some see him as the first choice left back, others see him as the answer to the flying winger problem not since the days of Julio and Magic Johnson, have we had a left sided threat. The first job of a defender, the first and most important job is to defend. My argument is that Richardson simply cannot defend; he tackles like a girl (that is when he feels like putting his foot in), his positional sense is poor and many times a forward has basically moonwalked into the space he should be protecting. Finally after many years of Bruce urging him to make the left back berth his own, he simply hasnât achieved this, he has no interest in being a left back. Every year I read in disbelief the heartfelt conviction from fellow fans (whoâve surely seen the same abject poor performances that I have,) that this is the year for him to come good, who will become one of the best left sided defenders in the Premier and suddenly develop into a left back who will force his way into the England squad. No disrespect but no amount of faith or belief will make it happen. Neither for me is he a left winger, his passing is poor, his final ball into the box is laughable, he frequently neglects to track back, and (as mentioned above) he canât tackle. The only asset he really has is pace, but what good is it being quick if you canât do anything with the ball? Set pieces and dead balls? I donât think so, more likely to make us swear under our breaths when he lines them up. True, he did put one away against the mags, but the time to dine out on that goal has long since passed (not taking anything away from him, but if he did it consistently then that may justify his place but he doesnât) , so he shouldnât be on the left of midfield. All he wants to do, is what we all wanted to do at school and that, quite simply is to be a forward. Not for our Mr. Richardson the thankless duty of protecting our goal, no he wants the glory that is lavished upon all forwards. He can score the odd goal, (but then again so could Murphy and for those with strong stomachs so could Paul Stewart) and would anyone play Richardson ahead of Sess, behind Gyan? Or even put him in ahead of Dong or Whickham? I certainly wouldnât even consider it. For me, my dearest wish every season is that we buy a quality left back, who would be, without a doubt our first choice left sided defender and a specialist left sided midfielder. This would (hopefully) remove the need for a debate as to where to play Richardson, and he should start every game where he belongs, on the bench and only to be used sparingly, when every other option has been exhausted. That, my friends, in my opinion, is the only solution to the Richardson debate and for me that cannât come soon enough.
My only gripe with your opinion is the fact that Ricardson, imo, has not been given the time needed in any position to prove or disprove his worth. Bruce said before last season Ricco should be LB, but how many times did he play there? Due to Bardo's form and injuries throughout the squad Ricco played in too many positions for him to stake a claim.
he'll start 1st choice left back imo, he's played there the last 4 friendlies but he'll probably get injured 1st game
But as I've alluded to in the post, he has had 4(?) years to stake a claim as a regular starter and the fact he hasn't been able to, implies to me that he isn't good enough in any of the positions he's been asked to play in.
or it means he is really useful player cos he can play in several positions, and is happy to do so? Bruce will use him where he is needed. If he gets a run in LB, I think he would be good there - but there is only one way to know for sure and that is to give him time to 'bed in', and bedding in means making mistakes and learning from them during games. can we afford to do that? if he was younger i would loan him out and tell the loaning club to play him at LB, but he is too old for that. I feel sorry for him really - he is in a difficult situation (regardless of how much he gets paid).
OMG I hope not. Agree 100% he is a terrible defender and just cant tackle without giving free kicks away. Also, he is one of the poorest positional full backs I've seen for many a year, always being on the wrong side of the attacker (why he gives so many free kicks away, as he is always playing catch up). The only position I've seen him look good in is in the role behind the striker but unfortunately for him, if not us, is Sess has taken that role to his heart. Thats where I'd play him if at all. Other than that, I'd cash in and invest as suggested earlier here in a proper left winger or left back and get Bardo back to RB.
Left wing or not at all for me ... playing him in defence is asking for bother against premiership attackers! Surely as the squad stands left back is still Bardo's position, I know he's chopped and changed positions in the friendlies but against higher level opponents I don't think Richardson can hack it at left back.
Flog the ****er if the right offer comes in. He will never make a full back or a winger, the middle is his best position but we have better now. Would support the lad if he's in the side but wouldn't miss him if he went.
Subtle as ever, but can't disagree with you. A lot of people had him in their preferred defence, but still need to see their counter argument as to why he should be left back.
Playing Richardson anywhere on the left side, just highlites how much and how long we have totally neglected that part of the team. Wouldn't flog him though, always handy to have a utility player, just in case.
Richardson certainly stokes up a very good debate but no matter what I dont think you can fault the lad on his comittment to Sunderland football club and last season Bruce had him all over the shop and I think he had maybe his best season in a Sunderland shirt due to his commitment to cover positions and still do a job and also chip in with some vital goals when shifted upfront. However what is his best position? A question I fear we will never know the answer to but still I am glad to see him in a red and white shirt this season.
Still can't believe that booking he picked up last season when he placed the ball out of play to try and take the free-kick cos he was pissed off with the ref! I didn't know whether to laugh or cry!
Judging the feeling here should we not look to sell him then? Must be ona canny wage and if we basically can't use him anywhere what is the point of him in the squad? Not a fan or a hater by the way but no He is not a left back for me either.
He has had a couple of great moments (that free kick v the Toon; the one v Fulham), but the petulance far outweighs the positives. He got away with it at first because he was young and had the chance to peform as he did when he started at manure - remember him being touted as the next David Beckham and scoring twice for England in the States? Well he's older now but hasn't acted it or knuckled down. Reluctantly, let him go. x
