Sleeper – Micah Richards

The previous season was one to forget for Micah Richards. Having served up a series of rampaging runs down the flank in City’s title-winning 2011/12 campaign, the right-back was more accustomed to the treatment room than the Etihad turf after a couple of injuries made a significant impact on his game time:

Sidelined at the start of the campaign after picking up an ankle problem on Olympic duty with Great Britain, Richards’s absence afforded Pablo Zabaleta the chance to nail down the right-back role at the Etihad last time round. Returning to the first-team in Gameweek 7, Richards helped Roberto Mancini’s side register two clean sheets in three appearances – their first of the season – before being stretchered from the field in the Gameweek 9 home win over Swansea with knee ligament damage.

Despite his manager’s claims that the knee injury was only a short-term worry, Richards underwent surgery and subsequently failed to make another league appearance until Gameweek 32, in a narrow home win over Wigan. The right-back managed to force his way back into first-team contention over the club’s final few fixtures and, having started each of the last three Gameweeks of the season, ended the campaign with five clean sheets from just seven appearances in what ultimately proved a hugely underwhelming title defence for the Etihad outfit.

The Prospects

With Mancini now gone, it remains to be seen just what will become of City’s defence next time round. The Italian’s penchant for full-back rotation proved hugely frustrating in the title-winning campaign and while Fantasy managers could expect a fully-fit Richards to be rotated with Zabaleta under the previous regime, it’s uncertain just how the club’s incoming manager – likely to be Manuel Pellegrini – will utilise his backline options.

Certainly, City’s defence once again proved the most resilient in the Premier League last time out. A total of 34 goals conceded was the most impressive record in the top-flight, while Joe Hart registered 18 clean sheets over the course of the campaign – more than any other keeper and superior to his tally of 17 from 2011/12. While Zabaleta’s eye-catching displays should see his price escalate across the Fantasy games, Richards will either remain steady or even slightly drop – with regards to Fantasy Premier League (FPL), the likeliest scenario would see the Argentine move to 6.5 while Richards’ cost is held at last term’s initial 6.0.

Clearly, if Richards can mirror the attacking form that harvested a goal and six assists in 2011/12, he has the potential to flourish as a relatively cheap route into City’s defence, given that Kompany and Hart are both expected to be retained the premium bracket again. Versatile enough to fill in at centre-back, he could be shifted to the middle alongside Kompany if the new manager decides to rest youngster Matija Nastasic on occasion. With Kolo Toure already off to Liverpool and Aleksandr Kolarov being eyed up by Juventus, the defensive shake-up is already underway as City look to wrestle the title back from David Moyes’ United, though many will be sceptical as to whether they can replicate the resilience instilled by the somewhat cautious Mancini – if Richards can nail down a regular role and earn around 30+ starts, he could be back on our Fantasy radars once again.