Kovac so far has been playing Kimmich in the midfield like the national team. Pavard is definitely not the offensive option Kimmich is but I see both Pavard and Richards has CBs
is playing richards at rb aiming to get him a different viewpoint on cb, a positional change, or positional flexibility?
I wonder the same thing. I think of Boateng who played primarily at CB with Bayern, but would kick out to RB with the German National Team. I remember reading somewhere that he appreciated playing at fullback because it allowed him to anticipate what guys around him were doing. The hope is that this is what Bayern is doing with Richards as well. I see him as an eventual force at CB, but obviously they know better.
It might be a case of trying to up his value and skillset. Maybe they already know he can play CB and know he'd be more valuable to sell on as a guy who can play 2, or all, positions on the back line. Tough to say if they're playing him there because they think it'll make him better overall, or they think he's not good enough to play CB in the long term. Still, the fact that he's seemingly first choice and his team is doing well would bode well for him
Good article from Tenorio about Richards and Booth at Bayern Munich. Here's a snippet "For Richards, the story is a bit more complicated. After a top performance at the U-20 World Cup, which earned him accolades from FIFA as one of the top-10 players in the tournament, Richards is currently starting for Bayern Munich’s reserves. Depending on what happens with the center backs in the first team — Jerome Boateng was heavily linked with Juventus this summer — the 19-year-old could be promoted along with another Bayern II center back, Lucas Mai, next year. “This would be our preferred way,” Sauer said, because the level of play in training would be better than anything Richards could get on loan. But if the center back depth chart is too stacked, Richards could go on loan to the 2. Bundesliga, a lower-table Bundesliga side or perhaps to a top team in Austria, where he could get experience playing in European competition. “Chris, if he is developing like this, for sure he is Bundesliga potential, but maybe also Bundesliga top-six, top-eight clubs, and if there is potential for top six or top eight, then there is maybe also potential to become a Bayern Munich player,” Sauer said." https://theathletic.com/1257562/201...ath-from-u-s-academies-to-top-european-clubs/
tenorio in the comments said sauer purely spoke of richards as a center back, meaning the right back experience so far might be more about temporarily seeing his position from a different perspective
I also suspect that they are having the Bayern II team play a formation very similar to what Man City and the USMNT have been doing, where the right back is a D-Mid on offense and for quick counters Richards is essentially a 3rd CB based on highlights I've seen. He isn't really heading up the pitch on attack like what you would see a RB do.
Interesting how it's different from places like Portugal and Holland. It would be a tremendous development tool for Bayern reserves if they had a chance to play in the 2. Liga.
I think its becuase the Bundesliga 2 has a strong interest they want professional clubs that are trying to get into the first division. Several years ago clubs like Stutgart, RBL, Frankfurt, and Bayer Leverkusen dispanded their reserve side and chose to loan players to the Bundesliga 2 and competitor in the first division. Bayern on the other hand decided to invest heavily in their reserve. Things didn't work out and they struggled to get to the 3 Liga.
Niklas Sule went down with a knee injury Bayern will probably shuffle some guys around (Pavard to CB, Kimmich to RB), but maybe Richards might be closer to seeing the bench?
During the CL tie Hernandez went out with an ankle injury and may be out a couple of weeks. Javi was subbed out at half with a thigh knock
Looks like there are big injury problems for Bayern at centerback. An "injury crisis" even. Could this provide an opening for Richards to make the bench? https://www.espn.com/soccer/bayern-...as-hernandez-joins-sule-with-long-term-injury
Possibly. Mai has made the bench prior so he has legit competition from second team to fill a bench spot for first team.