Great performance from Richards. That is a difficult team to keep a clean sheet against. Even getting his due kudos from the announcers. Love that he is being trusted in a 2-CB backline now. His stock is on the rise.
Hoeness is trying to save his season but he's also doing Chris a massive service. Not only by putting him on the left side of that 3 CB line as a way to encourage him to improve his left foot, but then rolling out the 4 man back line the last two weeks with Grilitsch as a defensive midfielder who comes back to collect the ball and start the attack. It's similar to what Gregg will do with Adams for the senior team, and when RBL started to crowd Grillitsch (and later when he went out with injury), it forced Chris to take the responsibility to initiate the attack. The keeper almost always went to him instead of the other CB, and he did well with it despite the buzzing Leipzig midfield. He had a few games recently where he was just OK at best, but the last couple he's been really good. Kinda feel like he's on the cusp of being the next big thing in the Bundesliga. Given Sule's recent injury history, Boateng and Alaba on the way out, and the glut of games Bayern play every year, I think Chris will very much be in their plans next year.
Agreed. He's been in the conversation as their best player in half the matches he's played for them. That is absolutely absurd for a kid picked up on loan midseason from the reserves of a team in the same league. He's really really fun to watch too. I love JAB. He is awesome, and currently a better player, but I'll watch Chris every day of the week over JAB. I haven't enjoyed watching a US CB play this much in forever. Gooch is probably the last and maybe the only other US CB who was must watch TV (the Daryl Dike of CBs imo) before he got broken.
This would be amazing if true. As long as they’re not buying another CB in addition to Upamecano and Boatang/Alaba leave then I could see Richards getting some playing time. I just hope it’s enough or they decide to have him go back to Hoffenheim on loan again. Worst case is Richards mostly rotting on the bench, only playing a few league cup games.
But the timing, that was thing for me. Pope almost never picked up cards, he read everything and had beautiful timing. I don't know if he had the ball skills (just never saw him put to the test at that level) to be a consistent starter for a top 10 club, but he had everything else.
His ball skills were pretty good but defenders in those days were rarely asked to do more than make simple passes.
Wow. He was even better on film than his stats showed. Some of those passes and interceptions he made were def the sort of stuff you'd expect from a Bayern level player. I agree with some others I think he'll be in their plans next year. Worst case he regresses, is largely just a bench option and then gets loaned out again. Best case he fights for a starting role all year.
Sure, wasn't commenting on quality in my second paragraph, was commenting on pure entertainment value for me personally, which I thought I made pretty clear with my Chris vs JAB comparison. Having said that, I'm not sure where I'd come down on Eddie vs prime, pre-injury Gooch. I guess I'd agree with you about Eddie, he's probably our best CB ever and he played at that level for a long time, but Gooch was utterly dominant and getting even better before he broke.
If he's not ready to be the starter alongside Brooks he certainly seems to at least have the inside track on backup LCB and would be good paired with a Miazga type. The CB drought is getting close to going away. It takes longer for CB's, keepers and C Forwards but with Richards, McKenzie, Robinson at Atlanta along with the steady but not spectacular Miazga, CCV, EPB and Long the future seems in good hands. center forward is starting to shape up similarly so keeper needs to catch up.
And he'll be looking to impress a coach with few or no preconceptions. Hansi Flick has informed Bayern that he wants to leave in the summer, probably with an eye to taking over Die Mannschaft. He's a remarkably good defender, especially for his age, but Bayern are on a level that only the very best get to be rotators at. That he's in the conversation at Bayern (and he is) translates to starter at an EL side as his floor. I'm convinced that he will make it at the Säbener Straße, but starter at Gladbach or Bayer is a good destination and an even better waystation.
The rumor I heard on SiriusXM FC is that Bayern is going to offer the job to Klopp, but although it will be a difficult decision for Klopp, Bayern expects to be turned down.
He’s definitely “ready” when you compare the alternatives. Mediocre MLS and second tier European alternatives.
Unless they change the management structure of the club I can't see Klopp taking lineup suggestions from the sporting director.
MOTM: Kicker have named Chris Richards as man of the match against RB Leipzig pic.twitter.com/nUnBGKPA14— Bayern & Germany (@iMiaSanMia) April 18, 2021
He is seriously the 1st guy I am watching each week now.... just because we need a stud CB so badly to pair with Brooks. He is way ahead of the curve IMO. I didn't think he would transition so well to starting in the BL. Pretty sic.
he's been underrated for a while now by the USMNT and fanbase.... not sure what else he needs to do at this point.
I remember thinking that he looked like our best prospect at the U-20 WC he played in. The comfort on the ball, passing range and eye for the game are a step up our other CBs. There is no reason he shouldn’t become our best CB ever.
I think the expectations have been properly tempered given the position he plays. It is really encouraging to see how well he has played. I think it can't be underrated how good of a loan move this was on Bayern's part. Putting him with a coach who worked with him for the past two years is really just a unique situation for all parties concerned. I remember people freaking out about him playing at the Bundesliga 3 level last year instead of getting a loan to a Bund 2 team or whatever. I've been a big believer since the U-20 World Cup as well and if I'm honest he's a bit ahead of schedule. It's beautiful to see. What stands out to me his obviously his vision, left foot, and his ability to win aerial duels.
I think he's fairly weak in the air relative to his other qualities but he can improve that over time with better positioning and a little more muscle.