Time ‘forgotten’ duo start paying their way
TOMMY Elphick, Micah Richards – all people now who can start earning their money.” It was a throwaway comment from Steve Bruce as he discussed John Terry’s injury blow on Saturday and the Aston Villa manager didn’t intend it as a dig at Elphick or Richards.
Bruce has regarded Elphick’s professionalism as exemplary throughout his time in charge, while he is sympathetic to the injury problems Richards has been beset with at Villa.
But he is right and his choice words hits the nail on the head.
The duo do need to start earning their money – and Terry’s lay-off could be an opportunity for them to do just that.
Richards and Elphick are on bigmoney, long-term contracts – contracts which have regrettably become “pay-as-you-don’t-play” in line with the numerous other examples of wastefulness during this club’s post2010 decline.
Chris Samba and Mile Jedinak are of expected to be first in line to fill the void left by Terry, who confirmed that he broke a bone in his foot during Saturday’s 2-1 defeat to Sheffield Wednesday.
Neither Richards nor Elphick is likely to step straight in as James Chester’s central defensive partner but, with Terry sidelined for up to two months, the experienced forgotten men could come back into contention to provide defensive cover from the substitutes bench.
They have both been conspicuous by their absence for too long.
Richards has not played a competitive first team game for over a year, making his last appearance in Bruce’s first match against Wolves in October 2016.
Elphick was hoping to push through a move away from B6 in the summer and his involvement in the current campaign has been restricted to Carabao Cup matches, playing against Wigan Athletic and getting sent off against Middlesbrough.
They still train with the senior group – Bruce has not followed the Bomb Squad approach of his predecessors for surplus players – but have struggled to get anywhere near the Championship matchday squads.
They have been spared Under-23 duty because Bruce is reluctant to block the progress of youngsters, especially with players who, let’s face it, have no real future at the club despite both being contracted until summer 2019.
So now is the time for them to contribute. No longer can Villa afford to carry what essentially expensive cheerleaders.
Richards is known as the life and soul of the training ground, and Elphick is a role model with the way he conducts himself in training.
Given the choice, both players would much rather be involved than not and rightly so, even if it is primarily to fill a gap and make themselves more attractive to suitors offering potential escape routes.
Both men have failed to live up to their expectations and what better way of making up for lost time than stepping up and stepping into the breach left by Terry’s metatarsal misery?
JT has big boots to fill – and not just the protective one he is now wearing.
Elphick and Richards won’t be asked to fill them alone and if Chester, Samba and Jedinak stay injury and suspension free they might not have to fill them at all.
But with Villa reeling from the blow of losing their captain wouldn’t it be heartening to know that their two experienced former defensive skippers are ready to answer the call and “start earning their money”? amounts to The Birmingham Post newspaper is published by BPM Media (Midlands): Floor 6, Fort Dunlop, Birmingham B24 9FF, a subsidiary company of Trinity Mirror PLC: One Canada Square, Canary Wharf, London E14 5AP. Printed at The Fort, Wood Lane, Erdington, Birmingham B24 9PW. Registered at the Post Office as a newspaper.