Micah Richards has become one of the BBC’s most insightful and engaging former players turned pundit, frequently providing sensible and entertaining analysis.
His podcast with Alan Shearer and Gary Lineker during the Euros was a highlight for many fans, myself included.
However, in criticizing Edson Alvarez’s recent performance against Manchester United, I think Richards has been somewhat unfair in singling out the Mexican midfielder.
On Match of the Day (MOTD), Richards suggested that Alvarez “struggled because of the pace of the game and Manchester United’s movement in midfield.”
He stated that Alvarez is “too slow” and, later, “athletically unable” to track back quickly enough, specifically in situations like the one involving Garnacho.
In my view, though, Alvarez actually put in a decent performance, particularly in the second half when he played a deeper role, nearly as a third center-back.
This positioning lessened his reliance on speed, allowing him to focus on defensive positioning.
To me, the real issue lies not with Alvarez alone but with the generally slow nature of West Ham’s entire midfield setup.
His midfield partners’ lack of pace and agility contributes heavily to the team’s vulnerability, often leaving the defense under pressure.
The trio—comprising Alvarez, Soler, Rodriguez, Paquetá, or Tomas Soucek—shares a tendency to be slow.
While capable tacklers, they struggle to catch up with quicker opponents, creating a recurring defensive weakness for West Ham.
Richards’ assessment could arguably apply to all of West Ham’s midfield, which lacks the athleticism to match fast-moving rivals.
One player lacking speed can be manageable; a trio lacking it, however, poses a defensive liability.
This slow, cumbersome midfield will always place extra strain on the defense, as seen against Garnacho’s pace last weekend, leaving Alvarez and his partners trailing.
Currently, the defensive lineup—Wan-Bissaka, Todibo, Kilman, and Emerson—is holding up better but can’t fully cover the gaps left by a slow midfield.
Looking forward, next season offers some hope with emerging players like Potts Earthy and Orford, who may soon step up to the first team.
Until then, though, I’m not convinced that simply rotating in someone like Andy Irving will resolve the deeper issue.
