Frazer's in for the long haul at Leeds United
Frazer RichardsonReliable is not the most flattering adjective with which to describe a footballer.
Professional players strive to be exceptional; the term dependable tends to infer the opposite. It is a well-established fact, however, that successful teams are rarely built solely on galacticos. Frazer Richardson has never been insulted by the suggestion that reliability might be his strongest trait.
The full-back is the definition of consistency – ever present in Leeds United's league games this season, and still to register his first goal or a single yellow card. United's defensive record is bettered by only one club – Nottingham Forest – and their combined league record has been bettered by none. Richardson encompasses the solidity that Dennis Wise desired above all else between August and May.
The 25-year-old is content to leave the bulk of attention to those who suit the limelight. It is difficult, from the depths of defence, to steal headlines from an 11-goal striker, or to exert the influence of a fluent midfielder. But Richardson is no less certain of a place in Wise's team against Huddersfield Town tomorrow than Jermaine Beckford will be of his. Richardson's philosophy, it seems, is to deliver his performances with maximum effort and a minimum of fuss.
"That's how I prefer it," he said. "I'm not one for the limelight, as most people know.
"It's nice for other players to experience (praise) but I'm just a player who gets on with things quietly. I always put 100 per cent in, and I'll always want to play for Leeds.
"Not only am I playing regularly this season, I'm enjoying it more than I have done for quite a number of years. It was difficult with everything that's gone off in the past, but I feel really settled and, touch wood, I'll stay injury free."
Fitness was a perennial concern for Richardson during Wise's first season at Elland Road, so much so that his 18th league outing against Port Vale on Tuesday night equalled his total number of league appearances during the 2006-07 term.
The full-back is widely considered to be one of the F***est members of United's squad, but he and club physio Harvey Sharman drew up an intensive close-season training schedule specifically to tackle his niggling injuries. The success of the programme has provided Wise with an automatic selection at right-back.
There were, however, doubts over whether Richardson would be at Elland Road at all this season. Wolves were linked with a summer move for the defender, and United's relegation asked questions over his willingness to drop beneath the Championship. It was to Wise's delight that Richardson held fast to the club who launched his career.
"There was a lot of speculation that I'd be moving on, but I'm very happy to have stayed," he said.
"Every player wants to play at the highest level, there's no secret in that. Everyone wants to play in the Premiership, or the Championship. But I felt we had the strongest team in League One so it meant spending a season in League One to play another season in the Championship. In my eyes, I think we will get automatic promotion.
"It's a year out of your career but hopefully it will turn out to be a great year. It was hard for everyone (last season) and me especially as a Leeds fan, but that's the way it was. Now we're looking to the future.
"I think it all started in pre-season. We had a very good, strong pre-season which set the basis for the rest of the season. I felt very fit, and it's continued from there. I worked a lot in the off season with Harvey, and tried to sort the little niggles out. It's working so far."
Richardson's prediction of automatic promotion is not a case of him stepping out of line. The club's assistant boss, Dave Bassett, revealed on Monday that Leeds intend to head League One by January 1, and promotion is gradually becoming an accepted topic of conversation around Thorp Arch.
Wise, who has treated the subject with caution ever since United's
15-point deduction was confirmed, said: "It's a target I put to them. I asked it they're capable and we'll see. You have to challenge them."
A victory over Huddersfield tomorrow would reign in Wise's target once more, and leave United in prime position to reach for first place over Christmas.
Tomorrow's West Yorkshire derby is an overdue meeting between two clubs who last contested a league match in 1987, and even their most recent encounter three years ago seems to Richardson like another age. The defender is the only surviving member of the Leeds side which beat Huddersfield 3-0 in the first round of the League Cup on August 24, 2004.
"That shows the changes that have gone on at the club," Richardson said. "They've been massive in the last three or four years, and it's been a whirlwind. But we're looking quite stable at the minute.
"We'll play the same football we've been playing all season. I know it's a derby and we will be giving a little bit more, but we give a little bit more in every game. It's no different.
"I'd like to say it's up there, but there have been massive games at Elland Road. It's definitely up there this season. We're just looking to get another win, another three points on the board and to try and catch up Swansea."
YEP
