Carrick

Still such an important player for us

http://redarmy.co.uk/index.php/2011/...chael-carrick/

The statistics show Carrick’s importance to our defence. He boasts the highest number of interceptions amongst our midfielders this season. In the 25 games he has started in the Premier League this season, United have conceded 18 goals. In the 6 games he hasn’t started, United have conceded 14. In a team lacking the defensive qualities and energy of Owen Hargreaves, that is a staggering statistic.

His passing is exceptional too. Let’s take United’s last home game against Bolton. It was far from a vintage United performance, requiring a late winner after being reduced to 10 men. Carrick played alongside Ryan Giggs (not a central midfielder) and in front of a makeshift back four (which he finishing the game playing in). Despite this, he still managed to complete 83% of his passes, compared to Rooney and Giggs, who completed 68% and 60% respectively. In the 2-1 victory over Marseille, he completed an incredible 92% of his passes. To put that into context, Xavi completed 88% of his passes in Barcelona’s home victory over Arsenal a week earlier.

Statistics don’t tell the whole story, but they are illuminating. They at least help put to bed some of the more thoughtless criticisms of Carrick, them being that he gives the ball away or his laziness puts pressure on our defense.

But what is perhaps more telling is Ferguson’s continued faith in him.

We have all seen players shown the door at Old Trafford by United’s legendary manager when they no longer serve their purpose. But Carrick has continued to be key player for United ever since he was signed in 2006. In 26 knock-out games United have played in the Champions League since Carrick’s arrival, he has started 24. One of those games he missed was through suspension. Of those 24 games, United have lost just 4.

Yet despite this, there are still many who question his value to the team.

Perhaps one of the reasons why Carrick gets more flak than most is because he doesn’t fit the mould of what we have come to expect from a midfielder. In watching Bryan Robson and Roy Keane patrol the midfield at Old Trafford for the best part of 20 years, perhaps we have become accustomed to seeing our best players deliver all-action displays, thundering into tackles, all blood and guts.

But Carrick has never been, and never will be a marauding box-to-box midfielder. Instead he fits the mould of a modern version of a central midfielder. His retention of the ball is excellent, meaning he is crucial to a team that looks to keep possession, patiently probing for a breakthrough. His reading of the game is very strong, meaning he can drop into defensive positions in front of the defence and win possession back.

Hi Throb.

Originally Posted by Stickman

Hi Throb.

Hi @#%&!

Originally Posted by Stickman

It is amazing his pass % completion isn't closer to 90 given that he doesn't move the ball more than 5 yards sideways these days. Rooney/ Giggs first instinct is to see if a killer ball is on.

now i have given carrick a bit of praise in the last week or two, certainly deserved it for his performance against bolton when we went down to ten but to suggest that he has been an important player for us this season would be an over exaggeration. Stats against marseille are impressive but as pointed out most passes would have been sideways and back, thought he was quite underwhelming against them. i would be happy if he got back to the form he had when he first joined us, he will never be my cup of tea but he has a new contract and i hope he does well.

Originally Posted by Stickman

Hi Throb.

Originally Posted by Carrick

Hi @#%&!

Originally Posted by Stickman

Originally Posted by Stickman

Post of the day sorted already

dont smile. Rep.

He's been very poor on the ball this season, but is always vital off it. His confidence and form has returned in recent weeks and at just the right time. Credit where it's due. We seem to be getting numbers back and players on form at just the right time.

he's £#%&!ing shit

By the standards we should be setting ourselves, afterall we are Manchester United, he's been nothing more than mediocre.

I fail to recall games that he has dictated or imposed himself on.. at best he's been alright.. and even then we bend over backwards to pour the plaudits upon him.

We're patronising him, deluding ourselves and it's embarassing.

He'd have been shipped out long ago at the likes of Real Madrid, Barcelona and Milan.. he'd have been shipped out long ago if weren't saddled with a crippling debt and could actually afford to replace him with the world class midfielder we've been crying out for.

It's to my detriment that I can't readily name a better replacement, however, what we really need is 1984 version of Bryan Robson !

anderson and carrick has easily been our best midfield pairing this season with a two in front of it.

Originally Posted by borsuk

anderson and carrick has easily been our best midfield pairing this season with a two in front of it.

Yup.....

Glad Ando is back. We've already seen the benefit of having Park and Valencia back, we're beefing up the midfield numbers back, one or two are hitting some form and our strikers are, well, just brilliant.

Throw Rio and Fletch into the mix and we're in great shape for the run-in.

Carrick has been poor for most of this season, but he's improved in recent weeks and that's all you can ask for really.

Originally Posted by Fountz

what we really need is 1984 version of Bryan Robson !

Well, yeah, but is there a team in World football that couldn't do with a 1984 vintage Robbo?

Originally Posted by borsuk

anderson and carrick has easily been our best midfield pairing this season with a two in front of it.

Which only proves we need two new central midfielders, and not one, in the Summer imo.

Originally Posted by The Return of JC

Throw Rio and Fletch into the mix and we're in great shape for the run-in.

not sure throw's got the legs for it these days

Originally Posted by dunk

Well, yeah, but is there a team in World football that couldn't do with a 1984 vintage Robbo?

Obviously.. but after the "throat cancer" billboards my lads were asking about him !

I concluded that he could do Anderson's, Park's, Fletcher's and Carrick's roles all better than them.

However, is there a top team world football trying to poach our midfielders ??

I fear the day Fergie decides to stick his chuddy under his seat for the final time and hang up his stopwatch.

Originally Posted by dunk

Well, yeah, but is there a team in World football that couldn't do with a 1984 vintage Robbo?

Indeedy.

I've repeatedly made the point that Carrick plays at the level of the team. As Borsurs pointed out, he's been the best central pairing with Anderson this season. If he was deployed alongside a vintage Robbo you'd think he was a classy midfield passing / intercepting continental type. But because we have, frankly, a shit midfield - Fletcher is limited & been toss this season, Anderson barely fit for a decent run, Scholes older than Mr Burns & only capable of 60mins in a frenetic pace, Gibson utterly shite, Hargreaves dead, & so on & so forth... Carrick has been the mainstay & yet we're still top, in the competitions that matter. It's not despite Carrick, or even because of him, but certainly he plays his part. If we stuck him next to a quality box to box player & had 2 proper wingers, the first choice back 4, do we not think that would be a quite superb side ?

Because it was precisely that that won 3 on the bounce & got to 2 CL finals.

The rest of the side has deteriorated since those days, Carrick's form has as well, but as I said, he plays at the level of the team. Inject some class in again & some stability behind him, & we'll be fine.