Carrick is United's Number One Midfielder

Red Indian Chief Torn Rubber · 25th March 2008, 17:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dippersripper

........ I think Scholes is still our best midfielder when fit.

And on form

2Bullish · 25th March 2008, 17:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by KingEric7

I never said that he was world class, i just wanted to make it clear that it his productivity wasn't the reason for this.

Wasn't having a go at you KE per se, just making a point that MC is not that good, if anyone is reading this can you point out how many goals or assists MC has made since joining because, I will guarantee you, it makes for sorry reading in the "best midfielder in the world" categories.

AttackingFlair · 25th March 2008, 17:51

Carrick is not world class obviously but he's a good midfielder on form at the moment. Yes, he isn't physically a beast but neither is Scholes and he's still a top player but that's because of his technique.

REd FUn DevIl · 25th March 2008, 18:05

Carrick is class but to see him in a much attacking role and getting some goals he needs to play a little bit forward with the likes of Hargreaves or Fletcher as DM. The best example was the game against Roma.

When we play him with Scholes he plays the DM role and leaves all the attack to Scholes.

We seem to create more and open defences better when Carrick is on a more attacking role, like the Newcastle game (away).

vuc · 25th March 2008, 18:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by Van Piorsing

Last season when he was the only player we have signed, he was one of the main factors that let United to win the title race, imo.

He simply repaired midfield formation by...

1. Excellent cooperation with Scholesy.
2. Many, many quality through passes.
3. Surprisingly, good rate of accurate tackling.
4. Learning United's football style in a quite short time and adding his own quality to the team.

He fully deserves to be in the first squad.

He's universal midfielder who can create United's game in professional way and sometimes when you need him to protect the score, he's there with a good tackles.

Fully agreed. I always thought that the title win was down to Ronaldo, Carrick and Vidic - more so then the rest.

Carrick is really impressive, he can spot a pass with either feet and hardly ever loses the ball. He should start every game.

Dresilved · 25th March 2008, 18:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by Feed Me

Agreed Flawless - maybe it is the rest he has been getting this season. Really though, it makes no sense to keep rotating such an in form player out of the side. It is not even as though he has internationals to worry about.

How ironic that Scholes and Carrick (both integral as a partnership to United last season) and both coming into very good form now were/are not deemed good enough to play in England's central midfield. I'd wager a bet that Carrick and Scholes would fare better than Gerrard and Lampard.

agreed, I'd say even Carrick/Hargreaves would be better than that other pair, esp shite Lampard

manux399 · 25th March 2008, 18:46

Nice to see Carrick getting some desreved praise, he's been very consistent for the Reds for two seasons and reminds me of Muhren in the 80's never praised but hightly missed when not playing...!!v What i like about him is he he always plays his best games against the big teams, that's got to be class IMO...??

Sam#1 · 25th March 2008, 18:50

Everyone knows how highly I rate Carrick.

Cold_Boy · 25th March 2008, 18:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dippersripper

Very few in the world are better than him on current form. He is one of the top three midfielders in the world right now. That said, I think Scholes is still our best midfielder when fit.

typical.

Agree about Scholes though.

Ekeke · 25th March 2008, 19:24

Carrick is amazing at what he does, but very few people understand it.

He will never be rated quite as highly as he should be, because of this. Even now.

Fergies Formula · 25th March 2008, 19:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ekeke

Carrick is amazing at what he does, but very few people understand it.

He will never be rated quite as highly as he should be, because of this. Even now.

Not that i dont rate what he does, but why do you think people dont understand it, surely if he is good at what he does its there for everyone to see? I think he is quality and by far our most consistent centre midfielder with the way he dictates our play.

Bilbo · 25th March 2008, 20:11

Scholes is still a class above any other United midfielder when he is playing well.

Carrick is a very good midfielder, like Keane in that a lot of his best work goes unnoticed by people not at the stadium. I don't think he has had as good a season as he had last year though, but understandable when you consider the stop-start seasons that all of our midfielders have had.

It has become a cliche with Carrick, but its true that he'll never be considered a great, or be mentioned alongside the best players, until he starts to dictate games. Receiving the ball from the centre-backs and moving it on is not an extremely difficult skill, though he does it well, but so do plenty of other players, and in fairness Ferguson no longer expects his midfielders to burst forward as often. I just always get the impression that Carrick has an extra 10-15% that can be added to his game. He is yet to peak though, so perhaps we will see it from him eventually.

RedDevilCanuck · 25th March 2008, 20:16

At least some of you posters on this thread and many of you on caf slatted Carrick mercilessly after some below average appearances he had after his injury. He wasnt' match fit after his lengthy injury and needed games. Ive NEVER doubted his ability. What he is doing now is playing the same way he did ALL of last year. He is an incredible passer, intelligent reader of the game and good defensively. He is kinda like Rio but a deep midfielder - very calm and doesnt need to run around like crazy making last ditch tackles. This doenst make you a bad midfielder. You dont have to play like Gattoso to be a great defensive midfeilder. I think Carrick is great even if he hits a run of bad form for a month or so. Fill in the blanks people _____ is temperary _____ is permanent.

Ekeke · 25th March 2008, 20:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fergies Formula

Not that i dont rate what he does, but why do you think people dont understand it, surely if he is good at what he does its there for everyone to see? I think he is quality and by far our most consistent centre midfielder with the way he dictates our play.

Because his name is not Carrickinho, he doesn't do step overs, he doesn't have the nickname "El Nino" and doesn't push people over or kick them needlessly.

He's simply a player defensive enough (through great positioning and intercepting) to play next to an attacking player, but he's also extremely handy in attack.

He maybe lacks a little aggression, but its a minute factor compared to what he brings to the team. He allows us to play free flowing football.

That's what makes him special.

Chris H · 25th March 2008, 20:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by Feed Me

I read an interesting stat after the match that of all the players involved in League matches at the weekend, it was Carrick who most frequently held possession of the ball.

Carrick did have the most touches in the league this weekend, but can you guess who came in second?

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/mai.../sfnman124.xml

Carrick first with 130 touches, second with 124 touches was Paul Scholes. That would support Feed Me's observation that when they play together, they spend a lot of time passing between each other. It does not support the contention that it is now Carrick, and not Scholes, who is the focal point of the attack. But the two of them together certainly spend a big chunk of the match with the ball at their feet.

Plechazunga · 25th March 2008, 20:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dippersripper

Very few in the world are better than him on current form. He is one of the top three midfielders in the world right now. That said, I think Scholes is still our best midfielder when fit.

Ferguson · 25th March 2008, 21:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by RedDevilCanuck

At least some of you posters on this thread and many of you on caf slatted Carrick mercilessly after some below average appearances he had after his injury. He wasnt' match fit after his lengthy injury and needed games. Ive NEVER doubted his ability. What he is doing now is playing the same way he did ALL of last year. He is an incredible passer, intelligent reader of the game and good defensively. He is kinda like Rio but a deep midfielder - very calm and doesnt need to run around like crazy making last ditch tackles. This doenst make you a bad midfielder. You dont have to play like Gattoso to be a great defensive midfeilder. I think Carrick is great even if he hits a run of bad form for a month or so. Fill in the blanks people _____ is temperary _____ is permanent.

Right. At one time Carrick was experiencing a dip in form after injury, and now Scholes is experiencing a dip in form after injury.

Form is temporary, but class is permanent.

Carrick and Scholes are both top class. It's just that Carrick is in form right now.

I don't understand why Hargreaves made it into England's squad while Carrick was left out. My only guess could be that Carrick made way for Beckham to get his 100th cap.

malcolm31337 · 25th March 2008, 22:04

C I A

Dippersripper · 25th March 2008, 22:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by Plechazunga

snootyjim · 25th March 2008, 22:13

Made me laugh, on Sky Sports they were saying he'd struggle to perform against Liverpool in the holding role, and that they were shocked he took that position rather than Anderson.

Made perfect sense, and he did a great job of it.

mr.suave · 25th March 2008, 22:50

Carrick's rapidly becoming one of our more important players - I think our attacking play can lack rhythm and seem a little forced when he's not playing. Just needs to grow a pair and start believing in himself a bit more because he's a fucking talented footballer.

Seems to be underrated by everyone, though, including some of our fans, nearly all opposition fans and even Capello, who bizarrely doesn't even have room for him in the squad. Fuck 'em!

amolbhatia100 · 25th March 2008, 23:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dippersripper

The best midfielder of arguably the best team in the world.

A bit over the top. In truth we've got four good midfielders, none of whom has made their position completely their own. Scholes probably for injury related reasons this season and his age makes giving him a rest necessary. Scholes is out best midfielder, the rest are quality too but surely Carrick still has a lot to prove before hes hailed as one of the best midfielders around. He had a very poor start to the season.

FlawlessThaw · 25th March 2008, 23:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ferguson

I don't understand why Hargreaves made it into England's squad while Carrick was left out. My only guess could be that Carrick made way for Beckham to get his 100th cap.

I've heard that being banded about and in my opinion it is not true. Beckham is in ahead of SWP and Lennon, although I don't believe Beckham should be there at all bit that is a wholly different matter.

Looks to me that Carrick lost out because of the fact that Gerrard, Lampard, Barry and Hargreaves are all ahead of him. Same reason why Jenas isn't in the squad.

Feed Me · 25th March 2008, 23:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by FlawlessThaw

I've heard that being banded about and in my opinion it is not true. Beckham is in ahead of SWP and Lennon, although I don't believe Beckham should be there at all bit that is a wholly different matter.

Looks to me that Carrick lost out because of the fact that Gerrard, Lampard, Barry and Hargreaves are all ahead of him. Same reason why Jenas isn't in the squad.

If Carrick maintains current form, he will be back in the side.

surf · 25th March 2008, 23:31

Looking at the game last weekend, there was a time 3 years ago when Alonso was rated much higher than Carrick. Now Carrick is superior and Alonso looks pretty average to me, and not just in that game. We now have a better centre midfield than Liverpool, even when Gerrard is playing there.

Sam#1 · 25th March 2008, 23:33

England would do well with a central pairing of Carrick and Gerrard IMO.

Wes · 25th March 2008, 23:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sam#1

England would do well with a central pairing of Carrick and Gerrard IMO.

that'd be quality. I wouldn't call Capello a moron for not having Carrick in the squad yet. Carrick's simply not played enough, and Barry deserves to be in there ahead of him.

Carrick will one day grow a set of balls, get on the highlights reels and get a place in that team, or he won't and United'll have a midfield mastermind all to themselves. I personally couldn't give a shit either way.

Pat_Mustard · 26th March 2008, 00:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by surf

Looking at the game last weekend, there was a time 3 years ago when Alonso was rated much higher than Carrick. Now Carrick is superior and Alonso looks pretty average to me, and not just in that game. We now have a better centre midfield than Liverpool, even when Gerrard is playing there.

Carrick is definitely better than Alonso at the moment. If Alonso ever got back on top form though, there's few better than him to be honest. At their best, I'd probably call it even.

Feed Me · 26th March 2008, 00:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pat_Mustard

Carrick is definitely better than Alonso at the moment. If Alonso ever got back on top form though, there's few better than him to be honest. At their best, I'd probably call it even.

Was going to make this Carrick-Alonso point earlier. When has Alonso ever been that good? He seems to have been "out of form" for two years now.

25th March 2008, 17:51	#43 (permalink)
AttackingFlair Reserve Team Player Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Location Location Location ;) Posts: 2,927	Carrick is not world class obviously but he's a good midfielder on form at the moment. Yes, he isn't physically a beast but neither is Scholes and he's still a top player but that's because of his technique.

25th March 2008, 18:05	#44 (permalink)
REd FUn DevIl First Team Regular Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: =) Posts: 12,360	Carrick is class but to see him in a much attacking role and getting some goals he needs to play a little bit forward with the likes of Hargreaves or Fletcher as DM. The best example was the game against Roma. When we play him with Scholes he plays the DM role and leaves all the attack to Scholes. We seem to create more and open defences better when Carrick is on a more attacking role, like the Newcastle game (away).

25th March 2008, 18:46	#47 (permalink)
manux399 Reserve Team Player Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: Dubai, UAE. "Dubai Les Sealey Reds..!!!!" Posts: 3,097	Nice to see Carrick getting some desreved praise, he's been very consistent for the Reds for two seasons and reminds me of Muhren in the 80's never praised but hightly missed when not playing...!!v What i like about him is he he always plays his best games against the big teams, that's got to be class IMO...??

25th March 2008, 18:50	#48 (permalink)
Sam#1 First Team Regular Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Leroy Lita Posts: 14,087	Everyone knows how highly I rate Carrick.

25th March 2008, 19:24	#50 (permalink)
Ekeke McFuckwit Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 6,910	Carrick is amazing at what he does, but very few people understand it. He will never be rated quite as highly as he should be, because of this. Even now.

25th March 2008, 20:11	#52 (permalink)
Bilbo First Team Sub Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 5,777	Scholes is still a class above any other United midfielder when he is playing well. Carrick is a very good midfielder, like Keane in that a lot of his best work goes unnoticed by people not at the stadium. I don't think he has had as good a season as he had last year though, but understandable when you consider the stop-start seasons that all of our midfielders have had. It has become a cliche with Carrick, but its true that he'll never be considered a great, or be mentioned alongside the best players, until he starts to dictate games. Receiving the ball from the centre-backs and moving it on is not an extremely difficult skill, though he does it well, but so do plenty of other players, and in fairness Ferguson no longer expects his midfielders to burst forward as often. I just always get the impression that Carrick has an extra 10-15% that can be added to his game. He is yet to peak though, so perhaps we will see it from him eventually.

25th March 2008, 20:16	#53 (permalink)
RedDevilCanuck Reserve Team Player Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Decent mix between America and Britain. Posts: 1,407	At least some of you posters on this thread and many of you on caf slatted Carrick mercilessly after some below average appearances he had after his injury. He wasnt' match fit after his lengthy injury and needed games. Ive NEVER doubted his ability. What he is doing now is playing the same way he did ALL of last year. He is an incredible passer, intelligent reader of the game and good defensively. He is kinda like Rio but a deep midfielder - very calm and doesnt need to run around like crazy making last ditch tackles. This doenst make you a bad midfielder. You dont have to play like Gattoso to be a great defensive midfeilder. I think Carrick is great even if he hits a run of bad form for a month or so. Fill in the blanks people _____ is temperary _____ is permanent.

25th March 2008, 22:04	#58 (permalink)
malcolm31337 Reserve Team Player Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: 93, 94, 96, 97, 99, 00, 01, 03, 07, 08...09 Posts: 3,810	C I A

25th March 2008, 22:13	#60 (permalink)
snootyjim In most joy Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: The land of the Chelski 'I'm supporting my local team' bunch Posts: 2,877	Made me laugh, on Sky Sports they were saying he'd struggle to perform against Liverpool in the holding role, and that they were shocked he took that position rather than Anderson. Made perfect sense, and he did a great job of it.

25th March 2008, 22:50	#61 (permalink)
mr.suave Reserve Team Player Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Manchester Posts: 829	Carrick's rapidly becoming one of our more important players - I think our attacking play can lack rhythm and seem a little forced when he's not playing. Just needs to grow a pair and start believing in himself a bit more because he's a fucking talented footballer. Seems to be underrated by everyone, though, including some of our fans, nearly all opposition fans and even Capello, who bizarrely doesn't even have room for him in the squad. Fuck 'em!

25th March 2008, 23:31	#65 (permalink)
surf Reserve Team Player Join Date: May 2007 Location: In the wilderness Posts: 1,725	Looking at the game last weekend, there was a time 3 years ago when Alonso was rated much higher than Carrick. Now Carrick is superior and Alonso looks pretty average to me, and not just in that game. We now have a better centre midfield than Liverpool, even when Gerrard is playing there.

25th March 2008, 23:33	#66 (permalink)
Sam#1 First Team Regular Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Leroy Lita Posts: 14,087	England would do well with a central pairing of Carrick and Gerrard IMO.