acnumber9
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- Jun 21, 2006
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Is there a limit on how many players can be in a group of the best midfielders in the world?
Agree, it isn't that big a compliment to say he's been the best midfielder. If I was going to praise Carrick that wouldn't be the route I'd choose.Carrick's got a good case for that, but the quality of CMs in the league this season has been appalling.
Since 1992, FWA Footballer of the Year have 11 winners from London based teams, and only 6 from United; even though we've won the league 12 times during that period (and came 2nd 4 times).I don't see why. United are a much bigger club than Arsenal. There's a case for London clubs getting more attention than other non-London clubs but not Manchester United. This is the club most under the microscope in the premier league and if a player is "under the radar" here he will be so anywhere else.
Actually the stats* show Carrick in only the top 10 of passes per game. 76.4All stats show that Carrick is one of the best passers in Europe. He makes more forward passes than Xavi, so I'm not sure what you are on about. They are different passers and play diffeently, and Xavi is also a better player, but Carrick's stats say that he is certainly up there.
I think his effectiveness in our attacks this season is there to be seen. Perhaps he isn't the final passer or the scorer very often, but he's instigating more attacks with a much higher volume of his passes often in towards the forwards, as opposed to last season where our most frequent combo in games was Carrick to Scholes.Actually the stats* show Carrick in only the top 10 of passes per game. 76.4
He doesn't make it into any of the top 20 in the other statistics such as assists, 'key passes', completions, crosses, long balls, through balls.
Not having a go - just saying. Effectiveness has been there this year while his stats generally have not been as good as you would think. But that is just on paper. Defensively he doesn't appear in any of the top 20 for anything.
*Whoscored stats can not always be right..
He really stepped it up in the second half. Took more chances on the ball, looked more comfortable on the ball and like everyone else was willing to stick his boot on anything.Anyone else thought he was very good in the second half. Average in first half and very, very good in the second half.
Pace slowed down and it suited him.Anyone else thought he was very good in the second half. Average in first half and very, very good in the second half.
Sounds like an ordinary day in the life of Michael Carrick.Yeah he had a good second half, which was impressive considering he was basically the only player we had in midfield.
Harsh on Cleverley.Sounds like an ordinary day in the life of Michael Carrick.
Aye. The first half was reminiscent of playing Barca, their tempo had him annoymous. The second half, as you say, slowed down in pace considerably and he was effective. I am not sure if I would say that he had a good game overall as he was kind of exposed in the first half.Pace slowed down and it suited him.
I completely agree, I thought the same thing about the Barca games, he just wasn't really there in midfield, though he made some good blocks in defence.Aye. The first half was reminiscent of playing Barca, their tempo had him annoymous. The second half, as you say, slowed down in pace considerably and he was effective. I am not sure if I would say that he had a good game overall as he was kind of exposed in the first half.
Aye, Cleverley for Kagawa might be a good change for OT..Did brilliantly considering he was our effectively our only midfielder. Hopefully we'll be able to play Cleverley at OT and try and play a bit more, as it's a shame to limit a player as good as Carrick to the sort of job he had to do in the first half.
Yes his turns away from RM players under pressure were a highlight for us - he's having an excellent season, good on him, he's taken a lot of unfair stick IMHOReally liked some of Michael's turns under pressure last night. I thought he had a lot of responsibility last night, what with Phil Jones' limitations as a passer, effectively having the midfield on his back and he came through it well. Apart from in the first half when we let Madrid play 20-30 yards from our goal Carrick held his own. Pleased.
When? When he was playing, um, poorly?he's taken a lot of unfair stick IMHO
When some people went overboard when perhaps he wasn't playing as well.When? When he was playing, um, poorly?
The away fans sounded great on TV.fecking excellent today, liked the new chant too.
QPR's passing was so loose in midfield. He just continued to sweep up possession all game for us and played some superb passes forward.fecking excellent today, liked the new chant too.