Room for improvement, yeah, but we'd be in more trouble if it was the other way round.He's been good defensively, but his passing hasn't been that great.
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He's very, very important to the team as he's the one midfielder that gives us control in matches.Magnificent performance. The numbers speak for themselves. I know people are more interested in discussing negatives than positives but it's a little depressing that such an impressive effort gets so few comments and the thread is dead and gone a couple of hours after the final whistle.
I would argue that a lot of our woes this season can be attributed to the large number of games in which Carrick was carrying an injury, out injured, or gradually getting back to speed again on his return. If he can stay fit now and build up some fitness and momentum we will be a much, much stronger side in the second half of this season.
Kroos was playing with a man advantage against a team hemmed in their own box, yet Carrick completed a similar number of passes.Magnificent? Kroos against Arsenal was magnificent. It was a welcome return to form for Carrick but let's not go overboard...
Yeah but the occasions were completely different. Our game was effectively meaningless. Kroos also displayed a far superior range of passing. It was the sort of performance Carrick regularly produced last season.Kroos was playing with a man advantage against a team hemmed in their own box, yet Carrick completed a similar number of passes.
It needed a goal or assist to be right up there with the very best midfield performance but it was very very good.
Yeah but the occasions were completely different. Our game was effectively meaningless. Kroos also displayed a far superior range of passing. It was the sort of performance Carrick regularly produced last season.
Us, we aren't playing for anything right now except to try and build confidence for our Champions League games. Hopefully that'll see us play with a bit more freedom in the league anyway. I think their were finally some encouraging signs on the weekend.....For who exactly?!
This game was anything but meaningless. It was vital for Moyes and the team (all under a lot of pressure at the moment) that we won.Us, we aren't playing for anything right now except to try and build confidence for our Champions League games. Hopefully that'll see us play with a bit more freedom in the league anyway. I think their were finally some encouraging signs on the weekend.
I'd agree with this, but I doubt he'll ever reach the levels he has reached in his past seasons. It seems as if his legs can't allow him to reach those levels, anymore. Too often has Carrick been lackadaisical, defensively, this season. On the ball, he's still good and still a good passer; however, he can't be our main defensive midfielder. He'd complement an energetic, box-to-box midfielder well, at this stage. However, we have to plan for the future and figure out how to move on from him. He's currently 32 and will be less likely to seal a spot in central midfield if he doesn't have players protecting him like Pirlo has at Juventus.Or you could twist it round and say when he's played well, we've dominated possession.
Disagree. He's been good defensively. Just looked up his stats and he's 2nd in the league as far as interceptions go. It's his attacking play and thrust which has been missing from his game. I don't think it's his age that's the problem. His problem like most of the squad has been a clear lack of confidence (and periods of injury haven't helped either).I'd agree with this, but I doubt he'll ever reach the levels he has reached in his past seasons. It seems as if his legs can't allow him to reach those levels, anymore. Too often has Carrick been lackadaisical, defensively, this season. On the ball, he's still good and still a good passer; however, he can't be our main defensive midfielder. He'd complement an energetic, box-to-box midfielder well, at this stage. However, we have to plan for the future and figure out how to move on from him. He's currently 32 and will be less likely to seal a spot in central midfield if he doesn't have players protecting him like Pirlo has at Juventus.