Interesting piece about LVG.I passed back once and the boss went bananas shouting at me
Thank God I didn’t get many bollockings off the Boss because he could peel paint off a wall from 100 yards, but I did receive a blast in Yokohama. I thought I was playing well against Liga de Quito, the Ecuadorean side, in the 2008 final of the Club World Cup, but when I came into the dressing room at half-time, Sir Alex went bananas.
He was on my case a lot at that time about my passing. “Pass forward, pass forward,” he’d shout. When the Boss got something in his head, it stayed there. In that [first] half, all my passes went forward, except one when I turned and passed back to Rio [Ferdinand]. I wasn’t being negative, it was simply the best option, and my only intention was to pass to Rio, get it back and build again.
Once Sir Alex saw that one back-pass, something flipped and I heard him going mental on the line, “F***ing hell, will you just f***ing pass it forward?” I snapped, shouting, “F***ing what?”Not directly at the Boss, I wasn’t brave enough for that. Two minutes later, the ref, Ravshan Irmatov, blew for half-time and I knew what was coming.
The moment I entered the changing room, the Boss launched into me. “Pass the ball f***ing forward, I f***ing told you,” Sir Alex was raging. When he was like that you had to sit there and take it, let him blow off some steam. On the outside, I was calm, nodding at the Boss’s points, hiding my anger. On the inside, I was fuming and saying to myself, “I must have played 40 passes forward here and he’s picked one where I’ve gone back.” But the Boss was so wound up that I didn’t dare voice my defence.
Carrick said that Ferguson told him off in the 2008 final of the Club World Cup against Liga de Quito, the Ecuadorean sideMATTHEW PETERS/GETTY IMAGES
“‘F***ing hell, a bit harsh, isn’t it?” some of the lads said on the way back out. The Boss didn’t take me off, he very rarely did as he always gave players a chance to respond. I think he was picking a fight to keep me on my toes. Early in the second half, Vida [Nemanja Vidic] got sent off but we ground it out and managed to nick a 1–0 win with [Wayne] Rooney’s goal after I’d played the ball to [Cristiano] Ronaldo — a bit of a forward pass as well, which was ironic.
This was typical of the team, doing things the hard way. It wasn’t the buzz of Moscow but the feeling of being world champions was immense. I was pleased for the fans. United fans were all over Yokohama and fair play, considering it was right before Christmas and an expensive trip.
How I nearly ended up in a wheelchair
Football might never have been an option for me. I could have ended up in a wheelchair. As a toddler, my knees knocked together and I had flat feet.
Doctors in Wallsend, where I grew up, feared that when I started growing, I wouldn’t be able to walk or run properly so they were keen to operate.
Poor Mam and Dad sat in the surgeon’s office confronted with this massive decision — operate, or stick with how I was and hope I wasn’t restricted when I grew? Such a tough call.
Once the surgeon talked about a 50-50 chance of success or me ending up in a wheelchair, my parents said, “No chance, it’s not worth the risk.” Then, they marched me out of the clinic.
Thank God Mam and Dad stopped the op. As I grew, my knees still went in a little and I still had dropped arches, but I ran without any trouble.
Believe it or not, I could really shift back then! I went to see a foot specialist a few years back for some orthotics for my boots and he examined me, commenting on my unusually narrow hips.
Being knock-kneed gave me some issues over the years, bad achilles and the like, but never stopped me playing. Football has always been my life.
When I was a toddler I always had a ball at my feet or I’d want to carry one around. Even when I was taken to a toy shop, I’d come back with some kind of ball.
Van Gaal’s plan suffocated Liverpool
Louis van Gaal taught me another way of football, especially how to set up the team defensively, how to squeeze the pitch and suffocate a team. He went into so much detail and was so particular that we were difficult to play against when we got it right.
The period when it looked like we were making strong progress was in March-April 2015. We played Spurs, Liverpool and City and beat them all comfortably. When we went to Anfield, Brendan Rodgers had Liverpool playing a box in midfield, with Adam Lallana and Philippe Coutinho coming in off the sides.
To combat that, Louis told me to play midfield when we got the ball and centre half when we didn’t, dropping between Chris Smalling and Phil Jones so we’d always have this overload. It allowed one of them to push all the way in on their side and I just dropped a little deeper, which saved me from running from one side to the other. I moved up and back instead of across the pitch.
We tried it in a practice match at Carrington against Giggsy’s side. Giggsy always took the opposition the day before the game, 11 v 11, and we were all over the place. Giggsy’s players kept getting through. I remember saying to Chris and Phil, “Oh, we’re getting pulled all over the place here.” Louis walked past me with a smile on his face, going, “I’ve made it easy for you tomorrow!” “What do you mean?” “I’ve made it easy. Look, Chris there, Phil there. You don’t have to do anything. You have them all around you. Just read it.”
Louis showed me my position between them, creating the overload, and supposedly blocking out the space that Liverpool could use. In the end, it was the best performance I’ve seen from us at Anfield by a mile. All of Louis’s details stayed in my mind, like knowing when to drop back, and, yes, it worked. This was Louis at his best. Juan Mata won the game with an incredible scissor-kick.
The day after Anfield, we had one of the evaluations loved by Louis. I do believe there’s a place for them but not after every game.
Louis’s assistant, Albert [Stuivenberg], took us through the video, again giving us good information, but every game it was exhausting. Me and Wazza [Wayne Rooney] went to the manager to ask, “Is there a way of lightening it up a little bit?” Credit to Louis, he changed things and there weren’t as many evaluations after that.
Instead, the manager sent us all emails, so at least it wasn’t monotonous meeting after meeting. Louis had a tracker on the emails to see whether we’d opened them, just to know who took in information that way, or who needed a different route, like face to face. Some lads don’t want to look back at the game because they believe too much analysis clouds their instinct. I’d take a cluster of Louis’s emails after three or four games, and go through them all together, so it wasn’t as relentless.
Carrick: 'I left Rome but I don't think Rome has ever really left me'
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In the latest episode of the United Hour Podcast, Nik (@Rood) was joined by comedian Ali Woods to look back at the best and worst moments of a rollercoaster season with the annual United Hour Awards.
Has Ten Hag been sacked yet? We're not sure and we hope not, but it's looking more likely as the days pass.
Who should replace him and why is it taking so long to make a decision?
Geez after reading that, imagine what Karius must have gone through.
2009 was terrible for me.
Probably the most deflated i have ever felt after a football game.
Its a toss up between that and last year in the Fa cup final vs Chelsea where we produced one of the most gutless,disgusting performances i can remember.
2009 was worse than 2011 for me.
2011 i knew we were going to lose.
So much so that i even put a hundred quid on it simply for a bit of consilation.
2009 was different.
I like many others expected us to win.
We had the best player in the world,the best defenders in the world and had just won the league three times in a row and the Champions league the year before.
What also destroyed me was the way we lost.
We got absolutely played off the park once the Eto goal went in and got taught a football lesson,something that i had never seen before as a Manchester United fan.
In hindsight it was a mistake by Fergie to play Giggs in midfield and Park instead of Tevez.
In my opinion we should have gone all out attack and we probably would have won if we did.
Probably the most deflated i have ever felt after a football game.
Its a toss up between that and last year in the Fa cup final vs Chelsea where we produced one of the most gutless,disgusting performances i can remember.
2009 was worse than 2011 for me.
2011 i knew we were going to lose.
So much so that i even put a hundred quid on it simply for a bit of consilation.
2009 was different.
I like many others expected us to win.
We had the best player in the world,the best defenders in the world and had just won the league three times in a row and the Champions league the year before.
What also destroyed me was the way we lost.
We got absolutely played off the park once the Eto goal went in and got taught a football lesson,something that i had never seen before as a Manchester United fan.
In hindsight it was a mistake by Fergie to play Giggs in midfield and Park instead of Tevez.
In my opinion we should have gone all out attack and we probably would have won if we did.
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we ashamed ourselves in 2009, The players and SAF with his selection.
In reply to us getting taught a lesson, I think our loss to Madrid 6 or so years earlier was compatible.
Utd had so many chances in both those games though, I assume you are talking about the 2003 tie. Madrid were much more clinical and a young Casilas was inspired. Utd had Barthez who was a massive liability in both ties. The first game was difficult, at 3-0 it could have gone very ugly, Madrid were giving it the oles, but on chances Utd were pretty much their equal even at that point of the game and by the end could have pulled it back to at least 3-2.
Home game was weird, every time Utd looked to be getting fully on top Madrid would break and score, then Casilas would make 2/3 important saves. Pep's Barca were better than any version of that Galactico era Madrid though, they never really gave the opposition to play their game, everything was on their terms, not the case with that Madrid, you could take them on in a shootout.
Fletcher was terrific in that season, not having either Fletcher or Scholes being fit was the main reason we didn't win it. Anderson is just not good enough to fill in the role.
Although, I do remember we actually dominated the first 10 minutes and after that it went downhill.
Not just Carrick but everyone including fans, other players & SAF disappointed with the performance and everyone thought we could have done better.
Although, I do remember we actually dominated the first 10 minutes and after that it went downhill.
Not just Carrick but everyone including fans, other players & SAF disappointed with the performance and everyone thought we could have done better.
Carrick seems to think very deeply about the game - his excerpts are a pleasure to read.
The same story in the Guardian (can't read the DM, sorry) has a great para about his introduction to the club by SAF that I see hasn't been mentioned yet:
https://www.theguardian.com/footbal...manchester-united-2009-champions-league-final
https://www.theguardian.com/footbal...manchester-united-2009-champions-league-final
I bet that goes along these lines these days when delivered by Jose: “I'm used to winning wherever I manage, you know? The scrutiny is different for me than your previous manager. Everyone looks at you differently when you’re Jose Mourinho. Everyone wants to beat me, everyone wants a piece of me, everyone wants to criticise me, everyone’s after me.”
Yeah that's great. I think in the end he crushed all the enjoyment out of our players, and as Carrick says they were more or less banned from using their instincts, which can't be conducive to the development of young exciting players. However LVG obviously knew his stuff, under him when the football worked it really worked.
I like Carrick's diplomacy in not putting himself forward as United manager at this stage but he's clearly preparing himself for management. He's a student of the game who was tactically astute in his playing days and if he can pick up and use all the good stuff from Jose, LVG and Fergie he could be a hell of a manager, one I'd love to see take the reins here eventually.
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You'd have to wonder what percentage of modern players would carry a final loss with them like Carrick has?
I can remember how scared I was in 2009 thinking that United were going to dominate Europe and match Liverpool's 5 European Cups. Thankfully, this era had possibly the greatest team and player to ever play the game.
I can remember how scared I was in 2009 thinking that United were going to dominate Europe and match Liverpool's 5 European Cups. Thankfully, this era had possibly the greatest team and player to ever play the game.
That also happened to Buffon after the 2003 CL final loss.
I love Michael Carrick. Miss watching him play, such an underappreciated player.
He's one of the only ex-United players I have a bit of faith could actually become a decent manager some day.
He's one of the only ex-United players I have a bit of faith could actually become a decent manager some day.
I know Sir Alex was a fiery personality but I've never thought He'd talk shit about Matthew Peters during the Club World Cup final, He was really mad I reckon.
I’d guess this was the period when he was asked to play alongside Fletcher. Who was so poor positionally (and as a footballer) but was backed by saf, so it would make any professional question their sanity!
Imagine how Karius must feel.
I was very positive albeit worried of missing Fletcher (who was immense around that time).
I know it was a great Barca side but first ten minutes was all us, then that goal turned everything on its head. I can see how Carrick would keep lamenting it, if we had carried on the way we started for 20 or 30 minutes I reckon we would have won it.
Goals change games.
I know it was a great Barca side but first ten minutes was all us, then that goal turned everything on its head. I can see how Carrick would keep lamenting it, if we had carried on the way we started for 20 or 30 minutes I reckon we would have won it.
Goals change games.
Carrick seems a smart lad! Cheers!
I was never a huge fan of Carrick because he always seemed to be overwhelmed in the big games, but he was so consistent against all the other sides, and that's what helped us win the league.
For me he's not a legend, but a faithful solid player.
For me he's not a legend, but a faithful solid player.
The 2008 side looked like a Champions League winning side. 2009 looked a class below. Like in 1999, we seemed to take a step backwards instead of improving. Giggs, Anderson, Park and O'Shea didnt make the starting 11 the year prior. We should have strengthened big.
Barca were a great side, by nobody is unbeatable. I was gutted that day. Sad thing is, Chelsea murdered them in the semis. That could have been a embarrassment for them. The chances they had could have been a route.
Barca were a great side, by nobody is unbeatable. I was gutted that day. Sad thing is, Chelsea murdered them in the semis. That could have been a embarrassment for them. The chances they had could have been a route.
Park and O'Shea both had far better United careers than the players they replaced from the 2008 team (Hargreaves and Brown). Ando looked a real prospect that season and Giggs is one of the club's greatest ever players.The 2008 side looked like a Champions League winning side. 2009 looked a class below. Like in 1999, we seemed to take a step backwards instead of improving. Giggs, Anderson, Park and O'Shea didnt make the starting 11 the year prior. We should have strengthened big.
Barca were a great side, by nobody is unbeatable. I was gutted that day. Sad thing is, Chelsea murdered them in the semis. That could have been a embarrassment for them. The chances they had could have been a route.
The weakness in that squad was in midfield. They couldn't control a game against the elite European sides and relied heavily on a top class defence and Ronaldo in attack. They were doing really well in that game until Barca scored but didn't have the quality in midfield to chase the game from behind and Barca controlled it from then on.
Messi playing the false 9 left them completely out numbered in midfield.
I remember us coming out all guns blazing with Ronaldo as the focal point. Nothing happened for us though and we gradually got outplayed. They were in the beginning of becoming the best club side ever and we got beat fair and square.
If you want to be ultra honest then you'd appreciate how lucky we were to actually win that competetition the previous year. However it's done now and we sure did have mental grit at that time.
No quarries though with the Barca clashes of 09 and 11. We simply came up against the best club side ever (imo).
If you want to be ultra honest then you'd appreciate how lucky we were to actually win that competetition the previous year. However it's done now and we sure did have mental grit at that time.
No quarries though with the Barca clashes of 09 and 11. We simply came up against the best club side ever (imo).
You're not wrong but in terms of ability, peak performance and tactically, Brown (solid right back was brilliant in 2008) and Hargreaves (again same, brilliant and locked down that right whilst being a great covering player in midfield) were at the time simply better players imo.
I remember being confused as to why everyone was so confident going into that game. We had a very good team, but Barcelona had been making teams who would give us a run for our money look ordinary. We were also not at the same level as the year before. If it had been any team other than them I'd have been confident, but I remember texting my mate who was there and saying we're going to struggle to get enough of the ball.
Also this does kind of sum up Carrick. Very good player but I don't think one of those who picks a dressing room up or immediately comes out fighting after a set back. He had players in the team who did that for him. There was always that thing where no one could tell if Carrick playing well meant the team played well, or if Carrick was playing well because the team was. You'd rarely if ever have a game where wed play poorly but he'd stand out as an exception. Ferguson's last season was his best for us I thought and it seemed like spending that whole season being a one man midfield kind of took it's toll...Well that and Moyes
Also this does kind of sum up Carrick. Very good player but I don't think one of those who picks a dressing room up or immediately comes out fighting after a set back. He had players in the team who did that for him. There was always that thing where no one could tell if Carrick playing well meant the team played well, or if Carrick was playing well because the team was. You'd rarely if ever have a game where wed play poorly but he'd stand out as an exception. Ferguson's last season was his best for us I thought and it seemed like spending that whole season being a one man midfield kind of took it's toll...Well that and Moyes