Carrick to start against Watford

mitchmouse

loves to hate United.
Joined
Oct 8, 2014
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Nice touch from Jose: our midfield might have been better if MC had played/been able to play more often
 
Be great to see him in the last home game, and he will get some send off when he gets inevitably subbed off late on.

Magnificent player for United, one of my favorite players we have had and a legend. Will be a bit sad :( but can't wait to see how he does as a coach.
 
Something to look forward to again then. It's crazy to think the criticism this transfer got (then a high fee, no other signing that summer etc.) back then. Here we are, 12 years later and we are debating if he's a legend or just below.

What a player.
 
I'm so sad he's retiring. Such a beautiful player to watch. He'll probably be our best midfielder on Sunday and we'll all be wondering why he's stopping. :lol: he's an artist on the pitch. Simple but very effective.
 
A true United legend and the end of an era from the great 08 side. He'll get the send off from his playing career that he deserves.
 
BarstoolProphet said:
Something to look forward to again then. It's crazy to think the criticism this transfer got (then a high fee, no other signing that summer etc.) back then. Here we are, 12 years later and we are debating if he's a legend or just below.

What a player.
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Tbh, for me he is. I think he has been such a driving force for so long, so effective in his role and won so many trophies that he must be one by now. Brilliant player.
 
BarstoolProphet said:
Something to look forward to again then. It's crazy to think the criticism this transfer got (then a high fee, no other signing that summer etc.) back then. Here we are, 12 years later and we are debating if he's a legend or just below.

What a player.
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He’s a legend. There is no argument otherwise.
 
Criminally underused by England (there's a pattern there with United midfielders), but was truly our gain.

Legend and one of the core players in the most successful United team in history. Great player and great guy by all accounts.

If you're reading this Michael, sorry I had to ask whether your missus was your mum in the player awards thread.
 
Pexbo said:
He’s a legend. There is no argument otherwise.
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I don't disagree fwiw, but it's not that definite though. I also didn't mean to start a debate about, just feel it's a testament to his United career that he's seen as a legend in some people's eyes (including mine).
 
What a player and career he had at ManUtd. Hopefully he will end on a high with FA cup medal.
 
Must admit I struggled to see exactly what he was supposed to be good at when he arrived but he became a very important player. His ability to spot danger and pick an astute forward pass became more impressive the older he got. Now I'd kill for a 25 year old Carrick.
 
Fantastic player! Dealing with Spurs back then was already a nightmare, but totally worth it.
 
He really picked up several qualities as he went along and developed into fantastic controlling midfielder. Those first time passes between the lines into the attackers, it's an art really. :drool:
 
R.N7 said:
The Caf was truly over the moon.

https://www.redcafe.net/threads/utd-sign-carrick.121630/
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lol. My post from that thread:

MadDogg said:
It's one thing to stay back (which Carrick will do). It's a totally different thing to have the defensive positioning and know-how to either slow the attacking team down enough for your other midfielders to get back, or to force the attacking team to one side with no real chance to cut it back inside. Carrick doesn't have the ability to do this regularly against teams who thrust forward fast and with purpose.

If deep-lying playmakers are good enough to be used as the main holding midfielder simply because of the fact they sit deep, why do Milan waste a spot on Gattuso when Pirlo could do the job? Why did Benitez sign Sissoko when Alonso is more than enough? Why has Vieira gone through four different defensive midfielders at two different clubs (Petit, Edu, Gilberto and Emerson) when he could do it all himself (I don't think anybody would dispute that he's better defensively than Carrick). Why did Real Madrid suddenly implode when they sold Makelele? Why do every top team in the world use a holding midfielder?

Using a defensive midfielder doesn't make you a defensive team. Used the right way it allows your other players to concentrate more on their attacking duties. Barca, Arsenal, Lyon - they all use them and are probably the three most attractive attacking teams in the world at the moment. In fact, they all play a defensive midfielder next to an all-round midfielder, which according to some would make us a boring team with not enough goals from the centre of midfield. Those three are prime examples of how it should work - not the defensive versions that Chelsea, Liverpool and the Italians use.

I think it's Mozza who keeps throwing out the line about us never having played with wingers who ignore their defensive duties. Nobody ever said anything about completely ignoring them; it's simply that with a proper defensive midfielder behind them they won't have to do as much defensive work as they will with a combo of Carrick-Scholes, which therefore allows them to be in better position and more of an attacking threat on a consistent basis.
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While I still feel that the overall tactics of this was (and still is) correct, Carrick proved me wrong and ended up being good enough defensively to be the main man himself. Hell, my first paragraph couldn't have been more wrong, as those exact things I criticised proved to be Carrick's strengths: slowing the attacking team down enough for reinforcements to get back, and forcing the attacking team to one side with no options to come back inside.

He's went on to be one of my favourite players over the last 12 years, and it'll be sad to see him leave the field.
 
There's a lot of people in that thread talking sense as well.

The guy arguing he isn't a defensive midfielder and could never play with Scholes had a mare though.
 
roonster09 said:
What a player and career he had at ManUtd. Hopefully he will end on a high with FA cup medal.
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That would be absolutely fantastic, what a way to finish a glittering career at United...!!

Manchester United
Premier League: 2006–07, 2007–08, 2008–09, 2010–11, 2012–13
FA Cup: 2015–16
League Cup: 2008–09, 2009–10, 2016–17
FA Community Shield: 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2016
UEFA Champions League: 2007–08
UEFA Cup: 2016–17
FIFA Club World Cup: 2008

It will be very interesting to see how his career develops from this point, because I get a very strong feeling that Carrick will become an excellent manager if he chooses to take that route.

 
he is 100% a legend, how can it even be debated?

462 appearances (40+ appearances in 9 out of his 11 seasons here)
5 PL's, a CL, an FA Cup.

Will always remember 12/13 where he was basically a one man midfield for us the entire season and alongside RvP carried us to the title.

Shame that once Scholes was past his peak he always had such a defunct midfield alongside him.
 
One of the best midfielders I've seen at the club.

Whilst we were winning everything in sight and in the clubs most succesful period ever - Michael Carrick was the only constant in our midfield.
 
Glad he's getting a final run. Hope the fans give him a deserving send-off when he gets pulled.
 
I'm glad. Very nice decision to Jose and it'll be nice for Carrick to say goodbye to us (as a player) playing at Old Trafford. If I was in England right now i'd certainly go.
 
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