It has disabled the whole team. Unless we're playing 4-5-1, it leaves the back open (so much for Carrick), leaves the forwards stranded, and offers nearly zero output in terms of goals or assists. A 4-5-1 offers the cover, but we are left as virile as an eunuch in front of goal.
It's a shame when a 35 year old man is the sole source of any creativity, output or fecking stability in the midfield. It's a shame when we have to stop playing 4-4-2 against teams not in the top 4, just because we can't afford to switch up a mediocre midfield. It's a shame when teams like Tottenham and Liverpool can continually bitch slap us in the center.
Something has to happen soon. I'm not calling for heads, there just needs to be some damn competition in the middle. Fletcher and Carrick, in their current form, should be on the bench, not first team starters. Get someone one who will breath down their necks (no homo) in the race for a starting slot.
And lastly, the next person who says, "but, but, Carrick is at his best when players around him do well", no shit. It's time players in the midfield start carrying their fecking weight. It worked when we had a demon on the right who frightened teams back into their own halves, all by himself. Those days are gone.
I can't believe we got shafted in midfield by Liverpool. Of all fecking teams.