Future planning - Replacing Carrick

Pexbo

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I realise that some feel that Blind is the natural successor to Carrick, personally I disagree. I'm not convinced he will ever be able to control the midfield like Carrick does as he lacks the physical attributes. While Carrick has been accused of going missing against physical beasts like Toure, for the most part he is tall enough and strong enough to triumph whatever physical battle is left to win after his intelligence and technique have taken care of the rest.


A deep lying playmaker like Carrick is a genuinely rare player. Players like Scholes, Xabi, Busquets and Pirlo are the only players that come to mind in recent years who share his ability to dictate the game from a deeper position with either their passing or a combination of passing and defensive cover.


So who could we bring in that can replace what he does? For what it's worth, I think he has two strong seasons left in him.
 
Busquets is probably the closest thing around, but he seems to have gone downhill recently.

And he's a cnut
 
Schneiderlin might well be the best option, he could come in this summer and play as a #8, then when Carrick retires he could take over that #6 spot.

However my pick would be Xhaka, I really like what I have seen of him for Gladbach this season and while he doesn't put in as many tackles as Schneiderlin I think his ability to dictate the game from deep is better and at 22 he still has plenty of room to improve even further. His temperament has been his biggest issue but this season he's started to show a calmer side and maturity in his game.
 
I really do feel there's no other player I could ever chant "Hard to believe it's not Scholes" for.

Anyway, Carrick's an all rounder; passing ability, defensive positioning, strength, vision, creativity are all flawless from him. He's also established himself as a leader on the pitch so it's going to be close to impossible replacing him.

Personally I love Mario Suarez, very underrated player who's pretty much the Carrick of Atletico Madrid.

Schneiderlin is a great option as well and seems to be getting better and better, premier league proven also so he's the closest available to a ready-made replacement.
 
I dont think we should be looking for a single player to replace Carrick's attributes. Consider what he is good at (amongst other things) and what you expect from a CM:

1.Passing range
2.Physical presence
3.Reading of the game
4.Security/technique on the ball
5.Availability to receive the ball
6.Link up play between defence and midfield/attack
7. Defensive cover

People forget we bought Carrick to replace Keane, but ended up using him as a one size fits all replacement for both Keane and Scholes. Between them Scholes and Keane were better at every single one of those attributes. We need two midfielders who are specialists in the above skills rather than one who is jack of all but master of none.

For me Blind is already as good or better at 4 and 5, and close on 3. Its the other bits we need to focus on.
 
We really need to stop finding replacements for our great players, it limits our ability to switch up our formation and tactics in a certain way.

Blind is already a smart player so for that 2 man CM, we need a physical player IMO.
 
dxadel said:
We really need to stop finding replacements for our great players, it limits our ability to switch up our formation and tactics in a certain way.

Blind is already a smart player so for that 2 man CM, we need a physical player IMO.
Click to expand...

Well, the replacement we need for Carrick's role is a role that is essential in modern day football. Every club that's aiming for the very top has one. A Modric, a Busquets, Alonso, Lahm... The deep lying defensive playmaker, who can at once move the play forward with smart positioning is something rare but also very important. Remember the latter years of Scholes? Even during Fergie's time, it was when he came onto the pitch we suddenly transformed as a unit.

Carrick is the very same player. Intelligent in position and possession. Daley Blind is the same, and he may well be the answer, but I'm not fully sold on him taking care of Carrick's position yet. He lacks speed and power, you need to have at least one to be great in the PL. Scholsey was a tough little nut and Carrick is big enough to not be bullied. Blind has to show more presence.

I feel replacing Carrick may well come from our own academy. Ben Pearson is someone I've had my eye on for years. He deserves a shot in my opinion. The lad is consistent if not incredible. Tyler Blackett was consistent and that's why Louis picked him, till he regressed a little over the last 3 months. Pearson may well do a job. He is a tough little nut like Scholes was, but lacks a great passing game. It's competent but lacking maybe for a club like United. Still he deserves a go.
 
11101 said:
I dont think we should be looking for a single player to replace Carrick's attributes. Consider what he is good at (amongst other things) and what you expect from a CM:

1.Passing range
2.Physical presence
3.Reading of the game
4.Security/technique on the ball
5.Availability to receive the ball
6.Link up play between defence and midfield/attack
7. Defensive cover

People forget we bought Carrick to replace Keane, but ended up using him as a one size fits all replacement for both Keane and Scholes. Between them Scholes and Keane were better at every single one of those attributes. We need two midfielders who are specialists in the above skills rather than one who is jack of all but master of none.

For me Blind is already as good or better at 4 and 5, and close on 3. Its the other bits we need to focus on.
Click to expand...

dxadel said:
We really need to stop finding replacements for our great players, it limits our ability to switch up our formation and tactics in a certain way.

Blind is already a smart player so for that 2 man CM, we need a physical player IMO.
Click to expand...

Nice points about evolving rather than replacing like for like. I fully agree with that actually.

Disagree big style on Blind being better than Carrick at reading the game, having better ball retention skills and making himself availiable though.
 
Pexbo said:
Nice points about evolving rather than replacing like for like. I fully agree with that actually.

Disagree big style on Blind being better than Carrick at reading the game, having better ball retention skills and making himself availiable though.
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Don't think he is better at reading the game, he is still a smart player though.
 
The Red Thinker said:
Well, the replacement we need for Carrick's role is a role that is essential in modern day football. Every club that's aiming for the very top has one. A Modric, a Busquets, Alonso, Lahm... The deep lying defensive playmaker, who can at once move the play forward with smart positioning is something rare but also very important. Remember the latter years of Scholes? Even during Fergie's time, it was when he came onto the pitch we suddenly transformed as a unit.

Carrick is the very same player. Intelligent in position and possession. Daley Blind is the same, and he may well be the answer, but I'm not fully sold on him taking care of Carrick's position yet. He lacks speed and power, you need to have at least one to be great in the PL. Scholsey was a tough little nut and Carrick is big enough to not be bullied. Blind has to show more presence.

I feel replacing Carrick may well come from our own academy. Ben Pearson is someone I've had my eye on for years. He deserves a shot in my opinion. The lad is consistent if not incredible. Tyler Blackett was consistent and that's why Louis picked him, till he regressed a little over the last 3 months. Pearson may well do a job. He is a tough little nut like Scholes was, but lacks a great passing game. It's competent but lacking maybe for a club like United. Still he deserves a go.
Click to expand...

I agree with that role being the most important in club football right now, i just want us to avoid signing a player using Carrick's template, then judge him for not playing like Carrick.

With that being said if we were to sign a player to "replace" him, it would have to be this summer, we need to perform that Henderson - Gerrard type torch passing ceremony next season as it may very well be his last.
 
I actually would love to see a pairing of Lars Bender and Schneiderlin in midfield. Both of them will provide a solid foundation for attack and defense. I'm sure that they are not on LvG's list, but they would be a fine pairing.

4-2-3-1

------------Rooney------------

---Depay--Herrera---Bale----

----L Bender---Schneiderlin---


Or 4-3-3

-----Depay------Rooney------Bale----

-----------Herrera---Schneiderlin-----

--------------L Bender-------------------
 
ghagua said:
I actually would love to see a pairing of Lars Bender and Schneiderlin in midfield. Both of them will provide a solid foundation for attack and defense. I'm sure that they are not on LvG's list, but they would be a fine pairing.

4-2-3-1

------------Rooney------------

---Depay--Herrera---Bale----

----L Bender---Schneiderlin---


Or 4-3-3

-----Depay------Rooney------Bale----

-----------Herrera---Schneiderlin-----

--------------L Bender-------------------
Click to expand...

It would be foolish to entrust your CM to your 2 newest signings, in a season where you are playing CL football.
 
Blind is the obvious replacement even though he is not like for like. We should go for a box to box mobile midfielder like Strootman or Vidal to complement Herrara and Fellaini.
 
Well i doubt we'd get him but modric maybe?
Dont know if i'd try and replace him like for like. He was bought to replace keane after all.
 
Don't think we'll find a like for like replacement. If we go looking for it, it will be back to days when we kept looking for the "Next Roy" or the "Next Scholes". Xabi Alonso is the player with similar attributes, unfortunately, he is also of the similar age. Among the younger ones I believe Verratti has the qualities to succeed him. If PSG are desperate for Di Maria, and the Argentine is adamant on leaving, then we should make sure that we include Verratti in the deal.

In the premier league Schneiderlin and McCarthy are the players I thought we could look for the holding position. Haven't seen McCarthy much this season to make a judgement on how he has progressed, Schneiderlin has been impressive every time I have seen him. He is a more mobile player, has good defensive positioning and sense. The thing that he lacks at the moment is Carrick's expansive passing range.
 
Quite unfair to Blind, Blind has been in the PL for the first time, from Eredivisie to PL is a huge step in terms of tempo, intensity and I think he's adjusted quite well. He played mostly when the team was unbalanced, the beginning of the season and later on when we played with him as only midfielder and then 5 attackers befofe him. But yet he did a very good job, ofcoursw some times you'll get caught out if you are the only midfielder but even then the damage wasnt quite big. I think he'll really grow into that role, and honestly there arent much better options, he's very similar to Carrick in terms of playing style and I think that's primary what we need if LVG remains our coach.
 
this has been on my mind for a while and the contrast in our midfield with and without Carrick is significant

post above by 11101 and Insanity are good ones

we've tried in vain to replace Keane and Scholes - even Giggs as a CM had more ability and know how than players like Cleverley and Anderson

I like the idea of having a number of midfield players who share the attributes of;

1.Passing range
2.Physical presence
3.Reading of the game
4.Security/technique on the ball
5.Availability to receive the ball
6.Link up play between defence and midfield/attack
7. Defensive cover

I'd say Pogba is one player who encompasses many of these qualities and things like reading of the game and passing intelligence will improve with time

a combination of a strong defensive midfield player with good all round ability with a strong attacking midfield playermaker type midfielder with good all round ability would be perfect....

at the minute I'd argue that the best midfield 2 in the world could well be something like Pogba and Modric
 
buckooo1978 said:
a combination of a strong defensive midfield player with good all round ability with a strong attacking midfield playermaker type midfielder with good all round ability would be perfect....

at the minute I'd argue that the best midfield 2 in the world could well be something like Pogba and Modric
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Which of those is the strong defensive player?
 
Pexbo said:
Not a tiny bit similar.
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I think you're failing to understand the points people ate making here. We don't need to look for a Carrick clone, as long as they bring balance to the side.
 
Doesn't have to be like for like, but a midfielder who plays through the lines whenever possible is definitely needed. I like Blind but his passing just isn't as probing. He will pass forward, but Carrick is far better at releasing wide players or setting up an attack with the first pass to the right player.

Big fan of Schneiderlin, but not too sure his passing is at that level. It's a shame Madrid got Kroos, he's an unbelievable passer of the ball. In the right setup he'd thrive in this league.

I'm sure Spurs/So'ton will have someone decent enough for us to get ripped off with when the time comes.
 
I really don't think there's anyone around who fits the specification apart from Alonso and Schweinsteiger, who are also getting on a bit.

Personally, I'd choose to move the brute force back into a CDM position and get a play maker higher up the pitch alongside Herrera. So someone like Pjanic is perfect IMO and then a pure defensive midfielder to lock down and close up shop in front of the midfield. Even one of them is pretty hard to get at the moment though. Just not many great young deep lying playmakers / defensive midfielders around.
 
ivaldo said:
I think you're failing to understand the points people ate making here. We don't need to look for a Carrick clone, as long as they bring balance to the side.
Click to expand...

How on earth would Pogba bring balance to this side? He has very little defensive input.
 
Pexbo said:
How on earth would Pogba bring balance to this side? He has very little defensive input.
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I'd see the likes of Pogba operating in one of Herrera, or Fellaini's positions, not Carrick's. Agree with you there.
 
Would Strootman (hopefully a recovered one) be a perfect fit for a Carrick replacement?
 
Blind is Carrick's long term replacement. We can't expect him to be at that level just yet but he's shown promising signs. I agree he needs a partner like Schneiderlin though.
 
We should look at players who will compliment Herrera in a 4-3-3. Herrera to have the 8/10-role in cm so we need a 6 and an 8. Will Blind be one of those players? Can he adapt to the 8-role? We still have time, though. Carrick and Fellaini will do just fine in the meantime. I feel Di Maria is more suited to the 8/10-role so what to do there...

6
Herrera - Di Maria

?
 
It's probably going to come down to what to deep lying midfieldes or a midfield three can do. Like for like just isn't going to happen. The team set up will shift a little bit.
 
Whenever have you replaced a retiring player with a similar one? It is surely a failing tactic, we will find a different type.
 
I don't think we'll buy like for like replacement, if we for example put Blind and Herrera in midfield they basically have plenty of what Carrick offers (positional awareness, defensive ability, passing range). As important as Carrick has been for us I think we will cope fine even if we don't buy a similar player. I don't really see anyone who'd play the way Carrick does that we could sign at the minute, much like Carrick replaced a completely different player in our squad when he came (Keane).
 
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