Andycoleno9
matchday malcontent
No
I mean its very much a matter of preference as they played the DM position in completely different ways. In saying that I honestly believe Mascherano was better. Being a CB at Barca has made people forget how excellent he was at Liverpool.Mascherano was better than Carrick? No way. There's overrating happening in this thread but you're underrating Carrick IMO.
I've already admitted that putting Busquets in our team would have raised the midfield performance up a notch, I do think he was the better player all things considering.There's some truth to that but it's not entirely true either.
It's that constant question - is Xavi Xavi becuase of Xavi or because of Messi/Iniesta/Pep/Barcelona/tiki taka? Or is it the other way round? You're correct that playing in that Barcelona team would help you get out of tight situations and retain the ball. But it's also questionable whether you'd actually get I to that Barcelona team and if you do - would you fit in seamlessly like an equally vital cog as all time great midfielders or look somewhat pale in comparison. I think Carrick would do well in that midfield but reach nowhere near the level Busquets did. The latter is possibly thought of, within the game as one of the great midfielders, more at the level of the Keane's and Scholes than Carrick's of this world.
I thought Carrick was a terrific footballer but there's a reason why he's a divisive topic - because he wasn't an elite CM despite a few comparing him to elite CMs.
Ha! Fair playToo late, already did.
All of this rings true.No chance. Busquets and Pirlo were on a different stratosphere. It's silly to compare Carrick, a very good footballer in his own right, to all time greats.
Alonso and Carrick were probably at a similar level.
As for this thread, I'd say they were at a similar level defensively. Maybe Carrick was even better. But Busquet's was so absurdly good at everything else theres not much to compare. For example Busquets was as press resistant as a CM gets. That in itself makes your team defensively stronger by a hell of a lot. Carrick was prone to being suffocated and didn't have that standout quality that the Barcelona man did.
I think to say Carrick is as good as him as an overall player is madness..It's an unpopular opinion but Carrick was world class.
His positioning was top drawer and his passing was quality.
As good as Busquets? That's a big call. ..
there was a 18 minute one on the 12/13 season which was good - excellent forward passing mostly, and some skillWhile we're here, someone link a good Carrick video from YouTube. Preferably one with the tags #despacito #respect #skillz
Carrick was a great, borderline world-class player (though maybe sucked for a season and a half around 2010). Busquests was an all-time great, one of the best to have played in that position. The list of midfielders (all positions) that were better than him in the last 20years includes Xavi, Pirlo, Zidane, Scholes and Iniesta. And probably that's it.there was a 18 minute one on the 12/13 season which was good - excellent forward passing mostly, and some skillsz too. the instagram video of the op is from another old video which had his defensive stuff from the chelsea and schalke games in 2011. and a shorter one from lvg's first season. i think all were taken down for copyright.
Modric in that list instead of Scholes, for me. Otherwise agree totally.Carrick was a great, borderline world-class player (though maybe sucked for a season and a half around 2010). Busquests was an all-time great, one of the best to have played in that position. The list of midfielders (all positions) that were better than him in the last 20years includes Xavi, Pirlo, Zidane, Scholes and Iniesta. And probably that's it.
Wasn't his fault for the most part. If your managers can't see beyond Gerrard and Lampard in midfield then you have to hold your hands upThe one problem I have with rating Carrick on the same level as Busquets and Alonso is his international career.
Busquets and Alonso were both starters and key players that helped Spain win 2010 World Cup and Euro 2012. Alonso delivered an MOTM performance against France in the 2012 quarter final, so they weren’t merely passengers riding on the coattails of Xavi and Iniesta.
Carrick’s impact for England was almost nonexistent. Correct me if I’m wrong, but Carrick didn’t play at either World Cup 2010 or Euro 2012. Those two tournaments were in his prime.
I think it’s too reductive to say that because he didn’t appear at those tournaments it means anything in his comparative ability to two players who did appear in those tournaments. If memory serves Milner and Barry got appearances at those tournaments yet neither of them are as good as Carrick (though both are good players). A less than stellar number of international appearances can often be down a variety of factors.Carrick’s impact for England was almost nonexistent. Correct me if I’m wrong, but Carrick didn’t play at either World Cup 2010 or Euro 2012. Those two tournaments were in his prime.
Yep that can’t be used against Carrick.Wasn't his fault for the most part. If your managers can't see beyond Gerrard and Lampard in midfield then you have to hold your hands up
You can’t use international career because. Carrick should have got more games than he did and better players like Scholes and Lampard never had international careers that matched their club performances for whatever reason.The one problem I have with rating Carrick on the same level as Busquets and Alonso is his international career.
Busquets and Alonso were both starters and key players that helped Spain win 2010 World Cup and Euro 2012. Alonso delivered an MOTM performance against France in the 2012 quarter final, so they weren’t merely passengers riding on the coattails of Xavi and Iniesta.
Carrick’s impact for England was almost nonexistent. Correct me if I’m wrong, but Carrick didn’t play at either World Cup 2010 or Euro 2012. Those two tournaments were in his prime.
Pep could just said Carrick is a great player without mentioning Alonso & Busquets name and yet he mentioned the name. He could have just said "Redmond is on the same level as Sterling" , but he didn't. If manager only said "Carrick is a great player", yes it doesn't really mean anything but compliment.It’s just an example. Managers are interviewed multiple times on a weekly basis. They are often complementary about opposition managers and players.
If you could go back in time and offer Guardiola the swap, there is no way he would take it. He was simply admiring a player as he has done many other times.
It’s like when people post the quotes about so and so saying such and such is the best player in the world. It is a soundbyte and doesn’t really mean anything.
Pep says a lot of things, like how Foden is the most talented player he’s ever coached. Bravo’s performance at Old Trafford is the best he’s ever seen from a goalie, and so on.Pep himself said that Carrick would get in his Barcelona team. I’d imagine he’d take Busquets place.
Right, that's me writing off the entire team that featured in the 2 finals then.No, not even close. Carrick was good when the going was good, but disappeared when it mattered. Watch the 2 games against Barca in the 2 finals and you will see he struggled.
he wasnt great next season, included his worst performance (vs bayern at home) but he was very good in the next one in 2010/11, held the midfield together as the only consistent defensive option and was excellent in the CL run to the final. the highlights in the op are from the QF against chelsea, he also dominated the SF against schalke.Didn't Carrick go to complete shit after the 2009 final? Took him like 2 seasons to regain his old form.
partnered with giggs in a 2-man midfield against xavi, iniesta, and busquets, they got destroyed, and in the 2nd half the tactical switch was??? switching giggs wide and having a carrick-park central midfield.No, not even close. Carrick was good when the going was good, but disappeared when it mattered. Watch the 2 games against Barca in the 2 finals and you will see he struggled.
messiLampard
Gerrard
Yaya Toure
Fabregas
Nedved
Kaka
Schneider
Viera
Zidane
Scholes
Giggs
Keane
Xavi
Iniesta
Petit
Makelelee
Beckham
Ronaldinho
Pirlo
Veron
Riquelme
Davids
Seedorf
Modric
David Silva
Redondo
Cambiasso
zola
Ballack
Essien
Busquests
off the top of my head, although I’ll have missed some world class players off that loss from around 99-2013
Carrick was of a similar level to Gareth Barry, Jordan Henderson.
Whos is talking about the entire team? This is a comparison between 2 players, not the entire team. When it mattered most, the player we are talking about disappeared without a trace. Big players show up no matter how bad the team is struggling. Carrick misplaced passes all throughout the game.Right, that's me writing off the entire team that featured in the 2 finals then.
Whos is talking about the entire team? This is a comparison between 2 players, not the entire team. When it mattered most, the player we are talking about disappeared without a trace. Big players show up no matter how bad the team is struggling. Carrick misplaced passes all throughout the game.
It's a stupid point, there are so many flaws in it I can't be arsed pointing them outWhos is talking about the entire team? This is a comparison between 2 players, not the entire team. When it mattered most, the player we are talking about disappeared without a trace. Big players show up no matter how bad the team is struggling. Carrick misplaced passes all throughout the game.