Thought he played well. Kept the ball well and protected the defence.
Alas poor Carrick...WTF has happened?
- Thread starter Carl
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He couldn't do much when he was the only one in the center when Giggs chose to disappear in to the blackhole that we call central midfield. Once Scholes was up, Carrick had enough support.
Yh definitely. It's not that Giggs/Clev are lazy or anything but they just don't take up the positions needed when we don't have the ball and sometimes are too eager to go forward and don't let us build a more measured attack. Scholes will do that but then because he plays quite deep it means Carrick has to as well and so teams can push up on us.
But I thought Carrick played well and was again one of our better players though in this game it's not saying much.
I'd rather him attempting to move the ball (he did a few times in the second half) to give Kagawa the chance to shake off his man before firing a difficult ball to control at him.
When he did it in the second half he seemed to bypass the easy dink square to someone who was open going for a critical pass and he nearly got one off. When he stops playing a static zone he is way more dangerous. He even pushed up a few times and those few times we got some real penetration and created something.
When he did it in the second half he seemed to bypass the easy dink square to someone who was open going for a critical pass and he nearly got one off. When he stops playing a static zone he is way more dangerous. He even pushed up a few times and those few times we got some real penetration and created something.
There were far too many times he picked up the ball with acres of space to move into, only to stand still and play a hospital pass to a team mate.
Once is too many times for this to happen. I lost count of how many times he did it.
Once is too many times for this to happen. I lost count of how many times he did it.
I thought he was superb in the second half. He drove forward with the ball, which he usually doesn't do (but is surprisingly good at), and created some good passages as play. Of course this is in addition to his fabulous distribution and ball retention. He was one of the main reasons for our 30 minute dominance in the second half.
It's true. Every game I seem to say the same thing to myself. "LOOK AT THE SPACE... TURN AND GO" but watch him play a harmless ball to somebody under pressure or try and fire a high percentage pass at someone who is going to have a hard time controlling it. (When he could change the play by moving the ball forward 5 or 6 yards to create space for the player he fires the high% ball to).
I think it was when Rio had to go out wide and make a challenge on Suarez in the second half you see him stop stand there, jump on the spot and watch as Suarez is about to go past Rio and he doesn't even put himself in a good position. He just stands there and watches it all unfold.
Not having a go at Carrick but watching Fletcher against Newcastle to me it's just so evident that he does what Carrick imo really should be doing.
Closing effectively and actually challenging players (not standing off and/or looking for interceptions) taking the ball under pressure and moving it to create space for people around him (not hitting first time passes under pressure and opting for the safe option instead of turning on the ball to create space) and effectively tracking moving players and breaking up the opposition's play in doing so.
It probably helped having the mobility of Anderson, Cleverley and Rooney in front of him but I think it is something that is beneath the surface of some of our midfield troubles we've been having.
Closing effectively and actually challenging players (not standing off and/or looking for interceptions) taking the ball under pressure and moving it to create space for people around him (not hitting first time passes under pressure and opting for the safe option instead of turning on the ball to create space) and effectively tracking moving players and breaking up the opposition's play in doing so.
It probably helped having the mobility of Anderson, Cleverley and Rooney in front of him but I think it is something that is beneath the surface of some of our midfield troubles we've been having.
I agree.
IMHO Darren Fletcher's positional play in shielding the defence is as good if not better than Michael Carrick's. If he was anywhere near 100% fit I'd have Fletcher in the holding role above Carrick every time. Its probably the case that on paper Carrick beats Fletcher in many key skills but Fletcher has more composure.
Carrick has displayed he can do things like take the ball in tight areas and beat men but he shows a reluctance/fear of doing so that Fletcher simply doesn't. More often than not Carrick will shrink when he should stand tall whereas Fletch will back himself. What splits them for me is Fletcher's ability to pull it out of the bag when the pressure is really on.
If Carrick could just do what we all know he's capable off more maybe I'd have a different view.
Totally gash so far. Really horrible performance
Terrible performance.
Played a nice pass to Van Persie which he fluffed the shot, that was all the good I can think of from him today.
His pass to RVP
which RVP shot wide
He was excellent today. Seems to play better around Scholes
which RVP shot wideHe was excellent today. Seems to play better around Scholes
His pass to RVP
He was excellent today. Seems to play better around Scholes
Excellent? Are you crazy? The first half he was terrible, absolutely terrible.
The second half he played much better of course, but that was as Spurs decided to sit back a lot and he didnt have that much to do defensively.
The ball to RvP was fecking class of course but overall a poor performance.
Absolutely horrific performance today. Big deal if he played ONE good pass to RVP.
He was shat all over by dembele and co. He offered minimal protection for Rio Ferdinand and the backline. Not sure why he thinks its acceptable to be jogging back to help out.
He has become even MORE immobile than before and literally plays the game at walking pace now. It just makes him so easy to close down for the opposition.
He was shat all over by dembele and co. He offered minimal protection for Rio Ferdinand and the backline. Not sure why he thinks its acceptable to be jogging back to help out.
He has become even MORE immobile than before and literally plays the game at walking pace now. It just makes him so easy to close down for the opposition.
He picked his game up in the 2nd for sure but in the first half all the players were poor.
He was easily the worst though. Just getting out played by dembele and generally not even being arsed to track back quickly and help out the defence. We let them run right through our midfield twice. Carrick is supposed to be the one who shields the back four.
If you're going to sit back and play the "defensive playmaker" role then at least try and help out. He just didn't have the pace or the energy to do it.
You can't start a midfield as old as Giggs, Scholes and carrick against any serious side. First half they really made Kagawa, RVP and Nani look so bad.
I'm wondering if that's fatigue though. He's the only United player who's played every single minute in the PL so far. I like Carrick a lot as a player when he's in form, but I can't help but think that our tactics when Scholes is on the pitch is:
"Michael, always pass the ball to Paul."
I'm also a bit concerned that at 31 he's beginning to show his age somewhat, his pace at times is a little erm... slow. I know he's never been the quickest player but recently he's really looked off pace. Again i'm not sure if that's fatigue or simply Carrick struggling.
First half him Giggs and Scholes were by passed with laughable ease. Especially for that second goal.
I agree. He was terrible today bar one or two decent things. He's generally shit when he plays with Scholes nowadays, he hides away and lacks any authority in the game. I think he needs to be dropped a game or two.
Any players in a static midfield we have against a good mobile midfield will always struggle. Carrick is not to blame.
I thought he played well.
I thought he was quite good today. In the first half, our CMs were playing deep creating a big gap between them and the attackers. Carrick did try and venture ahead but it made us liable to be caught on the break because Scholes can't match up to speedy counters. The few times he ventured ahead led to that Bale goal where Scholes just couldn't keep up. In the second half, when we had the possession and Spurs sat back, Scholes went up and Carrick was just "refreshing" the attack by winning the ball back and passing ti to whoever was along side.
He made a few great tackles and was much better than any of our midfield 4 in the first half.
He made a few great tackles and was much better than any of our midfield 4 in the first half.
Is it me or he has returned on that level of 2009-2010. Maybe it is because team in general is playing poor but he is not playing like last year when he was best defensive midfielder in England.
Poor today and on the whole a shaky start to the season. He is back to being the Michael Carrick who polarises the opinions of the fans.
How anyone can come in here and in all honesty say Carrick was any more than shite today is beyond me
He was shit, I hope Fletcher will soon start to challenge him for the place.
Utter bollocks. He was good - should have had an assist after Van Persie's scuffed shot and won a lot of tackles.
The fact that I don't mind Michael Carrick and performances from him like todays just shows how far we've fallen more than anything. A couple of years ago I had him down as our weak link; now he's our best midfielder and he hasn't really improved.
Well firstly, Scholes is still our best midfielder, and secondly, Carrick showed last season that he most certainly has improved. He was brilliant for large portions of last season, and if he can get back to that kind of level again this season then it will be terrific for us.
It wasn't just him that played terrible today
Scholes is still our best midfielder in terms of talent and ability to pass etc., but Carrick has been getting massive praise on here since halfway through last season. Your last sentence just highlights what I mean though, we want Michael Carrick to get into form to improve us! A few years ago he was down as a player that needed upgrading on in order to bridge the gap with Barca. We're a million miles away from that now.
Well then I'm confused! I thought you said he hadn't improved, but if you agree with me that last season Carrick both a) Showed he had improved and b) was generally excellent and in-turn, if he can get back to that form then that would be great news for us.... then what are we discussing?!
It's really strange to consider Michael Carrick as "old". But at 31, he sort of is. True, pace was never his main strength by any stretch of the imagination, but he's becoming overly immobile. I think the main issue is who he is paired with. If he's paired with Giggs and Scholes - who happen to be the reasons that we don't think immediately consider Carrick as getting on in the years - it's turning into a real problem.
We talk about how Scholes and Giggs are getting old and undoubtedly will retire very soon, but fact of the matter is that Carrick himself might not have many years left. We've been spoiled by those two, but who's to say that Carrick will be able to play at this level when he's 33 and older? We just might have more to replace in the centre than we usually consider.
We talk about how Scholes and Giggs are getting old and undoubtedly will retire very soon, but fact of the matter is that Carrick himself might not have many years left. We've been spoiled by those two, but who's to say that Carrick will be able to play at this level when he's 33 and older? We just might have more to replace in the centre than we usually consider.
I'm saying that a few seasons ago Carrick was our weak link in mine and many others opinion, and needed replacing to challenge in Europe once again. Now, we are currently hoping he finds some form to improve our midfield, because it is so poor.
No matter how bad Carrick plays there will be people saying he's excellent, brilliant, outstanding.
It doesn't matter how many times he give the ball away as long as he make one of those like the one to RVP.
What a useless player. Gives the ball away more times in one season than Scholes in his entire career.
Was he at fault for not tracking Dempsey's run for the third goal?
Would like to see him paired up with Fletcher again.
Do get fecked. Both of you'll. Just because your opinion doesn't match with some of the others, doesn't mean they have an agenda. Maybe I'll have to watch the match again, but so should you. He wasn't half as bad as you guys are making him out to be. Sometimes, you have to see what the situation was. He was a lone battler in the midfield 4 yesterday. And he generally isn't a skilled enough player to pull that off. By no means, is that terrible.