Alas poor Carrick...WTF has happened?
- Thread starter Carl
- Start date
According to Saturdays programme its Carrick's 60th start in Europe for us tonight (+4 as sub). Only Giggs, Scholes and Rio are ahead of him in the current squad. Not too shabby for a so-called average midfielder.
He was great on Saturday, Rooney and RVP burst into life everytime he got the ball, because they knew he'd find them if they made some space.
The thing you see watching him live is the way he breaks up opposing attacks by reading where the man in possession wants to put the ball and running to block off that space. Thats the kind of benefit you get from a top quality defensive midfielder, that you'll never see in a highlights programme - its a priceless commodity to have though, and Carrick is superb at it
He was great on Saturday, Rooney and RVP burst into life everytime he got the ball, because they knew he'd find them if they made some space.
The thing you see watching him live is the way he breaks up opposing attacks by reading where the man in possession wants to put the ball and running to block off that space. Thats the kind of benefit you get from a top quality defensive midfielder, that you'll never see in a highlights programme - its a priceless commodity to have though, and Carrick is superb at it
Our games with him and Carrick in midfield were some of our poorer games that season. They never worked well together. I remember his better games coming off the right wing, either as a full back or a right sided midfielder. He never really impressed me in the middle for us.
Aye, Hargo's best games for us came on the right. Didnt do very well at CM. His injury led to his time with us as a CM being painted in much better light than it actually was.
Anywhere we can find his W/D/L record for us? I've checked the usual sources but none seem to have it.
I don't know, because we watched the match?
Perhaps, but I don't think midfield partnerships happen overnight. If they had got the chance to build a partnership, I don't see how a pairing of him and Carrick could be any less good as a Carrick/Jones partnership.
Agree. He'd have been a certainty to start tonight.
We never even saw the best of him at United, either.
We defended well in that game and Hargreaves certainly did a very good job shielding the back four but it was no midfield domination. If anything, our best players were Brown, Vidic and Rio. Anderson played well but the performance was hyped to a ridiculous extent on here.
Maybe it was overhyped, but the duo's performance was way better than the dross served from Scholes and Carrick one year prior at the same venue (O'Shea goal aside), and the midfield's performance the following year.
Our defence was excellent in that game. Rio shadowed Torres very well and Vidic was a monster dealing with their direct approach in the second half.
It played a larger part in our victory than Hargreaves and Anderson supposedly running the midfield.
It played a larger part in our victory than Hargreaves and Anderson supposedly running the midfield.
Oh, certainly. I'm just saying that the claim that they "destroyed Liverpool's midfield" is a wild exaggeration.
Absolutely, and in any case we shouldn't try to take the credit away from Rafa. He did a fantastic job destroying it.
I didn't think I'd find something to laugh at after that match, but well done.
I thought he did well, but again under pressure was found a little bit wanting.
Struggled a bit with the pace of Kaka and a couple of others, but damn me, Kaka has returned a lot of his pace and quality!
Thought carrick did very well in shielding the defence prior to the red card. Was constantly getting in Madrids way. Can't comment on how he played after the red card/goals as I stopped watching as closely
Same here, emotions took over and I couldn't bear to watch any replay. When it was still a fair game, he did an excellent job.
Yep. I was watching the replay without knowing the score. Second goal went in and I finally caved with frustration and checked the final score. After that it was rather hard to watch knowing we wouldn't be going through.
I didn't think Giggsy's assist for van Persie at West Ham would be bettered for us this season...
Well, feck me!
Well, feck me!
Incredible pass. He's always had terrific passing and composure, but to me he just seems so much more confident this season. Brilliant.
He's playing at a completely different level to last year, and last year he was excellent.
Completely balls out amazing.
The way this guy plays I can see him playing well into his thirties. He doesn't require pace and unlike some players he sure has got a hell of a football brain and has great passing technique.
Going above Van Persie as player of the season for me.
Carrick is for me the most consistent player of the year, not only is he consistent but he's consistently great as well. I hope Roy Hodgson is taking note, should have taken him to the euros.
Remember when people used to think 18million was too much for him
Out of this world pass.
Really hope Hogdson is thinking of a Carrick and wilshere midfield for england. Just think it would be so good with the way both are at the moment.
That pass was just wankworth.
Great assist that. Made the goal out of nothing basically.
What a fecking pass! Assist of the season so far for me.
Wilted badly in the second half.
Don't understand why Ferguson can spend 3m on a LB backup player who never plays but not spend about the same amount on a midfield razor to bring on in games like that and run around chopping cnuts and getting in peoples faces.
It's what Carrick can't bring to the table even in great form. He's totally gassed and you can see it now. Could be crucial now having to play another FA cup tie which is yet another game that he will have to play 90 minutes in.
Don't understand why Ferguson can spend 3m on a LB backup player who never plays but not spend about the same amount on a midfield razor to bring on in games like that and run around chopping cnuts and getting in peoples faces.
It's what Carrick can't bring to the table even in great form. He's totally gassed and you can see it now. Could be crucial now having to play another FA cup tie which is yet another game that he will have to play 90 minutes in.
The bad passing virus even infected him in the end some of his second half passes to other players, or should I say behind other players, made me forget how great his assist for Hernandez had been.
Doesn't matter about him playing another 90 minutes. We're that far ahead in the PL and we're no longer in the champions league.
I mean for the FA cup.
It is just more games in general. Fergie has taken a bit of a gamble on Fletcher in not bolstering his midfield hard man stocks.
It is just more games in general. Fergie has taken a bit of a gamble on Fletcher in not bolstering his midfield hard man stocks.
Was literally a one man midfield for 45 minutes today. If I were him I'd save up some pennies and buy a midfield partner himself, cause Fergie seems determined not to.
It's got to the point you feel sorry for him having to play with such tactically lazy central midfield partners. He's the only one that tries to tackle and track back and the poor sod gets passed the ball in the most retarded areas.
I actually feel sorry for him in these type of games. His teammates turn into dogshit, and he still somehow continues to play good.