He's looked good. Rooney and RVP need to do better at controlling some of his passes
Alas poor Carrick...WTF has happened?
- Thread starter Carl
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Last few games, I'd agree. Not this one, so far, for me.
He's been very good
His best game this season, easily.
http://www.fourfourtwo.com/statszon...ayer-stats/2404/1_PASS_01#tabs-wrapper-anchor
http://www.fourfourtwo.com/statszon...ayer-stats/2404/1_PASS_01#tabs-wrapper-anchor
Doesn't move the ball with feet enough and I don't know why. Does he get a credited successful pass every time he drills one of those mega laser balls that players can barely control? That shit is getting frustrating. Nani copped one under absolutely no pressure and he couldn't even control it in space.
Instead of the neat ball move to draw and pass players he he hits those silly laser passes. It needs to stop to be honest.
Instead of the neat ball move to draw and pass players he he hits those silly laser passes. It needs to stop to be honest.
Can't believe Carrick is getting it of you he's been outstanding for us, he needs a Bit quality in beside him.
Those drilled balls are great, slices right through the middle and allos whoever has come a bit central to pick it up in a good area. Unfortunately we've not quite got that creative spark from anyone centrally yet. Nani was very threatening with it against west brom but hasn't quite come off fully yet. I thought though of Rooney played the way he did in the last 20mins or so for the whole game we might have got a lot more from itZ
Ay? Is this sarcasm? I've always been hypercritical of Carrick.
Is this a windup? Most of the time they can't even be controlled properly. Nani got one in space in the second half under no pressure and he literally couldn't control it and scuffed a touch attempt over the sideline.
In theory they work well and slice through the play but lately he's hitting them at such speed that it's become stupid. They are uncontrollable and slow down play by players having to take a recovery touch with their back to goal.
It would be much simpler if he took a touch, moved the ball and allowed players to break their marker before he hits a ball like that. I personally don't think we have seen enough of that this season and it's slowing down and inhibiting our creativity imo.
I don't agree at all, watch the west brom game again if you want, nani was having no trouble with those passes and it allowed him to be a constant threat. Yesterday Rooney/rvp for whatever reason weren't as sharp as they usually are and didnt make the most of them. Sure there might have been one of two occasions where nani messed up the touch but I'd say that was more his problem than an issue with the pass.
That for me where we don't make the most of those passes because its normally Rooney there who had many strengths but picking up the ball and making a full turn to open things up isn't something he often does.
That for me where we don't make the most of those passes because its normally Rooney there who had many strengths but picking up the ball and making a full turn to open things up isn't something he often does.
I still think we need a pair of heavyweights in the middle in terms of technical talent, physical/mental toughness and tactical nous.. I don't think Carrick and Cleverley cut it as first teamers if we're going to rival the likes of Bayern. We get bullied far too often in games for my liking and before Adnan's goals yesterday we didn't have much control over the game... you need your midfielders to set the tempo and they didn't for a large period of the game. Our defence didn't help either but it is definitely an area in which we need lots of reinforcements... the fact Carrick is our only midfielder of note says more about our situation than it says about him as a player. He looks quality because he's surrounded by such a lack of competition.
was superb yesterday - passing was fantastic and his completion rate must have been around 90%
his passing was ambitious and incisive as well - he and Cleverley were a very good combination
his passing was ambitious and incisive as well - he and Cleverley were a very good combination
Personally I'd say the problem is alongside him an just ahead. Clev had a pretty good game and did well with his tackles but still is positionally weak from a defensive view point and doesn't bring a huge amount to the build up. If you look at all the pass combinations on the 442 site, it's either from carrick or too carrick in general. He's baring a lot if the burden being the most defensive player and the most offensive as well.
Than just ahead I think we can struggle because both rvp and Rooney look to play quite high. With someone better than fellaini/clev in the middle it might not be such an issue but I think it would bring something to have someone playing a little deeper but then if course you want both rvp and Rooney in the best position to score goals.
Like I said, it would be interesting if those fired balls that usually result in that player getting a foot to it and losing it count as a successful pass.
Nani, and Rooney and RVP in particular weren't at their best yesterday - those guys normally have the technical ability to collect a pass and do something productive with it
I certainly appreciate that he's had alot to burden and in the PL, he's been vital as our only standalone solid midfielder. That said I think we want to move into a high pressing team and be alot better at possession at a higher tempo, he is also part of the problem. Ideally if we had players like a peak Keane/Scholes, he'd be on the bench. I appreciate there are not many of those type of players about in terms of quality but I do think we overrate him purely because the others are so bad. Most top sides lose games against poor opposition by lapses in concentration, failure to put chances away etc but we regularly get outplayed and made to look very mediocre... alot of that is attributable to the midfield. Yes a three man midfield would help but even when we do play a 3 man like we did v Shakthar, we look wretched in possession and it is a personnel issue.. we need 2 or 3 midfielders of high quality and the likes of Carrick and Cleverley would ideally be squad players - if of course Moyes has an eye to winning the CL. If we just want to remain competitive in the Premiership, then just one top class creative mid is enough, if we want to be a top european side, we need 2 or 3 players.
Those tough passes are what all the best passing teams in Europe are playing. It's what they're taught to do and it's the main reason England suck dick at keeping the ball - they can't control it and shield it under any sort of pressure. Bayern were pinging the ball to each other in the week and not only controlling the ball but laying it off first time to others (with perfect weight again)
Barca in particular rifle balls through the smallest of gaps and expect it to be controlled.
Barca in particular rifle balls through the smallest of gaps and expect it to be controlled.
Well yeah if you compare to keane and scholes he's not quite as good but he has been our most used midfielder in a period where he and we have won 5 out of 7 titles since he's been here and only just missed out ok the other 2, so even if he's not as good as two of the best midfielders British football has seen he's still been very good and very important for the most part. We've also been to 3 CL finals with him at the heart of things, better than we did with keane.
I agree though we need another top class midfielder, I think if we ha got that than with carrick as he's been playing these last few seasons our team would look very good. Going for a 3 can work but not if we play the 3 we have as fellaini and clev are not quality options. Another top quality player, with Rooney or kagawa playing a little ahead could be a very good midfield.
Carrick early season compilation anyone?
Yes please!
Oh right bros, get ready. Got more clips to cut out.
Gotta get those roulettes in. I love how regular a feature of his game they've become.
England's Michael Carrick the anchorman who set Three Lions free
http://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2013/oct/15/england-michael-carrick-gerrard-poland
http://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2013/oct/15/england-michael-carrick-gerrard-poland
He did a lot of hard graft tonight that Lampard sought to feck up, he was fecking awful as a Carrick replacement. Bizarre substitution.
Those Liverpool fans! 
Carrick will always make a side play better because he's an intelligent, calm player. It's not real surprise that we were able to control a game of football for once. Having said that though, someone on the guardian page made a valid point, will a 2 man midfield really cut it in the Brazilian heat? Think Roy may have to change his system yet again to fit the conditions. Either way, it was a ruddy good performance tonight.
Carrick will always make a side play better because he's an intelligent, calm player. It's not real surprise that we were able to control a game of football for once. Having said that though, someone on the guardian page made a valid point, will a 2 man midfield really cut it in the Brazilian heat? Think Roy may have to change his system yet again to fit the conditions. Either way, it was a ruddy good performance tonight.
The fact Carrick is 32 and still hasn't made it in this England team makes me weep.
Cornerstone midfielder (330 appearances in 8 seasons and never played less than 40 games) to a United side that has won 5 Premier Leagues, 1 Champions League, 1 Club World Cup, 1 League Cup and appeared in and been a key player in getting to 3 Champions League Finals.
He can't score thunderous strikes or come charging out of midfield though.
Cornerstone midfielder (330 appearances in 8 seasons and never played less than 40 games) to a United side that has won 5 Premier Leagues, 1 Champions League, 1 Club World Cup, 1 League Cup and appeared in and been a key player in getting to 3 Champions League Finals.
He can't score thunderous strikes or come charging out of midfield though.
Glen Johnson. He is an enigma.edit: Woah.. Reading the in-fighting comments between the same nations supporters.. feck me, no wonder the media/fan influence is so devastating to the state of the national team.
Very bizarre. I was with a mate, I looked at him and said 'I don't understand what Hodgson sees when he watches these guys play for him to think Lampard could/should replace Carrick'
So weird. Carrick was the reason this performance was so much better than Friday's. Within five minutes of Lampard coming on, he and Gerrard were back to inexplicably passing the ball to Poland under no pressure.
I feel there is just so much pressure in the job that manager's pander to the media to an extent, that is the only thing that can explain it. Hodgson looked like he was going to have a heart attack the whole first half. I would rather see Carrick beside a more mobile midfielder or ina three but I don't think Wilshere is there yet unfortunately...
Lamaprd just doesn't do anything for me nowadays. In terms of controlling a game he has NO effectiveness.
The substitution tonight was baffling. It was essentially another number on fat Frank's cap record as there was absolutely no reason to bring him on unless one of the front four were coming off.
Carrick set the tone for England allowing us to fully control the game and he sat back to ensure there weren't any shock counters (as we saw against Montenegro). If Gerrard has to play he surely has to play with someone like Carrick (considering we haven't got a proper donkey like Lucas to make up for his hollywood sloppiness).
Carrick won't transform England into a cup winning side, but he'll certainly make it harder for the better sides to completely walk over us. One thing he guarantees is possession. Whilst possession doesn't win a game, it certainly helps.
Carrick set the tone for England allowing us to fully control the game and he sat back to ensure there weren't any shock counters (as we saw against Montenegro). If Gerrard has to play he surely has to play with someone like Carrick (considering we haven't got a proper donkey like Lucas to make up for his hollywood sloppiness).
Carrick won't transform England into a cup winning side, but he'll certainly make it harder for the better sides to completely walk over us. One thing he guarantees is possession. Whilst possession doesn't win a game, it certainly helps.
Both Lampard and Gerrard in their absolute heydays (let alone now) played their best football with two other midfielders who take on all defensive responsibility (Essien and Makelele, Alonso and Macherano). So not only do they require a defensive partner but effectively a midfield behind them so they can play the role of a striker outside the box. When you get down to the basics of it, that is what they were both all about yet we have always tried to partner them with each other. It defys logic.
That is why I feel England managers pander to the press, we can all see it yet for 5-10 years managers kept trying and failing to play them in a midfield two. The result is we saw the best of neither in an England shirt. I think during their primes it was a case of picking one and building the midfield around him. I think great teams build around their best player to maximise his talents. England have always tried to put all the best players in no matter how lopsided. It doesn't work.
Has England had a genuine ball winning midfielder in the last 10 years that wasn't Hargreaves or Parker?
It's become clear in recent years that the need for a ball winning midfielder is overstated, to be fair. United haven't had one in years, Arsenal don't have one, Barcelona don't have one, etc... Players like Carrick and Busquets are far more important.
Don't know what Hodgson was thinking tonight with that substitution. Incredible. I can't understand what sort of brain would process that match and come to the conclusion that Carrick off for Lampard would've been a good idea.
Don't know what Hodgson was thinking tonight with that substitution. Incredible. I can't understand what sort of brain would process that match and come to the conclusion that Carrick off for Lampard would've been a good idea.
Yeah, as playmakers and tempo creators. For sure. But you do a huge disservice to Darren Fletcher in saying things like 'ball winning midfielders are overstated'. Even Hargreaves when fit was playing that role for us around 2007/08.
It's almost as though Fletcher's influence and role in regards to Carrick and making us one of the tightest defensive reams around in 2009/10 has been completely forgotten.
I said the 'need for ball winning midfielders' is overstated. We've had this discussion before I think, but Busquets and Carrick are not playmakers; they're the most important defensive players for the two teams they play for. Without them, there would be no defensive shape whatsoever in midfield. It would've been catastrophic had we not had a player of Carrick's ilk last year.
That's not to say someone like Fletcher doesn't help - I rated his performances extremely highly 4/5 years ago when he was at his best - but when you already have a player like Carrick or Busquets (which England do...), there are other priorities; possession and creativity, namely.
As for Hargreaves, he was decent at best for us. He's a pretty good example to be honest of what you lose by having ball winners with limited footballing attributes. Carrick was our best midfielder by a distance during 07/08, but our team looked dull when we had those two in the centre. When he was paired with Anderson, we looked solid but lacking in composure at times.
Specualtion. Considering Anderson and Cleverley showed that with Rooney and Welbeck in front of them they could amass a large amount of goals. Even if the myth that was debunked that we were more open that year (conceded less goals than the following season with Carrick starting every game).
Not sure I am following the Hargreaves line of thinking. He at times made even a combination with Anderson viable because he had the energy and positional sense to play very close to players and as a ball winner. Much like Fletcher did at his peak.
England don't really have a player like Fletcher though do they? It's my original point. I think Parker was the last time they played a genuine ball winner. I don't think there is even another one in England near the first team at the moment. At a time like that when Carrick is coming off for Lampard it's probably a better idea to bring on a defensive midfield substitute to break up play.
Anyway - yeah we've discussed this at length. My point was that England have no tight ball winner much like we didn't have two years ago to close out games didn't really have last year and had some trouble closing out games and getting mauled on the counter. There just isn't that direct 'go to the ball' player in our midfield. Cleverley is desperately trying it right now but he's not big or strong enough. It relates to England from what I am seeing as an outsider.