A centre midfielder by trade is proving to be our calming influence at the back. He's really taken to his role of becoming one of the senior players in the team.
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When Blind is back it will be interesting to see if blind will become the CDM and Carrick will play in some sort of back 3 maybe with Rafael and Shaw on the wingback position?
And oh, is he our on-field vice captain now besides fletch?
And oh, is he our on-field vice captain now besides fletch?
Who said that Carrick was too slow to play as a CB? He had Sterling in his pocket today, for most of the match, and he didn't give Balotelli much either. Great defensively, and his composure on the ball is reminiscent of Rio at the back. In fact, he reminds me a little of Rio in his last good season with us - not great pace, but still quick enough, terrific on the ball and reads the game so well! Second best player alongside Valencia today.
He's been a rock and I think he could play as part of a back four besides Smalling, with Shaw and Rafael as full backs. He has been an absolute rock these past few weeks.
He was brilliant today. Fair play to him.
Is there a gif of the back heel when he was surrounded by Liverpool players? That was class.
He's returned to the side and United has won six straight.
RVP praised Carrick's calm on the ball in his post-match interview.
For me he is one of the most important players whether at the base of midfield or in the middle of a back three.
RVP praised Carrick's calm on the ball in his post-match interview.
For me he is one of the most important players whether at the base of midfield or in the middle of a back three.
Good to see he's back to his best. Some people had doubts about him after that injury, but he's just a class act.
Definitely not a coincidence that we're back to winning since hes been back in the side.
Definitely not a coincidence that we're back to winning since hes been back in the side.
Carrick looked so comfortable in possession it was like watching Rio in his pomp on the ball. But don't forget we gave away half a dozen great chances. Imo we Need much better than Carrick at centre back as he is susceptible to movement and balls down either side of him. Great stop gap when we are struggling though and done well yesterday.
He good in the centre of a back 3 if he has a couple of fast players, like Smalling/Jones or Rojo, on either side to track the runs of the pacy forwards. Not sure if he suits playing in a back 4.
We need him in midfield as good as he has been at the back. No other midfielder comes deep to get the ball and therefore our defenders scramble looking for options.
He really is an amazing player though. Even the Canadian pundits giving him credit and saying if he was Italian or Spanish he would be praised much more.
Too bad about his England career. I blame Capello.
He really is an amazing player though. Even the Canadian pundits giving him credit and saying if he was Italian or Spanish he would be praised much more.
Too bad about his England career. I blame Capello.
He is probably our best outfield player in the 3-5-2, it's a shame for him that it doesn't work for most of the others though. I'd like to see him back in midfield so Fellaini doesn't have to play the CDM role.
He was a cut above yesterday. A real classy footballer.
Pretty much the only calming influence in our side, Van Gaal must be so thankful he's back.
the way he passes from the back is pure class. Such an important player and that role between the defenders in 3-man defense seems tailored for him.
With 2 defenders besides him he doesn't need to win headers where he is weak but he reads the game so well which is great help those around him.
With 2 defenders besides him he doesn't need to win headers where he is weak but he reads the game so well which is great help those around him.
He's an incredibly intelligent player and his composure and positional awareness is just a class above.
Absolute star yesterday. Brought composure to our defending, and general play. Our unsung hero
Great to see Jones & Evans back too - two actual defenders in defence - wondered when I'd see that again!
Great to see Jones & Evans back too - two actual defenders in defence - wondered when I'd see that again!
It would be nice to copy his brain and put it in the head of Jones and Rojo. His intelligence is just superb.
He's an E-Type, Carrick. Elegant and beautiful. For some reason he's my favourite player.
He's such an important player for us when he's on form and we missed him badly last season be it through his injuries or lack of form. He's the kind of player that makes the team as a whole play better and it will be interesting to see how van Gaal chooses to use him when Blind is back. Carrick is certainly an upgrade on Blind as a midfielder but I suspect van Gaal might try to find a way to play them both.
Wonderful player, why offer one of our most intelligent players? Blind and Carrick should start, maybe Carrick as CB, as he is sound defensively, brings the calm, offers the link up from defence to midfield, has a beautiful cross pass, while Blind is more mobile, offers more attackingly and is better with linking up the defence/midfield/attack. Or a midfield with Blind and Carrick as CDM's, and Herrera/Mata and di Maria as other midfielders, that would be balanced with stability, intelligence, box to box players, speed, directness, creativity.
People are going to realise, when he retires, that England missed an absolute trick.
Considering all he has achieved with United it's absolute madness he was over looked.
Considering all he has achieved with United it's absolute madness he was over looked.
Makes me wonder what Moyes was doing last season which made Carrick so poor
One of the most influential figures in the club's recent success. Will always want him at holding midfield rather than centre back regardless of how excellent he is there too. Without him in the middle we had to revert to sideways balls to young and valencia on repeat which is what we've been trying to move away from. Scholesy said it best, the guy is a rolls royce.
He made 1 appearance in 08 for England when United at the time were the best team in the world. (Scholes wasn't even in the England squad)
Absolutely awful management.
But but but but they had Gerrard and Lampard!!!!!
I have never been a big fan of Carrick but his return has definitely made a difference with respect to our success. I guess his understated manner makes him overlooked by many including England. It is no coincidence that his return also signalled RVP's regain in confidence.
I now am a big fan. Better late than never.
I now am a big fan. Better late than never.
I have loved Carrick as a player since he was at West Ham. In the right system he's as good as anyone. I think his lack of England caps is symptomatic as to why England get in so wrong at international level.
I'm not English myself but I can't think of any other national team that would of done the same. Although there's been lot's of moaning about the youth setup in this country(There are clearly problems in it) it still produces a amazing amount of talent(I would kill to have someone of the talent like James Wilson to be Irish)and always thought that England's failure is more down to piss poor management and the FA than anything else.
Still doesnt explain why Capello overlooked him, everyone thought of all people he would appreciate Carrick's qualities.
A good analysis of Carrick by bbc
Carrick 'catalyst for Man Utd form' - BBC Sport
http://m.bbc.com/sport/football/30472067
Carrick 'catalyst for Man Utd form' - BBC Sport
http://m.bbc.com/sport/football/30472067
G Neville when doing an early season analysis on our side suggested he could be the perfect CB in the middle of a 3 man. Not sure he's as suited to a CB as a back 4 though as its very different.
As I'd personally like us to go back to 4 at the back I'd like to see him in CM again. But if LVG is to pursue with 3 at the back then hes potentially the best suited.
As I'd personally like us to go back to 4 at the back I'd like to see him in CM again. But if LVG is to pursue with 3 at the back then hes potentially the best suited.
He was absolutely sublime yesterday. Would have been my man of the match. Was reading the game absolutely brilliantly, always at the right spot, always calm. Superb stuff. Even read and intercepted the shite young back pass 
This 3-5-2 formation would have been sensational if we actually had 2 Carricks. 1 playing at CB and the other as part of the middle 2. Our biggest issue with the formation currently is the lack of someone in midfield who can pass it like Carrick can.
This 3-5-2 formation would have been sensational if we actually had 2 Carricks. 1 playing at CB and the other as part of the middle 2. Our biggest issue with the formation currently is the lack of someone in midfield who can pass it like Carrick can.
Either as part of a 3 in defence in a 3-5-2 formation or part of a midfield 3, 3 together suits him very well. I actually like 3-5-2 unlike many people here and Carrick at the middle of the 3 CBs is ideal for this formation. Blind ahead of him in midfield supported by Di Maria and Herrera, then have Rafa and Shaw as the wing backs then you'll love this formation.
It's quite clear how highly regarded he is in the United team when you've got van Persie and DDG sounding him out for praise in their post-match interviews. He's such a classy player. Just a shame he isn't heralded as such by the national team or media alike.
This applies to most of our players.
Just to note that all the players who started against Liverpool yesterday and won 3-0 were available to Moyes, in the same fixture last year, which we lost 0-3.
Moyes had the ability to make the best players look bad. His man-magement must be atrocious.
Carrick has high footballing intelligence and when you have high intelligence, it allows you to read the game and requires you to run less. as you can position yourself better.
Teddy Sherringham was exactly the same. An older player who was able to make fantastic contributions, despite his lack of youth/speed. For England (together with Shearer), he was lethal.
I remember the same goes for Laurent Blanc. We bought him to Old Trafford, despite him being around 36 yrs of age (and slow), he did well for us.
The same applies to Frank Lampard - I wish we had got him when he was dropped from Chelsea. He'd be brilliant as a super sub, as he is proving for Man City, right now. Not young by any means, but has the ability to read the game and make up for his lack of speed, with high quality positional play.
It's absolutely idiotic really.
Everyone could see that ball retention is England biggest problem, and yet, England managers refused to play Carrick whose best quality is.. ball retention
I thought he was finished after last season. well I was fecking wrong. it is worrying we dont have anyone else in the squad who can slot into that role, i don't think blind is the same player. (in terms of skillset not quality)
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