Beckham and Joe Cole
16
Season Average Rating
- Appearances
- 20
- Goals
- 1
- Assists
- 2
- Yellow cards
- 1
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I meant to mention Joe Cole.
So yeah, throw those two in there, you've got one hell of a team.
Or Lampard for Gerrard, either way.
Sorry in 2006....Hargreaves over Carrick
Actually I liked Hargo on the right wing better than central midfield.
Hargo didn't have anything like Carrick's ability to control a game.
Man Utd 3:1 Aston Villa
He's been excellent.
Carrick got much better at controlling games after 2006.
Imperious.
Not having his best game I see. Quite a few under hit passes, so unlike him - fortunately for us, it's Villa.
He was crap.
He was ok today, I think playing so soon after the 2 internationals was probably something LvG would have avoided had Shaw or Smalling been fit to play.
I thought he was our best player in the first half. He faded in second though.
As great as Blind has been, he's got nothing on Carrick. Please stay fit, Carrick!
A few uncharacteristic moments but generally fine. Calmed things down when Villa were getting a little feisty.
Such high expectations have been set for Carrick, that when he gives the ball away, despite completing 92 of his 98 passes, people say he's crap. Probably wasn't at his sparkling best today, but he was far from crap.
A few sloppy passes but decent overall. Hodgson doesn't deserve him.
He's still a valuable outlet for us, but does anyone here think he's falling a touch behind on getting 50-50s? There were a few open balls in the midfield where he was just a moment behind getting control of them. Might only be one game but he is 33 now and we don't need him getting any slower. Didn't think it was humanly possible.
I thought he was. Gave the ball away quite a few times in dangerous areas and seemed sluggish. Didn't really do much apart from help the ball go from left to right or vice versa.
That's your opinion, but I feel Carrick's been pivotal to us playing well in the last few games.
Last few games he's been excellent, I agree.
The only game I remember England playing Carrick with both Gerrard and Lampard was in the 06 WC against Ecuador. England played:
Later, say between 08-11, I think it would have made a lot of sense to play a 433 something like:
Rooney
J.Cole - Lampard - Gerrard - Beckham
Carrick
defence
My memory of the game is that it didn't work particularly well. Beckham wasn't overly suited to this formation, and nor was Rooney at the time - he hadn't really played as a lead the line striker, let alone as a lone striker at that point. Rooney was also recovering from his injury do he was incredibly isolated. Gerrard at that time was still playing predominantly as a CM rather than as an AM.J.Cole - Lampard - Gerrard - Beckham
Carrick
defence
Later, say between 08-11, I think it would have made a lot of sense to play a 433 something like:
Rooney
Cole/Young/Milner - Gerrard - Walcott/SWP/Lennon
Carrick - Lampard
Cole/Young/Milner - Gerrard - Walcott/SWP/Lennon
Carrick - Lampard
First half I thought he was a little sloppy and not quite up to the pace of things. Got better as things went on.
that's just what he does he's solid, he's solid as Valencia at RB. You don't need to have the team full of stars or top performers to win the champions league but I'd like to see us improved on some positions. 6,7/10 players are good but when you look at Herrera lad, he's literally carrying our midfield, even if he didn't score the two goals today he would deserve 8/10. The passing was scholes-esque, 96%passing accuracy and a lot of creative passes too, crisp one-two-es. if anyone he's controlling midfield not Carrick. And Herrera mostly have better even defensive stats which is funny if we consider Carrick the more defensive minded player of the two.
I'd like to see Carrick being replaced by someone of ability to have his standard higher than 7/10. I believe Schneiderlin would be insane signing as he would complement with Herrera totally, one of the best tacklers and stronger guys in the league with not bad passing at all. He's as close to Matic as you can be from the players in the league.
Using Carrick as a squad player 20-25 games next year is still a good option considering his age. He always has his best games after longer rest..
I'd like to see Carrick being replaced by someone of ability to have his standard higher than 7/10. I believe Schneiderlin would be insane signing as he would complement with Herrera totally, one of the best tacklers and stronger guys in the league with not bad passing at all. He's as close to Matic as you can be from the players in the league.
Using Carrick as a squad player 20-25 games next year is still a good option considering his age. He always has his best games after longer rest..
Thought Carrick was good today, kept the ball constantly moving in Villa's half so that they posed no threat for most of the game. Could have used a higher tempo to the passing but then the whole team was a bit sluggish in that regard and I always felt we could up the pace if needed.
That should have been our midfield now. Hargreaves was immense, better than scott parker for me. To be honest Hargreaves could play the rwb role just as good central midfield so to get them both in the team I would leave Carrick in midfield.
Hargreaves and Carrick would certainly have been a silk and steel midfield.
Except Paul Scholes was better than either by a country mile, so that wasn't going to be our midfield till he retired.
I thought he perhaps showed the effects of the games and travelling with England. Not quite at his sharpest. Still easily good enough.
Forgot to mention that. Would have Scholes in the 11 all day long.
if his slight drop in performance was related to England duty then it underlines the fact we need to bring in a similar playmaker midfielder
at 33 Carrick probably wants to play at a major finals but we are so reliant on him at the minute its important we bring someone in
he's never been a player to rely on pace so i see him having a key role, even in a rotational basis, for the next 2/3 years
at 33 Carrick probably wants to play at a major finals but we are so reliant on him at the minute its important we bring someone in
he's never been a player to rely on pace so i see him having a key role, even in a rotational basis, for the next 2/3 years
Will Hughes at Derby might be a good choice. Though he is no way near defensively as good as Carrick but I could see him playing that role once he physically develops. I think also having Carrick as a mentor to him would only further his development.
Man Utd 4:2 Man City
Hilarious how Milner was man marking for the first few minutes, and then gave up for the last 80 or so minutes. Really hope that injury isn't bad.
Magnificent today.
Hope he's OK.
Hope he's OK.
Hope his injury isn't bad, we need him badly.
Really really hope his injury doesn't keep him out against Chelsea. He's essential.
Brilliant player, absolutely class. Have you ever played with friends and you play against one of those who used to be REALLY good in their youth, but they've gone fat and lost all forms of physical attributes, but they are still head and shoulders above the rest? Carrick is like that, only that he still has fairly decent physical attributes. He does look like he is playing in slow motion without players being able to touch him.
Controlled that game. The midfield is so fluent now. Him and Herrera are a joy to watch.
I'm going to sacrifice my best goat that he's fine.
He was great today. When we started passing it backwards, then he just switched it up and nailed a straight pass all the way to the edge of their box 
Fluent midfield.. Wow, can't remember when i saw a fluent United midfield in recent years!
Shielded the ball so well. Tracked back. Probably third best player on the pitch today after Young and Mata.
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