[Sylar]

Important player. Has carried our midfield since 2009 pretty much on his own despite the stopgap partners hes had to deal with. Finally with a ball player like Herrera, we are seeing more freedom for him and what he can do.

Excellent game, and his return twice this season has seen us go on two great runs.

 

[Badunk]

When he's on form, he's peerless. No coincidence that we've been a far better team since he's come back in the side.

 

[PlayerOne]

So damn good, such a classy player. Does the simple things so well. Really hoping the injury is nothing serious, we'll need him for Chelsea.

 

[Sunny Jim]

Really hope he isn't badly injured. Different side without him, which is concerning.

Yyy well we played 11 vs 10....


Troll face

 

[Robbie Boy]

He was brilliant today and was the heartbeat of then team.

 

[Sied]

Van Gaal apologises after Carrick limps off
Louis van Gaal has apologised for using his substitutions too early against Manchester City after Michael Carrick was forced off late on at Old Trafford.

With United leading comfortably and van Gaal out of changes, the midfielder had to head straight down the tunnel, struggling with a tight calf, leaving the Reds to play out the closing stages with 10 men. Sergio Aguero then pulled a goal back to make it 4-2 and the Dutchman says the situation took a little of the gloss off the victory as he regretted altering his side too hastily in the second half.

"At the end, Michael Carrick needed to be changed but I could not substitute him," he told MUTV. "He was very wise to step out of the game with my permission. I hope he is not injured."

The boss added on Sky Sports: "Of course, the result [at the time] is fantastic, 4-1,"But then I had to bring Carrick off, it was a little bit stupid of me. I wanted to give all of my players minutes because they have been working so hard. Wayne [Rooney] had to play as a holding midfielder, and it was difficult.

"The second half was much better than the first and I think that, until the moment Michael went off, we were fantastic."

 

[Cristiano Jonaldo]

my only concern other than his injury is he appears to be crucial to everything we do. if he's out for any period i can see our form really suffering.

I'm not too concerned. Blind was equally as good in that role earlier in the season IMHO.

 

[Wednesday at Stoke]

Milner was supposed to do a job on him but the way he created space for himself by maneuvering the ball with passes was brilliant. He wasn't doing this a couple seasons ago.

 

[Annihilate Now!]

I'm not too concerned. Blind was equally as good in that role earlier in the season IMHO.

Blind did fine (mostly) - but Carrick is a level above.

 

[ravelston]

What is he shielding? The play is broken, Smalling is at RB so Carrick has to look after that inside right space that Smalling has just left which Silva glides into. Carrick, Mata and Valencia are all fault but Carrick should do better with his defensive nous. Carrick has to drop into CB there. It all happens very quickly but I expect better from Carrick.

The issue is that Mata was too far behind to ever make a play. In a perfect world Carrick would have seen that and switched on to Silva leaving Mata in the "shielding the centre" role. Maybe next time.

 

[Brwned]

He has the remarkable trait of suddenly becoming world class when he is not on the pitch

Funny, because when he returned to fitness earlier in the season and we went on a run winning of 6 out of 7 games with him at the heart of it, you had a certain someone saying this about him:

"I think Michael's the best central midfielder in English football," Ferguson told BT Sport. "I think he's the best English player in the game."

Just wanted to come back to this post from the 1st March. Since then we've won all 4 league games he's started: Spurs, Liverpool, Villa and City.

Overall in the Premier League this season his record is:

P18 W13 D3 L2

Average points per game: 2.3

(and that includes the loss against City, his first match of the season when he was subbed on to play CB)

Without him our record is:

P14 W6 D5 L3

Average points per game: 1.6

I'm amazed there are still people out there that can't see Carrick is one of our most important players and one of the best players in the league.

 

[berbatrick]

He was so so so good defensively - read everything as soon a second before it happened. Unadventorous but flawless in possession. 8.5/10.

EDIT: Missed the 1st 30 mins, seems he screwed up for the 1st goal. Seems impossible having seen the rest of his game today!

 

[Fully Fledged]

Just wanted to come back to this post from the 1st March. Since then we've won all 4 league games he's started: Spurs, Liverpool, Villa and City.

Overall in the Premier League this season his record is:

P18 W13 D3 L2

Average points per game: 2.3

(and that includes the loss against City, his first match of the season when he was subbed on to play CB)

Without him our record is:

P14 W6 D5 L3

Average points per game: 1.6

I'm amazed there are still people out there that can't see Carrick is one of our most important players and one of the best players in the league.

Me too.

 

[fishfingers15]

Keane levels of influence. Arguably the most important signing post treble, maybe Ronaldo edging that.

 

[United22]

This summer should be all about finding a way to phase him out and find a world class replacement. Even more vital than purchasing a defender IMO

 

[The Man Himself]

Keane levels of influence. Arguably the most important signing post treble, maybe Ronaldo edging that.

ffs that's overreaction.

 

[Manny]

ffs that's overreaction.

You don't have to charge around the pitch ranting and raving to have an influence.

Our general play with him in the side and without is night and day, as is our points difference.

 

[Walrus]

I like that his ball control and skill is actually pretty good, he just doesnt (need to) use it often. He does some lovely turns and often seems to be able to beat a man when he actually needs to.

 

[Riz]

I like that his ball control and skill is actually pretty good, he just doesnt (need to) use it often. He does some lovely turns and often seems to be able to beat a man when he actually needs to.

I loved that moment where we were breaking from a City corner and Carrick faced up to Toure on the edge of our box, that body feint.

 

[The Man Himself]

You don't have to charge around the pitch ranting and raving to have an influence.

Our general play with him in the side and without is night and day, as is our points difference.

Ya I know all that and I have stood by Carrick when he was made fun of. My point was regarding fishy claiming him to be most important signing bar Ronaldo post treble. We have had quite a lot of influential and important players in those 16 years for Carrick to be regarded 2nd most important. He has been great signing, 16M now look bargain and has been a key player for us but that's it. Not 2nd most important in last 16 years. I would have Rooney, Rio, Vidic above him in 'important signings' post treble. Maybe VdS and Evra too.

 

[Nickosaur]

This summer should be all about finding a way to phase him out and find a world class replacement. Even more vital than purchasing a defender IMO

Yep, I'll agree with that.

 

[Shark]

Just like Herrera somewhat replacing what Scholes offered us, we don't have to find a direct replacement. Despite the comparisons Herrera is a lot different, and Carrick's replacement doesn't have to mirror him either. There's also every chance that Blind could improve and be that man.

 

[fishfingers15]

Ya I know all that and I have stood by Carrick when he was made fun of. My point was regarding fishy claiming him to be most important signing bar Ronaldo post treble. We have had quite a lot of influential and important players in those 16 years for Carrick to be regarded 2nd most important. He has been great signing, 16M now look bargain and has been a key player for us but that's it. Not 2nd most important in last 16 years. I would have Rooney, Rio, Vidic above him in 'important signings' post treble. Maybe VdS and Evra too.

Yeah I got a bit carried away. But i'd say he's above Evra and Vidic at least. Rooney, Rio and maybe Ronaldo edging Carrick.

 

[Escobar]

Milner was supposed to do a job on him but the way he created space for himself by maneuvering the ball with passes was brilliant. He wasn't doing this a couple seasons ago.

At the beginning that had me worried that he could find the space and start our attacks. Well, I shouldn't have been worried about our Michael

 

[The Man Himself]

Yeah I got a bit carried away. But i'd say he's above Evra and Vidic at least. Rooney, Rio and maybe Ronaldo edging Carrick.

It is marginal between him and Vidic/Evra. I rank them important because we really needed stability in their positions. Carrick was important too but at least we had some good cover in that area. It would be interesting to have a thread ranking our signings post treble, top 5 at least.

 

[RedorDead21]

This summer should be all about finding a way to phase him out and find a world class replacement. Even more vital than purchasing a defender IMO

The only thing I find more surprising than how much carrick is underrated is how our own fans seem to think this season will be his last as this level. We could get 3-4 more like this ala Pirlo! If there was ever a player in Europe built to last its Carrick and his game.

 

[Walters_19_MuFc]

God, I just love him. He just doesn't get enough credit for what he's done for the club since he's been here. What a player!

 

[Ramshock]

Is he okay then? Any word?

 

[Whiteside1985]

This summer should be all about finding a way to phase him out and find a world class replacement. Even more vital than purchasing a defender IMO

When fit, there is no sign whatsoever of his performance level dropping. This seems a ridiculous suggestion.
He should be one of the first names on the team-sheet at the start of next season and fully deservedly!

 

[Rozay]

Exceptional (again ) today. We will need him at The Bridge, hope he's good.

 

[Flying_Heckfish]

The only thing I find more surprising than how much carrick is underrated is how our own fans seem to think this season will be his last as this level. We could get 3-4 more like this ala Pirlo! If there was ever a player in Europe built to last its Carrick and his game.

Especially in a 3 man midfield, we can use runners around him. He was made to play this position, only now are we really getting to see him there!

 

[Whiteside1985]

The only thing I find more surprising than how much carrick is underrated is how our own fans seem to think this season will be his last as this level. We could get 3-4 more like this ala Pirlo! If there was ever a player in Europe built to last its Carrick and his game.

Agree 100% with this. He is a class act.

 

[antohan]

Is he okay then? Any word?

This, keep coming back here for news.

 

[matherto]

He's the difference between us passing sideways just to keep possession and having thrust going forward.

Every now and then he'll just deliver the most perfect pass into the feet of an attacker and suddenly we've got the opposition on the back foot and that's something Blind doesn't do in the same role. Doesn't get enough credit for those sorts of passes.

 

[NessunDorma]

Proud to say that I liked and rated Michael Carrick 5 years ago, when it wasn't fashionable to.

His importance to the way we played was always obvious. Great at reading the game and making interceptions, great passer, and so calm under pressure.

And to think, Scott Parker - and i've nothing really against Scott Parker - is an FWA and England Player of the Year, when the most decorated English midfielder of his generation never will be.

 

[Someone]

Carrick has been exceptional for us this season, player of the season is between him and de gea for me.

The way he plays his game, i think he could still play at this level for us for another couple of years at least.

 

[NotoriousISSY]

Carrick has been exceptional for us this season, player of the season is between him and de gea for me.

The way he plays his game, i think he could still play at this level for us for another couple of years at least.

You can't argue with the pattern of results with and without him.

You have to wonder if we'd have accumulated a few more points in the early stages of the season had he been fit...

 

[Dante]

When we're defending, his anticipation is as good as any other holding midfielder in the world.

When we're attacking, his passing is equally as good.

The only thing he's ever lacked was a yard of pace to press the ball, or else we'd talk about him as one of the best midfielders in the last 30 years. Having said that, I think that not being overly quick may have forced his hand to become a positionally aware anchor man. I'm not sure if he could have been any more effective if he were the type of player who buzzed around the middle third for 90 minutes.

 

[Someone]

You can't argue with the pattern of results with and without him.

You have to wonder if we'd have accumulated a few more points in the early stages of the season had he been fit...

I've absolutely no doubt about that, he's an intelligent player and van gal clearly rates him highly, he didn't need any time to understand what van gaal wanted while others needed months.

 

[ZDwyr]

Just hope he isn't injured. Is absolutely vital to our team and will be extremely difficult to replace.