[Sparky Rhiwabon]

LVG loves converting players' positions - Carrick must be the one he has in mind here - maybe that's why he didn't buy another central defender

 

[Hed Zitin]

Jones throws himself at everything - that's why he gets so many injuries!

Indeed he does. Still our best CB though. His problem is he isn't as robust as those names I mentioned.

 

[Edgar Allan Pillow]

Carrick is too slow. Please not him at CB on his comeback game!

 

[RedMilo]

Hope Carrick returns soon - really need his experience & know how in midfield - not in defence though.

 

[Bwuk]

Carrick struggles against big target men at CB. He's far better in the midfield still.

 

[Joga Bonito]

Any idea on his return date? With Herrera being out with a fractured rib we could do with him in the midfield. Although I wouldn't want him fast-tracked into the team for the Everton game, might be too soon for him.

 

[RDCR07]

LVG loves converting players' positions - Carrick must be the one he has in mind here - maybe that's why he didn't buy another central defender

I would play Blind at CB and play Carrick at CDM.

 

[charlenefan]

Any chance he'll be back tomorrow?

 

[Zoo]

I wouldn't have thought so.

 

[iBoss]

Any chance he'll be back tomorrow?

Think van Gaal said he is a couple weeks away from being fit.

 

[ricky-romeo]

the sooner he return, the better for us.

blind has been doing well but still lack understanding about english football and sometimes can go missing positionally. carrick infront of the back 4 will offer better protection. he will thrive playing with players like di maria who always offer movements going forward.

 

[Lawman]

the sooner he return, the better for us.

blind has been doing well but still lack understanding about english football and sometimes can go missing positionally. carrick infront of the back 4 will offer better protection. he will thrive playing with players like di maria who always offer movements going forward.

Yep Carrick is an outstanding player and hasn't had a decent midfield partner since Scholes. He will feel it much easier along side Herrera and Di Maria and Blind.

 

[bleedred]

It will be really interesting to see if Carrick will play Blind's position.

Blind today has so much time and space. If a team gives such time and space to Carrick, he can easily pick a pass...

 

[Amar__]

He'll shine in Blind's role, I am sure. Saying that, I am very pleased with Blind's performances too.

 

[Yorkeontop]

I'd like to see him alongside Blind actually. I dont think we need to play 3 strikers. Get Falcao to lead the line. Wayne playing of his shoulder at 10. Herrera likes to surge forward in the box anyway.

 

[Nighteyes]

If he can get himself fit and in form he'd be a better option than blind imo.

 

[herokiller84]

If he can get himself fit and in form he'd be a better option than blind imo.

Nope,thus far i reckon blind and Carrick will complement each way other perfectly.

----Carrick------Blind----
---------Mata/ander---------
---------DiMaria---------
---Vanp---------Falcao---

Free floating role for Angel,added width from the full backs.

Not as mad as it might look.

 

[Dan_F]

I'd like to see him alongside Blind actually. I dont think we need to play 3 strikers. Get Falcao to lead the line. Wayne playing of his shoulder at 10. Herrera likes to surge forward in the box anyway.

I think we would have to in the big games. We are far too open at the moment to beat any of the top teams.

 

[Still ill]

I think we would have to in the big games. We are far too open at the moment to beat any of the top teams.

Carrick and Blind as a base is something I'm dying to see.

 

[ivaldo]

I wouldn't be putting Carrick in ahead of Blind right now, for the moment he's a very good back up option to DB or someone to bring up to see out a game.

I wouldn't want to see both starting regularly together, who's position would he take? I beleive it would hinder our creativity or goal threat too much for it to be plan A.

 

[bosnian_red]

Great news. Get a sub appearance against West Brom then hopefully be fit enough to start vs Chelsea, or if not them, the away game vs City.

 

[Sam]

Good news. I just hope we get the 12/13 Carrick back.

 

[RedorDead21]

Great news. Get a sub appearance against West Brom then hopefully be fit enough to start vs Chelsea, or if not them, the away game vs City.

He starts very slowly usually and he gave us a full season of average last time out....not sure he'll be the messiah we need for those games.

 

[RedorDead21]

I think we would have to in the big games. We are far too open at the moment to beat any of the top teams.

Do you think LVG will change it though? I'm not seeing much changes so far to the 2 striker formation.....If that second striker was Welbeck and working his socks off ironically I'd feel more comfortable that what RVP is serving up.

 

[matherto]

If he's looking good in training then I think we actually need to play him as a base with Blind against City at the very least, acknowledging his usual slow start to a season/after an injury.

 

[RedorDead21]

I think we need to play Carrick for the last 30 mins for the first few games which might eradicate us completely losing control in the 2nd half in every game.....

 

[vidal7]

Its a good time to get him back, he can get some minutes vs wes brom and seeing how he is doing we may play him against chelsea and city. For van gaal match fitness is very important and you can be sure that if carrick isnt match fit we wont see him playing full games. He is still building falcao up 3 games into his season, what do you expect of carrick?

It does provide us a good option too, ander carrick, blind,valencia and fellaini(for the time being) in the midfield fighting for two places. I think it is important to have good strength on the bench too, or like today we may get pegged back. So having carrick back will be helpful in that case too. I hope he picks up philosophy of van gaal ASAP as i think hhe could atleast do a good job for this year. He is 33 now, we will need to replace carrick soon, i feel old!

 

[Bobcat]

Its a good time to get him back, he can get some minutes vs wes brom and seeing how he is doing we may play him against chelsea and city. For van gaal match fitness is very important and you can be sure that if carrick isnt match fit we wont see him playing full games. He is still building falcao up 3 games into his season, what do you expect of carrick?

It does provide us a good option too, ander carrick, blind,valencia and fellaini(for the time being) in the midfield fighting for two places. I think it is important to have good strength on the bench too, or like today we may get pegged back. So having carrick back will be helpful in that case too. I hope he picks up philosophy of van gaal ASAP as i think hhe could atleast do a good job for this year. He is 33 now, we will need to replace carrick soon, i feel old!

Hard to say, he wasn't exactly impressive last season, but the same could be said for a majority of our players. If he can find back to his 12-13 form, then he will certainly be a great addition to our MF.

Also, i'm curious about how he will play alongside our new MF additions. Historically, Carrick hasn't been at his best when paired with a less mobile player (like Blind) in a midfield two, but a trio of him Blind and Herrera might work.

His calmness, composure and ability to read the game will certainly be welcome when we face the tougher teams.

 

[bosnian_red]

He starts very slowly usually and he gave us a full season of average last time out....not sure he'll be the messiah we need for those games.

True, but then again, he's never had a competent midfielder next to him, or hasn't for a good 4 years. Always been one of Scholes/Giggs who offered nothing defensively because of their age, or Cleverley, who just isn't very good. For once he'll be allowed to be a proper holding midfielder and dictate tempo and I think it could really improve him and get him back to his best. Won't need to go forward or close down like before.

 

[DWelbz19]

His composure to see out games is what we really need. The amount of games in which we could take off Herrera/one of the strikers/di Maria and have a pivot of Blind and Carrick just strolling the ball around, controlling the tempo will be great to stop us shitting ourselves.

 

[Lawman]

A truly underrated player will prove his worth when back and will shine with competent midfield partners for the first time in years.

 

[Jerch]

A truly underrated player will prove his worth when back and will shine with competent midfield partners for the first time in years.

I thinking the same. He will be very good for us. It is such a big shame that he is already 33 but he can be at top level for 2 maybe 3 years still.

 

[NotoriousISSY]

I hope he can at least extend our control of games to the 75th or 80th minute. Falling apart after 70 every week will be tough.

Even if he ends up as back up to Blind, he's a fantastic option off the bench or to come in when games come thick and fast (which won't really happen too often).

He'll love the way Di Maria finds space between the lines and out wide. He missed that kind of target last season.

 

[Bwuk]

Hopefully he's fit for the West Brom game as I want him to be starting against Chelsea.

Assuming Herrera is fit enough to come on off the bench at least, start with a diamond of Carrick at anchor, Blind and AdM either side and Mata as #10.

So against Chelsea,

Carrick
Herrera Blind
AdM​

 

[NotoriousISSY]

Hopefully he's fit for the West Brom game as I want him to be starting against Chelsea.

Assuming Herrera is fit enough to come on off the bench at least, start with a diamond of Carrick at anchor, Blind and AdM either side and Mata as #10.

So against Chelsea,

Carrick
Herrera Blind
AdM​

LVG doesn't really seem to throw people into action straight away. Usually starts with a 20 minute sub appearance. Are there any u21 games over the internationals?

 

[Dan_F]

Do you think LVG will change it though? I'm not seeing much changes so far to the 2 striker formation.....If that second striker was Welbeck and working his socks off ironically I'd feel more comfortable that what RVP is serving up.

I think it'll cost us against Chelsea and City if he doesn't. We should drop a striker and play 433, but even that means one of herrera, blind or Carrick missing out.

 

[NoPace]

I think it'll cost us against Chelsea and City if he doesn't. We should drop a striker and play 433, but even that means one of herrera, blind or Carrick missing out.

I'd expect to see this against Chelsea:

-------------Falcao---------
DiMaria----Mata--Valencia/Herrera
-------Blind---Carrick/Herrera

so basically a 4-2-3-1 and Herrera plays instead of whoever can't. We're not going to just naively go all Arsenal against Chelsea I don't think.

 

[Dan_F]

I'd expect to see this against Chelsea:

-------------Falcao---------
DiMaria----Mata--Valencia/Herrera
-------Blind---Carrick/Herrera

so basically a 4-2-3-1 and Herrera plays instead of whoever can't. We're not going to just naively go all Arsenal against Chelsea I don't think.

That's if van gaal drops RvP. Most people would agree that it's the right thing to do though.

 

[Isotope]

I hope he can at least extend our control of games to the 75th or 80th minute. Falling apart after 70 every week will be tough.

It's just astonishing watching us struggling to get out of the pressure after those minutes. We tend to get panicking, and just lost composure when defending.

 

[SoCross]

Hope everyone keeps in mind that he's returning from a lengthy lay off. Will be slow going to regain top form.