Do we need more from our main midfielder?
This is a follow up to https://redflagflyinghigh.com/
Due to the high number of responses the article got, I thought I’d go over some of the points you brought up, in more detail.
Many of you said you were glad we hadn’t signed Hazard as he was “too arrogant” and “not a United type of player”. Who are the two best players Sir Alex has manager? Eric Cantona and Cristiano Ronaldo. Were the not outrageously arrogant? There was a story in Gary Neville’s autobiography about a posh dinner the team were invited to, where they were told they must wear a suit and tie. All abided by the rules bar the Frenchman, who turned up in a denim jacket. Sir Alex never said a word. Is that not arrogance of the highest order? In 1994-95, Cantona’s reckless red card against Galatasaray and kung fu kick against Crystal Palace, cost us in all three major competitions. In the summer of 2008, after he’d led us to winning the Champions League, Cristiano Ronaldo openly flirted with Real Madrid. He was given a massive round of applause on his first game back, against Villarreal. In December 2008, against Sunderland, with United struggling to break them down and still drawing 0-0, Ronaldo picked up an injury. As we tried to break, the ball came to him, and Ronaldo, unable to continue, kicked the ball out of play because HE couldn’t carry on, and walked off the pitch. These are all instances of arrogance and putting the club second, but we forget the ramifications of these incidents because of the good they did for the club. You accept their faults because you know you will reap the rewards if you let them be. Top players all come with baggage; it’s just a case of managing it. And no one is better at that than Sir Alex Ferguson. The truth is; we missed out on Eden Hazard because we refused to spend the money. Chelsea are the holders of the Champions League and we have to realise they can offer more than just money.
When the class of ’92 took over the first team in the summer of 1995, replacing the departing Paul Ince, Andrei Kanchelskis and Mark Hughes, they did the Double straight away. They were all very talented footballers, but were helped by the fact they were surrounded with leaders all over the pitch: Peter Schmeichel, Steve Bruce, Gary Pallister, Roy Keane, Eric Cantona. They were all tremendous captains for the club. We don’t have those players now to guide Smalling, Jones, Welbeck , Cleverley etc. There’s no one to put an arm around Jones and Cleverley and reassure them they’ll recapture their early season form. Michael Carrick is a senior member in this team. He’s not good enough, nor is he strong enough, to hold this role. In 2007-08, when we had Ronaldo, Tevez, Rooney , Giggs and Scholes in their prime and the best defence and goalkeeper in the world, he didn’t need to stamp his authority in matches. Now, he does. Transition is about integrating the young players in the first team with help of the more experienced players. Carrick doesn’t have the fighting spirit to be a leading central midfielder for Manchester United. He gave up on England because he was often overlooked rather than carry on and fight for the place he feels he deserves it. Barry and Parker were overlooked for years, but they carried on fighting and became integral members. Carrick has more ability than both of them, but he’s afraid of a challenge. How can he be expected to guide the younger players? In big matches, he either makes horrendous mistakes or goes missing. People forget what a sitter he missed at 1-0 in 2008 Champions League Final. A leading central midfielder for United needs to impose himself on matches and Michael Carrick is afraid to do that.
Carrick just makes our play slower, less attractive and “safer”. He hinders our attacking threat. He’s nowhere near the best in the world, and if he is to be our leading central midfielder, then we have to recognise we’re not fighting for the Champions League any more. If we came up against a European powerhouse, they’d roll right over a midfield led by Carrick. The Community Shield should have been the end of him. A first half with Carrick in midfield, and we lose 2-0. A second half with Cleverley there instead, and we win 3-0. Cleverley, Anderson and Fletcher getting injured meant he was needed again. He’s a good squad member. Someone to bring on when we’re 2-0 up away from home to keep possession. He has won 4 league titles and a Champions League medal, but then was when we had match winners all over the park. When we have to rely on him in midfield, he’s just not good enough.
I don’t think United need a major change; a playmaker and a ball winner in central midfield are essential, the last time we had that we won the Champions League. A left back and 20 goal a season striker would be great but it’s in central midfield where we desperately need an overhaul. We need to start Phil Jones there too as he’s not a defender.
If next season Michael Carrick is our leading central midfielder once again, then, like the majority of Carrick’s passes, we’re heading backwards.
Hes been a first teamer throughout his life with United, how does he become from that to a good squad member.Hes probably the only midfielder who has had the most amount of partners and yet he remains the constant. You cannot hide these facts.
I agree absolutely…michael carrick is an absolute mediocre
I think Andrew is correct in his opinion of Carrick, we have lacked spirit from that position for a couple years and now that we have less talent he is being exposed by the top teams, we will not win the Champions lg with him in there, there is no denying that.
To say Carrick isn’t up to the task is ridiculous to be honest. Someone with that experience is invaluable and if Sir Alex has come out time and time again to praise him or to say how he’s stepped up, are you really going to argue with him and say he’s not even capable of doing that?
As for your claim of us going backwards, would you say the same about Real with Alonso? I didn’t think so, and while they’re not exactly the same they’re pretty similar.
I don’t know whether you wrote this piece purely to try and incite controversy but if so I wish I hadn’t even commented.
buddy if you the talent of cantona and ronaldo……id let you off the hook many a times…sir alex even thought so because he knew its very difficult to control players like that…..so why bother wasting their time…let them do what they do and wathc the magic on the field….and we all know what both of them did on the field…and both players got that arrogance when they had become sumthing….while eden hazard who has nt even played 1 mtch for a proper team in a proper league…thinks that hes the next football god…..sorry , until he proves himself in a proper team against high class opponents…..he’ll just be an arrogant kid with huge demands
Judging by this most people love him or hate him. I’m of the opinion that he is absolutely right for this club…..as first midfield backup. We need an attacking & a defending midfielder in their prime, & have carrick to do the jobs he does so well when we need him.
Might i also add that Giggs & Scholes are still the best midfielders in the country when they have a team to support them. I.e they improve the team, they can’t carry it.
People who bash carrick dont really understand what his role has been in the team. He plays between the defense and the midfield, his job is NOT to be the creative spark in attack, his job is primarily to provide cover for the attacking midfielders. Football isnt just smacking goals in from 35 yards and being a hero, its also about doing the dirty work, cleaning up the loose balls and playing for the team around u, which is what carrick does.
As for Hazard, 35 million and 170k is a ridiculous amount to pay for unproven talent. Kagawa is the far better buy to me. Lets look at the stats comparing Kagawa to Hazard for their respective teams for this 2011/2012 season:
– Kagawa (23 years old), 43 appearances, 17 goals, 13 assists <——- £17 million
– Hazard (21 years old), 47 appearances, 19 goals, 16 assists <———- £35 million
Seen as tho Kagawa plied his trade in a vastly superior league and is only 2 years older than Hazard, he seems to be the far better buy talent wise and yes money wise. Hes a more proven talent than Hazard. It seems a no brainer to me. Sir Alex has spent very wisely……….
Top article Andrew and if you read this , just take solace that there are united fans out there that actually see/watch/understand what goes on in every match and these same fans understand you are talking sense .
Your point is clear. Its not being argued that carrick is shite. Just that united now need stronger and more talented characters in midfield . Simple . There are players better than carrick in this world and if united want a champions league (not reach the final). I’d rather a midfielder who makes 20 passes a game but ALL send the opposition defense into panick. Carrick is good but nahhhh not THAT good
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Top article Andrew and if you read this , just take solace that there are united fans out there that actually see/watch/understand what goes on in every match and these same fans understand you are talking sense .
Your point is clear. Its not being argued that carrick is shite. Just that united now need stronger and more talented characters in midfield . Simple . There are players better than carrick in this world and if united want a CL (not reach the final). I’d rather a midfielder who makes 20 passes a game but ALL send the opposition defense into panick.