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.
And for those saying his role is to shield the defense or that He’s one of the best passers in the world , Andrew hasn’t denied that . THE POINT he is making and it is valid is that regardless of his abilities, when it is time to STEP UP carrick isn’t the player that rises up. Yes, his role isnt to ‘STEP UP’ , but then that’s probably bcz Sir Alex knows that carrick can’t do that . He doesn’t have it I’m his ability to crack open defenses time after
Time until we score , neither does he have the mental leadership (strong character) to take the game by its neck and win it for us.
Simply put, there are better players than carrick and utd need to acquire them .
And if you’re in the “he’s won 4 titles etc” well the point being made is because he had strong/great players around him . Those players have either left or are no longer in their peak and are old.
You may say that his role was to let those players to do their magic and tidy up around them . Okay, but it wasn’t like Sir Alex looked around the dressing room and said to carrick ‘ Listen mate, there are too many good players in here, so why don’t you just take it easy huh? ‘
If he was goo enough he would have played a different role but sir Alex’s ability is to look at what players can do and use it in the best way for the team.
NOW, a few years later when these good players are gone/old , carrick is left and he ISN’T good enough to win major trophies, regardless of last seasons achievements and this season loosing out on goal difference . In Europe united got f****d . The commentators made fun of utd in the 2nd leg against athletico. I don’t think carrick was playing but the point I’m making is the TEAM is a little weak(missed vidic) and we could do with a player who can do carricks role better . Much better.
Thats a good article
this article is a whole load of bullshit written by someone who dont understand football at all.
Kagawa we welcome you with open arms…you are a better talent than Hazard is…and we cant wait to see you link up with Michael Carrick…dont care what these haters think.
Before Carrick joined the club went three seasons without a trophy. And Giggs, Scholes and Ronaldo were all in the team during the barren spell.
It makes me laugh when football fans believe they are a better judge of a footballer than Fergie, Guardiola, Xavi, Alonso, Scholes, Ferdinand, Ronbson,..
But if you consider four PL titles and three CL finals in six years is “going backwards” perhaps you better support another team Andrew.
Statistically, Carrick was the 2nd best defensive midfielder in the PL last season (behind Toure), and the tenth best player in the league in any position:-
http://www.whoscored.com/Regions/252/Tournaments/2/Seasons/2935/Stages/5476/PlayerStatistics/England-Premier-League-2011-2012
If this article had been written in 2009-10 when Carrick was playing through an achilles injury (and lost form somewhat) there might have been some sympathy for the article, but for at least 18 months Carrick has been different class.
the ambitions of some man utd fans are so low. ‘ carrick has been a different class – why dont you ask yourself, Would Real Madrid , Barca , Milan ,Bayern, Inter THE biggest and most ambitious clubs (arguably) in the world, ever ever ever want carrick in central midfield?
Yeah. Its as simple as that.
Don’t start crap about we are a different league , we have pride and prestige , at the end of the day, what teams want is to win trophies. With carrick as a LEADING (key word) midfielder, that isn’t possible. And by trophies i mean the champions league.
Carrick has been a great servant but is nothing more than a “Steady Eddy” in the team. He does NOT set the tempo. He does not make a crunching tackle. He does not strike fear into the opposition. He hardly scores more than 3 goals a season. YES he can occasionally pick out an amazing pass, but on the whole he is just steady and gets the job done, but there are 50+ players out there that are just that bit better and offer A LOT more. I think that is the point!! Ando & Cleverly were on fire at beginning of season and the Utd tempo was just crazy fast and teams couldn’t cope. The reason we lost so much last season was due to our slow play and other teams flying in and working harder and seemingly wanting to win more with a fast tempo, and im sorry guys but this just isnt what Carrick is about!
If you want Man Utd to play the same old style that WILL NOT work in europe anymore…then Carrick is still your main man, but for me…he definitely is not what i want to see in the middle of the park every week!
Sorry – but this is a poor attempt to give mileage to a poor first article.
You need to write one article and let it lie…you should get your points across and stand by your opinion, but be able to accept other people’s take on your views, not try write an ‘I am right’ follow up piece. It’s part and parcel of writing in a public arena where comments are allowed.
Poor form.