I write this article after our humiliation of Arsenal; it did finish 8-2 if you didn’t quite believe it. In fact the start that Manchester United have made to the new season, form which they have also displayed in pre-season, is much to be admired; and has brought plaudits from past Manchester United legends and football pundits alike. The free-flowing, one-touch, pass and move football has excited the red devils’ fans and maybe the players who have broke into the first team are contributing to this improved style of play from last year.
I can see this form continuing, so my question is where does this put our first choice central midfielder from last year; Michael Carrick? A player who divides such opinion among Manchester United fans, let alone just opposition fans, the former spurs man is one week likened to Spanish counterparts Xavi (who in fact singled out Carrick for praise last term) and Xabi Alonso, while other weeks he is lamented and labelled the worst midfielder in the clubs history.
There’s no doubt Michael Carrick is not quite the same player from a few years ago, and there are a number of reasons for this. For one, during Manchester United’s double winning triumph in 2007/2008, Carrick often played alongside Darren Fletcher or Owen Hargreaves (who was a formidable defensive midfielder the year he managed to stay fit) and they allowed the Tyneside lad to employ a more attacking role in team and laid off assist after assist for the likes of Rooney, Ronaldo, Berbatov and Tevez; as well as scoring the odd goal; those beauties against Roma spring to mind.
During last year, after Fletcher’s form dipped and it was clear Hargreaves would never grace Old Trafford again, Carrick was deployed as a holding midfielder, a shield for the back four, not his natural position. More often than not, he performed well and shone in games against Schalke in the Champions league as well as the premier league and Champions league games against Chelsea.
He dictated the pace of the matches, made crucial interceptions and kept things simple for Ferguson’s men. He demonstrated excellent reading of the game defensively. But more often than not in the league; where the pace of football is far quicker than the Champions league, we were overrun in the middle of the pitch, which contributed to our dismal away record of only winning five games. In no way was Carrick completely at fault for our poor form away from home, but his lack of mobility was clearly a concern.
During pre-season, Sir Alex formed a pairing of Anderson and Tom Cleverly in the central midfield, and the partnership has gone from strength to strength. Both players have an abundance of skill and compliment each other superbly well, and without jumping the gun it seems Sir Alex has found a central midfield pairing who and are here to stay. Both players are more mobile and far more energetic than Carrick and suit are quick style of football.
I for one do hope Carrick plays a part this year, and I believe he will, Sir Alex does not give new contracts to players who he feels will not be part of the clubs immediate future and prolonged success. For all his critics, he is a player who allows others to play their game and helps us tick. But with Fletcher, our one true tough tackling midfielder coming back to full fitness, the ever green Ryan Giggs still around and youngsters like Paul Pogba being earmarked for first team action this season; it seems Carrick’s first team opportunities will be limited.
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