Michael Carrick is a curious case, for the past couple of seasons at Manchester United he has often been a figure of ridicule and the man who supporters single out when things go wrong. I have often defended the man; I feel he has wonderful ball passing skills and many fail to properly recognise his true quality.
One person who appears to disagree with my view is the Chief Sports Correspondent of The Times; Matt Dickinson. Reading his column today I found myself recognising the same points that I have heard fans argue about Carrick when things for United have not gone well.
Dickinson starts by pointing out Carrick’s lack of international recognition. However since his international debut against Mexico in 2001 Carrick has gone on to collect 22 caps for his country. He states that Carrick’s lack of caps and tendency to be included in squads but excluded from play is a sign of “a troubling lack of trust.” I completely disagree with this. Michael Carrick does not have a lack of caps for Spain or for Brazil, he has so for England. England’s lack of success at major tournaments is well documented.
If England had been winning or at least competing at the business end of major tournaments then the argument about Carrick’s lack of caps would be valid; however for a footballing nation as big as England to not have been competing at major tournaments shows that the system hasn’t worked. For years there was a debate about whether Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard could play together in midfield, this debate went on as successive England bosses tried to make the combination work.
The perseverance with the Gerrard and Lampard combination hurt the chances of players like Carrick and also Scott Parker, however more on him later. Surely England’s lack of success on the international scene shows that the approach that has been adopted recently has not worked, it needs to be changed.
As aforementioned Michael Carrick is both quick and accurate when passing the ball. For years I have read articles from journalists crying out for an Englishman who can pass the ball as accurately as his continental equivalent. They have called for smaller sided games at youth level in order to encourage up and coming youngsters to pass the ball from an early age. This is where the downfall of Dickinson’s article lies.
Here we have one of the finest distributors in the Premier League at the moment, he is eligible to play for England, but yet according to Dickinson we should not even include him in the squad. The best international sides always keep the ball well. Look at Spain; they pass teams to death at times. Should England not follow the example set by the current World and European Champions as opposed to looking back and picking the same old midfield combinations that have failed over and over again?
Its just the united bias. Carrick is good he is only appreciated in the continent. I just wonder wen dis coaches will learn and appreciate wat the master can’t do witout. Just check man utd trophy haul since 2006
Its just the united bias. Carrick is good he is only appreciated in the continent. Just check man utd trophy haul since 2006
Hmmm, it’s funny you should mention Spain who would supposedly pass their way around Parker. Parkers already played against Spain this season in an international. An international that England won, and an international that a certain Scott Parker was man of the match in keeping xavi, iniesta and fabregas quiet for the entire match. Likewise, who was in cm when Barcelona gave man Utd a lesson in football in last seasons champions league? A certain Michael carsick. You clearly do not watch Parker with any regularity, as then you would realise he is more than just some Wilson palacios type hardman
Its just the united bias Carrick is good he is only appreciated in the continent Just check man utd trophy haul since 2006
Just to clarify, i didn’t mean to call him Michael carsick. That’s just the predictive text, although oddly apt given the circumstances
The same parker who can’t stop spurs slide right? You don’t just judge wit a game. His readin of the game is superb. Just check his stat. Also I think his quiet lifestyl is a factor