Michael Carrick’s recent return to form has been instrumental in recent sucsessful matches in particular in victories against Chelsea in the champions league.
I wrote back in December standing up for Carrick and since then his performances have only got better. Being forced to play in an unfamiliar defensive midfield role, Carrick has been exquisite. His eye for a pass regained and his ability to intercept a ball is second to none in the Premier League.
Many the time a scapegoat, Carrick is just recently regaining his reputation with the United faithful after a string of good performances of late. However, many would argue that Carrick never lost what he had, but was just mis-understood playing in an unfamiliar role. Carrick, more so than any other player, has deserved the most undeserved criticism with ridiculous claims being made by fan’s week in week out and it’s few and far between to find someone to defend him.
“Carrick can’t defend” Due to injury to players such as Rio Ferdinand, many thought United would struggle at the back but young Chris Smalling stepped up remarkably. Carrick, however, has also been an integral part to some great defensive displays and receives little to no recognition. A quick look at Carrick’s interception chalkboard proves the significance of him playing in that role and it’s not him being “lazy” and he contributes defensively more than any other midfielder.
“Carrick has no assist’s or goals, what a crap player” Playing in the role he has been playing, goals or assists haven’t been aplenty from Michael which shouldn’t come as a suprise considering his role in the team but some United fans seem to be baffled by Carricks “lack of contribution”. A very dim view of the beautiful game taken by some.
“He has good pass completition stats because he only passes backwards and sideways” Perhaps the most ridicolous and irrelevant claim made about Carrick yet the most commonly made one. Surely the main purpose of a deep lying midfielder is to keep opposing teams at bay (which he has, very well) and keep the ball and string plays together. Carrick does this brilliantly and draws opposing midfields and defense out while a player with the more technical ability such as Scholes or Rooney makes a pass that will lead to a goal or goal effort. Carrick’s keep ball ability has played a major part in sucsessful seasons for Chicharito and Berbatov. once again to little or no recognition.
Carrick has got recieved his fair share of censure in the past some desereved, more completely unwarranted. Our position in the league may have suffered may have suffered without him considering long term injuries to Owen Hargreaves and more recently to Darren Fletcher, who knows? All that I know is this tireless tirade against Carrick from the majority of Manchester United fans is unconscionable and will have to stop.