Saha and Carrick draw praise

November 27, 2006

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FACE OFF: Didier Drogba is challenged by Paul Scholes and Michael Carrick

SIR Alex Ferguson saved special praise for Louis Saha and Michael Carrick after the draw against Chelsea.

Saha scored the Redsé first half goal after overcoming the personal torment he has endured since missing a golden late chance at Celtic in Glasgow on Tuesday and then blowing a second opportunity from the spot to avoid Champions League defeat.

Meanwhile, é18m Carrick was a key figure in the engine-room battle against the likes of Michael Ballack, Frank Lampard and Claude Makelele, and was England boss Steve McClaren and fellow Sky pundit Jamie Redknappés choice as the Man of the Match.

éLouis showed character but good players do that,é said Fergie. éAll week in training he has been almost like a caged animal and he was dying to get into the game. I could sense that.

éIn training he was taking penalty kick after penalty kick to eradicate the miss from Celtic and I am sure if he does take another one he wouldnét lie down.

éI agree with Michael Carrick as Man of the Match. I thought he was fantastic. He is getting better all the time and he did a marvellous job for us.

"He is improving because he is getting more mature. He is at a big club and he is rising to the challenge of being at a big club.é

Do you think Carrick is living up to his price tag? Have your say.

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Showing comments 1 to 16 and replies | View All

steve, Glossop (27/11/2006 at 15:10)

He is improving & was very good yesterday but the transfer fee remains too high which is relevant to the budget to improve the squad including CM. Then again the Glazers may amaze us with real money & who cares what Carrick cost but somehow I doubt it.

EDINBURGH RED, EDINBURGH (27/11/2006 at 15:19)

Carrick played well but i just wish he would run with the ball a couple of times to create space, he's an excellent passer but it's no good constantly playing the ball to the feet of a lone striker with 4 defenders around him, and although most of the games have went our way, scholes no longer seems to be getting into loads of shooting opportunities, i wonder if carricks totally holding role constricts him.Carrick will prove a worthy squad addition i'm sure but we all wish he was more dynamic

Mary, Sale (27/11/2006 at 15:45)

Yes I was the one who said Carrick would come good just like I said the same about Hienze Evra and Vidic some people need time,just sad that apart from Evra the rest of the bench apart from the keeper are just not United quality

chris, oxford (27/11/2006 at 15:50)

The goals do seem to have dried up from midfield, cant blame Ruud this time though! It just happens unfortunately and the team as a whole aren't converting the chances that they are creating which was our undoing yesterday.

Timo Roebuck, Haslemere (27/11/2006 at 16:21)

Flecther was outstanding I thought....the way he managed to come on and chase the ball without any impact what so ever was real class.. I used to play none touch football however was never at his standard! Can not wait for him to break into someone else's team maybe Oldham?

Alias Smith, over the moon (27/11/2006 at 16:23)

chris, you're right that the midfield have not chipped in for a few games. However, we are still the top goalscorers as a team and here's hoping Scholes, Giggs and Ronnie can grab a couple on Wednesday.

RCH, Salford (27/11/2006 at 16:43)

Chris, doesn't help with Carrick AND Scholes sat so deep.

Liam, Manchester (27/11/2006 at 16:49)

Carrick has shown he can pass, he's now shown that he can tackle and mix it in midfield although for me I don't think he needs to go diving around to be a good midfielder, I think all he needs to do now is get forward with the ball when he has the space. It's nice to see his quick passing keeping the team moving but he should be a bit more selfish and have a crack at goal every now and then. If he can do this then I think the few remaining doubters will finally accept him.

Loyal to the End (30 years, City Fans, 30 years..), Malaysia (27/11/2006 at 16:50)

Good but just not quite there yet.. No doubt he ll improve over the coming months but it does look as if we re coming towards the crest of our form.. Just hope Ole and Park can be back in time to freshen the squad because I doubt we ll be bringing in any players in January.. Having said that, it wouldnt surprise me if Fergie pulls off surprise signings in January though, an unknown gem from Lithuania or something..

x- the red, zed (27/11/2006 at 17:01)

he played well.... but am still not impressed,, he keeps passin the ball to vds.. oshea en fletch shud be sold...

Frank, Old Trafford (27/11/2006 at 17:20)

Nice one Timo!

chris, oxford (27/11/2006 at 17:41)

Absolutely Alias, it's a blip and happens to everyone.

Aussie Dave, Sydney (27/11/2006 at 23:08)

Forget the price tag. Strewth, strikes me up a gum tree cobbers, the lad's going to make it and the price tag matters not.
We were never seriously going to make another signing after OH deal could not be done pre-season.
Two or three players will come in and we willl have a squad to compete on all fronts

Glad to see Mary is such a clairvoyant. When does the society meet next Mary?

Graham, manc (28/11/2006 at 12:33)

The reason Scholes and Carrick aren't getting forward so much is because we are using our flanks much more. Gary Neville has been in so many scoring positions this year, it's amazing. So the backs are there to support Ronaldo and Giggs and Scholes and Carrick are staying back to give some cover. It's working well except both Giggs and Neville are guitly of being a bit wasteful this season. I'm not whingeing before anyone starts having a go - we're going great - but we get ourselves into so many great positions that we should be doing even better. However, it's fine line....we've got the best defensive record this year as well and that might be partly because Scholes and Carrick are holding back a bit. Vidic is proving to be fantastic - just shows you the gulf of difference between him and Silvestre!

chris, oxford (28/11/2006 at 13:14)

Agreed RCH, bar corners you don't see so much of Scholes lurking around on the edge of the area as in previous years.

Fred Naylor, Montreal (03/12/2006 at 12:42)

Carrick is developing in the same manner as is Rosicky at Arsenal. Slowly, but surely, is the way to do it.

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