The Red apprentice

Trevor Baxter

June 29, 2007

CARRICK: Still learning

MICHAEL Carrick has pinpointed Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs as key reasons for his emergence as one of United's most influential players last season.

The former West Ham and Spurs midfielder made a slow start to his Old Trafford career after last summer's £18million transfer.

But he finished the Premiership winning campaign brilliantly and says he owes much of that to Reds legend Scholes.

"Scholesy has been a massive influence," Carrick said. "Just watching him every day lets you appreciate how good he is.

"If you ask anyone in the game who's in the know, everyone says how good he is and how hard he is to play against. To have him on your team alongside you is great.

"He's just an awesome player and one that I'm watching in training and learning from, and hopefully taking things from and trying to do the same."

Carrick says he has no fears about the arrival of Owen Hargreaves, and also feels that Giggs has made him a better player.

Intelligent

"He's so clever and so intelligent," enthuses the Geordie star. "You see that from some of the positions he picks up and how he does it.

"It's just great to have him on our team. But it's not just him, all of them are great. You get the ball and most of the time you've got at least two options, which is a midfielder's dream."

Carrick was delighted to capture the first major club honour of his career and hopes there will be many more to follow.

"Each move has been a step up really," he says of his progression from Upton Park to White Hart Lane to Old Trafford.

"When I first got in the West Ham team we were doing really well and finished seventh that season. But going down in 2003 was a big disappointment.

"To go to Tottenham and to achieve what we did there was a big step up for the club, going so close to getting in the Champions League.

"But then to come here is another level again and there's nowhere else now! I want to stay here and achieve things here. This is the pinnacle of the game.

"They say the easy part is getting there and the hardest part's staying there, so I've got a big challenge ahead."

What do you think? Have your say.

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Hilton (29/06/2007 at 09:48)

Nice one Michael. All you need to improve on is taking the game by the scruff of the neck and dorminate. Try to push on your team mates ala Keane and then you are well on your way to appease a lot of doubters.

Oh and stop talking too much. you always have something to say..........

Demo, Glossop (29/06/2007 at 10:21)

yeah he started off a little slow but i think he did well and some people dont appreciate what he does because he doesnt charge around headless!

but like hilton says hes gotta take charge a little more. Something i dont think we will see fully until scholesy isnt playing!

if he can continue to improve which i feel he will as he is settled in the team and knows how things tick then he can be a really good player for us!

Birdy, Ireland (29/06/2007 at 10:27)

God we could be off on a Carrick debate again!! I'd question whether he was one of the most influential. He was certainly down the pecking order behind Ronaldo, Scholes, Giggs, Vidic, Rio and Evra IMO, and i'd even say Rooney, who despite his quiet season by his standards still scored a lot of goals. But to be fair to Carrick he did have a very good spell in and around the Roma demolition, but i thought he faded again after this. As for his quote "You get the ball and most of the time you've got at least two options, which is a midfielder's dream." well for me the biggest problem with him last season was the amount of negative balls he played, far to often giving the ball straight back to the player who passed to him, which when its one of the back 4, is very unhelpful as theyre looking to him to turn on it and get things moving not pass the responsibility back to them.

He did show that he's capable of more though and I dont want to be too critical or negative despite the fact that i'm unconvinced by him. He scored a few good goals and showed that he's capable of picking a pass. I just feel his 1st season involved too much passing the buck and taking the safety first option. He needs to step up his game and assume more responsibility in the middle of the field. THat may come with a Championship medal under his belt and hopefully greater confidence, but the "quietly efficient" role of his first seaon wont cut the mustard for me from here on in

edinburgh red, edinburgh (29/06/2007 at 10:39)

Needs to improve a lot in my eyes, never dominated any games and went missing in most.

Steve, Glossop (29/06/2007 at 10:40)

Spot on Hilton. Exactly how was Carrick one of the most influential players last season? He was ok but infering he was special detracts from the monumental efforts of Ronaldo Scholes Vidic.

William Morgan (29/06/2007 at 10:49)

It is true that Mr Carrick isn´t any warlord, a man whose iron will carries his team through when the going gets tough.

But then again, who is?

There are very few players around with the same skill and ability as Michael Carrick who also possesses that drive. It is wrong to expect it from him as well. He have to play football his way, and personally I thinks he does that very well.

From a footballing point of view, it is better to watch and read and anticipate the game, and just break up passes than screaming in to tackles. Sure that is spectacular, but you hurt your opponents a lot more if you are able to pick a pass instantly after you´ve gained possession.

I read a football coach´s assessment of defenders where he stated that Carragher and Terry is often looked upon as the best defenders around, because of the tackles they throw themselves into, but from a footballing view it´s better to play as Rio, who never throws himself into the heat, because is already gotten hold of the ball, by reading the game and positioning himself accordingly. No comparing, but that was the genius of Franz Beckenbauer, maybe the best defender of all times, he never got his shorts dirty, because he never had to tackle. That does not make him a crowd favourite, but it makes him a hell of a defender.

The same thing goes for Carrick. He doesn´t tackle, that doesn´t make him a bad player. It´s quite the opposite actually.

JonyB-), North Staffs (29/06/2007 at 11:00)

I s'pose once this forums got rid of Richardson and smith it'll be Carricks turn for the "Why Bother with him Hes not Keane or Ince or Robson"......
If he doesn't fit into what the mundane expectations are for that position then he shouldn't be there. Strange, but his team-mates seem to rate him highly, SAF rates him highly, Opposition rates him highly, but i s'pose that won't be enough for some people b'cus he's not trying to end careers like Keane......
Another thought, When we look back at the crimminally managed wasted international career of Glen Hoddle i'm sure people at the time where saying he's no.....

JonyB-), North Staffs (29/06/2007 at 11:27)

Edinbourgh red - we never bought him to dominate games in the Physical way YOU & so many others want him to, Thats what Hargreaves is for. Birdy, Ireland - EVEN Scholes as stated the influence Carrick had on freeing him and others to do the stuff they did. Is Scholes an Idiot?? Carrick plays the simple pass its negative, Keane played it all his career but that was possession football.... If he was so ineffectual, HOW EXACTLY did we manage to win the League?? B'cus you can be really sure we couldnt of carried him For EVERY single game. Carrick is NOT Keane, GET over it for gods sake, KEANE WAS NOT GOD, there i've Blasphemed now stone me!!

Frank Old Trafford (29/06/2007 at 11:36)

JoeyB, there is no way you can compare Carrick to Hoddle! Whether MC gets any stick will be down to his performances which slowly won over a lot of doubters last season but he is clearly not in the group of best midfielders in the prem and he has still got a lot of work to do to come up to that level. If OH plays well then that will take the pressure off MC a bit and maybe allow him to shine.

Suggesting that United fans would condone a leg-beaker or pay to watch one is well out of order. I won't even go down the road of what a sly and disrespectful attack on Keane it is .....

george (29/06/2007 at 11:52)

UNITED's 7-1 v Roma.Scholes didn't play.This allowed Carrick to express himself.Hargreaves defending midfielder Carrick creator.Scholes retirement! That is possibly the future.

Mick, Dublin (29/06/2007 at 11:52)

Good point by Demo about carrick being slightly in awe of Scholes. I don't think it's coincidence that his best displays came without the ginger magician alongside him.

And good point by William Morgan about intelligent players not needing to make as many tackles.I remember Fergie talking about watching Maldini play and being most impressed by the fact he went 90 minutes without having to make a single tackle!

Dan (29/06/2007 at 12:00)

Guys. I am sick of seeing MC getting all this stick. I think a lot of this is down to us paying 18 mill for him. I know he is not keane and he may not be the best player in his position but he is better than many. Before he joined United he had 10 goals in entire career but in one season here he already had 6. Better players around him can only make him better and i certainly believ that he got better as the season went on. I think he allowed Scholes to play more freely as well. Trust me guys he will improve further. Stop comparing him with Keane. How many can be like Keane in the world let alone Premieship .....

seasider, blackpool (29/06/2007 at 12:02)

Here's a poser for you. Was Carrick the difference between finishing first and second?

JonyB-), North Staffs (29/06/2007 at 12:02)

Frank Old Trafford, We did codone a leg breaker - if you don't believe me replay some of the Keane tackles - and you don't even have to replay the Harrlannd.... Harrlannds career ended that day, Right or Wrong? We condoned it. We Forgave it. If he hadnt been Roy Keane, If he hadnt been wearing Red, If we hadnt remembered Harrklannd standing over a prostate Keane would we have done the same???? Keane injured himself against Harrlannd, It doesnt forgive HIS reaction, neither did it forgive the "leg breaker tackle" he received.
Carrick is NOT as good as Hoddle now, But Hoddle took time. Hoddle at Tottenham was not as good as Hoodle at Monaco. English fans LOVE passion, and put up with cold skill. Carrick will never be loved like Keane or Robson or Cantona. These players i love, but i'm not so short sighted as to think Carrick is one of the top 10 reasons we won the league....

Birdy, Ireland (29/06/2007 at 12:07)

Yes JonyB Scholes did say Carrick freed him up. I didnt say Carrick was a bad player. Schoels had just played a season where his midfield partners were JOS, Fletcher and Giggs. If Carrick couldnt improve upon that then he has no right calling himself a midfielder. There is also a big difference with Keane and Carrick in terms of what they did with the ball. Keane didnt knock it back to the full back every 2nd time he got it. More often than not he would try to make something happen, not pass the buck to the defenders. He actually didnt have the range of passing Carrick has, so he'd have had more justification to knock it back. I cant understand the stampede to heap acclaim upon Carrick for what was an unspectacular season. He did alright, he improved the team, but he wasnt brilliant so why claim that he was? To put it this way, if he plays with Utd for the next 4 or 5 yrs and performs the way he did last season, he'll not be remembered with any great affection

Duncan, London (29/06/2007 at 12:13)

Actually the Roma game showed Carrick in his natural position - the ball playing partner in a central midfield two with Fletcher as the tackling spoiler. He was never bought to replace Keane but he is often exposed for his non-Keane like characteristics because he plays alongside Scholes and is expected to be the destroyer. I would like to see him played in that same position with Hargreaves as his central midfield playing partner while Scholes is pushed up into the attacking 3 that has been spoken about.

Mick, Dublin (29/06/2007 at 12:23)

I'm not condoning Keano's "tackle" but Haaland's career didn't end that day. He actually retired because of a recurring injury in his OTHER knee.

Demo, Glossop (29/06/2007 at 12:30)

yes carrick wasnt the best performer but he did have some decent opposition. fact is he did improve our game and helped improve scholesy and giggs by taking some responsibility and pressure of them to HAVE to create things

JonyB-), North Staffs (29/06/2007 at 12:32)

He may of played again.... but his career did end that day. He played in sporadic bursts, breaking down frequently with knee injuries. Most surgeons will tell you that damage to one joint means you have to compromise by using the other joint differently often causing damage (people with hip problems often complain of pain in the knee). Read Harlands book - that tackle ended his career one way or another.... Please, replay it and tell me it wasnt a leg breaker in the same as others..... It was cold and diliberate and in total keeping with Keanes' all or nothing character which is why we forgave and forgot but should we of really???

Duncan, London (29/06/2007 at 12:43)

Look stop reducing Keane's career to one stupid tackle. He was recognised universally as our most effective midfielder without the so called "hard man" antics. That's just a convenient label the press liked to work to sell papers. His work rate was outstanding, his reading of the game was outstanding and his motivational skills and tenacity were second to none. He was also technically accomplished in every facet of the game. He was as Capello (I think it was) said in 1999 the heart of Manchester United.

JonyB-), North Staffs (29/06/2007 at 12:44)

And Mick you've condoned that tackle by simply trying to downplay it and say He played again.....

JonyB-), North Staffs (29/06/2007 at 12:52)

Birdy
If Carrick was so unspectacular and helped win the league, think what he could do if he really got going!!!!! Sorry, i'm not trying to level undue praise, because quite rightly he Should of been and was and is an improvement. But neither am i going to sit back and let people slag what i believe to be an excellent first season. WE WON THE LEAGUE!!
He wasnt the sole reason, but NO ONE MAN was. Of course he can improve, ALL of them can. NO ONE IS worth £18m - not when there are starving people in the world, but theres nothing they or i can do about the morality of football economics. What he did, he did well, that was act as a line of defence, blending well with our formidable back line - Exactly who many did we concede?? Start off attacks - Exactly how many did we score?? He was there to lay the foundation - not to be the dynamo - that was rooney, scholes, giggs and ronaldo... He'll improve. He'll improve our midfield as he does. As he as already improved our midfield as a league title suggests...

Robbo, North Stand, none (29/06/2007 at 12:54)

Gabby Heinze in great cross shocker! www.youtube.com/watch?v=H4tQW3u9DJI Why can't he do that for Utd? Anyone see the Argies last night? Veron, Messi, the 'lazy magician' Riquelme. Awesome.

Lee , Heywood, Heywood (29/06/2007 at 12:59)

JonyB thats just a terrible post. Suggesting Keane went round trying to end careers. Never forget that United attract most coverage from the press and while Keane did admit that he went for the man not the ball are you seriously telling me that Micheal Brown on Giggs this season wasnt the same or a few of Essiens tackles and hundreds of other players and tackles every week ?? More was made of Keanes tackle because he admitted he went for the man but then even without him saying so Brown went for Giggs. Keane and Carrick are different types of players but this is what turns me against Carrick when I want to support him. People like you who try to justify his mostly average/partly good season by slagging off a player who taking everything into consideration Carrick isnt fit to lace his boots. Keane was the major force behind most of our success for ten years. Carrick ticks things over. He is a good player but Keane was THE reason. He doesnt deserve fans like you and you dont deserve him.

RCH, Salford (29/06/2007 at 13:16)

Duncan, Lee well said. Also who in their right mind would want to read Haalands Book??

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