When looking at the nominations for the PFA Player of the Year, Michael Carrick’s name sticks out like a sore thumb – but it’s an honour the midfield maestro certainly warrants.
Manchester United are set to blitz their way to a 20th domestic title and the 31-year-old has featured at the heart of his side’s midfield in all but one league game this season.
Yet his name splits fans’ opinions like a defence after one of his passes – some recognise his quiet role in the centre of the park, others simply question his function.
Critics of the Geordie point to his poor stats – Carrick has only 20 goals and 31 assists in more than 300 appearances since his £18million move from Tottenham Hotspur in 2006.
Some would say as a midfielder, if he doesn’t score or assist yet is famed for his passing and vision, how can he still be considered one of United’s most influential players in recent years?
But make no mistake, Carrick’s role in the team is a pivotal one.
It is testament to his ability that he has the most forward passes out of any player in Europe, with more than 1500 – almost 200 more than Arsenal’s Mikel Arteta.
Carrick had only scored eight goals before joining Sir Alex Ferguson’s side – it is evident he was not signed for his direct goal contribution.
While admittedly he may not have as many assists as he would like, that is the role of Carrick’s midfield partner or the man behind the strikers in United’s 4-2-3-1 formation.
Carrick’s responsibility is to dictate play and slow it down before picking his target. Most moves go through him, and with a pass success rate this season of 88.3%, it’s clear that it works out quite well.
Take his last game against former club West Ham United on Wednesday – Carrick’s 53 forward passes was the most by any Premier League player in one match this season.
And United’s top five passing combinations in that game all involved Carrick, with Rio Ferdinand, Nemanja Vidic, Shinji Kagawa and Wayne Rooney all swapping possession with the 31-year-old.
Carrick initially drew comparisons to former number 16 Roy Keane despite having a completely different style to the Irish enforcer, who left the club a year before Carrick joined.
His image was somewhat tainted by his first few years at the club, in particular after United’s loss to Barcelona in the 2009 Champions League Final where Carrick was given the run-around by Xavi and Andres Iniesta.
But the four-time Premier League winner has flourished since then and has emerged from the shadow of Paul Scholes and has taken over the United legend’s position as the tactician in midfield.
His style of play is one which the England national team have yet to take advantage of, with Carrick criminally underrepresented with only 27 caps to his name.
It goes to show that while he may not get the headlines or recognition, Carrick is a match made in heaven for United and the Player of the Year award would cap a phenomenal season.
And the United faithful know it – the voices echoing around Old Trafford sing ‘it’s hard to believe it’s not Scholes’ – and it’s hard to disagree with them either.
Image courtesy of TalkSport, via YouTube, with thanks
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