![]() Carrick has also won the Champions League, a League Cup and the Club World Cup Lampard the Champions League, Europa League, four FA Cups and two League Cups – so not much for Carrick to deride there, either. He was an important player for United every time, and that is not in dispute. In Lampard's three wins he made 38 (ever-present), 35 and 36 appearances, while in two of Carrick's titles he missed more than a quarter of the league season. No, Lampard hasn't got five Premier League titles, but he has three, which was no mean feat at a club that hadn't won the trophy in 50 years (as opposed to Manchester United who had won eight of the last 14 before Carrick's arrival). Presumably this is about Lampard and Gerrard, so we'll do the tittering in order. Each time people criticise you, just look at your five Premier League medals and titter at how many those so-called better players have. Stay fit for your club, Michael, because we need you. Some think those two players were the problem, Flash. Yet it wasn't as if Italy were up in his grill as the Americans say, as they would have been were that a knockout game at a major tournament.Ĭarrick is only playing because two much better players have retired from international football. Certainly, England only seemed to have any attacking impetus against Italy when he came on. I don't think Carrick is a particularly negative passer. He might be worth a look but I'm not entirely convinced. He was not up to much at all for England but perhaps he has lately learned how to pass forward with purpose rather than playing safe all the time. This was a fair assessment of Carrick's England career. Lionel Messi (centre) and Barcelona left Carrick bewildered in the 2009 Champions League final ![]() Unless the player has reached the limit of his ability, TT – as Carrick did for United in the Champions League final against Barcelona in Rome in 2009 or was Sir Alex Ferguson to blame for his performance in that game? If a player is good for his club and doesn't show up for his country then it is the manager of the national team that is to blame. Carrick has been solid for United since he's been there. All have been mediocre at best, and that includes the managers. Which player has had a good spell for England? Nobody. They came good in the moments that mattered. ![]() One could argue that there was little between England and Australia in the last Ashes series played here, but that in crucial sessions England were better. Jimmy Greaves said that he couldn't understand any striker that didn't take penalties because to be faced with the goalkeeper, one on one, from 12 yards, was what any forward had worked all week to achieve. Of course there are plans and strategies, but they are laid out to create moments. Putts that drop, serves that stay a fraction inside the line, catches held, chances taken. A succession of key moments that change the game. Managers favoured Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard because they are stupid and value shooting more than possession. It is possible for a player to enter his golden years late in life – and one thinks of Andrea Pirlo, who has a similar style – but it will take more than a good 45 minutes in a friendly against an under-strength Italy to sell me this one. When I was up at United's training ground to interview Ashley Young in 2011, Rio Ferdinand told me that Carrick was the best screening midfielder in the world. It could be that at the age of 33, Carrick can no longer be compared to the player of 10, even five, years ago. I certainly found this to be the case in previous campaigns. Carrick will control the game against Macedonia but not against Uruguay, or better. Fans decide Carrick is the player England needs in midfield around once a year, only for them to realise why he was not in the team when he is outplayed by quality opposition.
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