as an eagle eyed one i appreciate carrick and i know he is under rated and i rily dont forget rooney's trashy times just cos he scored but there is an order in everything in life and in d united order rooney is more important than carrick.
let carrick ask to leave old trafford like rooney did and see how fast fergie would sell him.
carrick is good,he is under rated but behind vidic n rooney in importance

afrodoc:

as an eagle eyed one i appreciate carrick and i know he is under rated and i rily dont forget rooney's trashy times just cos he scored but there is an order in everything in life and in d united order rooney is more important than carrick.
let carrick ask to leave old trafford like rooney did and see how fast fergie would sell him.
carrick is good,he is under rated but behind vidic n rooney in importance

haha - this is why fergie would never joke with carrick.
he's always the first name on the team list - he has played full minutes in all the 3 champs league finals we have played.
carrick is so important to the way we play. he gives us balance.

agreed
busquets gives barca balance but he is not more important than messi

afrodoc:

agreed
busquets gives barca balance but he is not more important than messi

so rooney is messi?

even better,he is d WHITE PELE!

afrodoc:

even better,he is d WHITE PELE!

white pele ko, white ojukwu ni.

coogar:

welbeck will go to euros. he has scored in too many high profile games to merit his invitation.
and again, who has he got as rivals? caroll? sturridge? heskey? bent? none of them is good enough.
rooney is the only england striker better than welbeck. others are in the same level or lower.

Basically England is hopeless.

harry left it too open. spurs should have gone for the 4-2-3-1 that has served them well.
but the game against newcastle where they hammered the toons 5-0 with saha and adebayor got them bugging and they tried to do that @ the emirates.
to be fair to them, they counter-attacked very well in the first half but spurs have always had fragile mental strength.

That was what I noticed first as early as 5th minute and I posted it on the GAYYners thread

He was just too open

yes u did DK i tink redknapp got carried away by d euphoria of his recent success and got carried away n got too elaborate wit his coaching n tactics.he should hav stuck to d tried n tested formation wit adebayor on his own up front and bale n d erratic lennon on d wings and played VdV off adebayor and modric n parker in midfield.if VdV isnt fit to play 90mins u push modric up front n sandro slots in beside parker.

afrodoc:

yes u did DK i tink redknapp got carried away by d euphoria of his recent success and got carried away n got too elaborate wit his coaching n tactics.he should hav stuck to d tried n tested formation wit adebayor on his own up front and bale n d erratic lennon on d wings and played VdV off adebayor and modric n parker in midfield.if VdV isnt fit to play 90mins u push modric up front n sandro slots in beside parker.

that's their best set-up.
with bale, lennon and van der vaart floating behind adebayor, spurs would have murdered arsenal.
one needs width to murder arsenal - this is why sunderland was successful the other week and united have the upper hand.

Michael Carrick is easily the most under-rated midfielder in England because he's hardly in the media and he's not the flashy type of player.He's not running around like a headless chicken and chasing after every play.
But he's effective.
I agree with coogar:if he were available for Basel chances of losing that game would be below10%.
The guy does everything effectively:pass, shield the back four/break up attacks,commit low no of fouls, holds possession,lead the attack.
His only deficiency is he doesn't score that much often .Probably why he won't get plaudits.
His performances for United sharply contrast those while he was at spurs.I remember a game at Higbury where Spurs played Arsenal under Martin Jol.Carrick was superb till he was subbed by Jol.Ill never forget how he went at Gilberto  and a young Fabregas in the middle of the park that day.
Stuart Pearce is already starting to make a mistake by leaving him out for the friendly game.
Good luck to him.

harry redknapp is known for under coaching and letting d lads play,dis was one occasion in which he over coached.2 men up front,kranjcar on d right e.t.c and they under estimated arsenal.this arsenal team is poor but d boys r technically good enuf to murder u if u allow them.chelsea,blackburn n now spurs can testify to dt

afrodoc:

harry redknapp is known for under coaching and letting d lads play,dis was one occasion in which he over coached.2 men up front,kranjcar on d right e.t.c and they under estimated arsenal.this arsenal team is poor but d boys r technically good enuf to murder u if u allow them.chelsea,blackburn n now spurs can testify to dt

krancjar has no pace to trouble any full-back. . . .he's utter w@nk!
wrong choice in my own opinion. . .lennon is better and lennon is mobile. . . .he often swap with bale to confuse the markers.

Tackles per game:
Lucas: 5,7
Parker: 3,9
Carrick: 3,8
Tiote: 3,1
Song: 2,9
Barry: 2,2
Mikel: 1,8

Interceptions per game:
Carrick: 3,1
Lucas: 2,8
Tiote: 2,7
Parker: 2,6
Barry: 2,2
Song: 2,1
Mikel: 1,6

Tackles & interceptions per game:
Lucas: 8,5
Carrick: 6,9
Parker: 6,5
Tiote: 5,8
Song: 5
Barry: 4,4
Mikel: 3,4

Dribbled by other team player per game:
Mikel: 0,6
Carrick: 0,8
Barry: 1
Lucas: 1
Parker: 1,3
Song: 1,5
Tiote: 1,5

Dispossessed per game:
Carrick: 0,4
Mikel: 0,6
Barry: 0,7
Lucas: 0,8
Parker: 1,5
Song: 1,6
Tiote: 3,7

Fouls per game:
Carrick: 0,5
Mikel: 1,2
Barry: 1,5
Lucas: 1,7
Parker: 1,7
Tiote: 2,3
Song: 2,4

Clearences per game:
Barry: 2
Carrick: 1,9
Tiote: 1,6
Parker: 1,5
Mikel: 1,3
Lucas: 1,2
Song: 0,9

Blocked shots per game:
Parker: 0,7
Carrick: 0,6
Song: 0,4
Tiote: 0,4
Barry: 0,3
Lucas: 0,3
Mikel: 0,2

Key passes per game:
Song: 1,3
Carrick: 1
Barry: 0,9
Lucas: 0,9
Parker: 0,8
Tiote: 0,8
Mikel: 0,5

Accurate long balls per game:
Carrick: 4,5
Mikel: 4,4
Lucas: 3,9
Tiote: 3,9
Barry: 3,8
Parker: 2,9
Song: 2,5

Average passes per game:
Barry: 63,9
Song: 62,4
Carrick: 61,8
Tiote: 60,9
Parker: 60,6
Lucas: 57,3
Mikel: 51,7

Pass Success %:
Mikel: 91,6
Carrick: 90,1
Parker: 89,6
Barry: 86,7
Lucas: 85,6
Song: 84,7
Tiote: 83,1

I've always liked Carrick. My only beef with Carrick is that he only tends to perform when most of the team are performing. I guess its an unfair way to judge him but i've been spoilt by having Scholes and Keane in midfield. People who take charge of games and drag the team when everyone is having an off day. With Carrick he can never rely on him to drag this team through a tough match that isnt going our way. I like him though and he's been fantastic for us this season.

Mr_TA:

I've always liked Carrick. My only beef with Carrick is that he only tends to perform when most of the team are performing. I guess its an unfair way to judge him but i've been spoilt by having Scholes and Keane in midfield. People who take charge of games and drag the team when everyone is having an off day. With Carrick he can never rely on him to drag this team through a tough match that isnt going our way. I like him though and he's been fantastic for us this season.

he's not the type that drags team through a tough match. he's a reactive player.
carrick plays to what the opponents demand.

the stats is so interesting. . . . . .compare carrick's stats to the appreciation he gets from football fans. he's clearly the most underrated player in england.
carrick's ability to intercept is why i like him so much. . . .interception >>>>>> tackling!

and as to people wondering if song is better than mikel obi - i think your stats effectively puts that argument into bin.
mikel is a better defensive midfielder than alex song can ever ever be - it's not even funny.

11 different stats there coogar and mikel wins 6-5 so how u can say he is better than song will ever be or dt d gap isnt funny is quite strange

afrodoc:

11 different stats there coogar and mikel wins 6-5 so how u can say he is better than song will ever be or dt d gap isnt funny is quite strange

the things song does better than mikel are not important for defensive midfielders.
the stats prove song gets more dribbled than mikel. . . .song tackling more than mikel actually means song's positionally irresponsible that needs last ditch tackles.
song's average passes per game also means shyte since his pass completion rate is worse than mikel's.

what's the essence of making 1000 passes when the accuracy is nothing to write home about?
seriously, give the stats some thoughts and you would see mikel is miles ahead of song.
they should never be compared and that stat was culled from premierleague.com

song makes more tackles and more interceptions per game than mikel and i think u would agree with me dt those r d primary responsibilities of a defensive midfielder.y wont he make more tackles when he is protect a porous back four whose defenders love bombing forward.mikel on d other hand is playing in a defensive team dt has more capable defenders.mikel's passing stats mean poo since he is usually passing sideways n backwards,he should hv 100% completion rate.he is ahead of carrick n barry is he a better passer than those guys?
mikel makes less tackles than song cos he STANDS n WATCHES or he provides an ESCORT service,d same way he provided one for messi when nigeria faced d argies in dt repeat friendly

afrodoc:

song makes more tackles and more interceptions per game than mikel and i think u would agree with me dt those r d primary responsibilities of a defensive midfielder.y wont he make more tackles when he is protect a porous back four whose defenders love bombing forward.mikel on d other hand is playing in a defensive team dt has more capable defenders.mikel's passing stats mean poo since he is usually passing sideways n backwards,he should hv 100% completion rate.he is ahead of carrick n barry is he a better passer than those guys?

mikel is a better passer than those guys. statistics prove it.
those sideways and backward passes keep the possession. why is busquets the number one defensive midfielder in europe? it is because he's the best one touch passer in the planet. his passes don't really go further than 5-10 yards but he retains possession for his team rather than hoof it when faced with pressure from the opponents.

it seems you don't have a complete grasp of who a defensive midfielder should be.
he just needs to screen his back four. he should make short passes and puts himself in the way when danger comes.
does makelele ping passes like scholes or gerrard? makelele has never passed further than 20 yards in his career, he never heads the ball or what not.
a defensive midfielder should epitomise simplicity. that's what the role is all about.

mikel makes less tackles than song cos he STANDS n WATCHES or he provides an ESCORT service,d same way he provided one for messi when nigeria faced d argies in dt repeat friendly

stands and watches? mikel obi stands and watches?
if a defensive midfielder makes more than 4 tackles in a game then he should be sacked.
his positional discipline should come into play. . . .only bulldogs make tackles like song does. . . .cos his position is always a suspect.

you should see welbeck's goal at the emirates and the way alex song became a cctv that watched united score without making any meaningful challenge.

no wonder mikel obi has been earning rave reviews from all professional soccer pundits world wide including chelsea legends.

afrodoc:

no wonder mikel obi has been earning rave reviews from all professional soccer pundits world wide including chelsea legends.

no wonder carrick has been earning rave reviews or sergio busquets.
some players would never be appreciated until they retire.

was gilberto appreciated while in england?
he left and it was only when he featured for brazil that arsenal fans sensed they have murdered the goose that lays golden eggs.

and of course using ur logic scott parker,roy keane,van bommel,paul ince,dennis wise,didier deschamps and patrick viera should hav been sacked at their prime cos i am sure those guys all made more than 4 tackles in most matches in there careers.
defensive midfield position needing simplicity doesnt mean u need a siddon look player like mikel who will sit on his hands rather than come n help out.i remember walcot's goal at stamford bridge,d guy was busy admiring walcot's cool new boots

come off it analysts talk abt how good busquets is week in week out.so u r saying chelsea fans will one day look back on d good old days of mikel? i laff in mutum biu!

afrodoc:

and of course using ur logic scott parker,roy keane,van bommel,paul ince,dennis wise,didier deschamps and patrick viera should hav been sacked at their prime cos i am sure those guys all made more than 4 tackles in most matches in there careers.
defensive midfield position needing simplicity doesnt mean u need a siddon look player like mikel who will sit on his hands rather than come n help out.i remember walcot's goal at stamford bridge,d guy was busy admiring walcot's cool new boots

football has evolved. . . . .
the scott parker type of player can only be praised in england - not in europe.

barcelona are the best team for the last 3 seasons or so - who in their team acts like the idiotic scott parker who bagged a meaningless red card today?
we want to watch football not an arse-kicking contest. players like vieira, roy keane and bommel are liabilities to any team. why do fans hate de jong today?
de jong is not a diver, he's no racist but fans can't stand his bulldog approach of brawns over brains.

this is what alonso said about carrick. . . .

"Gerrard is a great player. He inspires and leads, he is very strong and is capable of making players around him raise their game, but he also needs players alongside to bring the best out of him.

"England missed a player like Carrick in the midfield, somebody who knows how to be in the right place at the right time.

"Gerrard gains a lot from having a player like Carrick as a partner, somebody who provides the back-up he needs to be free and bring his power to bear decisively in a game."

Carrick has continued to be overlooked by national coach Fabio Capello. The 28-year-old's last start came in the 3-1 warm-up friendly win against Mexico, but he failed to make an appearance in South Africa.


Alonso believes that there needs to be a change in emphasis regarding the national team, intimating that Capello needs to concentrate more on gelling a 'blend of styles together' in the England team.

"For me, it is important to have players who complement one another. Sometimes the 11 best do not make the best 11," he said.

"The way I understand the game, you also need someone who delivers simple, short passes, even if they seem innocuous at the time. For me that is the sort of player that's been missing from the side.

"The profile of the English player is very direct. Direct football is great but you have to know how to combine that with an understanding of the need to associate with other players, with knowing how to pass and pass and keep the ball, how to change the rhythm of a game as circumstances demand."

i see u tend to love up   to some players and never give up on them even ind face of contrary evidence ur torres is still d torres of 2008 and ur mikel is still d mikel of 2005.we love those players but they r no more,we r left wit shells.

mikel should run an escort service or pata pata he should b a sentry! na to dey look look e sabi.since they cant appreciate him in england let him go to other countries where they will appreciate him
but for now he is playing rubbish,old man essien playin wit half a leg and small boy romeu who can not shave yet r chasing him out of town

afrodoc:

mikel should run an escort service or pata pata he should b a sentry! na to dey look look e sabi.since they cant appreciate him in england let him go to other countries where they will appreciate him
but for now he is playing rubbish,old man essien playin wit half a leg and small boy romeu who can not shave yet r chasing him out of town

afrodoc:

i see u tend to love up   to some players and never give up on them even ind face of contrary evidence ur torres is still d torres of 2008 and ur mikel is still d mikel of 2005.we love those players but they r no more,we r left wit shells.

i am saying mikel obi does what his managers require him to do.
screen the back four, nullify any threat and constitute a nuisance/frustrate the effort of his opponents.
every other thing is a bonus - whether he can pass 90 yards or run 400mph is none of his business.

at least we have been able to clear the "all he does is backwards/sideways passing" theory.
nigerians trumpet this rubbish all the time and they forget passing backwards is better than passing it forward and having it intercepted.
low-risk football reigns supreme - it's the reason no team can match barcelona as we speak.

StarBoard:

coogar,
I agree De Gea has to acclamatise but I think his mental capacity is fragile at best.He hardly seems to recover from any mistakes he makes and is susceptible to criticism. When you think he was supposed to be a direct and even better replacement for van Der Sar, I think he hasn't adjusted quick enough.
But he is good:I have to give him that.

his saves today. . .

Tackles, interception and key passes The main job of the DM

Song bests Mikel

The way we play rubbish nowadays ehn, getting tired of watching United

pls what happened on the day we played Ajax?

is SAF getting mad? Park as a CM? and the other guys on the bench?

whats wrong with that man?

Ajax that cannot beat Enyimba?

and the Norwich game was just shyte

and why do we play Chicha and welbeck ahead of Berbatov?

can SAF resign and lets get a coach that will buy players and flush out all the factory rejects in United

i can endure 3 years of trophylessness tho. It cant be worse than that. After 3 years, he shd go and meet his wife

he has done very well for us

dayokanu:

Tackles, interception and key passes The main job of the DM

Song bests Mikel

so alex song who gets more dribbled by the opponents and gets more dispossessed by his opponents is a better defensive midfielder?
you should donate your brains to a science laboratory.

so mikel who makes less BLOCKS,makes less TACKLES and also makes less INTERCEPTIONS is d better defensive midfielder?
laaaaakuli! u should exchange ur brain for a plate of gbegiri!

coogar:

so alex song who gets more dribbled by the opponents and gets more dispossessed by his opponents is a better defensive midfielder?
you should donate your brains to a science laboratory.

You get more dribbled if you are more involved not when you hide from action and you get more dispossed if you are more involved unlike if you hide from play,

afrodoc:

so mikel who makes less BLOCKS,makes less TACKLES and also makes less INTERCEPTIONS is d better defensive midfielder?
laaaaakuli! u should exchange ur brain for a plate of gbegiri!  

what is he blocking? he cannot be dispossessed and he doesn't get dribbled.
mikel just takes the ball with perfect timing and knowing where to stand. . . .

sometimes a brilliant defender just stands in the way and the ball come to him, naturally!
there was this season rio ferdinand went almost a season with fouling anyone. that's brilliance!

so i think you should be the one to exchange your smoky brain with a plate of porridge.

dayokanu:

You get more dribbled if you are more involved not when you hide from action and you get more dispossed if you are more involved unlike if you hide from play,

exactly what i meant by his positional discipline.
song is a player who also plays as a centre-back so his number of last ditch tackles and co might have been skewed by being the last man.
but whatever it is, song gets dribbled more than any defensive midfielder and he makes more tackles - his positional discipline is suspect.

and to be a defensive midfielder - positioning is the number one priority.