Monday, April 22, 2013

Michael Carrick: Man United Unsung Hero


Carrick Nominated For PFA Player Of The Year: This is Why.
By Nic EnglishPosted on 19 April, 2013


The PFA has finally announced the shortlist for the PFA Player of the year and the big news is that Michael Carrick is on the shortlist.

While the Manchester United is unlikely to win with Luis Suarez and Gareth Bale the huge favourites, his nomination will stun people who often deride him for his one-paced game. At Squawka we take a different view on the matter.

Carrick has completed more forward passes than any other player in Europe’s top 5 leagues this season. That’s more than Xavi, Pirlo, Schweinsteiger, anyone.

In fact, the sideways passing criticism of Carrick doesn’t match up in any shape or form. Over three quarters of his passes are played forward.

The fact that the former Spurs man achieves a pass completion rate of 88% while playing so many forward is a testament to his importance to a Manchester United team which has swept the Premier League in extremely impressive fashion.

Consistency is an underrated facet of the modern game and Carrick provides that in abundance, never changing his game or altering performance based on the quality of the opposition

While nobody believes he will or should win, a player of Carrick’s quality and temperament is a huge asset in the Premier League and while he may not shine in the way Bale, RVP or Suarez do; who’s to say he isn’t just as valuable. Sir Alex wouldn’t.

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