Take a sprinkling of underdog triumphs, add a pinch of young players getting their chance to impress and top it all off with plenty of goals and you have a fine recipe, a recipe that we call the Capital One Cup.
The first competitive competition of the year has sometimes been pushed aside by teams, but the fact remains that the League Cup is a fine example of everything that’s good about English football.
The tournament’s schedule makes for an unusual set of circumstances, leaving football fans with a mid-season cup final at Wembley. The prospect of wining silverware at just past the mid point of the domestic season is one that attracts many teams, making for exciting ties and some unexpected results.
Lets start with the first ingredient of the Capital One Cup: underdog triumphs. Cup football is very much a winner takes it all process, with a one off game often granting the team who perform on the day a spot in the next round. Whereas over a league season the cream rises, the League Cup can throw a team from the lower echelons of the professional tier up against true giants of the English game.
Bradford City’s penalty shoot-out win against Arsenal in this year’s quarter-final is a fine example of the plucky minnow triumphing in ‘David vs. Goliath’ fashion. The Bantams were expected to be brushed aside with ease by Arsene Wenger’s troops, but instead they battled valiantly, took the lead and, after they conceded late on in normal time, won after converting three spot-kicks.
Of course there have been other giant killings, with York City taking victory against Manchester United at Old Trafford and Swindon Town lifting the trophy in 1969, beating Arsenal.
Moving on the next ingredient we add to our mixture is youngsters getting their chance to impress. The hectic nature of the English fixture schedule sees games coming thick and fast, with many players still attempting to find full fitness. This causes some managers to shuffle their pack and throw new players into the mix. Sometimes it doesn’t work, but occasionally some real gems are unveiled to the footballing world, think Arsenal’s conveyer belt of talent which flourished in the League Cup.
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To complete our now mouth-watering dish we have goals, and lots of them. With only the semi-finals taking place over two legs in the modern competition, a winner on the night is guaranteed, which encourages teams to go for broke in search of an all important equaliser or a goal to ensure their passage into the next round. There have been a number of thumping victories in this season’s competition such as Swindon Town’s 4-3 win over Stoke, Crewe Alexandra’s 5-0 mauling of Hartlepool and Chelsea’s 6-0 demolition job against Wolves. Whilst fans of the side on the wrong end of result may not enjoy the ball nestling in the net, neutrals love goals, and goals are loved by the League Cup.
The final whistle at the end of the final always marks then end of a tough, but rewarding, process that has been enjoyed by almost everybody who loves the sport. Unlike some competitions the Capital One Cup rarely disappoints, with a no holds barred mentality and mixture of some great ingredients, a footballing feast is almost always served.
Liverpool’s transfer dealings in recent years have quite rightly come under considerable scrutiny. The highly-publicised example has been Andy Carroll, whose £35million move from Newcastle in January 2011 has to no surprise been a huge failure, with the England forward exiled to Upton Park on a season-long loan where his performances have been good but still yet to recapture his successes during the Magpies’ campaign amid their return to the Premier League.
But Carroll’s move was just the tip of the ice-berg during an era of irresponsible spending and contract offers under former Liverpool managers Roy Hodgson and Kenny Dalglish as well as Sporting Director Damien Comolli. The French scout was also responsible for some of the Reds’ worst transfer dealings, including Stewart Downing’s £20million move from Aston Villa, despite just recording just nine goals and ten assists during his time at Villa Park, and failing to score or create a goal in his first 44 Premier League appearances for the Anfield club.
But out of the long list of transfer faux pas at Liverpool, which include Paul Konchesky, Charlie Adam, Joe Cole, Robbie Keane and more recently Fabio Borini and Jordan Henderson, has emerged a rare gem.
Luis Suarez, bought for £22million from Ajax back in 2011 is proving to be the club’s smartest piece of business since the signing of Fernando Torres for a similar price. The Uruguayan international has been setting the Premier League alight this season, with 21 goals and four assists in 27 domestic appearances, and at times he’s been a saving grace for Brendan Rodgers during his inaugural campaign.
At first glance, and certainly at the time, £22million appeared to be a fair price for a striker who had a prolific record in the Eredivise, and had a decent if rather uninspiring goal tally in his first 18 months in England. But this season, upon reflection, the Uruguayan’s price-tag is looking more and more like an absolute steal.
Compare his record with some of the recent deals in the English market, and it becomes obvious of just how solid the £22million investment truly has been. Sergio Aguero for example, cost Manchester City £38million, which broke the club’s record transfer spend back in summer 2011.
Although I would still argue its money well spent, considering the Argentine international helped the club lift the Premier League title in his first season, Liverpool have managed to acquire a striker for £16million less that looks set to match Aguero’s goal tally from last year, if not improve upon it, leading to rumours at the start of the season speculating a move regarding Suarez to the blue side of Manchester. Furthermore, Suarez has the possibility in his next ten games to equal Liverpool legend Robbie Fowler’s record of 28 goals in a single season.
Even looking at less high profile signings, it is clear to see that it was money well spent. Aston Villa forked out £18million for Darren Bent a few years ago, which could potentially rise to £24million, despite the former England international being half the player that Suarez has proven to be.
Similarly, Sunderland had to spend £16million to bring in Steven Fletcher, even though the forward’s final standing for a Premier League season has been just 12 goals. And of course, the move that was the prologue for Suarez’s move to Anfield; the £50million wasted by Chelsea on former Liverpool star Fernando Torres.
The problem I have with the majority of Liverpool’s recent transfers is that compared to their initial fees, the players have no real resale value. I recently wrote an article discussing this issue, which was received by comments arguing the contrary. One Liverpool fan argued that Stewart Downing could be sold on for around £6million, and Andy Carroll £12million -the latter being a rather optimistic estimate in my opinion – but is the collective £18million really an acceptable return on the English pairing that cost an overall of £55million, that have scored just six goals between them in two years at the club?
However, the same cannot be said for Suarez, who is reportedly a transfer target for almost every European elite club, most notably Bayern Munich and Manchester City, with prices ranging from £40million to £50million – not a bad profit for a striker who all in all has had one exceptional season for Liverpool.
And although Liverpool fans may not wish to admit it, selling their controversial figure may become a real possibility in the summer. It is clear to see that Suarez enjoys being at Anfield; he often plays with a cheeky grin as he hassles opposition defenders by nipping at their ankles, and there is no doubt he responds positively to the ever-in-song Kop faithful.
But he is 26 years old and must always have his career in mind. Champions League football is surely his number one priority, and although he will give his all this season to help Liverpool return to the promised land of Europe’s top club competition, should they fail to mount a successful late surge for fourth place he will have some difficult decisions to make in the next transfer window.
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However, should the Liverpool talisman leave, the blame should not be placed on him. It would be wrong to brand Suarez as a traitor or a Judas. If the club are forced to sell, should an offer come in that cannot be refused, it will be due to the club’s other poor acquisitions that over time have depreciated the value of the team and lead to the Reds shifting from being outside title contenders and Champions League regulars to a mid-table side.
Although the Uraguayan’s departure would be a tough pill to swallow for Liverpool fans, and it would be a shame to see him move abroad as he has been one of the cornerstones of the Premier League this season, there is a silver lining. His potential £50million fee, of which over half would be no-strings attached profit, could be exactly the type of investment required to return the Anfield club to their past glories.
The Reds have a lot of promising youngsters on their books, and recently signed Daniel Sturridge and Phillipe Coutinho – two rather smart pieces of business. If the Suarez transfer kitty can be put to equally good use, Brendan Rodgers would have the freedom to build on the solid base he has formed this season and further improve upon it by bringing in players that fit the style he wishes to create and institutionalise at Liverpool. Of course, it will be viewed by many as a step in the wrong direction, but sometimes you have to go backwards to go forward.
In recent times the Premier League has been injected with talent from Southampton football club. Gareth Bale and Theo Walcott are the most notable success stories and the St Mary’s production line has not suddenly stopped producing young starlets that are the envy of all of the English top flight.
The latest prospect to emerge is Luke Shaw and the rise of the England u-17 left back has not escaped the radars of the Premier League’s top four.
Ever since he made his debut against Millwall in a fourth round FA Cup replay, in January 2012, his development ever since has been spectacular. When promotion followed for the South coast outfit last season and trust to permanently fill the left back slot Shaw took the opportunity with both hands.
This has not escaped the notice of both Arsenal and Chelsea as there is now a clamour to capture one of English football’s most prized assets. Southampton may not be in a position where they have to sell like they have been in times gone by, but you still suspect money talks.
Shaw has shown no desperation to leave and not so long signed a new 5 year deal but his application and technical ability has illustrated he could very well be capable of mixing it with the best.
Would it suit the young prodigy to move to Chelsea or Arsenal this summer though?
It certainly will not be an easy decision for Luke Shaw to make with gaining and experience and first team appearances crucial whilst he is not fully established.
He may have shown that he is more than capable of holding his own on the Premier League stage but whether he can hold the mantle of the Champions League at this point in time is another matter.
Should he desire such a move though it is up for debate whether a move to North or West London would be the right switch for the 6ft 1 left back?
At the Emirates Shaw would be sure to be in safe hands under the tutelage of Arsene Wenger. He has been there and done it with Southampton youngsters with Oxlade-Chamberlain and Walcott who currently remain pivotal aspects of the starting XI
The Arsenal boss has also expressed an interest in signing the 17 year old and after moulding Ashley Cole into the fine full back he has turned out to be, Shaw could be the next defender he turns into a world class star.
Wenger also appears to be building an English spine to the “new” Arsenal as he finally looks to take Arsenal out of the trophy less doldrums. Wilshere may be the focal point of this attack but Shaw could be part of an exciting future for the Gunners.
A move to Arsenal would not guarantee success. They have may achieved 15 years of consecutive Champions League football, but they are not flush with silverware.
If Shaw were to choose this project it would be a risk in so much a “glory” move away from St Mary’s may not reap any tangible reward.
He may also want to consider that Arsene Wenger is under intense scrutiny at the Emirates and that his association with the Gunners could come to an end next season.
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Even if Wenger does survive the considerable storm brewing in North London for the foreseeable future, the desperation to succeed at Arsenal could be stifling for a young footballer.
Also he may want to consider that despite the Gunners being inefficient in several areas of the field with Kieran Gibbs and Nacho Monreal at left back he would face fierce competition for an immediate starting berth.
Chelsea may similarly offer an unstable atmosphere as there is current managerial uncertainty and a fractious relationship between the fans and owner, but it does bear fruit.
The Blues view being in two trophies and 3rd place as a disaster currently which is a yardstick of the ambition that remains at Stamford Bridge.
Abramovich may be questioned at this current moment in time, but a summer spending spree could turn them into genuine title contenders.
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Luke Shaw may not be moulded and carefully sculpted as he would at The Emirates but he could be certain that he in the next few years he could emerge as first choice left back every week.
Ashley Cole may be too difficult to oust in a first season at Stamford Bridge but the Chelsea board are keen to pass over his torch to a young starlet sooner rather than later.
If Chelsea were to send the youngster out on loan should he struggle to instantly make an impact too he need look no further than the success of Lukaku and Courtois in their spells at other clubs this season.
He would not have to fear being thrown into the deep end of immediately having magnificence expected of him, but plenty of young prospects have gone missing at Stamford Bridge too.
Luke Shaw may want immediate success and to be primed as England’s new left back at Chelsea, but if he were to choose Arsenal he could be safeguarding his talent after all.
It starts now. 344 days after Sergio Agüero etched his name into Manchester City folklore the now ex-Champions of England are now back to square one. Manchester United’s slaughtering of Aston Villa on Monday had the same effect on City’s slim hopes of successfully defending the Premier League crown that now rests in the hands of their fiercest rivals. So, the quest to conquer United begins once again for Roberto Mancini. However, there are some short-term goals for the Italian to achieve with cementing a second placed finish the highest priority. Last weekends meek surrender at Tottenham left them just five points clear of third-placed Arsenal and Mancini will demand his team respond in devastating fashion when West Ham come to the Etihad Stadium.
The Hammers have hit form at the right time with a five-match unbeaten run aiding them in securing their Premier League status for next year. Last weekends win over Wigan was impressive in itself and followed draws against Manchester United and Liverpool. Sam Allardyce and his troops now have their ambitions fixed on a finishing the season strongly and doing so in the top-half.
On a separate note both sides will pay a special tribute to Marc-Vivien Foe, who passed away 10 years ago after collapsing on the pitch while representing Cameroon at the Confederations Cup. Foe played for City and West Ham in two separate spells and supporters will engage in an applause during the 23rd minute – the midfielders squad number.
Team News
Manchester City still have doubts over David Silva’s fitness after he missed the defeat at Tottenham with an ankle injury. James Milner (hamstring) is another facing a race against time to return to full health, while Sergio Agüero is pushing for a start.
West Ham are without defenders James Tomkins (calf) and George McCartney (knee) but are hopeful Mark Noble will be fit enough to start after stepping up his return from a shoulder problem with another cameo appearance against Wigan. Joe Cole is also pushing for a place in the Hammers’ first XI.
What the managers said…
“It doesn’t change this. They deserve to win this title because they won a lot of games in a row. The crucial moment was when we played QPR, Liverpool, Southampton. That moment we had big problems with our players injured. We lost key points. United have more attitude than us, as a club, as a team.” Roberto Mancini insists Man City’s confidence hasn’t been punctured after losing the Premier League title (Independent)
“You’re always chasing the master and he has been the master for so long – it is difficult to sustain success against him. Whenever he has a challenge, he may lose out once, but he comes back with flying colours. He’s had it with Chelsea and before that Arsenal. If they win the FA Cup and they finish second, it’s a very good season. When you win the league for the first time in so many (44) years it is very difficult to win it the second time round – no matter how much money you spend.” Sam Allardyce insists Man City will struggle to win the league while Sir Alex Ferguson is still at United (Daily Mail)
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Pre-match Statistic: Manchester City have lost just one of their last 11 Premier League meetings with West Ham, winning seven.
Prediction: Manchester City 3-1 West Ham United
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With Manchester City and Chelsea both set to strengthen their squads this summer, in a bid to win back the Premier League title, Manchester United boss David Moyes will be looking to add to his new team too, in order to stay ahead of the chasing pack. United’s old rivals Liverpool will also be looking to buy some players in the summer, as Brendan Rodgers sets his sights on the top 4.
But both clubs will be looking to sell some unwanted players too, to free up some wages and space for the incoming arrivals. But which Premier League stars could be available this summer, and for a bargain too? Forget Rooney and Suarez, here are players that could be available on the cheap.
Click on Jose Enrique to unveil the 10 bargains that could be available from Manchester United and Liverpool
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Sunderland winger Adam Johnson has backed boss Paolo Di Canio after he came under fire for his hard line approach to management.
The Italian has hit out at the poor discipline at the club recently and it is understood seven players have been hit by fines in the past week for various misdemeanours.
That has led to some players complaining to the Players’ Union, the PFA, who have warned Di Canio that he cannot make up discipline as he goes along and must observe established rules.
Johnson, though, backs his manager’s approach, telling the Northern Echo: “He’s come in and managers have new things that they want to do.
“The gaffer is big on discipline and if it means us getting more wins, I’m all for it.
“There’s nothing worse than losing game after game after game after game all season. I haven’t been used to that in my career, so it’s been difficult,” the former Manchester City winger added.
“It’s been poor, very poor, I think. The table doesn’t lie. I think the only thing that we can say is that the only way is up for us now.
“We can’t get any lower to be honest.
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“We survived and now next season all we can do is progress. That’s the positive way of looking at it.”
Andre Villas-Boas has suffered a transfer setback, as striker Ciprian Marica rejected the opportunity to join Tottenham on a free transfer after failing to agree personal terms, according to the Metro.
The Romanian forward is still looking for a club after being released by Bundesliga outfit Schalke last season, and appeared to destined for a switch to the Premier League.
North London rivals Arsenal were also said to be interested in the striker, but it was Tottenham who began the negotiations, although on this occasion they proved unsuccessful.
Andre Villas-Boas is in the market for another striker, with the futures of both Jermain Defoe and Emmanuel Adebayor both uncertain.
Both are yet to earn a Premier League start this season, with £26million forward Roberto Soldado starting every game so far – although Defoe was able to notch a brace in Tuesday’s 4-0 win over Aston Villa in the Capital One Cup.
Villas-Boas was hoping to sign Marica – who can also play on the wing – on a deal until the end of the season, but the forward and his agent were able to come to an agreement with Tottenham officials.
Arsenal may yet look to pounce and see if they can tempt the forward to the Emirates, whilst West Ham are also keen to bring in another forward, although the forwards agent Victor Becali reckons Spain and Rayo Vallecano is the most likely destination for his client, after failing to agree terms with Tottenham.
‘Marica’s transfer to Tottenham has unfortunately failed,’ said Becali.
‘They would not match his salary – they would not even match half the salary he had at Schalke.’
It is difficult with Rayo, because few teams in Spain can pay well at the moment,’ he added.
‘But we are very hopeful and Marica is now in Madrid and we will wait and see.’
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It has been an encouraging start to the season for Everton. 13 games in they find themselves sixth, level on points with Manchester United, and well within shooting range of a Europa League spot. In the light of last weekend’s draw with Liverpool at Goodison – a game they arguably were unlucky not to win – it is safe to say that Everton is still one of the outsiders in the race for European football. The tradition of punching slightly above their weight, and compete with teams that harbour far bigger financial credentials, is preserved by new manager Roberto Martinez. A manager who made his trade by precisely looking past economic barriers, and finding other ways to make his team competitive. This begs the question:
Is Roberto Martinez the master of making teams perform beyond their ability?
Dave Whelan seems to think so. Wigan’s notoriously overexcited chairman, and Martinez’s former employer, recently spoke of his great admiration of the Spanish manager, and of how he was surprised Manchester United didn’t grab the opportunity to benefit from his genius.
“I think he’s the best manager in the world and I was a little surprised that Man U didn’t come for him because I knew that Alex was going to retire,” Whelan told Sky Sports News.
“Alex had already told me that he was thinking of retiring and I was a bit surprised that Man United didn’t. They have still got a great lad in David Moyes, let me say that, he’s still a great manager, but Roberto now going to Everton, he will take Everton to places they can only dream about.”
Now, the impact of Whelan’s praise is somewhat muted by his consecutive claim that he sees no reason why England shouldn’t win the World Cup in Brazil next year. Where most of us see a host of frighteningly talented South American teams playing in homely conditions in addition the invisible Germans and Spaniards, Whelan sees a trophy that is there for the taking. His belief is admirable, though his judgement is questionable.
However, he does have some legitimacy to his claim; Roberto Martinez, despite last season’s relegation, did well with Wigan. In his five year tenure as the Latics manager he made escaping relegation at the last second look like a game to him. In fact, Wigan’s ability to muster their strength for a late comeback in May was so acknowledged that no one dared to write them of before Arsenal thumped them 4-1 and destroyed all hopes of survival with one game to go.
Wigan went on to beat Manchester City in the FA-Cup final, becoming the only team ever to win the cup and be relegated in the same season. Now they compliment Championship football with the Europa League. So, considering how Martinez got Wigan out in Europe, accomplishing the same with Everton should be far less daunting.
In their eight years as a premiership side, Wigan was continuously out gunned financially. Surrounded by both the big Manchester and Liverpool clubs, it is easy to understand why it is difficult to build any sort of big-club business at the DW Stadium, so Martinez needed to think alternatively on how to gather points. The answer he came up with was a simple version of emphasizing the team’s strengths and hiding its weaknesses. In 2010/11 Wigan scored twice as often as the average Premier League side on counter attacks, and almost four times as often on free-kicks.
The statistic is a result of Martinez’s ability to identify how his team can score goals. Rather than approaching the game in a conventional way, he magnifies his own advantages, and challenge the opponent the only way he can.
In essence, this pattern is very similar to the one developed by former Everton manager and current Man United boss David Moyes. Moyes could never compete financially with the teams that surrounded his Everton team on the table, but had success by finding other ways to squeeze the percentages in his own advantage. The main resemblance between the two managers is this: they appreciate that every little percentage counts, and can ultimately be the difference between success and utter failure.
A slight obstacle for Martinez, though, is paradoxically the bigger access to transfer funds. Many top half clubs – most notably Liverpool in recent years (before Rodgers) – has struggled in the Premier League after hiring managers who are not accustomed to handling big budgets. The transition from pursuing reasonably talented footballers to being expected to sign players with genuine claims of world class seems to be more challenging than you’d expect, and so far, Martinez has had more emphasis on boosting the talent that is already in the squad than signing big names.
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The results are yet to come, but Roberto Martinez has most the tools required to take Everton a step further. The long term target for the Toffees is steady European football qualification, and although the top of the premiership seems tighter than ever, Everton are where they need to be.
Mr Dave Whelan might embody the laughing stock yet again through his comments, but he is right about one thing. Everton hired the right manager.
The narrative now reads: spent a long time at one club, won nothing. Oh how quickly we’ve managed to rewrite history.
Of course, highlighting certain weaknesses and overlooking the positives of David Moyes’ time at Everton helps with the agenda of undermining him in his current job. He never won a trophy at Goodison Park, doesn’t know how to win a trophy, so what good is he at a club like Manchester United, despite Moyes’ predecessor labelling him a natural winner?
Taking away the good that Moyes did also helps to amplify the good that Roberto Martinez has brought to Everton following Moyes’ departure. Ok, the Catalan won the FA Cup, but he consistently had Wigan flirting with relegation, only to lose that battle days after beating Manchester City at Wembley in the final. But he’s doing fairly well now, playing enterprising football; we can overlook those past failings.
The fundamental factor in this attack on Moyes is time, in that collectively the football world seems intolerant of such a concept. From first and champions last season to seventh in the league now, complete with an FA Cup third round exit and a deficit going into the League Cup second leg semi-final against Sunderland.
Moyes has shown himself – at least from the only relevant evidence we have – to be a manager who looks long term. There was a steady build about what he did at Everton. You feel, though, that he had to adapt himself to work within the financial parameters of the club. Arguably the club’s financial restrictions dictated how he would go about his managerial job, but he nevertheless took the club on an upward trajectory and kept them there.
It’s not entirely his fault that there was an obvious glass ceiling preventing him from taking that next step into the Champions League. Moyes won’t be helped by that terrible record at the home grounds of the traditional powers of the Premier League, but he made Everton a regular challengers for the top six. Couldn’t it be said they were punching above their weight, even with the defeats laid on to some of the bigger clubs when welcoming them to Goodison Park?
We’re forgetting that now, though. Importantly, we’re choosing to do so. The pressure is different now for Moyes, added to by the expectation everyone outside Manchester United has and the winning tradition cemented in the club by Ferguson.
Far from saying Moyes looks more comfortable in his current job than he was at the start of the campaign, considering recent results, he does appear to have a better grasp of what’s required. The awe of the place and subsequent careful treading isn’t as obvious.
Moyes will need to take on a new mentality, dismissing the underdog tactics used at Everton and brought to United. He isn’t a winner in tangible terms, but relatively speaking, he has brought success. Martinez is doing well at Everton now, but it would be wrong to suggest it’s all of his own doing.
Moyes has had to deal with changes being made at United, both in terms of the playing personnel and the backroom staff. We like to paint the picture that Moyes failed in the summer transfer window, when it should be labelled as negligence from the club’s hierarchy to entrust two newcomers – Moyes and Ed Woodward – with overseeing a successful transfer window.
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A better summer could have made Moyes’ life easier, but he’d still have to deal with the same problems. The problems of an ageing squad in need of a drastic overhaul, as well as those who simply aren’t pulling their weight needing to be shipped out.
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Following the announcement of Roy Hodgson’s World Cup squad, English football has felt compelled to pay tribute to its most glaring omission, Chelsea defender Ashley Cole. After rejecting a place on England’s stand-by list for Brazil, the Three Lions centurion has called time on his international career, spanning over a decade.
The acknowledgements of Gary Lineker, Michael Owen et al. are more than deserved – for all the failings of England’s golden generation, Cole’s performances over the last ten years have not been one of them.
Yet, spare a thought for Manchester United’s Michael Carrick. The Red Devils midfielder also failed to make Hodgson’s cut for Brazil, marking what will most likely be the final chapter in one of the most unfortunate international careers an England player has ever endured.
Unlike Cole, Carrick did accept to be on the Three Lions’ stand-by list. But with the power of youth the flavour of the month and seven players already in the squad capable of operating in central midfield, the chances of a last minute promotion for the 32 year-old remain incredibly slim.
Despite a glistening club career, including five Premier League titles and a Champions League medal from 2008, Carrick’s efforts for his country have constantly been overshadowed by two players – Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard. Perhaps understandably so; they’re the two highest-scoring midfielders in Premier League history, and both reached 100 caps for England during the last World Cup qualifiers – their quality and experience is impossible to understate.
But it’s not the quality and experience of Gerrard and Lampard that Carrick has spent his Three Lions career fighting against. Rather, the twosome’s inability to work effectively together in the same midfield – the Gerrard-Lampard-Midfield complex if you will – has resulted in endless engine room experiments by prior and current England managers, including such obscure variables as Owen Hargreaves, Gareth Barry, Scott Parker, Leon Osman and even Phil Neville.
From all the aforementioned names, only Parker and Osman – two more recent England inductees – boast less caps than the Manchester United midfielder. Indeed, throughout an England career spanning three clubs, 13 honours for United, three major international tournaments and thirteen years, an eternally injury-free Michael Carrick has claimed just 31 caps. Only twenty of his England outings have come as starts. Gareth Barry and Owen Hargreaves on the other hand – two of the most ineffective players I’ve ever seen in a Three Lions jersey – enjoy 53 and 42 caps respectively.
Carrick’s biggest crime, in comparison to England’s other midfielders, is his unusually passive, almost Italian nature of play. There’s no doubting his quality; when a youngster at West Ham’s famous ‘The Academy of Football’, the Geordie showed such trickery, invention and skill on the ball that scouts often mistook him for youth team-mate Joe Cole, whose reputation had already begun to precede him throughout England. They were soon surprised to discover that the Pele-incarnate in front of them was considered by himself and the club as a defensive midfielder.
Carrick has always oozed that class, but whilst Steven Gerrard would burst from one end of the pitch to the other, tackling everything in his path before unleashing a howling piledriver at goal, and Frank Lampard would ghost into the box to pick up at least ten goals per season, the United midfielder was controlled and calculated, subtle yet effective, intrinsically influential but often unnoticeable to the naked eye.
If the 32 year-old were more swashbuckling or cavalier, if he were positionally iller-disciplined or more wasteful on the ball, prepared to shirk his own responsibilities for moments in the goal-scoring limelight or willing to squander possession cheaply for the sake of the occasional exceptional 60 yard through ball, like his Chelsea and Liverpool counterparts, then perhaps he would be an England centurion by now too. Had his defensive contribution consisted of running around like a headless chicken or always being ‘the first man in the wall’, rather than unceremoniously anticipating and intercepting through the powers of his footballing intellect alone, then perhaps he would be at least an England half-centurion, like Gareth Barry.
With Lampard and Gerrard reaching their veteran years, thus losing that athletic element which made them such eye-catching dynamic midfielders, Brazil 2014 was billed as Carrick’s World Cup. A rare location of football’s pinnacle tournament that beckons three man midfields, an integral emphasis on maintaining possession and stressing the powers of the mind over the impact of the athlete, England’s unusual requirements for Rio paved the way for the 32 year-old to finally earn the recognition internationally that his club career deserves.
Admittedly, on merit, it’s hard to argue that Carrick deserves a place over the youthful midfield clan Hodgson has selected instead. Whilst the likes of Ross Barkley, Jordan Henderson and Adam Lallana have just ended sensational coming of age campaigns, the 32 year-old has endured the most disappointing season of his career at Manchester United. Being one of the Old Trafford elders, despite the limited quality surrounding him in central midfield, Carrick must accept a share of the responsibility for the Red Devils’ enormous downturn from last term. In many ways it also highlights the England international’s most repetitive flaw; being a rather passive player, his performances are often only as good as those around him.
But had the World Cup been a year ago, then Carrick would have started for England in Brazil, let alone make the squad. He played a crucial part in United claiming their 13th Premier League title last season, accordingly earning the Players’ Player of the Year award at Old Trafford and a place in the PFA Team of the Year.
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In comparison, Steven Gerrard was yet to reinvent himself as the deep-lying, Michael-Carrick-esque playmaker as that’s brought him and Liverpool such success this season, Jack Wilshere was still recovering from a year-long injury, much of the country hadn’t heard of Ross Barkley and Adam Lallana boasted a rather small, Southampton-based cult following. Had Brazil 14 been Brazil 13, the United veteran would be selected for England’s engine room by default.
So here lies the international career of Michael Carrick. A five-time Premier League winner whom, through no other predominant fault than his unassertive, almost foreign style has been completely wasted by his country for the benefit of two supposedly ‘world-class’ players that to this day cannot operate effectively next to each other in the same midfield. Rio spelt redemption, a final chance to show what Sven Goran-Eriksson, Steve McClaren, Fabio Capello and Roy Hodgson had somehow missed, yet, as if fate had conspired against him, the build-up to the 2014 World Cup happened to coincide with Manchester United’s worst season since 1989.
Any other generation, and Michael Carrick would have been one of England’s brightest stars. Any other country, and the 32 year-old’s unique abilities would have received the widespread acknowledgement they deserve. Had Brazil 2014 taken place at the end of any other Manchester United campaign, and the Red Devils midfielder would have been a certainty for Roy Hodgson’s squad. But alas, Carrick remains one of the most wasted and misfortunate players to ever grace an England jersey.