Durham’s Rant: Why it’s wrong to blame Carrick for all Man United’s woes

One of the less bright members of staff at talkSPORT decided Man United’s defeat at Arsenal was all down to Michael Carrick being no good.

Sometimes, I despair.

I’m not here to defend Carrick because he didn’t have a great game but he was with Anderson in central midfield up against Aaron Ramsey, Jack Wilshere and Alex Song.

United weren’t outplayed, they were outnumbered.

That was a basic error from Sir Alex Ferguson, who we all assumed would match up three v three in midfield. He didn’t and United lost.

Anderson has got quality, but he didn’t show it on Sunday and, in fact, he was lazy at times. At one point he lost the ball, didn’t bother to chase back and Fergie slaughtered him from the touchline and hauled him off two minutes later.

He put Antonio Valencia on and moved Ji-Sung Park inside. Almost immediately Park was caught out. He found himself ten yards from Ramsey when he should have been tighter, and consequently Ramsey started and finished the move for the winner.

Even Stan Collymore blamed Carrick, who was tracking Wilshere, and tried to charge down Ramsey’s shot. Somehow even Stan thought Carrick was at fault for the goal.

It seems the default position is to blame Carrick. He’s not a chest-beating warhorse like Scott Parker, he doesn’t score worldies like Steven Gerrard and he’s not a 20-goal a season man like Frank Lampard.

But he is the best passer of the ball England have had for the past ten years, and is on the brink of picking up his fourth title in five years at United. Oh, and he’s got a new contract in his back pocket.

United keep possession, that’s how they win games and win trophies, and Carrick is crucial to that philosophy. How many times have we watched England and despaired at how we can’t keep the ball?

That’s why I believe we would have been so much better if Carrick had been a regular. He’s the English Pirlo (a World Cup winner by the way).

If he messes up, blame him, like in the semi at Wembley. But if Fergie gets his tactics wrong, if Anderson gets lazy, if Park doesn’t do his job properly, don’t blame Carrick.

Lazy pundits, fans and ex-pros will pick on Carrick. But they should know better.