[hanuma]

Originally Posted by Olzy

No Carrick. Crazy!!!

He's part of the champions team, plays in champions league football. He's the best passer of the ball none of the England midfield can dictate a game / control a game at international level. Gerrard and Lampard have the likes of Alonso and Makele doing all the doggy work for them.

You couldn't be more wrong on so many levels.

The first part you're wrong about is that there is an 'international level' any more. Invariably the opposition isn't nearly as good as a top European club side, nor could it be even if it had the same level of talent, on account of the fact they get a month to prepare.

The second part would be the suggestion that Carrick can control a game where there is any level of midfield competition. If you hadn't noticed the only English player in Utd's squad capable of doing that is Scholes.

As for the third part, it doesn't even make any sense, considering Makalele's amount of games this season and Alonsos skillset. If anything, you'll often find Gerrard doing more fetching for Alonso.

Carrick's defensive game is very strong which is under rated.

Carrick's defensive game is not 'very strong' by any true defensive midfielders standards, it's strong for someone who has previously shown almost no aptitude for it.

even then you cant knock how class he is at putting through balls and so on. He is more than capable of scoring goals aswell. Plus he is a good height so would be good for England defensively at set plays.

I can and will knock his ability to put through balls through...as ever with him he's shown an ability to hit the hollywood pass once in a while, but the consistency with which he does it is miserable. For you it's great because you can watch the highlights and think it's all sexy and cool, but if you really watch him he plays just as many of those passes into the path of a defender. At your 'international level' keeping the ball is more important than what he does. If height was the only criteria for defending at set pieces Huddlestone is the better option, again, because he's taller and has a better leap. How many goals has he scored again btw?