Manchester United’s key recruitment task this summer? Replace Michael Carrick
By Ahmed Walid
It’s not unreasonable to think that the best No 6 to have played for Manchester Unitedin the last 15 years signed for the club in 2006, ended his career six years ago and is currently the head coach of Middlesbrough.
Michael Carrick’s passing ability, vision, controlling of the tempo, understanding of the game, and positioning in and out of possession have been features that United’s midfield has been missing since his last days in 2018.
Whether in a double or single pivot, United’s subsequent players in that No 6 role have each had different profiles, but none comprehensive enough to be an all-rounder who can help United’s build-up phase, dictate the tempo of the match, and progress the ball up the pitch in possession, while offering the team a strong presence out of possession in terms of positioning and defensive impact.
The last couple of seasons have been a turbulent ride, where periods of improvement are followed by decline and gloom. During that period, the team’s lack of a No 6 that is strong in and out of possession has hampered the side, even in seasons of apparent progress.
A midfield also containing Ander Herrera, Marouane Fellaini, Paul Pogba and Henrikh Mkhitaryan still had the support of Carrick during Jose Mourinho’s first season in charge of the club in 2016-17. However, a heart condition that arose during United’s Carabao Cup match against Burton Albion in September 2017 meant that Carrick’s illustrious playing days were nearing an end.
The arrival of Nemanja Matic that summer was meant to elevate United’s midfield, with the Serbian starting regularly in United’s double pivot in a 4-2-3-1 shape. However, most of the combinations that included Matic had noticeable disadvantages.
Pogba’s defensive deficiencies exposed United’s shape out of possession whenever the Francemidfielder was playing in a deeper role, Herrera’s restricted ability in the build-up phase limited the side’s possession game, and Fellaini’s defensive input and aerial ability weren’t enough of an advantage when his technical shortages on the ball were factored in.
The following season, Mourinho experimented with playing Andreas Pereiraas a deep-lying midfielder, but that didn’t last long. The addition of Fred helped United without the ball, but in possession his approach resulted in too many misplaced passes. Add in a 30-year-old Matic and Mourinho moving towards playing a 4-3-3 in 2018-19, and the problems in midfield increased, with none of the available players at the time having the profile and ability to play as a lone No 6.
After Mourinho’s dismissal in December 2018, the first half of 2019 under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer saw some success with a midfield trio of Pogba, Matic and Herrera that at times was a diamond with Juan Mata or Jesse Lingard playing as a No 10 or false nine. Still, it was clear that this side still required a mobile player, skilled in tackling and passing to sit at the base of the midfield.
In 2019-20, the departure of Herrera and Fellaini, plus injuries to Pogba and Matic saw the rise of ‘McFred’, as Scott McTominaypartnered Fred in the heart of United’s midfield. For all of this partnership’s stamina, intensity and defensive benefits, it proved on multiple occasions that it lacked the technical ability to enable a possession game and help the team progress the ball up the pitch. Too often, the pair were easily pressed by the opponents, unable to receive comfortably with their back to goal and limited by their passing ability.
Other double-pivot combinations such as Pogba and McTominay, Matic and Fred, and Matic and Pogba also had their drawbacks. Pogba never thrived in that deeper role when it came to helping the team’s build-up, in addition to his positional issues out of possession, while Matic’s injury, plus his increasing lack of mobility similarly affected the midfield pivot. A dire start to the season was saved by a rampaging Bruno Fernandesarriving in January 2020.
By that time, it was obvious that United needed a No 6 who could help their build-up phase, could progress the ball through the thirds, and who was press-resistant enough to avoid losing possession, while having the positional intelligence to be in the right place at the right time defensively. Essentially, a player to complement Fred or McTominay, with Fernandes as the No 10.
That meant the acquisition of Donny van de Beek in 2020 made infinitely less sense than going for a dedicated No 6. This decision was compounded in 2021 as United signed Jadon Sancho, Raphael Varaneand Cristiano Ronaldo.
The disastrous 2021-22 campaign was followed by hope with the arrival of Erik ten Hag and the club’s very public pursuit of Frenkie de Jong, which ended with United signing Casemiro instead, despite some internal resistance.
The Brazilian’s first season was a success as his abilities off the ball were an immediate upgrade on McTominay and Fred, which helped United defensively in front of a revamped back four, and offensively by creating transitional situations for the attackers, and also on set pieces.
But doubts around Casemiro’s ball-playing ability were proven to be correct with United’s build-up leaning on Lisandro Martinezand Christian Eriksento move the ball up the pitch in a more secure fashion.
These issues in possession have been increasingly on show in 2023-24 with the Casemiro’s physical output declining, the team struggling tactically and being struck by injuries throughout the campaign.
The silver lining of those injuries has been the playing time given to Kobbie Mainoo, who has started 24 matches for United in all competitions this season despite sustaining an ankle injury in pre-season. The 19-year-old midfielder has shown that he can operate in that deeper role, with his ability to receive the ball under pressure, carry it forward and break lines.
However, there’s room for improvement out of possession and pigeonholing Mainoo in that single-pivot No 6 role could expose some of his weaknesses defensively — especially if he is complemented by two midfielders who are primarily focused on progressing the ball and creating chances in the final third. It was noticeable that when he was drafted into the senior Englandset-up, Mainoo was played further forward and not given too many defensive responsibilities.
Mainoo’s impressive press-resistance and ability to play in tight areas will be essential to this United side moving forward. However, it needs to be complemented with a player who can be physically imposing, defensively aware in terms of his positioning and who offers the required intensity and impact without the ball.
The ideal signing needs to be able to conduct himself in possession in deeper areas and to be the cornerstone in United’s build-up phase, not its point of failure. The ability to receive the ball and pass it under pressure, along with vision, positional awareness and ball retention is vital.
For too many years United have failed to sign the exact profile that their midfield so desperately needs.
This summer — the first of the INEOS era at the club — is a chance to correct this extended mistake.
https://theathletic.com/5463118/2024/05/02/manchester-united-no-6-long-term-problem/
Manchester United’s key recruitment task this summer? Replace Michael Carrick
By Ahmed Walid
It’s not unreasonable to think that the best No 6 to have played for Manchester Unitedin the last 15 years signed for the club in 2006, ended his career six years ago and is currently the head coach of Middlesbrough.
Michael Carrick’s passing ability, vision, controlling of the tempo, understanding of the game, and positioning in and out of possession have been features that United’s midfield has been missing since his last days in 2018.
Whether in a double or single pivot, United’s subsequent players in that No 6 role have each had different profiles, but none comprehensive enough to be an all-rounder who can help United’s build-up phase, dictate the tempo of the match, and progress the ball up the pitch in possession, while offering the team a strong presence out of possession in terms of positioning and defensive impact.
The last couple of seasons have been a turbulent ride, where periods of improvement are followed by decline and gloom. During that period, the team’s lack of a No 6 that is strong in and out of possession has hampered the side, even in seasons of apparent progress.
A midfield also containing Ander Herrera, Marouane Fellaini, Paul Pogba and Henrikh Mkhitaryan still had the support of Carrick during Jose Mourinho’s first season in charge of the club in 2016-17. However, a heart condition that arose during United’s Carabao Cup match against Burton Albion in September 2017 meant that Carrick’s illustrious playing days were nearing an end.
The arrival of Nemanja Matic that summer was meant to elevate United’s midfield, with the Serbian starting regularly in United’s double pivot in a 4-2-3-1 shape. However, most of the combinations that included Matic had noticeable disadvantages.
Pogba’s defensive deficiencies exposed United’s shape out of possession whenever the Francemidfielder was playing in a deeper role, Herrera’s restricted ability in the build-up phase limited the side’s possession game, and Fellaini’s defensive input and aerial ability weren’t enough of an advantage when his technical shortages on the ball were factored in.
The following season, Mourinho experimented with playing Andreas Pereiraas a deep-lying midfielder, but that didn’t last long. The addition of Fred helped United without the ball, but in possession his approach resulted in too many misplaced passes. Add in a 30-year-old Matic and Mourinho moving towards playing a 4-3-3 in 2018-19, and the problems in midfield increased, with none of the available players at the time having the profile and ability to play as a lone No 6.
After Mourinho’s dismissal in December 2018, the first half of 2019 under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer saw some success with a midfield trio of Pogba, Matic and Herrera that at times was a diamond with Juan Mata or Jesse Lingard playing as a No 10 or false nine. Still, it was clear that this side still required a mobile player, skilled in tackling and passing to sit at the base of the midfield.
In 2019-20, the departure of Herrera and Fellaini, plus injuries to Pogba and Matic saw the rise of ‘McFred’, as Scott McTominaypartnered Fred in the heart of United’s midfield. For all of this partnership’s stamina, intensity and defensive benefits, it proved on multiple occasions that it lacked the technical ability to enable a possession game and help the team progress the ball up the pitch. Too often, the pair were easily pressed by the opponents, unable to receive comfortably with their back to goal and limited by their passing ability.
Other double-pivot combinations such as Pogba and McTominay, Matic and Fred, and Matic and Pogba also had their drawbacks. Pogba never thrived in that deeper role when it came to helping the team’s build-up, in addition to his positional issues out of possession, while Matic’s injury, plus his increasing lack of mobility similarly affected the midfield pivot. A dire start to the season was saved by a rampaging Bruno Fernandesarriving in January 2020.
By that time, it was obvious that United needed a No 6 who could help their build-up phase, could progress the ball through the thirds, and who was press-resistant enough to avoid losing possession, while having the positional intelligence to be in the right place at the right time defensively. Essentially, a player to complement Fred or McTominay, with Fernandes as the No 10.
That meant the acquisition of Donny van de Beek in 2020 made infinitely less sense than going for a dedicated No 6. This decision was compounded in 2021 as United signed Jadon Sancho, Raphael Varaneand Cristiano Ronaldo.
The disastrous 2021-22 campaign was followed by hope with the arrival of Erik ten Hag and the club’s very public pursuit of Frenkie de Jong, which ended with United signing Casemiro instead, despite some internal resistance.
The Brazilian’s first season was a success as his abilities off the ball were an immediate upgrade on McTominay and Fred, which helped United defensively in front of a revamped back four, and offensively by creating transitional situations for the attackers, and also on set pieces.
But doubts around Casemiro’s ball-playing ability were proven to be correct with United’s build-up leaning on Lisandro Martinezand Christian Eriksento move the ball up the pitch in a more secure fashion.
These issues in possession have been increasingly on show in 2023-24 with the Casemiro’s physical output declining, the team struggling tactically and being struck by injuries throughout the campaign.
The silver lining of those injuries has been the playing time given to Kobbie Mainoo, who has started 24 matches for United in all competitions this season despite sustaining an ankle injury in pre-season. The 19-year-old midfielder has shown that he can operate in that deeper role, with his ability to receive the ball under pressure, carry it forward and break lines.
However, there’s room for improvement out of possession and pigeonholing Mainoo in that single-pivot No 6 role could expose some of his weaknesses defensively — especially if he is complemented by two midfielders who are primarily focused on progressing the ball and creating chances in the final third. It was noticeable that when he was drafted into the senior Englandset-up, Mainoo was played further forward and not given too many defensive responsibilities.
Mainoo’s impressive press-resistance and ability to play in tight areas will be essential to this United side moving forward. However, it needs to be complemented with a player who can be physically imposing, defensively aware in terms of his positioning and who offers the required intensity and impact without the ball.
The ideal signing needs to be able to conduct himself in possession in deeper areas and to be the cornerstone in United’s build-up phase, not its point of failure. The ability to receive the ball and pass it under pressure, along with vision, positional awareness and ball retention is vital.
For too many years United have failed to sign the exact profile that their midfield so desperately needs.
This summer — the first of the INEOS era at the club — is a chance to correct this extended mistake.
https://theathletic.com/5463118/2024/05/02/manchester-united-no-6-long-term-problem/
