Is It Time For The Unlucky Carrick To Do A Scholes And Focus On United Career?

Is It Time For The Unlucky Carrick To Do A Scholes And Focus On United Career?

On a terrible Friday night in Alicante, where Roy Hodgson’s England side faced an efficient Spain outfit, the Three Lions looked very much like a non-league side being hammered by a good football league side in the FA Cup. It was an insipid performance from Hodgson’s men who had promised ambition and attacking football but provided little cutting thrust in the final third, lacked invention and gave virtually no sevice to speak of to a willing Harry Kane. Sadly their 2-0 loss was not the real nightmare of the game there was a much worse outcome both for England but more importantly Manchester United as the midfield general that is Michael Carrick went down with a very painful looking suspected ankle ligament injury. The incredibly unlucky Carrick who was one of the best performers on the night in the toothless England performance sustained the injury in the last minute of the game and he seemed visibly shaken as he was stretchered from the field.

The early prognosis for the midfielder is not good seemingly with another long spell on the sidelines looking probable. This is doubly frustrating even triply so as Carrick has only recently got a solid run of games having recovered from a serious injury and had put himself very much at the forefront of Louis Van Gaal’s United plans with the team always seeming to get results when Carrick plays plus he has been recalled by England because of his great club form. Of course we can only hope in the coming days that Carrick gets a better prognosis than the serious lay-off suggested. As for his career, long-term perhaps he needs to look at lightening his work load as Paul Scholes did to great effect. Scholes retired from England at a crazily early 29 years old and focused on United, managing to play an influential role winning many trophies until he was 38 years old. Although Carrick may look back on his England days with a little disappointment as he has only gone to 1 major championship with the Three Lions so far perhaps it is time for the 34 year old to do what Scholes did and focus on United and in so doing help them back to where they belong. You really feel for Carrick as he deserved a long-run in the England side to represent them at all the major Championships but I guess that is the way it goes sometimes. Hopefully the midfielder gets some long overdue luck and gets a miracle diagnosis and is back playing in a few weeks.

On the United bigger picture, it looks the decision to sign both Bastien Schweinsteiger and Morgan Schneiderlin this past summer is looking rather prudent right now. Some had questioned the need to sign both midfielders but now having the options of the two new signings plus Fellaini, Blind and the other more attack minded midfielders Louis Van Gaal still has the necessary depth to cover for Carrick’s unfortunate absence.