Assuming we didnt have Carrick but Xavi instead, lets just change the question, Will Xavi resolve our midfield problem?

Michael Ballard.:

He hasn't resolved it the past 4 seasons. Dont see why he will this season.

Was there a midfield problem for the past 4 seasons?

I think carrick is our main centre midfielder now and that is not a bad thing. I've always liked Carrick even from his West Ham days.

In terms of a defensive midfielder I think having a midfield destroyer is a useful thing to have in the squad and without Fletcher (who I really hope comes back) there is a bit of a gap in teh squad. Although, if no one is brought in for this I'd like to see Jones take this on a bit more and in lower key games give Tunniclife a go at it, the boy looks a bit special!

stretford77:

We could do with some cover for Carrick but giving Tunnicliffe a good crack isn't a bad idea at all in my opinion.

Carrick isn't very physical but he reads the game well and knows when to tackle, intercept etc. Carrick will play a huge part next season and Cleverley hopefully will too he has improved his defensive side of his game, has brilliant work rate and energy the perfect partner to compliment Carrick.

This. I really believe Tunnicliffe will break through this season. He reminds me of a younger Roy Keane, and one of united's unsung midfielders of the past...Nicky Butt. Carrick has never, and probably will never, become a hard tackler. He's main game is interception and distribution. I can't wait to see a midfield with Tunnicliffe, Cleverley, Carrick.

Um...ok. If the problem is not with our midfield, as you say, then where is the problem? For the past two two seasons our midfield has been poor. We don't control matches, except against poor teams. Against the best teams, our midfield gets run over (if you don't see this, I'm not sure which matches you've been watching.) Every football pundit agrees that United have had a subpar midfield. We haven't had an exceptional one in years. We wouldn't have gotten as close as we did last year if Scholes hadn't come back. And even then, how many matches did we drop points where we were ahead and then gave up our lead to an equalizer or worse, we eventually lost? Go back and watch those matches. Most of the time it was not a simple long ball over our defense. It was a counter attack through the midfield, where our midfield didn't slow them down enough to allow our defenders to get in position. it was attacks where our midfield didn't break up the play or harrass the opposition enough to win back the ball. Yes, our defense wasn't at its best, and we had many players out for alot of the season, but the loss of control of the midfield can be attributed to a majority of our points dropped. Most of the top C.L.teams have a ball winner and a playmaker or two. we have one player who is responsible for both. This is why Carrick needs help and why he alone, will not solve the midfield problem, nor will any of our current players.

I fail to see why so many United Supporters refuse to admit that there is a definite NEED to bring in a talented, experienced defensively-capable midfielder during this transfer window. "Will Carrick resolve the midfield problem this season?" No. I wish that he could, but he can't do it alone. Cleverley and Anderson? Not good enough in the tackling/reading the game/protecting the back four/breaking up opposition attacks department. Scholes? Not a good tackler, too slow and much more effective making passes, than intercepting them. Fletcher? Not ready to come back and even then, how much can we count on him? Turnicliffe? Give him a chance in the Carling/FA Cups first before you say he's ready to face Bayern, Madrid, Milan, Barca, etc. in the Champions League. Powell? Also still too inexperienced yet. Let our youngsters learn by playing alongside our veterans in the above cup matches. There is plenty of time for them to play themselves onto the first team, over the course of the next season. I think those supporters who say we should rely on Carrick, Cleverley, Anderson, Scholes and the youngsters are in the back of their minds thinking that we are not going to spend on the calibre of player that we really need, so Ithey're going to say that our current team can get the job done and not complain, since complaining does no good and sounds like they're not behind the team and SAF. Being a supporter also means that you want your team to win. Disagreeing with management doesn't mean you don't still support the team. Look at it this way: with the team we had last year, we crashed out of the Champions League WAY too early. We have added: Kagawa - attack was not the problem in Champions League, defense was. Turnicliffe/Powell - as I said above, they are not ready to go up against the best midfielders in the world. Let them mature and grow first. Everything else is the same, except our opposition have been building their teams to win. So, do we have what it takes to win the Champions League THIS season? No. Not unless we buy. It is as simple as that. "Will Carrick resolve the midfield problem this season?" Not for the Champions League.

What midfield problem? United, Barcelona and Chelsea have been the most consistent teams in their own leagues and in Europe over the last 6 seasons or so...It's not possible to do that at this level with even a decent midfield. They have to be exceptional. Every other club in the world must not have midfields the way people talk about ours. To the people who question Carrick's competency as a defensive mid. Well let me tell you, the problem is not with Carrick...nor with Scholes or Giggs or any of our other players or staff...

He hasn't resolved it the past 4 seasons. Dont see why he will this season.

No

We HAVE got behind Carrick for the last 4 Seasons, but we are still lacking in this department, while others are getting stronger...I just cannot understand why we have not addressed it this season, having had to bring Scholesy out of retirement last season........ What is going on.......

We could do with some cover for Carrick but giving Tunnicliffe a good crack isn't a bad idea at all in my opinion.

Carrick isn't very physical but he reads the game well and knows when to tackle, intercept etc. Carrick will play a huge part next season and Cleverley hopefully will too he has improved his defensive side of his game, has brilliant work rate and energy the perfect partner to compliment Carrick.

Heavy reliance on carrick this season to fulfil our defensive midfielder void.

We all know we don't pay our season tickets fees and gate cost to see Micheal Carrick make a tackle. But it looks like he has definitely has to step up this season. We all know he has the skills and capacity to tackle abit more and improve his closing down skills.

I really want l Carrick to step up this season. If he decides to start tackling opponents and penetrating the opposition abit more the whole "we need a defensive midfielder" debate will disappear very quickly.

Lets get behind Carrick!

Believe!