Secondly Carrick is not a "defensive minded" midfielder at all. He is positionally aware, meaning he is adept at making interceptions, breaking up play. He actually provides a great deal toward the attacking impetus that United maintain, and doesn't go onto the field with a purely defensive mindset. All central midfielders at United are expected to be disciplined and provide a balance between attack and defense. Why would you want to "spunk £30million" on a purely defensive midfielder? Who do you have in mind for that? Whoever it is it's a waste of money. And I'm sorry but you don't believe Modric would provide a platform for other creative players to perform? Whatever.
Show me where i said let's spend £30m on a purely defensive midfielder. Don't make shit up! Where did i say that? I suggested i saw no point in spending £30m on Modric, when we have more pressing concerns over Carrick.
So is Carrick's main role in our team to help with the attack or to protect the defence? And i don't want to hear he does both, i want you to define specifically why he is in our team, ahead of say Cleverley and Scholes as a pair, or Anderson and Scholes.
To say he is not defensive minded, but is positionally aware is wordplay. He is positionally aware because he is defensive minded. Or is Rio not defensive minded, just positionally aware?
Again you misquote me, which is frustrating. I never compared TC to Modric, i said he offers along with Scholes some if not all, of what Modric would bring. There is a difference between saying that and offering a direct comparison.
To suggest all we need is "cover for Carrick" is just barmy. We need midfielders who can keep the ball, dictate play and allow us to dominate games with the ball at our feet. I just don't get this paranoid, abashed call for a defensive midfielder, it reeks of negativity, a safety first approach. It lacks ambition.
What bollocks! Almost every team everywhere has at least 2 'positionally aware' players in their squad yet you seem to feel we are fine with just the one. That reeks of delusion imo, and read my posts properly then you will note i have not asked for a DM, i want another defensive minded player like Carrick, or like Alonso, or prefferably Sahin. None of those are DM's as such, yet they are all defensive minded and are still capable of keeping possession, and passing the ball effectively. So how are they worse options than Modric in terms of keeping possession and covering Carrick's contribution again?
Why do some posters seem to think that only attacking midfielders can keep the ball? All the best postionally aware players are just as good as Modric at keeping the ball. Modric exceeds them by what he can offer going forward, which is of little benefit to us. We have plenty of creativity already.
We saw quite clearly in Europe last year what happens when you cannot get the ball back off the opposition, they create chances and score goals against you. 10 games only 3 CS, and 2 of those against Golati, so in the other 8 games that would be 15 goals conceded because we didn't have Modric to help us keep the ball better. Good one!
Unless you are planning Barca type possession stats, that means there will undoubtedly be many occasions during a match where we have to defend better, pick up runners and press the opposition. Yet you seem to believe that buying Luca Modric is the answer to that problem. Have a think about that, then ask yourself why no other top team, has only one 'positionally aware' midfielder in their whole squad. Not first team, the whole squad, and then tell me why i am barmy for thinking it prudent to buy cover for the only one we have.
Surely you are not serious when you suggest if something happens to Carrick we will be perfectly ok with midfield combos of Giggs, Anderson, Cleverley and Scholes. I really cannot think of anything more amusing than believing a midfield duo of Modric and Cleverley, or Modric and Anderson would be capable of taking on a top team with a properly balanced midfield. Bizarre reasoning that mate!
