Can’t see Carrick going.
He still has much to prove.
I wouldn’t be surprised if he left in the summer. We’ve sold Tav, Spence, Akpom and Rogers for approx £40 million over last couple of years, and we brought in an untested gamble in Lath and some young ‘prospects’ and untested-at-this-level players from inferior leagues. We had to change plans and cancel Coburn's loan right at the end of the window, (which would have probably been the best move for his development), because we only had one striker on the books! (Not counting Forss, cos they clearly don’t see him as a striker, despite giving him minutes up top yesterday).
Despite Coburn and Lath being crocked for large chunks of the season, and us having tried various attacking midfielders up top over past few months, we went through the January transfer window without addressing the striker issue. Yes, we’ve had appalling injuries that have hugely impacted our season. Yes we’ve had a couple of successes in the market in RDVB and Dieng (why the **** isn’t he playing?!?!) Yes Carrick’s selection hasn’t been right sometimes - Hackney out of position, Dieng on the bench when supposedly fit, etc
Ultimately though, when all is said and done, we’ve got no striker. No focal point of the team. We frequently are chasing games and ‘batter’ teams in the second half, and by that I only mean dominating possession in and around the box, but without creating much in the way of shots on goal or proper chances. We’ve asked Carrick to get us promoted and then we’ve stripped 45+ goals from the team in Archer, Akpom and Ramsey and we’ve replaced them with youngsters, projects and untested players. We’ve tied one hand behind his back and blindfolded him. This seasons failings lie squarely on our lack of investment and recruitment where it matters, and if I was Carrick I’d be mightily cheesed off. Think this will end up proving to have been a missed opportunity to achieve something with a very good up and coming manager. Ho hum.
*Probably win the next three games and then we’ll all be talking about play offs again, like the silly mugs we are. Nothing but disappointment awaits us this season. Potentially a summer that is all about the loss of Hackney, RVDB, McGree and Carrick. I know I’m being pessimistic and I’m normally a very optimistic Boro fan, but I’m really feeling massive ‘what could have been’ vibes at the minute.