Middlesbrough: Michael Carrick wants continuity in the team’s lineup

Middlesbrough: Michael Carrick wants continuity in the team’s lineup

 

Last season, Boro’s head coach mostly kept with the same lineup, but in the challenging early going of the current campaign, that has not been the case.

Carrick is obviously still looking for a winning formula even with a new-look club. He claims that the “ideal scenario” is for players to be on the same page, but this takes time, and it can be challenging to continue playing in the same partnerships when Boro are ultimately losing games.
Dael Fry and Darragh Lenihan are pretty much nailed on starters at the heart of Carrick’s defence, which has long been the case for Hayden Hackney and Jonny Howson in midfield, though Lewis O’Brien replaced the captain at Hillsborough in midweek.

Elsewhere, though, Carrick has chopped and changed, which he admits, ideally, wouldn’t be the case.
I believe the best situation is one where there are collaborations, linkages, and wavelengths, ” he claims.

“That can be taken away from us occasionally due to accidents, or we might change because of a loss of form or trying new things.

But over time, consistency is essential, of course. Individual consistency in performance, team consistency in developing little groups within the team, and game consistency in playing small games inside games.

There are many different types of clashes, including those between individuals, midfield against midfield, and forward against defense. But in the end, it does assist to have that comprehension and to be on the same page so that you aren’t second-guessing. To get the ideal balance, though, can take some time, so we’re working on it.
Carrick is likely to make more changes for the visit of Southampton this weekend. Isaiah Jones staked his claim for a start with an impressive showing from the bench at Sheffield Wednesday, while Sam Greenwood will be hoping for a first start. The head coach must also decide whether to stick with Josh Coburn up-front or recall Emmanuel Latte Lath.

Coburn made his first start of the season at Sheffield Wednesday.

Carrick said: “I’m not expecting Josh to get 30 or 40 goals but he has a part to play. He knows that, he’ll expect that of himself.

“I’m looking forward to seeing how he develops and how his season goes. He’s trained great, he’s improved since pre-season and I’m looking forward to see what the next few months brings.”