Serious question, not here for an argument. I am trying to guage how fans of other top 10 teams rate Alex Song. Would you swap Carrick for Song if given the chance ?
I'd really like to hear you explain this one if you could. Carrick has been part of, actually integral to, a team that is on the brink of winning its fifth league title in six years. Add to this the three CL finals, one a win, and it is very clear that he is definitely good enough. Not only that, more fool England for not giving him a look in, it's their loss. To the op, no I wouldn't swap. Carrick has sensible hair and doesn't dye it yellow.
I'm having an argument elsewhere and a suggestion was made that Song would get into any top team except City. I argued that I can't see any top team swapping what they have for Song. You have confirmed what I thought. Chelsea fans would swap him for Mereiles and Essien but Liverpool wouldn't swap Lucas for him (who I dont rate either) and Newcastle fans wouldn't swap him for Tiote. I don't particularly rate Carrick but at least he can pass and shoot far better than Song.
I think Song and Carrick are both underrated for some reason, but I think Carrick is a more intelligent midfielder who has been a big part of the good run United went on to climb back to the top of the table, so no I wouldn't swap.
I think the choice of player is partly due to the different systems the clubs play. Song does well in a three man midfield like Arsenal's or Chelsea's where he can just sit deep and break up attacks all day. But wouldn't be as effective as Carrick in a two man centre midfield like at Utd or Newcastle cos he can't pass or shoot particularly well, and his decision making isn't great. In particular Carrick is much better at getting the ball and immediately launching an attack, whereas Song's first instinct appears to be to look for Ramsey or Arteta to make the decisions for him. I wouldn't swap Carrick for Song.
IMHO Carrick is a second rate midfielder of about the same standard as Anderson and Park. If Fletcher were fit he wouldn't get a look in. England would be even more crap with him in the side, which is why he's not picked. When he has played for England, he's been crap.
Interesting. I would personally say Lucas is the best in the league (by some distance) at the role he plays. Statistically over the past couple of seasons he's proved it. I read somewhere that he still has the most amount of successful tackles in the Liverpool team this season, and he's been been out for months!!! He's easily overlooked though, which is a shame as he is pure quality imo. Id have Carrick over Song all day long. Sometimes it seems like Wenger is unsure of Songs favoured position. Id happily have any one of them Join the mighty Tonbridge Angels
