Free-flowing football & lacking a Plan B – How ‘Carrick-ball’ fared at Middlesbrough as Manchester United legend begins caretaker role

The 44-year-old has previously taken charge of three United games, going unbeaten following Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s dismissal in November 2021.

That brief but impressive spell arguably persuaded Middlesbrough owner Steve Gibson to hand Carrick his first permanent role as head coach in October 2022.

The next two-and-a-half years proved to be a rollercoaster ride for Boro fans, who enjoyed sublime, breathtaking attacking football that almost delivered a return to the Premier League.

But they grew frustrated by his perceived tactical stubbornness and lack of a ‘Plan B’ – flaws that would ultimately prove his downfall.

Boro dream of Premier League

When Carrick first entered talks to replace Chris Wilder, Middlesbrough were languishing in 22nd place in the Championship, firmly in the relegation zone.

By the end of the regular season, Boro had secured a play-off place with games to spare, vindicating Gibson’s decision to appoint Carrick after an initial round of talks had broken down.

There were many highlights along the way, but Chuba Akpom racing towards Carrick on the touchline after scoring in a ninth consecutive game – setting a club record in a 3-1 win over Liam Rosenior’s Hull City – stands out.

His blistering form encapsulated a memorable season at the Riverside, with Carrick’s men playing some of the most exciting, free-flowing football the club had witnessed in over a decade, possibly ever.

Middlesbrough’s key stats during Carrick’s tenure

Stats courtesy of Opta

Operating in a possession-dominant 4-2-3-1 system (a formation he used in 112 of 124 Championship games), Boro scored 66 goals across Carrick’s first 30 league games.

However, the first cracks in Carrick’s tenure soon began to appear as pressure intensified.

Boro failed to win any of their final three league games to finish fourth – hardly ideal preparation for a two-legged play-off semi-final against Coventry City – after Carrick opted for heavy rotation.

They paid the price across 180 cagey minutes, dominating possession but failing to turn control into clear-cut chances, as they crashed out to a Gustavo Hamer goal.

Boro’s attacking dominance did not always translate into results, with periods of wastefulness and missed opportunities becoming a familiar frustration over the next two seasons.

The limits of Carrick-ball

Boro’s dream of reaching the Premier League had long faded by the time they finally ended an eight-game wait for a league win at the start of the 2023/24 season.

Losing Akpom to Ajax in a £10 million deal – as well as key loan players Cameron Archer, Aaron Ramsey, Ryan Giles and Zack Steffen – certainly played its part.

But losing matches despite dominating and spurning chances was developing into a dangerous habit – as was the peculiar tendency to concede sloppy goals while attempting to play out from the back.

A continued commitment to the 4-2-3-1 system, coupled with late changes from the bench, drew criticism from fans.

Michael Carrick, Manager of Middlesbrough, celebrates with Cameron Archer and Chuba Akpom of Middlesbrough following the Sky Bet Championship between Sheffield United and Middlesbrough at Bramall Lane on February 15, 2023 in Sheffield, England.

Image credit: Getty Images

“I wouldn’t be a good manager and we wouldn’t be good coaches if we suddenly went down a different route.”

Carrick eventually halted the slide, suffering just one defeat in their final 12 matches to end the season, offering some encouragement despite an eighth-place finish that fell short of expectations.

He also threatened to repeat the cup heroics of his fellow Tyneside midfield general Bryan Robson when he guided Boro to the last four of the Carabao Cup, where they lost heavily to Chelsea.

A glorious 1-0 win at the Riverside put Boro into pole position, but they were outplayed at Stamford Bridge, where they lost 6-1 with the consolation goal coming from Morgan Rogers, who would later be sold to Aston Villa.

Carrick penned a new three-year contract in June 2024, signalling Boro’s faith in their head coach.

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Video credit: TNT Sports

A strong transfer window and the retention of Hayden Hackney and Emmanuel Latte Lath only added to the feel-good factor – and by November, fans were drowning in goals when Middlesbrough won successive games 4-1 at Queens Park Rangers, 5-1 at home to Luton Town and 6-2 at Oxford United.

However, the momentum quickly evaporated, with only two wins from the next seven games, ending in a remarkable Boxing Day home fixture against Sheffield Wednesday in which a three-goal half-time lead slipped away to finish 3-3. The inability to keep clean sheets was damaging.

A summer review was promised after Carrick lost 13 of his final 20 matches, with Boro slumping to a 10th-place finish and failing to score in four of their last six games.

Eventually, Gibson decided to part ways with Carrick, just over a year after signing a new deal, bringing an end to a period of highs, lows, and unfulfilled potential.

‘Mistakes learned’

In his unveiling at Manchester United, Carrick promised that he would learn from his mistakes at Middlesbrough.

He said: “It was a great experience. I learned an awful lot. I obviously made a lot of mistakes, but from that learned my strengths.

“There are things I’ve looked back at and feel I could have done a bit better with certain things.”

One early indication that Carrick has taken those lessons on board is the decision to appoint former England No. 2 Steve Holland as his assistant – a move that directly addresses one of the key criticisms of his time at Middlesbrough, where the inexperienced Jonathan Woodgate served as his No. 2.

United fans will also hope that he has crafted a ‘Plan B’ to ensure he is not as reliant on the 4-2-3-1 formation when things are not going so well.

The underlying numbers highlight both the strengths and weaknesses of Carrick’s Middlesbrough side.

Across his Championship tenure, Boro ranked first among ever-present Championship clubs for goals, total shots, shots on target, expected goals, big chances created, touches in the opposition box and successful passes, while also placing second for average possession and extended open-play passing sequences.

One of the issues was at the other end of the pitch: conceding 153 goals – the 10th-worst defensive record in that period – a return that ultimately undermined the attacking dominance Carrick worked so hard to establish.

Carrick’s experience at Middlesbrough has shaped him as a coach, and if he applies those lessons at Old Trafford, Manchester United fans have reason to be hopeful for what lies ahead.

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