Top 5 Holding Midfielders Since 2000

Nothing against Matic, but it’s hard to put him at the top of any “best” lists.

Thought I had it for a moment with “Best Serbian United player named Nemanja”, but no.

This deserves my my generous rating of 1, if only zero was an option!

comment by Clockwork Red (U4892)
posted 1 hour, 6 minutes ago
Nothing against Matic, but it’s hard to put him at the top of any “best” lists.

Thought I had it for a moment with “Best Serbian United player named Nemanja”, but no.
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Hahahaha

Carrick was one of the most important players for Fergie's teams.

Carrick made life a lot easier for Rio and Vidic playing the No6 role protecting the space in front of them

He can teach Matic a lot about that at United. God knows Maguire and Linderlof need it a lot more. Which glaringly obvious.

comment by rosso is done with this (U17054)
posted 1 hour, 26 minutes ago
As a holding midfielder, I’d put Carrick above Scholes.

I’ve literally never seen another player control the shape of opposition counterattacks like Carrick.

He had his deficiencies, but he was a great player for us and for many years seriously underrated by our own fans who didn’t understand his game.
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Agreed.

Carrick was one of the most important players for Fergie's teams.

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He really was. His impact in 2006 was immediate and sustained. Definitely suffered a loss of form (and confidence) after the 2009 CL Final but was really good again towards the end of Sir Alex's reign.

Only seven 1 🌟

Well done op, you've outdone yourself here

Carrick was a quarterback. He wasn't a holding midfielder. A holding midfielder wins back possession, gets stuck in and puts fires out.
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Surely a holding midfielder is someone who tends to 'hold' his position in the centre of the pitch, regardless of what role they excel at.

Sounds to me like you're asking for a list of our top 'ball-winning' midfielders.

comment by Bailly_Lindelof_ (U16290)
posted 5 hours, 12 minutes ago
Carrick was a quarterback. He wasn't a holding midfielder. A holding midfielder wins back possession, gets stuck in and puts fires out.
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Surely a holding midfielder is someone who tends to 'hold' his position in the centre of the pitch, regardless of what role they excel at.

Sounds to me like you're asking for a list of our top 'ball-winning' midfielders.
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Even then he’d be talking bollox, as Carrick used to rack up the interceptions and was instrumental in the side regaining possession in his positional play.

Carrick was a quarterback. He wasn't a holding midfielder.
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He wasn't. There is no such position in Association Football. It exists in American Football. A holding or deep-lying midfielder in Association Football works in the space between the line in front of his own defence for their protection and for ball retention and distribution, whilst other midfielders can move forward to attack. A bit like Carrick did for many seasons at United

Sorry to state the bleedin' obvious but it will help you along in this thread.