Free football and lack of a plan B – how ‘Carrick Ball’ fared at Middlesbrough as the Manchester United legend begins his role as caretaker manager

The 44-year-old has managed three games for United so far and is unbeaten since Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was sacked as manager in November 2021.

This short but impressive spell undoubtedly convinced Middlesbrough owner Steve Gibson to hand Carrick his first permanent role as head coach in October 2022.

The next two and a half years were a rollercoaster for Boro fans. Boro fans enjoyed sublime, breathtaking attacking football that almost saw them return to the Premier League.

However, they became frustrated with his tactical stubbornness and lack of a “Plan B”, perceived flaws that would ultimately prove his downfall.

Boro’s dream is the Premier League

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

By the end of the regular season, Boro had secured a play-off spot with a game to spare, justifying Gibson’s decision to appoint Carrick after initial negotiations broke down.

There were many highlights along the way, but Chuba Akpom charging towards Carrick on the touchline after scoring in nine games in a row (setting a new club record in a 3-1 win over Liam Rossenia’s Hull City) stands out.

His blistering form summed up a memorable season at Riverside, with Carrick’s men playing some of the most exciting and free-flowing football the club has seen in over a decade, and perhaps ever.

October 29, 2022 – May 3, 2025 Middlesbrough Championship Rank (15th place) Goals 2001 Total shots 16681 Shots on target 5841

Statistics provided by Opta

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

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

After Carrick opted for heavy rotation, Boro finished fourth without a win in their last three league games, less than ideal preparation for a two-legged play-off semi-final against Coventry City.

They paid the price for 180 minutes of dominating the ball, failing to convert the initiative into clear chances.

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

Carrick ball limits

Boro’s dreams of reaching the Premier League were long gone by the time their eight-game wait for the league title finally ended at the start of the 2023/24 season.

The loss of Akpom to Ajax in a £10m deal and key loan players Cameron Archer, Aaron Ramsey, Ryan Giles and Zach Steffen certainly had an impact.

However, they were developing a dangerous habit of losing games despite taking the initiative and missing chances, as well as an endemic tendency to concede sloppy goals while attempting to play from behind.

His continued adherence to a 4-2-3-1 system, coupled with his slow substitutions off the bench, led to criticism from fans.

Middlesbrough manager Michael Carrick celebrates with Middlesbrough’s Cameron Archer and Tuba Akpom after the Sky Bet Championship match between Sheffield United and Middlesbrough at Bramall Lane in Sheffield, England on February 15, 2023.

Image credit: Getty Images

“If I suddenly went down a different path, I wouldn’t be a good coach and we wouldn’t be good coaches.”

Despite finishing a lower-than-expected 8th place, Carrick eventually halted their slide and finished the season on a high note with just one loss in their last 12 games.

He also threatened to repeat the cup heroics of Tyneside midfield general Bryan Robson, who led Boro to the last four in the Carabao Cup, losing badly to Chelsea.

A brilliant 1-0 win at the Riverside put Boro in pole position, but they fell behind at Stamford Bridge, losing 6-1 with the winning goal from Morgan Rodgers, who would later be sold to Aston Villa.

Carrick signed a new three-year contract in June 2024, demonstrating his confidence in Boro’s head coach.

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Video credit: TNT Sports

A strong transfer window and the retention of Hayden Hackney and Emmanuel Latte-Las added to the feel-good factor. And by November, Middlesbrough had won back-to-back games, 4-1 at Queens Park Rangers, 5-1 at home to Luton Town and 6-2 at Oxford United, and fans were hooked on goals.

However, their momentum quickly faded and they won just two of their next seven games, with their Boxing Day home game against Sheffield Wednesday ending 3-3 after taking a three-goal lead at half-time. The inability to maintain a clean sheet was a detriment.

Carrick had lost 13 of their last 20 games, sank to 10th place, and had been promised a summer review after failing to score in four of their last six games.

Ultimately, Gibson decided to part ways with Carrick just over a year after signing a new contract, ending a period of ups and downs and unfulfilled potential.

“I learned from my mistakes”

At his Manchester United debut, Carrick promised to learn from his mistakes at Middlesbrough.

He said: “It was a great experience. I learned so much. I obviously made a lot of mistakes, but I learned my strengths from them.

“When I look back, I sometimes think I could have done a little better in certain areas.”

One early sign that Carrick has applied those lessons is his decision to appoint former England number two Steve Holland as his assistant. The move directly addresses one of the key criticisms from his time at Middlesbrough, when the inexperienced Jonathan Woodgate was the number two.

United fans will also be hoping he has worked out a ‘plan B’ to avoid relying so much on the 4-2-3-1 formation when things are not going well.

The fundamental numbers highlight both the strengths and weaknesses of Carrick’s Middlesbrough team.

Throughout their tenure in the Championship, Boro ranked first among all-time Championship clubs for goals, total shots, shots on target, expected goals, big chances created, touches in the opposition box and completed passes, and also ranked second for average possession and extended open play passing sequences.

One of the problems was at the other end of the pitch. Conceding 153 goals (the 10th worst defensive record at the time) ultimately undermined Carrick’s hard-earned offensive superiority.

Carrick’s experience at Middlesbrough has shaped him as a coach, and if he applies those lessons at Old Trafford, Manchester United fans have every reason to be excited about what’s to come.

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