Opta Jury: Michael Carrick

The latest player to be featured in the Opta Jury is Michael Carrick.

It took Michael Carrick nine matches to break into Tottenham's team last season, but subsequently he only missed one more game as he established himself as a metronomic heartbeat in the core of the side.

In fact, he started the last 26 games of the season, missing just 22 minutes in the process.

Yet some Spurs fans are not convinced by the former West Ham prodigy. They complain that their midfield is too lightweight and that for all Carrick's class, he does not take control of games, as great midfielders should do.

It is certainly true that Carrick rarely offered a goal threat in his debut season with the Lilywhites. He failed to score and managed to direct just four shots on target all season. In his previous top-flight campaigns with West Ham he had not been prolific but had managed to bag at least one goal every season. That said, four of his five Premiership career strikes came in home games, and Carrick's detractors have certainly concentrated on his displays away from White Hart Lane.

Carrick's strength is his passing and tackling and he ranks well compared to other Premiership midfielders. His 2004-05 completion rate of 79% was good enough for a top 20 position, ahead of such noted players as Danny Murphy and Steven Gerrard.

His tackling was strong too, and his tackle success rate was the eight highest amongst top-flight midfielders in 2004-05:

 	Midfielder	Team	Tackles Attempted	Tackle Success Rate
1	Diop	Fulham	116	80.2%
2	Kishishev	Charlton Athletic	136	74.3%
3	Xabi Alonso	Liverpool	112	73.2%
4	Makelele	Chelsea	136	72.8%
5	Gerrard	Liverpool	113	72.6%
6	Barton	Manchester City	149	72.5%
7	Gravesen	Everton	112	72.3%
8	Carrick	Tottenham Hotspur	118	72.0%
9	Savage	Birmingham City	113	71.7%
10	Parlour	Middlesbrough	173	71.7%

Carrick's season culminated in a recall to the England squad and a successful tour of the USA. Critics and pundits enthused about him and suggested he could be the leading candidate to fill the holding role in the national midfield.

This will offer little succour to Tottenham fans looking for success, however. The White Hart Lane faithful are desperate for glory and Carrick has it all to prove to many of them. His total of 22 fouls in 2004-05 was very low for a regular midfielder and perhaps it is this supposed lack of aggression that is the problem. The signing of Scott Parker would have seen an exciting partnership and one that could have allowed Carrick to flourish, but unfortunately, the former Chelsea man chose to sign for Newcastle.

2005-06 will be a key season for Michael Carrick. He will be 24 when the season starts and moving towards his peak years. With a World Cup on the horizon and an evolving Tottenham side, Carrick could become a key figure. He certainly has the ability to do so, but it remains to be seen whether he has the drive.

Has Carrick been a hit, a miss or is the jury still out? Have your say on the Spurs midfielder.