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Michael Carrick's 'dangerous' decision - and current thoughts on the Boro attack
MICHAEL CARRICK accepts he left himself open to criticism by changing a winning team ahead of Middlesbrough’s meeting with Luton Town yesterday, but insists he would have stood by his decisions even if his side hadn’t run out comprehensive 5-1 winners.
Carrick made four alterations in the wake of Tuesday’s 4-1 win at QPR, and while two were enforced, with Neto Borges unavailable and Jonny Howson not really ready to play three games in a week, two were purely down to the head coach’s decision making.
Riley McGree and Tommy Conway dropped out of the starting XI despite playing key roles in the midweek win at Loftus Road, but the players who came in to replace them could hardly have proved more effective.
Delano Burgzorg, who replaced McGree on the left-hand side, scored twice as he made his first start since August, while Emmanuel Latte Lath, who stepped in for Conway claimed a goal and an assist as Boro recorded their biggest win of the season.
“That’s football, isn’t it,” said Carrick. “That’s my job and what I’m here for, to make decisions. One or two were forced to a point, others were by choice.
“Riley and Tommy have played a lot of football, and we had ten men for a lot of last week’s game. They’re both going away for international duty, so there’s a lot that comes into it.
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“Delano and Manu were ready to come into the team and make an impact, and we thought it would suit them with how we needed to attack. Credit to them. Manu is scoring goals, which is great, and there are so many positives.
“There’s a lot that goes into the decision making, but I get that as a manager, you either don’t know what you’re doing or you’ve got all the answers. That’s just how it is, but it’s not something I worry about.”
Both Burgzorg and Latte Lath played superbly as Boro repeatedly punched holes in the Luton defence, with the latter now having scored three goals in the last five matches, despite only having started one of them.
“I thought both of them were fantastic, and what we had hoped for,” said Carrick. “There were a number of factors that came into making the decision, a bit of freshness, and also the way that we thought Luton’s man-for-man formation would suit them. They were willing to adapt and try a couple of different things, and it worked out really well.
“It was a good game and a good week for the whole squad. Pretty much everyone has played and had a big impact on it over the two or three games, in different ways.
“Certainly, everyone’s right in the thick of it, and it’s great to be able to make changes – a couple were enforced and a couple were by choice – and still be able to have that level of performance.”
Carrick was also pleased to see Dael Fry back on the pitch, with the centre-half making his first appearance since February as he replaced George Edmundson in the 75th minute.
“We got Dael back onto the pitch, which was brilliant,” said the Boro boss. “It’s been a long road back for Dael, but he’s worked so hard. He had a couple of little setbacks, but he’s come through it.”
