Middlesbrough told to keep embattled Michael Carrick ahead of Stoke City clash
Championship pundit Jobi McAnuff insists the Middlesbrough board should ignore growing pressure and keep their faith in Michael Carrick until at least the end of the season.
Carrick has faced criticism from supporters after five losses in a row and a run of three wins in 15 matches which has seen Middlesbrough fall to 13th in the Championship table, seven points outside the play-offs. He was backed to bring in six new first team signings in January but lost key man Emmanuel Latte Lath to Atlanta United.
They have a game in hand on the top six, however, to be played at Stoke City on Tuesday (7.45pm) and McAnuff told BBC's Football Daily 72+: The EFL Podcast he is adamant he deserves more time - and still isn't ruling out promotion this season.
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McAnuff said: "I don't think there will be any value in getting rid of Michael Carrick. They have had a couple of tough games of late, against Sheffield United and Sunderland. In the Sunderland game they were fantastic for 30 minutes and should have put the game to bed.
"But under Michael Carrick there has always been an inconsistency - not just from game to game - but actually in the 90 minutes itself. And it's been a really poor run, losing to Preston and Portsmouth away, and Watford.
"If you want to get in the play-offs these are games you have to win. There's no two ways about that so I understand the pressure and the speculation but you have to give him time. I thought they would have a really good season this time out. They had a positive end to last season after a difficult start.
"I think if they don't finish in the play offs it will be a really disappointing season, but he has to be given the opportunity to get them in the play-offs - and potentially get them promoted that way."
Carrick himself is confident he can turn things around - and accepts responsibility for what happens on the pitch either way.
He told GazetteLive: “It’s all I’ve ever known [dealing with pressure]. I’d like to think my playing experience will stand me in good stead for the challenges ahead. It’s a tough place to be when you’re losing games but it’s something I’m used to. That’s not so much losing games but what you’ve got to do to try to win games.
“As for the ups and the downs of football – you’ve just got to accept they happen. I certainly won’t be feeling sorry for myself at all – in terms of performing and getting results, it’s what I’m used to. And it gives us the ingredients and the motivation to try to improve things.
“It’s all about working hard and sticking together and believing in the football ability of the boys. We put ourselves in a good position (against Bristol City) but we just couldn’t finish it off so we will move on to Stoke on Tuesday and keep doing positive things and keep believing it and we will turn things around.”
He added: "The support I’ve had all the way through (from owner Steve Gibson) is incredible. I don’t solely rely on it but I feel it and I appreciate it –it's unbelievable. But what happens on the pitch is ultimately my responsibility and it’s what we’ve got to do something about – that’s football.”
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