Although Carrick didn’t score many and wasn’t that tough in the tackle, his distribution was second to none. We had found a way of playing with either Tainio or Davids in the middle to protect Michael and give him the time he needed to pick a pass. This worked very well for us and anyone who saw the change in a well serviced Robbie Keane will testify. The only downside of this system was that with both central midfielders playing relatively deep roles, yes, we did miss the goals from that area and the odd closer final ball but then with wingers like Lennon and Mr.X on the left, who would have cared?

I had initially felt that Alex ‘Sarah’ Ferguson is probably not aware of Carrick’s limitation in this manner, as suggested by my honourable fellow Mr. SSCC but I’ve just noticed that he’s still in for Senna, who perhaps he intends to use together with Carrick rather than one covering for another. With Rooney dropping deep to provide that bit of creativity, it may just work. We’ll see.

As for the mega bucks now lining the urinals at WHL, on last count the Bagel believed the sum to be a flat £15m with a bonus £3 on completion of such terms as appearances, European football and the servicing of certain of Fergie’s parts that other players will not reach. Yeah, it’s a lot of cash. I just worry that it means we’re going to pay over the odds for players like Chimbondabonda and the mystery left winger (Peg Leg Downing?). Right now it’s harder to find the players than the cash.

The final point is of course, the freedom for choice that we now have in the middle of the park but I’m not going to get bogged down in that one just now. I’ll save that tasty treat for us all to chew on the week before the season starts when we know who’s in the squad.

For those of you going to our Mecca on Sunday. Have an excellent time, shout nice and loud and let me know what Ghaly, Zokora, Berbatov & Assou-Ekoto play like and whether time has been good to Reto Ziegler.

The Bagel

This situation shows that we still have a way to go in becoming the proverbial ‘big’ club since we can still lose players we want to keep….and that’s what bothers me the most.

Forget him….no player is bigger than the club.

No doubt, his Yeast was pure: anyone that witnessed that run and nearly finish at the library would testify to that. But was he really that good? Not quite the midfielder this bagel was looking for - he couldn’t tackle that well, and while the passing was good, he didn’t appear in the opposition box anything like as much as he should have. As a result, not enough goals - 2 in 75 games is not the kind of return bagels should be happy with.

So if we really did get £18m, I suggest we have a good old laugh at the Imperial Lord Ferg as his marbles slowly desert him (or the increasing desparation of ManYoo’s situation become more apparent). £10m would have been a fair shout (and as likely as not would have left me with some mourning to do). What price a 4th place Spurs finish this term, ahead of the mancs in 5th?

But with £18m, Tony can fulfil his dreams of cornering the market for midfielders, and actually buy the left winger and right back we need. But leaving those other positions aside, I’d like to finish by returning to the middle of the park… bring on Tom Huddlestone, who surely must be the man to fill Carrick’s boots. I hear he likes his bagels too…