The 'Carsley Role'

I?m embarrased to admit that when Walter Smith ventured into the transfer market for the last time as Everton manager on February the 8th 2002, I was so excited at the thought of seeing galic wing wizardry at Goodison in the shape of David Ginola that the £1.95M signing of Lee Carsley from Coventry City almost escaped my notice. A decent workmanlike player, I thought. A typical Smith signing. But while David Ginola flattered to decieve in his short time with us, Carsley went on to establish himself as a focal point of Everton?s renaissance under Moyes.

?Cars? became a regular for Everton during Moyse?s first full season. He was primarily employed on the righthand side of a four man midfield and helped the side to a respectable seventh in the Premier League. He then moved inside to form the ?Right Said Fred? midfield pairing alongside Thomas Gravesen. It was however, during the 2004-2005 season when he became the anchor in a five man midfield thet Carsley really came into his own. He used his considerable experience and ability to read the game to break opposition attacks up and allow his more illustrious bald headed colleague to venture forward, get his foot on the ball and run the game. With Carsley showing great discipline protecting Evertons back four Thomas Gravesen was finally able to display the consistency that frustratingly eluded him previously in his Everton career. Carsley was able to seal the limelight from Gravesen on the odd occasion. Who could forget the Derby day winner or that fantastic free kick at St James?s Park as Everton were transformed from relegation candidates to Champions league contenders within a matter of months. Typically, it was Gravesen who grabbed the attention of footballs biggest club and so began a standing joke among the Everton fans and players alike.

Thomas Gravesen signed for Real Madrid?s Galactico?s in January of 2005 to add a bit of steel to their midfield which had been lacking since Claude Makelele left for Chelsea the previous summer. A move which had many an Evertonian scratching their head. It was the kind of move which made me question if some clubs can be arsed to even watch a player before they get their checkbook out. Despite his fierce looks and tendency to embark on headless runs, Gravesen was essentialy a gifted playmaker. The last thing Madrid needed considering they already had the likes of Guti, Zidane, Figo, Beckham and Raul among their ranks. ?They?ve signed the wrong one? the Evertonians joked. Something which Gravesen later admitted himself. At the time however, when I tried putting this theory forward to some of my work collegues I was looked at as though I?d just suggested that Steve Mclaren would make a great England manager. ?Lee Carsley play for Real Madrid?? ?Yeah right?! But to this day I?m absolutley convinced that had it been Carsley that made his way to the Bernabau he would have gone down a storm in Spain and would have received far more recognition from the public at large for his somewhat under-rated footballing ability.

Madrid?s loss was Evertons gain and although we missed Gravesen initially, Carsley?s steadying influence in the centre of the park ensured we defied all the odds to hang on to fourth spot and obtain a Champion?s league place. Carsleys season ended on a sour note with a leg break which ensured he missed almost the whole of the following season. It was no coincidence that without ?Cars? we endured a torrid start to the season during which we suffered exits from both European competitions and slipped to the bottom of the Premier League table. The following season (06/07) Lee Carsley was ever present at the heart of Evertons midfield as Moyes?s boys secured 6th place and qualification for the UEFA Cup. It seemed for a short while that he would not enjoy the fruits of his labour as Carsley, now well into his thirties and in accordance with the clubs contract policy on players the wrong side of thirty, would only be given a one year contract. Wigan were hovering, offering the temptation of a two year deal but thankfully the lure of European nights were too hard to resist and he signed for another year.

During the season just passed Carsley has been a vital cog in the blue machine. As Moyes has slowly but surely crafted a midfield which can no longer be described as simply workman-like and effective. With the ?Midget Gems? and Tiny Tim each weighing barely more than 10 Stone dripping wet, Carsley despite being 5ft 10 and weighing just over 12 stone (small compared to the 6ft 4, 13 ½ stone dreadnoughts that occupy many a Premiership midfield these days) is as hard as they come and adds some much needed physicality to our otherwise lightweight midfield. Off the pitch he was quite a character as well. I?ve read many an interview in which ?Cars? has been described as the funniest lad in the dressing room and you only had to see the way the players all ran to him after his late goal against Birmingham this season to see how much they all thought of him.

He has however, made no secret of his desire to move closer to his family in the West Midlands as his carrer winds to a close. When asked recently about his future his response was typically modest when he said that if he does leave ?it won?t really matter as Everton will just bring someone else in?. We all know he is selling himself well short and midfielders like him or, men like him for that matter are not exactly ten a penny but fair play to him. It?s his decision and he?s has been a great servant to Everton Football Club. I?m just glad he was given that ovation when he left the field against Newcastle. Todays news still does come as a shock as in my heart I had convinced myself he would sign for another year.

The news of Carsley?s decision to leave causes me quite alot of concern. Neville, Jagielka and Yobo have all played in his position in the past and none look anywhere near as comfortable as Carsley does in that role. Rodwell and Gosling will be years off Carsley?s level so I can only hope that the board will back Moyes to the hilt in the transfer market as holding midfielders of Carsley?s standard do not come cheap.

In the modern game it is almost unheard of to pick a team without employing someone in the holding role or the ?Makelele role? as it has become known after Chelsea?s superb Frenchman, arguably the finest exponent of the holding midfield position in recent times hence the postion being named after him. But I?ll tell you what.... I look around the league and there aren?t many better in that position than Lee Carsley so thanks Lee and good luck in the future. I know whenever I?m discussing the ?Makelele role? with friends the future the question will be simple: Who do you think should play in the ?Carsley role??

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