Michael Carrick - The second coming of David Beckham

I am a Man Utd lifer, and Tuesday night's annihilation of AS Roma (7-1) was footballing nirvana for people of my ilk. I am given to Bacchanalian celebration (I generally jump around, cheering loudly and pumping my fists and it takes a good 5 mins for me to sit down), every time I see them score, and the frequency of their scoring ensured that , I was on my feet all night.

Cristiano Ronaldo was the Man of the Match, but the man whose performance gladdened my heart the most was Michael Carrick. He scored two exquisite goals and orchestrated the offense brilliantly all night; his phenomenal passing finding the United runners in wide open spaces with unerring regularity.

Carrick has had a difficult first season with United. He was United's big money summer signing and expected to shore up their midfield, which was stripped bare after the exits of Beckham, Butt and Keane, and the injury troubles of Paul Scholes. While his cultured passing has impressed the critics, the apparent lack of goal scoring and tackling ability hasn't gone down well with the supporters, who, have been brought up on heady dose of Scholes, Keane and Beckham. The resurgence of Scholes and Giggs this season had further undermined his contribution and he was deemed to be an expensive surplus.

Carrick will never be a Keane or a Scholes, but his passing is reminiscent of David Beckham at his best. United's treble winning squad was built around the striking trio of Andy Cole, Teddy Sheringham and Dwight Yorke, who benefited hugely from the pin -point crossing of Beckham. As for Roy Keane, possible replacements are Owen Hargreaves of Bayern Munich or Marcos Senna of Villareal.

David Beckham had a penchant for coming up with crucial goals (mostly struck from distance, just like Carrick’s) and saving his best for the big games. Carrick's effort; two goals, with the first calming United’s jangling nerves, and the mid field leadership in the absence of the suspended Scholes, have finally established his goal scoring credentials and proclivity for the big stage. Carrick is a Geordie from the North-east and has chosen the Reds over his hometown team, just like Beckham ignored the London clubs to play for United.

Man Utd have recaptured past glories with a return to their speedy offensive game. They have been justified in selling a proven goal scorer like Ruud Van Nistelrooy, whose lack of pace forced them to slow down their offense. Carrick’s passing will push the pace further. Whether, he can match Beckham’s treble effort of 1999 remains to be seen.

The England manager, Steve Mclaren was in the crowd at Old Trafford. He is the man, who booted Beckham out of the national team. The merits of this move are debatable as the England football team continues to falter. One possible remedy; Field the ‘New Beckham’ more often.

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