Michael Carrick is under pressure at Middlesbrough after five consecutive losses
Jobi McAnuff feels Michael Carrick should be allowed till the end of the season to try to turn Middlesbrough’s fortunes around and get the club into the playoffs.
Boro’s poor run since the beginning of December has seen them win only three of their previous 15 games, and they have fallen considerably in the league position. Boro have dropped to the bottom half of the Championship standings after losing for the sixth time in a row to Bristol City.
They’re only seven points behind the top six with a game in hand, though. They play that game on Tuesday evening away to fellow strugglers Stoke City, and while little has been seen of late to suggest Boro can turn their form around, sometimes all you need is a little bit of luck to spark a turnaround – something Boro had at this stage last season after a costly defeat at the bet365 Stadium that left everyone wondering where the next win was coming from.
“I don’t think there will be any value in getting rid of Michael Carrick,” McAnuff said on BBC’s Football Daily 72+: The EFL Podcast, assessing the present strain on the Boro head coach. “They’ve had a few tough games recently, against Sheffield United and Sunderland. They played brilliantly for 30 minutes against Sunderland and should have won the game.
“But under Michael Carrick, there has always been inconsistency – not just from game to game, but within the 90 minutes themselves. And it’s been a terrible run, with defeats to Preston and Portsmouth away, as well as Watford.
“If you want to make the playoffs, you need to win these games. There are no two ways about it, so I understand the strain and conjecture, but you must give him time. This time around, I expected them to have a great season. Following a rocky start, they finished the season on a high note.
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