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Michael Carricks return to the Manchester United team for the win over Swansea has been hailed as the catalyst behind their improved performance. But what is it about the midfielder that makes him so important? Adam Bate examines the evidence... Its one thing to be 25-years-old, another thing to be 35-years-old. Thats the logic of things. But the only thing I can say is hes phenomenal. No doubts about it … I would love to play him every game but thats not possible … He started at Swansea and played very, very well.Jose Mourinhos explanation for Michael Carricks belated inclusion in his Premier League starting line-up for the 3-1 win at Swansea last time out was a little disingenuous. There had been multiple opportunities for the Manchester United manager to turn to Carrick earlier. Swansea 1-3 Manchester Utd Although United have won all six matches in which he has featured this season, the veteran midfielder struggled to make the squad in the early weeks of the season and was an unused substitute for the back-to-back defeats against Feyenoord and Watford in September.This was not because of careful game management. It was Mourinho searching for a longer-term solution to his midfield conundrum. But it seems there are still qualities that Carrick possesses that are absent elsewhere in the United squad. Qualities that help the team.Rio Ferdinand calls him the best passer at the club while Gary Neville, another old team-mate, once compared Carrick to a piano. Hes peaceful, hes calm, he brings composure to everyone else around him, said Neville. Thats important for young players. Carrick scored in the EFL Cup win over Northampton Town in September Only last year Wayne Rooney was enthusing about how Carrick turned around Englands friendly against Italy after coming on as a substitute by dictating the game and bringing control to the teams work. Mourinho has spoken of the balance that he provides.These are difficult qualities to measure and that makes them easy to dismiss. Carrick didnt score or assist a goal at Swansea, after all. He didnt make a tackle either. But even from such a small sample size this season, Carricks statistics do hint at what he brings to a team.He has made 112 passes in only 102 minutes of Premier League football this season with a completion rate of more than 96 per cent. In short, when Carricks on the pitch he passes the ball to a team-mate more regularly and with greater accuracy than anyone else. Man Utd midfielders 2016/17 Player Passes / 90 Player Passing accuracy Michael Carrick 98.8 Michael Carrick 96.55% Ander Herrera 69.9 Juan Mata 90.84% Paul Pogba 62.7 Marouane Fellaini 89.35% Juan Mata 56.3 Ander Herrera 87.45% Marouane Fellaini 55.7 Paul Pogba 86.11% But its about more than keeping calm and keeping hold of the ball. Its not just that hes circulating possession but the direction in which hes circulating it. Thats whats helping those around him. In particular, it could be crucial for record signing Paul Pogba.Mourinho knew he needed Pogbas dynamism - the second midfield player is how he describes that role of the runner rather than the passer in the middle of the park. But on the evidence of the early part of the season, getting him on the ball in the right areas is an issue.Carrick could be the man to change that. Mourinho has highlighted his big understanding of the game so perhaps its not merely a coincidence that he found Pogba eight times in his first Premier League appearance of the campaign as a late substitute against Leicester. Carrick and Pogba Michael Carrick has passed to Paul Pogba 25 times in only 102 minutes of Premier League action. By way of comparison, that meant that Carrick passed the ball to Pogba more times in a quarter of an hour than either Juan Mata or Ander Herrera did in the entire game. The Swansea game saw a continuation of this fledgling relationship.Carrick passed to Pogba 17 times at the Liberty Stadium, more than anyone else. As a result, hes averaging a pass to the Frenchman every four minutes so far this season - more than three times as often as Rooney, for example, has succeeded in getting the ball to him.Much has been made of how Pogba found his feet at Juventus alongside Andrea Pirlo and Claudio Marchisio. Their intelligent use of the ball helped him flourish. Thats been missing. Alarmingly, in the defeat to Manchester City, the man who supplied Pogba most often was David de Gea. Is it time for Jose Mourinho to turn to Carrick to help Uniteds midfield? With Carrick in the team, thats unlikely to happen again. As Mourinho puts it, hes a player who adds stability in our game and provides mental freedom for the other guys to be more offensive in their work as well. For United fans, this isnt a new realisation.It even worked briefly for Louis van Gaal. Carrick won the first seven matches he started last season, extending his total winning run to 11 when the wins over Tottenham, Liverpool, Aston Villa and City were included from the previous 2014/15 campaign.That sequence of results in the spring of 2015 marked Uniteds best period under the Dutchman, one that only came to an end once Carrick picked up an injury just prior to the 1-0 defeat at Chelsea in the April. Winning without him is not a problem unique to Mourinho. Watch NOW TV Watch Sky Sports for just ￡6.99. No contract. The closest Van Gaal ever got to fluidity at Old Trafford was with that triumvirate of Carrick, Herrera and Marouane Fellaini. Perhaps that could yet be the template for the new manager with the not insignificant upgrade of subbing in Pogba for the burly Belgian.Mourinho knows it is not the answer he envisaged but nor can he afford to look too far ahead. Arsenal are the visitors on Saturday and picking the best team to win the match should surely be the only thing in his thoughts. That will mean Carrick.Its a pity you sometimes cannot stop the clock, said Mourinho earlier this month. Michael is such an important player and very difficult to replace. But the issue of finding a replacement is now a task for January at the earliest and, more likely, well beyond that. Man Utd vs Arsenal November 19, 2016, 11:30am Live on Get Sky Sports Get a Sky Sports pass By then, the hope will be that Pogba is fully settled and this United side are playing with some confidence again. Carrick can help with that. He knows exactly what I can do, my strengths, he told Sky Sports earlier this season. I am not going to change my game now.Theres no need for that. The events of this season have only added to the suspicion that Carrick doing what Carrick does might be exactly what United had been missing. Also See: Herrera on life under Jose Mkhitaryan vows to impress Wholeasale Eagles Jerseys . After deputy commissioner Bill Daly said the league would consider pulling out of Sochi if something "significant" happens before players arrive, those set to participate are trying not to worry about that scenario. Wholesale Philadelphia Eagles Jerseys .Y. - Urijah Faber walked out on a Madison Square Garden stage in a Wes Welker jersey, the UFCs fun nod to that other "super" show this weekend. http://www.cheapeaglesjerseysauthentic.com/?tag=authentic-chuck-bednarik-jersey . -- Dee Ford prefers to keep things simple: Play hard and fast, and let others worry about his NFL draft stock. Nick Foles Jersey . Future Hall of Famer Ricky Ray is in his prime and back for a third season in double blue. The 34-year old was magnificent in 2013, throwing for just under 2,900 yards despite missing eight games, tossing an impressive 21 touchdowns against just two interceptions, completing 66 per cent of his passes in the process. Cheap Eagles Jerseys . -- Caris LeVert had 14 points and a career-high 11 rebounds for his first career double-double, and No.CHARLOTTE, N.C. - The Charlotte Hornets are moving forward for now without Jeffery Taylor, the latest in a growing list of professional athletes arrested on domestic violence charges.General manager Rich Cho said the Hornets will await the outcome of an NBA-led investigation before deciding whether to reinstate Taylor. He offered no timetable for Taylors return to the team.Speaking at a media day news conference Monday, Cho said it was appropriate for the organization to act decisively and swiftly in banning Taylor from all team-related activities on Friday.We take domestic violence as a very serious matter, Cho said.Taylor ran into problems with the law when he was arrested by East Lansing Police in Michigan on Thursday and charged him with one count of domestic assault, one count of assault and one count of malicious destruction of property following an altercation the East Lansing Marriott at University Place.Cho said hes spoken with Taylor, who was released Thursday on $5,000 bond, but declined to discuss details of that conversation or any specific information related to the case.The GM did say he has no knowledge of a video tape from the hotel that might shed light on the altercation.We will assist the NBA and law enforcement in any way we can until this comes to an acceptable resolution, Cho said.Cho wouldnt say what it would take for Taylor to be reinstated.I dont want to get into hypotheticals, Cho said.Cho called the arrest disappointing, but doesnt believe it should take away from the optimism heading into the season.The Hornets are coming off a 43-39 last season and have added free agents Lance Stephenson and Marvin Williams to the roster.Coach Steve Clifford said Monday that Taylor was fighting for a spot in the rotation, but said he feels comfortable with the depth the team has there. Clifford likes how Taylor has progressed since coming into the league as a second-round pick in 2012, but theres no guarantee how much the Vanderbilt product would have played this season.Clifford said Monday Stephenson will start at one of the wing spots and either Gerald Henderson or Michael Kidd-Gilchrist will start at the other.ddddddddddddThe Hornets also have veteran 3-pointer shooting guard Gary Neal coming off the bench.We just have to do what other teams do a€” when one guy goes down, just pull together and continue to fight, centre Al Jefferson said of Taylors absence.Clifford said Kemba Walker, Jefferson and Williams will be the teams other three starters.In Cliffords opinion, this years starting lineup is stronger than last year and the overall depth is better too, leading to plenty of optimism.From a talent standpoint, the possibilities are exciting, Clifford said.The Hornets open training camp Tuesday in Asheville, North Carolina and much of this years optimisms surrounds Stephenson, a player who brings proven scoring ability and playoff experience to the roster.Stephenson averaged 13.8 points, 7.2 rebounds and 4.6 assists per game last season for the Indiana Pacers. Only 24 years old, Stephenson has already started 37 post-season games during his four seasons in the NBA.Clifford said he expects Stephenson will be called upon to score more this season.I expect to do everything more this year, Stephenson said with a smile when told of Cliffords comments.Stephenson said six months ago he never thought hed be playing for anyone other than the Pacers.But he was overwhelmed with the attention the Hornets showed in him during free agency, and loved the idea of playing for his childhood hero and Hornets owner Michael Jordan.Stephenson is also friends with Walker, who he battled with time and time again as a high school player growing up in New York City.Throw in the new name and purple and teal uniforms, and Stephenson said he couldnt be happier.I feel like I came to the Hornets at the right time. We changed the name and we changed the swagger, Stephenson said. Everybody is happy about the new pieces that we got in place. Just the atmosphere here, you walk around and everybody is like, Hey Lance, we cant wait for the season to start. 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