GROUNDHOPPING ARCHIVES: Michael Carrick Testimonial 2017

Personally, I really love testimonials, a fantastic chance to often see two really good teams, sometimes full of legends of the game to head to head to both celebrate the career of a club legend, who has reached 10 years at that club and raise money for charity, always fun events to go to, especially if you're someone like me who cannot afford the memberships or season tickets to even have a chance of getting a ticket to a competitive game (most of the time), let alone the ticket fee itself - one drawback to the Premier League. 

Three years ago today I was sat at the top of the Scoreboard End at Old Trafford, watching my most recent Manchester United game (my 5th I believe) for Michael Carrick's Testimonial, as 70,000 packed Old Trafford (6k off capacity) to pay tribute to the midfielder with the 2008 side reuniting (mostly) to mark the occasion- of course managed by the legendary Sir Alex Ferguson assisted by Mike Phelan- against a Michael Carrick All Stars XI, managed by the one and one Harry Redknapp, his manager from his West Ham days (fun fact, Redknapp is the only manager I've seen managing the 'away' team at both Old Trafford and Portman Road).

The game was awesome, for me the chance to see most of United's successful '08 double winning side play in the flesh was just incredible.

Ryan Giggs' passing was incredible, spraying some audacious passes across the field, one of which picked out Ji-Sung Park around the 13 minute mark, whilst Patrick Evra's appeals for a penalty were unsuccessful soon after.

A minute later and Carrick's central midfield partner Paul Scholes was reminding those in attendance and watching live on ITV why he was nicknamed the 'SatNav,' finding Wayne Rooney on the edge of the box with an incredibly precise and accurate pass from which the United record goalscorer's lob went narrowly over Shay Given's crossbar.

Up the other end though, it was Robbie Keane causing havoc, as his good run downfield resulted in a shot blocked in the 18th minute.

The deadlock however was broken 3 minutes later, but by the All Stars arguably against the run of play, Seedorf picked out Abidal whose cutback for Robbie Keane saw the forward then laid the ball into Mendieta's path who guided the ball home, 0-1 Carrick All Stars.

United almost drew level just 3 minutes later, Scholes with another trademark pass to find Evra, with the left-back's cross in finding the head of Rooney who could only glance just wide of the target.

United fans were then treated to a throwback to old times, as Ryan Giggs' corner on the left-hand side found the head of Nemanja Vidic close to the back post to head home a bullet header equaliser on 28 minutes, 1-1. To have had the chance to watch United's captain score right in front of me is definitely something I will always remember!

Five minutes before the break meanwhile, Carrick almost gave United the lead but chipped just over from 25-yards out.

United shot-stopper Edwin Van Der Sar meanwhile was forced into a great save to keep the scores level as Gudjohnsen's low strike was kept out by the 'Flying Dutchman,' as the sides went in level at 1-1 at the interval. 

Into the second half, Van Der Sar was again brought into action 4 minutes after half-time, producing another good stop to prevent Senna from scoring. 

One of the funniest moments of the match though happened in the 56th minute, Evra's cross finding Gary Neville, who's volley intending for the bottom corner ended up going out for a throw-in!

Another memorable moment of the this game came in the 64th minute, Robbie Keane lobbing Van Der Sar from six-yards out to restore the All Star's advantage, in the very goal I was sat behind, an absolute class finish, 1-2 All Stars. 

With nine minutes remaining, United couldn't quite make a fantastic chance count as Wayne Rooney set Louis Saha through on goal but lifted his shot over the bar as United still trailed 2-1.

Not for long though, as the man we'd all came to see ensured it wouldn't end in defeat for United as Carrick picked up the possession with the crowd urging him to shoot, which the midfielder obliged by hitting an absolute belter in off the right-hand post from 25-yards to tie up proceedings, 2-2.

The celebration I remember made my sister laugh, as back then the 'dab' was really popular and a rather hilarious moment! 

Carrick's goal was a fitting end to a very good game which ended in a draw, despite United arguably being unlucky to have not won on a great day at Old Trafford on what is currently my second to last trip to Old Trafford at the moment. 

Teams:

Manchester United:-

1 Edwin Van Der Sar

6 Wes Brown

5 Rio Ferdinand 

15 Nemanja Vidic

3 Patrick Evra

16 Michael Carrick (C) 

18 Paul Scholes

11 Ryan Giggs

13 Ji-Sung Park 

24 Darren Fletcher 

10 Wayne Rooney

Subs:

2 Gary Neville  

4 Owen Hargreaves 

8 Graeme Carrick

9 Dimitar Berbatov

9 Louis Saha

27 Mikael Silvestre

Michael Carrick All Stars XI:

1 Shay Given

2 Michel Solgado

23 Jamie Carragher

26 John Terry (C) 

3 Eric Abidal

6 Gaizka Mendieta

11 Damien Duff

17 Marcos Senna

10 Clarence Seedorf

10 Robbie Keane

10 Michael Owen 

Subs: 

8 Alex Bruce

8 Trevor Sinclair

11 Joan Capdevila

14 Richard Garcia 

18 Phil Neville

22 Eidur Gudjohnsen

Booked: Carragher (61').

©️ Drew Kendall. 

Game 58: Sun 04/06/2017

Ground l: Old Trafford

Match: Manchester United 2008 XI 2-2 Michael Carrick All Star XI

Competition: Michael Carrick Testimonial

Season: 2016/17 Game: 24

Kick Off: 4PM

Goals: Vidic (28’), Carrick (83’); Mendieta (22’), Keane (64’).