Middlesbrough boss Michael Carrick could be among candidates to succeed Premier League’s struggling Crystal Palace, according to reports protector.
Wednesday’s 1-0 win over Archers Brighton and Hove Albion – Solly March’s top scorer in 15 gamesday March 15 minutesday – probably, if not final Straw, then one of the last few.
Crystal Palace now have one win in 14 Premier League games. They have scored just six goals in that time. No wonder Vieira is under a lot of pressure. Not just from the frustrated Crystal Palace fanbase, but from “extremely unimpressed” chairman Steve Parish.
To make matters worse, the Eagles travel to league leaders Arsenal this weekend. Remarkably, Crystal Palace beat Mikel Arteta’s side 3-0 at Selhurst Park less than 12 months ago. How the situation has changed.
Crystal Palace eyeing Middlesbrough boss Michael Carrick
The Guardian believes that a possible replacement for Vieira is already in the process of being identified. Some of the most exciting emerging tactical ideas in English football are likely to feature high on Parish’s wish list; ex-Manchester United and England midfielder Michael Carrick is among them.
In stark contrast to Vieira’s Palace, Carrick has led Middlesbrough to remarkable form since replacing the far more experienced Chris Wilder last October. He has won 15 of 22 games in charge of Riverside; turning Boro from relegation candidate to automatic promotion chaser in a way reminiscent of Nottingham Forest’s Steve Cooper.
A Champions League winner and five Premier League winners at Old Trafford; Crystal Palace supporters will hope to have a similar immediate impact if Carrick replaces Vieira on the Eagles’ bench.
Fellow strugglers West Ham have also been linked with Carrick; the former Hammers star. However, ex-England team-mate Darren Bent believes the 41-year-old is better off staying at the club and maintaining an upward trajectory, rather than accepting a header from the opposite direction.
“I think if you had a choice, (I would choose) Michael Carrick all day,” Bent told talk about sports“But Middlesbrough is definitely flying. (If I were him) I’d stick with Middlesbrough.”
Crystal Palace remain in 12th place. But they are within five points of bottom-placed Southampton.
In other news, ‘I’d be surprised’: Michael Owen says who will finish top 4 Tottenham or Liverpool
