TalkSPORT pundit Ray Parlour believes Middlesbrough boss Michael Carrick needs to stay with the club for the time being before becoming a Premier League manager.
The Teessiders are battling for the play-offs again under Carrick, who is now in his third season at the Riverside after being appointed in October 2022.
It has turned out to be an inspired decision, despite his side sitting outside of the play-off places for the majority of last season and falling just short. He has earned plenty of plaudits for his work in transforming Boro over the course of over two years now, not least due to the turnover of some of the club's best players during that time as well.
The Teessiders ended the 2022/23 season on 75 points to secure a place in the top six, with multiple players having benefited due to the switch from Chris Wilder to Carrick due to his more possession-heavy and attack-minded philosophy. They ended up losing out in the play-offs and his new-look side were looking to go one better in the 2023/24 campaign under Carrick, with promotion the goal yet again for his side.
Despite ultimately falling short last term, in part due to an ever-growing injury list over the course of the season, there will remain optimism that they can make the cut in 2024/25 instead. Having seen multiple players depart in the last few summers, be that upon the expiry of their loan or from selling them, this summer has been one of continuity and stability for Middlesbrough.
That should serve them well in the race for promotion, and so far has been important in their positive start to the season. Carrick continues to earn plenty of credit for the work he has done at the Riverside, with Boro between fifth and 12th for every matchday of the season thus far, and on course for a play-off push once more.
Ray Parlour's verdict on Michael Carrick's Boro future
Ray Parlour - Middlesbrough FC (1)
For many involved with Middlesbrough, Carrick is the club's biggest asset by far. It will have come as a relief to therefore hear that he penned a new three-year contract this summer, as the club have put their faith in him as the right man to take the club forward.
There have been previous murmurings of top-flight interest in Carrick, although nothing concrete has materialised thus far. Boro have been hammering teams of late, leaving many wondering if perhaps it’s only a matter of time before he’s linked with a Premier League job again, with West Ham recently emerging as one name after TalkSPORT pundit Tony Cascarino tipped the ex-West Ham midfielder to land the job at his old club
FLW put that idea to Parlour, who believes there is more to come from Carrick with his former club, where he played 60 times for them himself between 2004 and 2007. Speaking exclusively to Football League World he said: "I still think Michael Carrick needs to continue to impress in the Championship before he can be considered for a Premier League job.
"There have been ups and downs over the past few seasons, but Carrick seems to have a team that can compete in the top six of the league this season. I think he has unfinished business this season and will want to aim to get Boro promoted.
"But if he continues to impress, then a Premier League job can come his way soon."
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Michael Carrick's unfinished business at Middlesbrough
Michael Carrick
Carrick recently detailed his commitment to staying put at Middlesbrough, who are said to be confident the 43-year-old is going nowhere. Much like players, managers can develop in the right environment, and he is thriving with Boro for the most part.
The league table doesn't necessarily tell the whole story for his side this season, as they have largely played well in the circumstances. Obviously, the underlying data is only an indicator of the strength of a team's performance week-to-week and points will be what ultimately decides promotion.
However, the trend so far over a strong sample size is something to excite supporters, with Boro leading the way in terms of xG and chances created alongside Daniel Farke's Leeds United. Under Carrick, they are expected to be a side challenging for the play-offs, if not in and around the automatic promotion places, and such numbers will see them in the mix come May.
Carrick is one of the best young English coaches out there currently. He's tactically innovative and flexible, often making proactive changes mid-game to counter the opposition. However, as Parlour alludes to, Boro and Carrick have unfinished business in the Championship this season. The objective now is to gain promotion to the Premier League and there will be real disappointment if the club fail to do so this time around.