09 May 2026 19:55:24
Carrick's decision to drop Heaven for Martinez needs to be questioned. What’s the encouragement for a young player to do well and stay in the team? He totally deserved to be selected. No point in coming in doing well, no need to rest him, no known injury. Disgusted, and I would have criticised any manager's decision to do that. Has Carrick explained it?
09 May 2026 21:15:14
Maybe the idea is to put Martinez on show because they want to sell him.
09 May 2026 21:19:53
I'd have started Licha in cm today. That or Bruno. Certainly not Mount.
09 May 2026 21:32:22
Martinez is first choice, Heaven was playing because Martinez was suspended. I think that's pretty bloody obvious.
09 May 2026 22:04:02
GDS
Terrible man management. The message given is that it doesn't matter how well you play, you will be dropped when someone is fit. It causes resentment and utter frustration, plus distrust in the decision maker.
Been in that position, so I can tell you first hand. Very poor decision for me.
If it is to get more money for Martinez, who is telling Carrick who to select, and why is he accepting it?
09 May 2026 22:36:31
Martinez is an experienced international, he was serving a suspension after a sending off, not sure where the issue is here, particularly as we kept a clean sheet.
Seriously Red Man, I know you hold passionate opinions but sometimes you are very blinkered, Carrick obviously freshened up the team, it didn't work, but Martinez for Heaven wasn't the issue.
09 May 2026 23:04:20
AJH
You don't seem to understand motivation. I am not saying Martinez for Heaven was the reason for a turgid display, but wake up and realise Carrick is discouraging players coming in and doing well, because no matter what they do, they get dropped.
On the game. People say the game didn't matter, yet they are playing for the shirt, and people are saying, in effect, the manager cannot motivate the players.
09 May 2026 23:19:31
One of our first team starters returned from suspension, and was picked over a kid still learning the game.
This isn't news.
Picking a team to win is all that matters.
That we didn't was no fault of Martinez's.
Do we want third or not? Sunderland is a tough place to go and get a result this season.
The lad will get his chances.
For someone who regularly slates others on here for being over-emotional, Red Man, I'm rather surprised at your position on this.
09 May 2026 23:36:59
Nou
Play well, stay in the team has gone out the window. If you don't get it, that's fine. Team selection is no longer on merit. It's not emotion, it's motivation techniques and analysis of the decision.
09 May 2026 23:47:29
Clean sheet.
Decision justified.
10 May 2026 00:19:10
Red Man, it's just a match. It's not like he disappeared Heaven for 3 matches in a row. I, too, wanted the kid to play, but I don't think it's as big a deal as you make it. And I, too, have concerns over Carrick, but don't overact for no reason.
10 May 2026 01:06:30
Martinez should have been sent off again today. Not sure what the video ref is doing, to be honest. He lost his head and punched someone in the face. Soft, but clear.
10 May 2026 04:51:45
I don't think putting him back in is the issue. My concern is how anybody thinks that bloody Martinez is a good enough CB to be in a starting 11 in the EPL... that's the judgement I question...
Hopefully some fools come in and buy him along with Zirkee, Ugarte, DeLigt, Yoro. But maybe wishful thinking that anyone is blinkered enough to do that; all the blinkers are used up on here!
10 May 2026 07:43:44
Played at the top level of football for years, has managed United into the Top 3, we have scored more goals and have gotten more points than any team during that period, and here we have Red Man, telling us all how it's done. ?
10 May 2026 09:07:47
angel
Doesn't make him a good man manager, though, does it? Lots of reports he had issues integrating players at Boro. I don't think dropping Heaven is good management, and it does not send out a good message to our youth looking for a chance. Poor for me.
10 May 2026 11:39:33
You know the conversation between Carrick and Heaven? How about Carrick opted for Martinez due to Brobbey playing and being a very physical player he'd potentially would have targeted Heaven so having Martinez in there gave the team some more physical presence.
So your saying poor management, there's an argument it's good management and unless you can tell us the conversation between Carrick and Heaven then you have zero clue how motivated or unmotivated Heaven is so once again your rant is just childish, imo.
10 May 2026 13:05:22
Ports,
Physical? Have you seen the size of Heaven?
Yes, I am saying poor management, and I stand by that. I don't defend any manager if they make poor decisions. I criticised Amorim for decisions. I criticised SAF back in the day on here. Heaven earned the start from his previous displays.
If people want to support Carrick, do it for the right reasons. Dropping a young player after playing the way he did, when he didn't need a rest and in fact needs games, is poor. Sorry, if it doesn't suit the 'Carrick is wonderful' narrative.
10 May 2026 13:35:17
Tall is physical. Right.
10 May 2026 14:06:19
Martinez won't hit his head on the door walking out...