Gone too far: Michael Carrick says Premier League set-piece tactics have gone too far

Michael Carrick said grappling inside the penalty area has gone too far as a tactic in Premier League corners, calling out the growing congestion and its impact on competitive balance. “I think it’s gone too far, ” the former United midfielder said during the first part of the pre-match session at Carrington ahead of the trip to Newcastle United.

What Has Gone Too Far in set-piece play?

Carrick framed the issue as a change in enforcement and practice: he recalled a time when players were told they could not “lay a hand on anybody in the box” and that such behaviour would be stamped out and clamped down on. He said the pattern has crept in and strengthened, powered in part by the success teams have found from set-pieces, particularly corners.

Data for the current top-flight campaign shows 215 of 783 goals, or 27. 5 percent, have come from set-pieces, a share higher than other leading European top divisions and the division’s second-highest rate since 2009/10. Carrick pointed to that success-rate as a clear incentive for many teams to adopt close-body grappling around deliveries.

Examples from recent fixtures underline the practical effect: in United’s win at Everton the Toffees won 10 corners and the Belgium goalkeeper Senne Lammens had to assert control in a frequently congested six-yard area. United themselves have converted eight corners this season, placing them joint-fifth in the league for corner goals, level with upcoming opponents Newcastle. League leaders have scored 16 times from corners, including both goals in a 2-1 victory over Chelsea.

What Happens When managers, players and officials confront the trend?

Carrick acknowledged limits to what any single manager can do. “I don’t know what there is to do about it – it’s not for me to decide that, really, ” he said, and added that, if the actions are allowed, teams must adapt and play to them. The issue has become a recurring topic during managers’ press conferences ahead of midweek fixtures and a talking point across clubs.

The practical choices for teams are already clear in match preparation: train to defend close marking and grappling scenarios, rehearse attacking routines that exploit crowded six-yard areas, and select personnel who can cope physically and positionally. At the same time, Carrick highlighted the tension between tactic and spectacle: while set-piece success rewards teams, the balance of the game feels altered when grappling dominates the penalty area.

What Comes Next — short-term signals and what to watch

In the immediate term there are three observable signals to monitor from fixtures and managerial remarks: whether refereeing intervention tightens around contact in the box; whether coaches publicly press for rule clarification or enforcement change; and whether teams continue to refine crowded corner routines that produce goals at the current rate. Carrick’s stance — that it has gone too far — joins a wider conversation that is shaping midweek preparations and tactical planning.

The manager also commented on squad matters in the same briefing, mentioning illness in the camp and the fitness status of Harry Maguire and Luke Shaw, while touching on the influence of the club captain since joining in 2020. United travel north aiming to make it three wins on the bounce in the Premier League, and set-piece dynamics will be part of how they approach that fixture.

There is no simple prescription in Carrick’s remarks: he emphasised that, until any change is made, teams must react to what match officials allow and prepare accordingly. The debate over grappling at corners has become a defining theme of the campaign as set-piece goals remain unusually prominent — a trend Carrick says has gone too far.