He was part of the WHU that contained Ferdinand (the Rio version), Lampard, Cole (Joe), Defoe (just on the edges), and that amazing right back who couldn't get a game for Chelsea... At the time, the Hammer's fans I knew (and I grew up in Hammer-land) reckoned Carrick to be the pick of the bunch. As we have variously rubbished the other members of that list from time to time, I would be led to suggest that Carrick might well be better than we think and could be brought on much further with the right manager/team.