Our best defensive displays this season has been with him on the pitch. He has won us 3 big games that were heading almost certainly for dropped points (United, Levekusen and City) he might make a few rash decision's but the likes of Vidic are a lot worse in that respect (if Vidic played for any one else bar United he would see red 10 times a season at least). He also has more interceptions than any other prem player since the start of last season, also take into account that he did not even play for 6 months of that period aswell. Also Alex has made some horrendus mistakes this season and last (miscontrol that let Shane Long in, bad touch that led to Newcastle's free kick leveller end of last season, penalty and red card against Fulham, given a torrid time by Beckford off all players at Goodison, the 2 mistakes in as many games against Newcastle and Brum which gave Carroll and Bowyer tap ins) yet he doesn't seem to get any stick for them but had Luiz made those errors the field day would be pathetic. Lets not forget the horrendus amount of free kicks Carvalho use to give away in dangerous areas (IE at the COMS 2 years in a row which let Robinho then Tevez score), or in the CL final just after United's goal he lost the ball near the corner flag and United counter attacked with him took out of the game. Sorry but i jut don't buy this clumsy thing, the way people bang on you would think he is the only centre half in the history of football to give away a penalty.