Sebastian Coates

[Mostar]

So then, the City game.

Do we start with Coates or Carragher?

I'd like to see Coates in for this one but I can see Carra getting the nod.

Coates over Carra any day every day.

Carra's best days are so behind him that starting him vs Cityh would be almost like playing Russian roulette.

He got roasted by Lukaku yesterday

Aye.

Always one step too slow and couldn't cope with Lukaku strength.

So lucky he wasn't booked and even possibly sent off.

[Exiled_red]

As much as I admire Carragher for what he has done at the club, but we have to look at what he currently offers. If Rodgers has a plan as to the way he wants to play the game, with a high pressing game and a high defensive line, then I'm afraid Carragher doesn't fit into that plan as he just doesn't have the pace, if we play Carragher in a high defensive line against players with pace we'll find ourselves in trouble. I would have thought that Carragher doesn't fit into Rodgers plans, the fact that he still seems to be ahead of Coates in the pecking order I find confusing.

[yamiedo]

Carragher is ****e now. No offence to him but he is. He won't be any use for us.

[john316]

Possibly. I just don't think he's ready for first team football for us.

Not like he's 16 years old! If he's not ready to go then he should be sold as he'd never be ready.

[Red_Polo]

I really hope Carra doesn't continue to be picked ahead of Coates. Tremendous servant but he is a long way from good enough now. Coates is not perfect by any means but he is easily the better option IMO and could grow into a top player for us.

[Muddled]

Not like he's 16 years old! If he's not ready to go then he should be sold as he'd never be ready.

It's not his age, he needs time to be coached; he sacrifices the shape of the team to go to the ball, in which he has a tendency to go to ground and commit himself. He seems to be unaware of what is happening around him and will often leaves plenty of space for the opposition to exploit, whether it's a positional thing or a concentration thing, I'm not sure.

I think he has the physical attributes to be a great defender for us - he's strong, big and enjoys a challenge, whilst being quite comfortable on the ball. I dunno, I just think it's a bit risky to chuck him on against Man City, but then equally, playing Carragher is also a risk. Carragher shades it for me, as he has the experience and knows what is going off around him, therefore he is the lesser of two evils.

[yamiedo]

It's not his age, he needs time to be coached; he sacrifices the shape of the team to go to the ball, in which he has a tendency to go to ground and commit himself. He seems to be unaware of what is happening around him and will often leaves plenty of space for the opposition to exploit, whether it's a positional thing or a concentration thing, I'm not sure.

I think he has the physical attributes to be a great defender for us - he's strong, big and enjoys a challenge, whilst being quite comfortable on the ball. I dunno, I just think it's a bit risky to chuck him on against Man City, but then equally, playing Carragher is also a risk. Carragher shades it for me, as he has the experience and knows what is going off around him, therefore he is the lesser of two evils.

Coates for me. Carragher is just too slow and lacks so much agility. Aguero will punish him. At least Coates has a chance of keeping Aguero or Tevez in check with his physique.

[Lee]

I see your point, Muds. But I disagree.

It's difficult to comment too much on Coates because he hasn't played that many times for us. He does look a bit rough around the edges but he's only going to improve with games. He's not a mug though and he's done very well at international level.

Carragher had a good pre-season but I just don't trust him in the PL anymore. Man City have a very good forward line, I fear that they'd run rings around Carragher. Obviously they could well run rings around Coates but I think he's got a bit more pace and strength than Carragher has now.

[RedReet]

He's ****. Sell.

[Cormack74]

If Rodgers is the start of an evolutionary process without too much expected of him by the owners (at least for the first season or so) I can't think of any reason why it doesn't make sense to play Coates.

[Cormack74]

dupe

[Camble]

I really like Coates, I think/hope he will be a quality player for us.

He seems to have got much better already, but one thing he does all of the time is once he's tackled/passed he ball watches and stops or loses his man for a few seconds. Hopefully he'll grow out of doing it and I've noticed he's not as bad as when he first arrived but against a team with players like Tevez, Nasri and Silva (Sergio injured I guess) then it could be catastrophic.

Carra has obviously gone downhill, lost what little pace he had etc but I'm not sure whether I'd write him off for City. I think his experience COULD give him an advantage.

[yamiedo]

I really like Coates, I think/hope he will be a quality player for us.

He seems to have got much better already, but one thing he does all of the time is once he's tackled/passed he ball watches and stops or loses his man for a few seconds. Hopefully he'll grow out of doing it and I've noticed he's not as bad as when he first arrived but against a team with players like Tevez, Nasri and Silva (Sergio injured I guess) then it could be catastrophic.

Carra has obviously gone downhill, lost what little pace he had etc but I'm not sure whether I'd write him off for City. I think his experience COULD give him an advantage.

It would appear so. He was fantastic today. He has a great future.

[Shaggy]

Needs to stay on his feet at times but I'm happy with him. Nice 3rd choice.

[Lee]

Played well today.