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**Parm** · 22-01-07, 06:04 PM

am reallt chuffed Carra is getting the respect he deserves.

**lfc4ever** · 24-01-07, 04:03 PM

jamie Carrager week

http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/drilldown/NG154790070124-0853.htm

PAUL TOMKINS ON JAMIE CARRAGHER

Paul Tomkins 24 January 2007

The laughter on the faces of those stood at the front of the Kop said it all: Jamie Carragher had scored a goal. No, really.

Stealing in at the back post against Fulham, he had just replicated a certain Robbie Fowler's first ever Liverpool goal, 13 years earlier, against the same opposition. (Another 600 years and he may finally overtake Fowler’s grand total.)

I couldn't refuse the request to write a few words on Carra. Following on from this website's Steven Gerrard Week (did I miss the intervening Sean Dundee Week?), it's fitting that the vice-captain should also be lauded in this manner.

There's something distinctly old-fashioned about Jamie Carragher: a no-nonsense defender, a one-club man. But he is not out of place in the breathless modern game that pits him against strong and skilful athletes week after week. Only Thierry Henry appears to give him nightmares, and there's no shame there.

I've admitted it before, but I always used to think Carragher lacked that little something. I saw him as the perfect 12th man – the utility player who could fill in anywhere across the back, and not let anyone down, but who never seemed destined to make a position in the side his own.

In truth, I dreaded the vision of a 'team of Carraghers'. I had nightmares about every game finishing 0-0. No striker would ever get past all those Carraghers at the back, but the attacking Carraghers would have difficulty in locating the farm, let alone its barn door. But of course, it was in terms of the man's character that Gérard Houllier coined the phrase.

And it's true; if every Red had the kind of determination that Jamie exhibits then Rafa's job would be a lot easier. However, it would be unfair to expect flair players to show a kind of rare level of commitment most hardened defenders cannot even match, just as it's unfair to expect Carra to play with the élan of Zinedine Zidane. There are footballers who you simply need to appreciate for what they offer, and not criticise any shortcomings. You need players with skill, and you need those with guts.

Last summer, when going through the figures for The Red Review, I had to get Oliver Anderson to confirm his assertion that Carra had not made one single goal-costing mistake in last season's Premiership campaign. Mistakes are a subjective matter, and any goal can be blamed on particular players if you are picky enough. But when using a realistic barometer, where players are only debited if clearly at fault, you couldn't nail a thing on the vice-captain.

That perfection didn't stretch to the FA Cup, where he opened the scoring – at the wrong end. And just like Pepe Reina, he followed an iffy start at Cardiff with a few errors at the beginning of this year's league campaign. Both men had gone to the World Cup, and seemed to suffer the mental jet-lag that affects so many players after big competitions, even if they only play a back-seat role.

In Carra's case, he missed a crucial penalty for his country, despite showing ample bottle to take it in the first place. (And scored it in the first place, until forced to endure a cruel retake).

But now Carragher, like his goalkeeper, has rediscovered the form that made the Liverpool defence so parsimonious last season. The fug has lifted, and barely has a foot been put wrong. And even his early season errors against Everton and Manchester United – two games he'd have hated losing – came when he was either struggling to return from injury, or carrying a knock. Meanwhile, his error for Thierry Henry’s game-killing goal in the FA Cup came seconds after a great bit of anticipation in order to beat the Frenchman to the ball; whereas it would normally end up in row Z, a desperation to keep the ball in play so late in the game cost a goal in a way you wouldn’t normally see.

Patrick Barclay of the Telegraph recently wrote that you really need to see Dirk Kuyt in the flesh to appreciate his game. The same can be said of Carragher, whose positioning and organisational drive are often missed by the camera. He has that presence that special players possess, and he holds the defence together.

It's hard for me to write something new about Carra. Bar the brief blip last autumn, nothing about his performances ever changes. His consistency endures: a metronome of a footballer. He identifies danger and quickly and snuffs it out with the minimum of fuss and perfect timing; there's none of the flashiness that lends itself to streams of adjectives.

Whole-hearted is the phrase I'd choose, if I had to sum him up. Some players find it impossible to play on when injured, and you cannot blame them if they feel too impaired to perform. But Carra is one of those players whom a physio would have to literally drag off the pitch.

His battle hardiness, epitomised late in the game in Istanbul, reminds me of the scene in Monty Python's Holy Grail, when the Black Knight has his arm cut off by King Arthur – only to defiantly declare his wound a mere scratch. The Black Knight, his remaining three limbs subsequently severed by an unblemished Arthur, still won't accept defeat, and, through gritted teeth, declares the fight a draw.

Nothing would be more fitting than to see King Carra playing a pivotal part at the moment the Reds finally end the search for their own holy grail. After 17 long years, a 19th league title feels that bit closer with a certain number 23 at the heart of the defence. We all know anything is possible; after all, Jamie Carragher scored a goal.

**lfc4ever** · 24-01-07, 04:05 PM

more, more, more, how do you like it, how do like it

More Recognition:

http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/drilldown/NG154723070123-1057.htm

CHRIS BASCOMBE ON JAMIE CARRAGHER
Chris Bascombe 23 January 2007

"You don't half write some crap you," Jamie Carragher said the first time he saw me at Melwood.

"Any chance of getting the man of the match right one day?"

Actually, he didn't use the word crap. It was much scouser.

It was also said in that typical Carragher way. Sharp enough to sound funny, but blunt enough to make a point. You'll have heard this tone many times since.

It's the one that confronted Geoff Shreeves of Sky, who was asked 'who's bigger than Liverpool?' after quizzing Carragher if Steven Gerrard could leave for a 'superior' club.

And the one that cut off the poor Paxman imitator in his prime who urged Carragher to describe the ethos of Liverpool.

"What are yer goin on about mate?" was the appropriate response.

Reporters, especially the most pompous, regularly come a cropper and provoke the same humorously contemptible comeback whenever they try to trip him up.

Fortunately, those of us with more experience have learned the hard way never to ask him questions which are dumb, patronising or both. And pity the individuals who dare attempt to catch Carragher with the use of statistics. He'll pounce as swiftly as he does when making last ditch tackles, with his encyclopaedic knowledge of Liverpool's history ensuring even the match day programme writers need to be on their guard when compiling career details.

Carragher's style of play echoes how he comes across to the media off the park.

Honest, dedicated, obsessive about football and always ready to go in where it hurts when he senses his club, team mates, city or family is getting a kicking.

How often do you hear him talking up players he feels are being unfairly treated? Probably because he’s been there himself. After all, it took him the best part of five years to stop those letters to the ECHO saying Liverpool would never win the big prizes with players like him in defence.

The Kop sings about a team of Carraghers now, but it wasn't so long ago the one they've got wasn't appreciated.

If Liverpool take a beating, you won't see him quickening his step or accepting imaginary mobile phone calls to swerve reporters. If Liverpool win, he’s most likely to slip away unseen while others take the credit. Such modesty isn't a calculated act.

Supporters regular call the ECHO with tales of Carragher's charitable donations, a contribution recently recognised when he was given the freedom of Sefton.

In 2002 he agreed to write a World Cup column on the condition the payments were sent to Alder Hey Children's Hospital, but didn't want that publicised (a few years later I decided it was information which deserved to be shared).

Proceeds from his forthcoming testimonial will go to charity.

Most players go mad if they're getting battered in a newspaper. Carragher gets more annoyed if he's made to sound like he's a world beater.

To this day, touch wood, the only time he's been angry with the ECHO was in 1999 when he was needed to play in the 'unfamiliar' role of centre-half because of an injury to Sami Hyypia.

"I'll fill Sami's boots," read the headline. Carragher thought it made him sound big-headed, as if he was putting himself in the same class as Hyypia. Eight years on, it may seem astounding to supporters a world class centre-half like Carragher would take exception to anyone putting him in a bracket he so clearly is. The notion he'd have to fill anyone's shoes is ridiculous. But it was all about the context. Creating an image of him bigging up himself, and more seriously demeaning one of his team mates, was unacceptable to him, and he made it known.

Fortunately, grudges don't last and he's got most reporters sussed. That's not surprising as he and Steven Gerrard are the most requested for interview.

It's a running gag in the reporting industry how when anyone starts on a newspaper, their first call will be to the Melwood Press Office to set up a meeting with Carragher, who has an inability to fail to be interesting and forthright in his opinions. Need a double page spread for your Saturday or Sunday supplement? Get hold of Carra and fill it with those condescending images about Bootle and scally kids made good (check the archives, it's compulsory all 'serious journalists' have to refer to this when writing about Carragher. If it's Gerrard, just replace Bootle with Huyton).

And do you think the race for the title is hotting up? It's nothing compared to the fight to write Carragher's autobiography when he decides to do it.

All the Jimmy Hill Sunday Supplement crew are desperate for the nod, and have been known to end interviews with an appeal to write it for him. He'll keep them all guessing, but his delay putting pen to paper is further evidence of his disinterest in the footballing cult of celebrity. He's got a Premiership medal to win before he divides his career into chapters.

Let's not forget, this is the fella who when asked if he'd sell his wedding photographs to Hello replied: “I'd rather sell them to The Kop Magazine for £1."

Legendary status - and let's not hear anyone say that's going too far - wasn't achieved overnight.

Across 10 years, Carragher has developed as the ultimate player of the people. The Kop loves him because they know he's one of them. He thinks like them, gives his all as if it was is only appearance for the club, and shows the twin ecstasies of joy and grief as and when appropriate.

If he wasn't playing, he'd be watching and travelling with the family entourage which never misses a game. How do we know? Because he did it in 2003 when he was recovering from a broken leg, joining his dad and cousin on the Happy Al's coach to Middlesbrough and shouting at the incompetence of El-Hadji Diouf with everyone else in the away end.
Steven Gerrard has been the heart of the Liverpool at the start of this Millennium. Jamie Carragher is its soul.

Oh, and I nearly forgot. He's also one of the greatest defenders Liverpool has ever had, and has many more years in red still to serve.
But you knew that bit already.

**simey85** · 24-01-07, 04:42 PM

carragher deserves every bit of praise he gets, my best memory of him was in istanbul in extra time he went down with cramp completley ****ed! was he gona come of???? was he **** about two minutes l8r he busted his arse to intercept a dangerous cross through his sheer will to win for the club. i love him for the way he always stands up and is counted when things are tough!!

**lfc4ever** · 25-01-07, 07:35 PM

Jamie Carrager Week

http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/drilldown/N154799070125-1626.htm

LFC STARS PAST AND PRESENT HAIL KING CARRA

Steve Hunter 25 January 2007

As Jamie Carragher Week approaches its conclusion on Friday, we present the views of Rafael Benitez, Sami Hyypia, Steven Gerrard, Alan Hansen and a host of current and former LFC stars on everyone's favourite No.23.

Rafael Benitez on Carra
"He's a local player and Carra is the kind of player that all the managers would want in their own team. All the supporters are really happy to see him, especially because he always gives 100 per cent.

"Sometimes when you look at players, they have a lot of quality but sometimes they don't play very well. But in the case of Carra, he always plays at a very good level.

"Mourinho can talk about John Terry but for me Carra is fantastic. Terry is very good but Carra is better. He gives you aggression, security, discipline, and he works so hard for the team. When you see a player working as hard as he does, he sets an example to the rest of the team.

"With Carra you know that he will always do a good job with not many mistakes. If you want to win trophies, you can have excellent players who get 10 now and again but you need ones that are going to give you 8, 9, 8, 9 out of 10 all through the season.

"If you are a good player who can play in many positions, sometimes that is a problem for you. It depends on your necessity. If you need a right-back, Carra can play well there. If you need a left-back, Carra can play well there too. We needed a centre-back, so Carra played there.

"He has progressed so much over the past few seasons because he is very clever. He listens and works in training sessions, he takes things in and is always trying to improve. When you are prepared to listen, to put aside your ego and work, then you grow as a player and as a person.

"He has done that, he wants to absorb everything the coaches teach him and use it to improve. He is a local boy, and he has the pride and passion for Liverpool. He is our heartbeat. Yes, Steven Gerrard is an incredible player who scores goals and does the glamorous work that gets recognised but Carra is equally important."

Alan Hansen on Carra
"Carra is 10 times a better defender than I could ever be. He is a completely different player. He is a great defender whereas I was not. My strengths were on the ball, positional sense and recovery pace. The way he held Chelsea at bay [during the Champions League semi-final] was unbelievable. I'm sitting there in awe of how many times he intercepted, blocked and covered. I think if we look at Liverpool greats over the years – and there have been a lot of them – Carragher is up there with the best of them."

John Aldridge on Carra
"Jamie has matured into a world class central defender and deserves every accolade thrown his way. When his chance arrived ten years ago, he took it with both hands and has never let go. Though he has has played in an era when the game has dramatically changed, Jamie has been one of the game's old hands, very much in the mould of players like Billy Liddell and Tommy Smith. It's something, as well as his fantastic ability, that has helped keep him at the top of his profession. He may have enjoyed some fantastic successes on the pitch but he has never forgotten where he has come from. And it is so refreshing that people like him still exist."

Sami Hyypia on Carra
"Carra always plays well and it is an honour to partner him in the centre of defence. He makes my job a lot easier. He's one of the best defenders around and if he keeps improving he can become the best in England. Jamie has a great character. He never gives up and always gives 110 per cent."

Steven Gerrard on Carra
"The best defender I've played with at Liverpool and the worst finisher I've ever played with!"

Ron Yeats on Carra
"This lad has amazed me I must admit. I've known him since he was at at the Academy. When he came into the reserve team, I didn't think he would be strong enough but he has developed into such a special player. Indeed he is one of the best players we have seen here. His biggest quality is he reads the game well and he is never beaten. He has got a bit of pace and uses the ball quite well and as a centre back those are the qualities you need."

Michael Owen on Carra
"If you wanted a player to run through a brick wall, the fans would choose Carra."

Paolo Maldini on Carra
"We have big names in our defence which is probably the best in Europe. Liverpool don't have that but they have players to be respected, especially Carragher who has proved very impressive."

John Arne Riise on Carra
"The perfect defender, never messes about and never takes any chances. He will always clear the ball. He's quick, strong and good in the air and a good vice captain for the club."

Gary McAllister on Carra
"Jamie's the life and soul of the Liverpool team. He lives and breathes LFC. He's a local lad who has been a fantastic servant and a winner during his time at the club. Jamie is one of those players who sometimes goes unnoticed and it's only when you actually work with him that you realise just how good he is."

Roy Evans on Carra
"I remember when I first came across Carra and his only problem then was he was a massive Evertonian! He isn't now, I'm pleased to say! I played him as a full-back because at the early age he broke in it is difficult to be a central defender with the responsibility that goes with it but we always knew he would end up as a centre-back. For me he epitomises the way the game should be played as he is passionate, he is honest and enjoys the game and wants to work hard. He has been absolutely fantastic for Liverpool and for football in general. He is one of the first names on Rafa's team sheet I would imagine for his consistency and, for me, he stands up there proudly with some of the greatest players we have ever had at Liverpool. I am really proud of him. In his early days he wasn't the perfect player and the perfect professional but he has moulded himself into that through hard work. He has learned by his mistakes and that is a great lesson to any player coming through."

Ronnie Moran on Carra
"Jamie Carragher gives everything for the team and he's always done this. I was at the club when he first came into the team and I remember his first game against Aston Villa when he played midfield. Now he is one of the best centre-backs - if not the best - in the country and I don't understand why he isn't a regular in the England team. He has got this big heart and the effort you need to be a player. He leads by example in every game; he does it in training and he's done it all his life, even before he got into the first team. You could play Jamie in any position on the pitch and he would give his all. I can't speak highly enough of Jamie."

**Shaggy** · 25-01-07, 07:36 PM

**lfc4ever** · 25-01-07, 07:37 PM

Jamie Carragher Week

http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/drilldown/NG154779070125-1109.htm

TONY BARRETT ON JAMIE CARRAGHER

Tony Barrett 25 January 2007

Liverpoolfc.tv continues Jamie Carragher Week with a new piece written exclusively for the official club website by Tony Barrett, Feature Writer for the
Liverpool Echo.

Anyone who regularly travels to away games will know Philly Carragher.

Jamie's dad is one of those larger than life characters who never fails to make trips to even the most remote corners of Europe an unforgettable experience.

Though clearly and justifiably proud of his son's achievements Philly has never been one to boast - he's usually far too busy enjoying the local brew with the rest of us for that.

But there was one occasion when he allowed himself to indulge in his own pride just a little.

It was on a Ryanair flight from Milan to Liverpool the day after the Reds had secured a goal less draw with Juventus to go through to the Champions League semi-final.

Philly flipped open his mobile phone to reveal a picture of Jamie in his Liverpool kit. "See that," barked Philly, "that's my lad that is".

His pride certainly wasn't misplaced for the night previous Jamie had given one of his finest performances in a red shirt as his inspired captaincy in the absence of injured skipper Steven Gerrard was one of the main reasons Rafa Benitez's side managed to overcome a Juventus side tipped by many to go on and win the competition.

Everyone in earshot of Philly nodded in agreement. We knew that the Bootle man's son was proving himself to be one of the finest defenders ever to play for the club and we were all just grateful to have him.

Carragher's boys own journey from the Brunny Youth Club on Marsh Lane to playing a pivotal role in Liverpool's latest European Cup success is the stuff dreams are made of. If we're honest, it's the type most Reds fans had when we were growing up.

And herein lies one of the core reasons why Carragher is so popular with so many of us - he isn't just living the dream, he's living our dream.

He speaks like us (albeit a bit higher pitched), he dresses like us (no sarrongs or overly flash clobber) and he thinks like us (how dare anyone ever suggest there might be a bigger club than Liverpool FC!).

But, sadly for us, that's where the comparisons end. For, even in an era in which forward play is the be all and end all in the eyes of many "experts", Carragher's defensive talents mark him out as a player of rare ability.

By all means glorify the likes of Thierry Henry, Ronaldinho and our own Dirk Kuyt. They score the goals and create the excitement which makes football such a thrilling spectacle.

But stopping them is an art form and anyone who can do so must be held up as a master of his art. And that is exactly what Carragher is.

If chairman David Moores had a Pound for every time Liverpool's number 23 made a last ditch tackle or a dramatic intervention he wouldn't need a Dubai Sheikh to bankroll the club.

There was a time when Carragher did not get the credit he deserved. Apparently he didn't get forward enough, didn't burst past players like some sort of Scouse Roberto Carlos and wasn't enough of a threat in the opposition penalty box.

Had he wanted to Carragher could have pointed out to his critics that his job was to stop goals, not create them. It's a bit like asking Kevin Pietersen why he doesn't take more wickets or criticising Ronaldinho for not working hard enough in front of his full back.
Carragher was suffering from that well known Anfield complaint - Ronnie Whelan syndrome.

Every now and again a player comes along who does the dirty work which allows more gifted individuals to weave their magic. Sometimes, as was the case with Didi Hamann, the crowd really appreciates him. But, on other occasions, as with Ronnie Whelan, the fans are not instantly convinced of their worth to the team.

This is what happened with Carra and in his early years there were those who questioned whether he was good enough to be a Liverpool player.

The fact that he has managed to reverse this situation and he is now one of Anfield's all time crowd favourites speaks volumes of both his ability as a footballer and his determination not to give in when the odds were against him.

It is this very same determination which made him try to carry on after suffering a broken leg at Blackburn and which propelled him to even greater defensive excellence when struck down with cramp in extra time of the Champions League final against Milan.

There have been players with far more natural ability than Carragher but there are precious few who have made the absolute most of their ability and in an era in which far too many footballers do just enough we should be forever grateful to have one who bucks the trend.

And his old fella can be justifiably proud as well.

**captainfog** · 26-01-07, 01:14 AM

Don't get me wrong, Carra is an absolute ****ing legend, however, you would not want a team of them....our team would be great at tackling, have good positional and marking skills but we would have absolutely no flair, creativity, and would go years without scoring a goal.......

I know I am taking the title of this thread far too literally, however, I have heard that said so many times and it kinda pisses me off - he's a great defender but you don't want a team defenders.

A team of players that were passionate about liverpool.....yes! but not a team of Carra's - christ, we would be more boring than Bolton

**rushscored4** · 26-01-07, 01:43 AM

Originally posted by captainfog View Post

Don't get me wrong, Carra is an absolute ****ing legend, however, you would not want a team of them....our team would be great at tackling, have good positional and marking skills but we would have absolutely no flair, creativity, and would go years without scoring a goal.......

I know I am taking the title of this thread far too literally, however, I have heard that said so many times and it kinda pisses me off - he's a great defender but you don't want a team defenders.

A team of players that were passionate about liverpool.....yes! but not a team of Carra's - christ, we would be more boring than Bolton

I could be wrong here but I don't think we're likely to play a Carra XI so I wouldn't get too worried, fella...

**captainfog** · 26-01-07, 02:03 AM

Originally posted by rushscored4 View Post

I could be wrong here but I don't think we're likely to play a Carra XI so I wouldn't get too worried, fella...

Don't worry I'm not - I'm just being pedantic

**IrishPaul** · 26-01-07, 03:25 AM

Originally posted by captainfog View Post

Don't get me wrong, Carra is an absolute ****ing legend, however, you would not want a team of them....our team would be great at tackling, have good positional and marking skills but we would have absolutely no flair, creativity, and would go years without scoring a goal.......

I know I am taking the title of this thread far too literally, however, I have heard that said so many times and it kinda pisses me off - he's a great defender but you don't want a team defenders.

A team of players that were passionate about liverpool.....yes! but not a team of Carra's - christ, we would be more boring than Bolton

**FowlerLeftFoot** · 26-01-07, 03:43 AM

Carragher would make a better captain in my opinion. He is a reds through and through, loyal and never ever tempted to leave the club.

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We All Dream Of A Team of Carraghers

We All Dream Of A Team of Carraghers

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