Agger rising to the challenge

[PTP]

It's not people openly knocking Carragher. It's more people saying Agger and Skrtel are better players. AFII even said that Agger is the best defender in the world, FFS!

As Skunk said this is all down to people failing to see that a defender must be able to defend first and foremost. As he also said the ability to bring out a ball is often thought to much of by people who see Arsenal play and think that's the be all and end all.

It took years for Carra to get the appreciation he richly deserved from the match goers at Anfield, and as soon as he finally gets to the top of his game people are again dismissing him, highlighting his faults instead of lauding his unique qualities.

It doesn't suprise me though, and nor is the criticism unique to Carragher. The grit and determiantion of English players is easily overlooked by many a football fan.

aye but thats just people with their opinions though? - there might be someone out there, or maybe on here - goes all the ressies games etc and they might think

"Pacheco/Nemeth or even Amoo - is going to be better than torres and that eventually when torres moves on, we have nothing to worry about cause this kid is ****ing class"

people are entitled to their opinion and I don't see anyone slating or doubting carraghers ability - and if anything this thread has just been turned from a mole hill to a mountain - cause a poster who is obv a wum and trying to get a rise out everyone made a completly random comment and tried to act the superfan and make it look like people are slagging off Carragher.

If someone thinks daniel agger is better than carragher, carvlhalo, ferdinand and jesus then so what it's there opinion and doesn't mean they are having a go at the others saying they are crap. They are just saying that they rate agger more higly than anyone else.


And to sum even Skunk must be excited by the fact that along with carragher and the experienced and superb Hyppia - we have probably the two most exciting and promising centre backs in the world and if thinks work out well we shouldn't have any problems at centreback for say the next ten years?

[Warren]

exactly - two players who out of literally thousands and thousands of model professionals in the last twenty years have continued to play at the top after the age of 36.

Cafu
Desailly
Thuram
Baresi
Lizarazu

All great defenders all played past 36, I'm sure if you looked into it you would find a lot more.

[Reece]

Cafu
Desailly
Thuram
Baresi
Lizarazu

All great defenders all played past 36, I'm sure if you looked into it you would find a lot more.

Obefemi Martins

[Joe King]

Yakubu

[ukfootballfan101]

I just think you're dancing around the issue with all these references to his age. I'd respect you more if you just said you'd prefer Agger and Skrtel as first choice. No shame in that, even though you're wrong.

As for letting players walk away; if they said they wanted to leave I'd let them go in a heartbeat, but that's just me.

But age is an issue? If it wasn't Hypia would play every week as he is (or was) a better defender than Carragher IMO.

I don't have a preference about who plays at centre back, I want the best performers playing - and I trust Rafa!!

Just to be clear i'm not anti Carragher, I think he's great, but the role Hypia has now is what Carragher will have in a few years.

[Warren]

Obefemi Martins

Yakubu

Weirdos

[PTP]

I'm with Skunk on this one myself.

We take Caragher for granted at times.

I read JC's book a few weeks ago...never underestimate his determination and will to play at the highest level for several years yet. Who says he's just got two years left? You cant come out with that **** when we're talkin about Carragher here.

but your reading it wrong marky - noone has said bluntly "Carra has two years left at the top..end of"

the question that caused this thread to go of on one was, how long do people think carragher will go on for, and as a result do people see agger and skrtel as the future of the club at centre back.

Now for some reason people have interepted that as slagging carragher off - i haven't - i see it as a reasonably question.

with regards the bit in bold - all people have stated is their opinion that they believe carragher, for the next two years will be able to perform at his best week in week out - and then after that, as his legs caqtch up he may struggle and start to play less and less etc.

Nothing wrong with that imo - it's only their opinion and who knows whats going to happen - carragher may be superhuman, and prove their opinions wrong and continue to be a great defender for liverpool when he is 42 - or he could, for example say we won the league this year, decide to retire at the age of 31. Who knows? But i think people have gone a bit ott and read too much into what is just posters honest opinions.

incidentally - skunk, you seemm to have been the main one who has took offence to the suggestion carragher is now at the tail end of his career, yet i don't think you have answered the questioon - in you opinion how long do you think carragher will continue to perform consisitently at the top level week in week out?

[Scratch]

Cafu
Desailly
Thuram
Baresi
Lizarazu

All great defenders all played past 36, I'm sure if you looked into it you would find a lot more.

Most of them playing in slower paced leagues in Italy and Spain...how about a list of Premiership defenders who were regular starters past the age of 33/34??

[Skunk]

But age is an issue? If it wasn't Hypia would play every week as he is (or was) a better defender than Carragher IMO.

I don't have a preference about who plays at centre back, I want the best performers playing - and I trust Rafa!!

Just to be clear i'm not anti Carragher, I think he's great, but the role Hypia has not is what Carragher will have in a few years.

It's not issue at 31, no. But you seem intent on making it so.

If you trust Rafa then why are you even bringing it up?

[ukfootballfan101]

It's not issue at 31, no. But you seem intent on making it so.

If you trust Rafa then why are you even bringing it up?

As PTP said, you haven't really answered the question...If age is not an issue at 31, when does it become an issue?

And Rafa isn't going to pick his team for the next game based on how a player might be performing in 3 years time so I don't get why you said that? I was agreeing with you, as you said every player should get in the team on merit, and I trust Rafa to pick that team, he's not like houllier who would pick players who were terrible because he couldn't admit he made a mistake in the transfer market.

[Skunk]

It becomes an issue when it affects his form not because we decided to plan 3 years ahead.

[bobbyfallon]

Obefemi Martins

[AFII]

Most of them playing in slower paced leagues in Italy and Spain...how about a list of Premiership defenders who were regular starters past the age of 33/34??

Nail on the head. Carra would probably have more than two, three years left at the top if he played in Spain or Italy.

Pace is much more important in the PL. Sami gets a lot more bookings now because of his lack of pace. The other defender also need to cover some of Sami's zone because he isn't quick enough to cover the whole zone himself.

Agger is by far our most complete defender, he has everything, good tackler, excellent in the air, excellent vision, great passer and an excellent understanding of the game.

Anyone else noticed that we suddenly score a lot of goals now when Agger is back? He is a key player in our attacking game too and not only a great defender.

[Parm]

I don't think there is much difference between Agger & Skrtel. Both are excellent defenders. Maybe Agger is better bringing the ball out of defence and starting attacks. I've always said it would take Agger a couple of games to get back into his stride. He's not back to his best yet but is getting there.

Rafa will have a tough decision to make when Skrtel is fit again.

Its the sort of selection headaches that premiership winning teams are built on. It just shows how good a squad Rafa has built over the last couple of years.

I'd say Skrtel is getting better at bringing the ball out of defence, perhaps Jamie will be given a rest from time to time. Sadly I cant see Sami staying on beyond the end of his contract as there doesnt seem to be a real need for him any more.

[Reece]

Agger is by far our most complete defender, he has everything, good tackler, excellent in the air, excellent vision, great passer and an excellent understanding of the game.

I think people undervalue Agger as an out and out defender. He can be awesome at times. Still not better than JC in that regard IMO.