Carragher

[Nicey]

We already have our new Carra hes called Carra

[billy_mac]

Carra needs what he gave Arbeloa last year a right good bollicking. Rafa has given Gerrard, Torres and Mascherano a public kick up the arse message and Carra shouldn't be spared the same treatment. He is the heart and soul of the team, but he needs to get switched on and focused.

[DannyMan2006]

I'm not saying he should replace Carragher now or that he is finished - far from it.

But I do think you should strengthen your team from a position of strength so if Benitez brought the new Jamie Carragher in now, he would have time to bed him in over the next season or two.

Every player - no matter how good they are - dips at some point and it would make sense to have Carra's replacement groomed and ready to take over for when he finally has to go.

Carragher is 31 and can't go on forever, so it's better to think about these things in advance.

Collymore must forget that we have Skrtel and Agger who are being groomed to take over in the future. So the point he makes is a poor one. Of course Carra will not last forever. Could say the same about Terry at Chelsea and Ferdinand at the Mancs.

[dww]

Jesus Christ a living Legend has a dip in form and the ****ing Monkey Train comes out of the station. Sure I agree with everyone hes not been the best and has made some obious errors, but lets show some ****ing respect for a guy who bleeds LFC and has been running through ****ing brick walls for us for more years than I care to remember .. I have no problem with criticism, but let keep perspective here . Also to cut the guy some slack hes playing in a back four thats far from settled at the moment .. I dont care what anybody says its no coincidence that we have let more goals in in such a short period of time from the lefthand side / corners since Johnson has arrived ... Not having a go ... but if we are going to play with our LB's and RB's permantly camped out in the opositions half we are going to let more goals in .. more mistakes will happen .. But I dont care as long as we score one more .. everytime

I'm not convinced Insua or Johnson are camped in the opposition half for corners against us. It is clear that the defensive unit at corners is under par. It may be that Johnson and Insua as fullbacks contribute to it but aerial defense at corners is a key role of centre backs and they have underperformed badly in that area this season.

Past performance and commitment to the cause buy a player the chance to move forward and improve in the team rather than being one of the first to be looked to be replaced when seeking solutions. It is clear that Rafa feels that Carragher is not wholly to blame as his criticism of him has been couched in terms of other need to take responsibility away from him. That said his personal levels have dropped and maybe he should learn to devolve some of the responsibility of organising the defense to others to help the collective?

[DannyMan2006]

I'm not convinced Insua or Johnson are camped in the opposition half for corners against us. It is clear that the defensive unit at corners is under par. It may be that Johnson and Insua as fullbacks contribute to it but aerial defense at corners is a key role of centre backs and they have underperformed badly in that area this season.

Past performance and commitment to the cause buy a player the chance to move forward and improve in the team rather than being one of the first to be looked to be replaced when seeking solutions. It is clear that Rafa feels that Carragher is not wholly to blame as his criticism of him has been couched in terms of other need to take responsibility away from him. That said his personal levels have dropped and maybe he should learn to devolve some of the responsibility of organising the defense to others to help the collective?

Let's be fair and say that as we use Zonal marking it is the players who does not challenge when the ball is in his zone that is at fault. You can organize all you want but if a player does not challenge there is nothing you can do.

Our defence during open play has been as good as usual IMO and has only creaked on the odd occasions, which will always happen.

I think the only one who can improve our defending at set pieces is Rafa Benitez on the training field.

[Nicey]

I'm not convinced Insua or Johnson are camped in the opposition half for corners against us. It is clear that the defensive unit at corners is under par. It may be that Johnson and Insua as fullbacks contribute to it but aerial defense at corners is a key role of centre backs and they have underperformed badly in that area this season.

Past performance and commitment to the cause buy a player the chance to move forward and improve in the team rather than being one of the first to be looked to be replaced when seeking solutions. It is clear that Rafa feels that Carragher is not wholly to blame as his criticism of him has been couched in terms of other need to take responsibility away from him. That said his personal levels have dropped and maybe he should learn to devolve some of the responsibility of organising the defense to others to help the collective?

I agree with you, its obvious hes not on top form, but there seems to be a lack of communication within the team defensively, the number of times I have seen two players go for the same ball, granted Carra is involved a number of times but something is a miss. As for set pieces .. Well every ****ing tom dick and harry has gotten it into there minds that we are soft from set pieces .. I dont think thats been the case but I think the players are starting to beleive the bull**** as such .. I think 85% of all out goals conceeded thus far has been from set peices ..

THATS ****ING SHOCKING and needs to be sorted out as matter of urgency .. If we lose one more goal in the next 5 matches to a ****ing set peice I am going burst a blood vessel ..

All that said, Carra is not up to his standards .. it does not help the fact he is more exposed at the back becuase of our style of play. Speaking of which .. how much cover this Masher give Skirtel and Carra .. not a lot it seemed from me, could be wrong I know his passing was bang on .. but did not see him break up the play too much ..

Anyways ...theres a lot of life in Carra yet .. Same way some Douchebags were jumping on Torres back before last game ..needing to sort himself out ... yeah when he gets 6 touches of the ball ever 3 games .. Clever stuff

[dww]

Let's be fair and say that as we use Zonal marking it is the players who does not challenge when the ball is in his zone that is at fault. You can organize all you want but if a player does not challenge there is nothing you can do.

Our defence during open play has been as good as usual IMO and has only creaked on the odd occasions, which will always happen.

I think the only one who can improve our defending at set pieces is Rafa Benitez on the training field.

I think though that it might be a holistic thing in the sense that Carragher worrying about how everyone is dealing with things at set pieces prevents him from reacting as quickly as possible. A lot of the problems from corners have come in sets of zones where Carragher is located in my view.

[DannyMan2006]

I think though that it might be a holistic thing in the sense that Carragher worrying about how everyone is dealing with things at set pieces prevents him from reacting as quickly as possible. A lot of the problems from corners have come in sets of zones where Carragher is located in my view.

Are you telling me that we have conceded so many goals from set pieces because Carra has not been up to scratch? That Carra's poor defending has been the sole reason we have shipped goals.

Would you also say that if Carra was dropped we would improve at set pieces?

Just asking..........

[dww]

Are you telling me that we have conceded so many goals from set pieces because Carra has not been up to scratch? That Carra's poor defending has been the sole reason we have shipped goals.

Would you also say that if Carra was dropped we would improve at set pieces?

Just asking..........

I'm saying he has been one of the key players in the area where we are having problems. I'm not sure we have players of the quality necessary to improve at set pieces on the bench but I think it is possible that a dominant header like Kyrgiakos has the potential to improve us in that area. Saying it is the sole reason is clearly absurd though and I don't think I ever said that.

It is also likely that dropping Carragher would result in poorer outfield performance which would not mean it was a nett benefit any way.

To say that he is part of the problem now is not to say he isn't part of the likely solution.

[DannyMan2006]

I'm saying he has been one of the key players in the area where we are having problems. I'm not sure we have players of the quality necessary to improve at set pieces on the bench but I think it is possible that a dominant header like Kyrgiakos has the potential to improve us in that area. Saying it is the sole reason is clearly absurd though and I don't think I ever said that.

It is also likely that dropping Carragher would result in poorer outfield performance which would not mean it was a nett benefit any way.

To say that he is part of the problem now is not to say he isn't part of the likely solution.

Well exactly. It is a team responsibility during set pieces. I'm not sure a Carra on top form would improve our defending at set pieces by any great %. I personally feel that the whole team needs to improve tehir defending at set pieces.

That said, there will always be goals conceded at set pieces that just can not be stopped, due to us having quite a small team.

[murder_inc]

Let's be fair and say that as we use Zonal marking it is the players who does not challenge when the ball is in his zone that is at fault. You can organize all you want but if a player does not challenge there is nothing you can do.

Our defence during open play has been as good as usual IMO and has only creaked on the odd occasions, which will always happen.

I think the only one who can improve our defending at set pieces is Rafa Benitez on the training field.

[RedReet]

Liverpool fans turning against Jamie Carragher should have a word with themselves. Where's your loyalty to a man who's bled for your side for 13 years?

By Brian Reade

After a draw at Middlesbrough 18 months ago, MUTV was inundated with callers venting their spleen at Ryan Giggs.

His crime was missing a sitter which could have snatched a late victory. His punishment was demands to be pensioned off. Giggs may have helped United lift 24 trophies in 17 years, and his form may temporarily have deserted him, but some fans lost patience and wanted him binned.

Fast forward a month, to May 2008, and Giggs scores the goal that wins the title. His tenth. Fast forward again, to last weekend, and he creates the goal that wins United's greatest derby.

I don't mention this to embarrass the buffoons who called for Giggs' head but to warn the Liverpool ones who are turning on Jamie Carragher in similar style.

He hasn't had a great start to the season, but he's only one part of a kamikaze back-line where full-backs are caught out of position, other centre-backs look zombified, Xavi Alonso's shield has gone, and the team as a whole has forgotten how to defend set pieces.

For some fans to pin all of the blame on Carragher and use it as evidence that he's past it, is laughable. Where's your loyalty to a man who's bled for your side for 13 years? Where's your brain? Carragher is 31, may not be as quick as he was, but his fitness, commitment, organisational and leadership skills are as strong as ever.

One-team legends like Giggs and Carragher have earned the benefit of the doubt when form deserts them.

Instead of fans spouting snide words on phone-ins and forums, they should have a word with themselves.

Mirror