Alan Hansen

[dww]

It can still be said. Refusing to look at things with even a pretense of objectivity in order to form some sort of tabloid headline of an opinion is not something I'm particularly interested in. If asked before and after the Chelsea match to rate whether I thought Carragher and Skrtel would be the right partnership going forward I would have been more likely to agree after than before I think.

[Bender]

And whats your view on a fit Agger ?

[dww]

And whats your view on a fit Agger ?

He's very good on the ball but in the past has only been comparable to Skrtel defensively (I'd actually say peak against peak Skrtel was better but I may be in a minority on that). Neither he nor Skrtel are good enough at organising a defense as yet for me to have any confidence in them as a pairing - that said maybe they would grow with the responsibility. So Agger - Skrtel is my least favoured option. I think that Skrtel bought himself a reprieve with his Chelsea performance before that I was hoping for Agger to be fit to return.

[barnes10]

if anyone is the cause of our negative results this season its jamie carragher. i know its a team game and its unrealistic to have someome perform so well for so long with no spell out of form.

but he is a critical position - both in terms of threat and leadership/organisation and is a player that the rest of the squad are used to relying on. so their crutch has gone. so reina is that bit less protected , skyrtel/johnson and insua that bit less supported and masher/lucas that bit less covered.

the effect of his loss of form is massive and i believe the key ingredient for our leaking goals. yesterday would have been 0-0 if he was his usual self. if anything, if we were tighter at the back, we'd have gone on to win it as until they scored, they'd had 15 mins of decent pressure in the whole match.

before i get flamed, im not trying to tarnish a legend nor claim his days are up. just saying that by his usual incredible standards, he's been far, far below par. maybe he needs a rest or something to refocus. regardless, those criticising lucas or anyone else this season should remember that nobody has affected our performances as badly as carragher. the difference between him at the start of this season versus what we usually get from him is night and day.

[DeeTheDog]

I am gravely concerned with Carragher's form and I think more team's will try to exploit this. Hyypia although never blessed with pace never looked as off the boil as Carragher has done this season. His positional sense appears far greater than Carragher's and I suppose that was always the case but Carragher somehow managed to get back for a block. Also Hyypia was always commanding in the air both defensively and offensively, something that Carragher never can be. Personally, I cannot see Carragher holding off the years like Hyypia.

As for the Agger/Skrtel partnership, we have never seen them play together for a run of games so any thoughts are pure supposition. They could be a dream partnership or fufill some of the fears outlayed by DWW. Nonetheless, there was improvement against Chelsea, but something still needs freshened up defensively.

[carheex]

And whats your view on a fit Agger ?

What's your view on the loch ness monster?

[Shanks]

Liverpool legend Alan Hansen believes his former club are far too reliant on Fernando Torres and Steve Gerrard.

We are.

If both were out with long term injuries, we'd be screwed.


Cheslea on the other hand could afford to miss Anelka or Drogba/Lampard or Ballack.

[red g]

We are.

If both were out with long term injuries, we'd be screwed.


Cheslea on the other hand could afford to miss Anelka or Drogba/Lampard or Ballack.

the only top team that could, rooney had a stinker and saturday and look what happens they also look shaky when rio is out. Would like to see arsenal without fabregas or van persie as well

[Tatterdemalion]

I don't normally post my opinions about football, because frankly I'm clueless, but on this I do have an opinion. Might be ****e like!

Thing is about Carra is that he is a totally committed player - and most of his mistakes this season have come in the challenge borne of commitment. Some might say that his commitment is what makes him a talented player, but I would argue that Carra has never been a very talented player. A great player, most definitely - and more talented than most, but never a world class defender. However, his great strength imo is that his commitment has often more than made up for this. Problem with commitment, in a sport where the slightest touch can land you in trouble, is that it is very dependent on being in the right place at the right time. I just think that for some reason - age or lack of concentration or just poor form - he just hasn't been in the right place at the right time, but just a fraction of a second out. To be fair, I would be a lot more worried if his mistakes were less visible - I'd rather he made a bad challenge than wasn't there to make the challenge at all. In addition it is worth pointing out that Johnson is a much more attacking player than Arbeloa, which perhaps leaves Carra more exposed - could well be that there is nothing wrong with Carra's form, but rather the tactics are exposing his flaws (and we all have them) much more.

I would like nothing more than to see Jamie interviewed on .tv at the end of the season holding a winners medal complaining that people were writing him off at the start of the season. Problem is that when ultimately Jamie's career comes to an end, it probably will end in mistimed challenges because of the way he plays, which is probably why people are making these kind of comments.

As for being dependent on two players, we most definitely are. Of course all teams would be weaker without their two best players, however, all of Chelsea, Man U and Arsenal would be significantly stronger without their top two than we would be without ours.

[kev776]

Are we missing Arebeloa's defensive qualities more than we thought we would, Johnson is awesome going forward and that is where he spends far more time than Arebeloa ever did. The result is more work for Carra and co.

Inssua is also bedding in, basically taken over from our left footed Brazilian Glassman.

The skrtel monster is slowely coming back from injury.

Mascher hasnt played all the games, Scabby is no more, it will take time.

Give the ****ers a chance to get bedded in.

[Scratch]

Is Carra playing on the left of the two CB's now...i thought he usually played on the right when playing with both Agger and Skrtel...could his slighty different position, and the way you have to play attackers (ie, forcing them the opposite way from what you're first, inbuilt instinct is, that sort of thing?), account for this dip in form a little bit?

[dww]

He certainly has played there in the last two games and it is a potentially interesting observation. I really don't think it contributed to either goal on Sunday.

[Scratch]

He's played their every game with Skrtel this season...i just can't remember if he did it with Skrtel last season as well...it will definiteyl account for crosses and positional sense tho, and the two of them occassionally going for the same ball...when Agger is back and Carra is on the right, i think we'll see amarked improvement, and it won't just be because of Agger's return i don't think.

[RedReet]

He's played their every game with Skrtel this season...i just can't remember if he did it with Skrtel last season as well...it will definiteyl account for crosses and positional sense tho, and the two of them occassionally going for the same ball...when Agger is back and Carra is on the right, i think we'll see amarked improvement, and it won't just be because of Agger's return i don't think.

He started there against Spurs, but changed to the right for the next few games until we played Leeds. Has played on the left since since.

[Nicey]

I was quite happy with that game, tough fixture, two great teams, they took there chances .. simple as that .. I thought Carra had one of his better games this season .. be happy to see Agger in the team but only when hes fit ..I think nobody needs to to tell Jamie is one or two bad performances away from a spell on the bench ,, still all to play for etc adnaseum