Tide turning against Carragher?

[Craig_H]

No argument there, but i'd be hard pressed to conclusively say that either of Carra or Skrtel is particularly better than the other. Much of a muchness IMO.

[Assassin]

I have to say when we signed Soto I was sceptical. But hats off to him he has really started performing well. He reminds me so much of Sami. He isnt the quickest, but he reads the game well. He is brilliant in the air, he is uncompromising, he is such a danger at set pieces. I also get the feeling he would run through brickwalls for the club if he had too.

[RichC]

Well we could certainly do with a new first choice CB coming in this Jan - the greek is the only one so far this season at CB that has impressed me - Skertel has always given me worries and Carra is certainly nowhere near what he once was.

I'd love to see Agger getting himself fit but can't see it happening he really just seems to love that treatment table!
The kids in Kelly and Wilson will prove their worth and ideally would love to see them getting a chance esp with Royston

[squaddie]

Well we could certainly do with a new first choice CB coming in this Jan - the greek is the only one so far this season at CB that has impressed me - Skertel has always given me worries and Carra is certainly nowhere near what he once was.

I'd love to see Agger getting himself fit but can't see it happening he really just seems to love that treatment table!
The kids in Kelly and Wilson will prove their worth and ideally would love to see them getting a chance esp with Royston

Really??? I admit he's not always the most consistent of players but i think he's been great for us this season.... Massive improvement upon last anyway.

[DannyMan2006]

I think that the defensive system that we play at the moment doesn't really suit him. I think in Roys' system we play a deep line and need more big defenders, who are good in the air, because we defend deep and invite balls into the box, Carragher isn't the greatest in the air, and I think is suffering as a result. I think this is why Kyriakos is looking good this season, as the defensive system we play suits his style of play.

Carragher isn't as good as he used to be, as age is starting to affect him, I think we should be looking to become less reliant on him and start to phase him out of the first 11, like we did with Sami. I think that he still has alot to offer, remember people have been writing him off for years. But I still think he can (and will) be a good player to have around.

Exactly my thinking.

I think we're ignoring a rather pertinent point here - dropping carra is one thing, but we've hardly got Carvalho and Vidic waiting in the wings.

As things stand, it's not completely definitive to say that Carra doesnt warrant his place in the first XI.

Indeed. Very good points. Whilst I'd have Agger as the best defender we have he is never fit. Carra, Skrtel and Soto all have their plus points, neither stands out tbh and as such I'd take Carra over both what with him being vice captain and the one who knows how to organise the backline.

Put it this way, if we were playing a top team tomorrow and I could only pick one of our CB's, I'd likely take Carra over the others, especially if we were to revert to a higher line.

[RichC]

Really??? I admit he's not always the most consistent of players but i think he's been great for us this season.... Massive improvement upon last anyway.

I just find he has a touch of the David James about him if you get what I mean.

[badpiggy]

All very interesting! We're in another ****in tactical bind regarding Carra thanks to Roy's views. I don't really rate Skrtel so I'd like to see Greek/Agger at CB with Kelly at RB and no Carra at all. But with Hodgson seemingly too scared to drop Carra and whatever problems there are with Johnson and Agger - or more accurately I suppose most would say Roy's dislike of defenders with a bit of skill and creativity - we seem to be left with a fairly mediocre CB pairing of Skrtel/Greek and and a swapping of Carra and Kelly at RB.

It's all very unsettled and I have the feeling that Carra may be way too much of an influence...He's beginning to seem like the type of guy a lot of managers get shot of to make a kind of "I'm the fackin daddy naaaah" statement.

Of course LB is settled with PFK. I'm starting to develop a personal dislike of Hodgson actually. What sort of dip**** thinks LB is "sorted" with Konchesky but can't figure out the right hand side with a mix of Kelly and Johnson and Kuyt at your disposal but goes for Carra and Mereiles instead?!

Edit : obviously our righthand side has to some extent been dictated by injuries...

[The Birdman]

Exactly my thinking.



Indeed. Very good points. Whilst I'd have Agger as the best defender we have he is never fit. Carra, Skrtel and Soto all have their plus points, neither stands out tbh and as such I'd take Carra over both what with him being vice captain and the one who knows how to organise the backline.

Put it this way, if we were playing a top team tomorrow and I could only pick one of our CB's, I'd likely take Carra over the others, especially if we were to revert to a higher line.

Carra would be even more exposed with a high line as he has no pace and the turning circle of the Queen Mary

[Glenn Hysen]

Okay, fair enough, but by the standards he set himself in previous years he's been very poor IMO. Obviously a decline at 32/33 is inevitable but he hasn't been good. Being beaten for pace by all and sundry, giving penalties away, making bad decisions...and as for his sand wedge, well it just gets worse.

I'd love a new manager to come in, be brave and start again - without Jamie.

And the way he sometimes screams at his teammates, a bit over the top...

[DannyMan2006]

[/B]

Carra would be even more exposed with a high line as he has no pace and the turning circle of the Queen Mary

He's done okay past few seasons and never had any pace then. Only the likes of Henry have demolished him.

[peekay]

He's done okay past few seasons and never had any pace then. Only the likes of Henry have demolished him.

Not quite true. Zavon Hinds absolutely owned him in the West Ham game. He is not getting beaten for pace this season coz he is practically at the edge of the penalty box for most periods.

I dont share the antagonism that many have towards Carra that many have over here. At the same time I believe we have to start explore options to phase him out slowly. If he is automatic starter next campaign due to lack of better options, i think he will do his reputation more harm.

Sorta reminds of Kapil Dev after he got 400 wickets. He stuck around just to get to 432 and stank the place out in his last few tests. It was obvious that he was not good enough to be in the Indian team but he was undroppable due to who he was. I dont want the same situation to happen to Carra.

[DannyMan2006]

Not quite true. Zavon Hinds absolutely owned him in the West Ham game. He is not getting beaten for pace this season coz he is practically at the edge of the penalty box for most periods.

I dont share the antagonism that many have towards Carra that many have over here. At the same time I believe we have to start explore options to phase him out slowly. If he is automatic starter next campaign due to lack of better options, i think he will do his reputation more harm.

Sorta reminds of Kapil Dev after he got 400 wickets. He stuck around just to get to 432 and stank the place out in his last few tests. It was obvious that he was not good enough to be in the Indian team but he was undroppable due to who he was. I dont want the same situation to happen to Carra.

I'm not saying he never gets beaten for pace. What I am saying is that he is normally clever enough to deal with it, be that by standing off, intercepting a pass or doing a cynical foul.

[Fredo]

If everything we've read about him lately is true, I think he has become more of a liability than an asset.

[Mostar]

Okay, fair enough, but by the standards he set himself in previous years he's been very poor IMO. Obviously a decline at 32/33 is inevitable but he hasn't been good. Being beaten for pace by all and sundry, giving penalties away, making bad decisions...and as for his sand wedge, well it just gets worse.

I'd love a new manager to come in, be brave and start again - without Jamie.

Same here. The best is behind him and he should be phased out. His experience is extremely important to the development of the younger players such as Wilson, Kelly, Ayala etc. but he should not be the first choice any longer and he certainly does not deserve 90k/week contract at this age.

[el matador]

i think youve got to be very careful with carra. at his best he was genuinely world class and 3 seasons ago he was one of the best centrebacks in the world.

no doubt his best days are probably behind him but the hunger and desire is still there. you need to consider his importance to the team, the young players, the fans and the whole club.

he along with gerrard is the heart and soul of the club and you just cant take that out of the team because he's a little past it. his importance to the liverpool football club goes beyond just what he is doing on the pitch. him and stevie stand for what is best about liverpool fc.

people talk about players with passion, pride, the right mentality and talent. these lads have it in spades and they can help bring on the next generation.

carragher could do a guardiola and manage us one day because nobody understands better than him what liverpool football club should stand for.