Tide turning against Carragher?

[badpiggy]

Lots of negativity on here towards Carra at the moment. Is it part of the hysteria of a few fans because we're on dodgy ground at the moment or is there a more general feeling that Carra is past his best and possibly too influential but now in a bad way?

For myself i think he's past it and would like to see a back 4 of Kelly - Greek - Agger - ABPFK

[Shaggy]

I don't want him to be a regular anymore. Been very poor now for nearly a season and a half.

[Baracus]

IIRC did not Bob Paisley say you should get rid of players before their legs give way or something along those lines.

[5europeancups]

Lots of negativity on here towards Carra at the moment. Is it part of the hysteria of a few fans because we're on dodgy ground at the moment or is there a more general feeling that Carra is past his best and possibly too influential but now in a bad way?

For myself i think he's past it and would like to see a back 4 of Kelly - Greek - Agger - ABPFK

I think alot of the anger/comments towards Carra have come from the supporters of Rafa some of whom preceive that Carra had something to od with him leaving.

I think alot of the comments are unjust as the guy has served the club really well over god knows how many years, but i will say that in no way should any player get picked based purely on either his past exploits or because he's a local lad.

I think he is in the picked week in week out by Roy purely because he is a local lad and because of his exploits and because Roy would be scared of a perceived backlash from the fans.

[dww]

Lots of negativity on here towards Carra at the moment. Is it part of the hysteria of a few fans because we're on dodgy ground at the moment or is there a more general feeling that Carra is past his best and possibly too influential but now in a bad way?

For myself i think he's past it and would like to see a back 4 of Kelly - Greek - Agger - ABPFK

I think it is a combination of things.

He isn't as good as he once was and as a consequence of the type of player he is (reactive, safety first on the ball, only decent in the air, mid-paced but versatile and committed with good positional sense) he doesn't offer many outstanding qualities other than organisation. When a team is playing badly that sort of player gets picked up on and the fact he is in mild decline means that is exacerbated.

His supposed part in the replacement of Rafa with Roy also sits badly with me and I'd guess many others.

I really think that at this stage he should be being eased out as Hyypia was in his last few seasons. He can be valuable but he can't be an automatic pick. He presents real problems when forming the central defensive diamond (I may be making this term up but I mean the DM, 2 CBs and Keeper). In the PL you need height and pace. Reina is a mid height keeper not a Cech like giant, Lucas and the other defenders are average in the air at best. We need pace and to be able to construct from the back (even if that is through Hyypia style raking diagonal balls - it's better than blind hoofs) and that isn't his forte either.

So long as he is willing to play fullback and play less games I still think he is a valuable/vital member of the squad.

On another note I think some of his recent interviews have made his footballing philosophy seem a bit more like Roy's and that doesn't help anyones view of a player at the minute.

[Exiled_red]

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.

[Rich]

Shouldn't be playing right back at all and I genuinely believe he had a part to play in Roy Hodgson now being our manager.

That said, if he just stuck to his football, and in the right set up I think he still has a lot to offer as a centreback.

[Craig_H]

I don't want him to be a regular anymore. Been very poor now for nearly a season and a half.

Really? 'very poor'? Not so sure about that.

As a team, we've been a bit ****, so as part of the collective, he's been below his best.

But there's plenty of fingers i'd be pointing elsewhere, before carra.

[barnes10]

we have to be planning for life after carra. maybe thats skrtel and wilson but its too early to lose him from the first team just yet. i'd start to phase him out from the latter 1/4 of this seasons and look to have him play at most half of next.

for the life of me i dont understand the agger situation.

[Exiled_red]

Really? 'very poor'? Not so sure about that.

As a team, we've been a bit ****, so as part of the collective, he's been below his best.

But there's plenty of fingers i'd be pointing elsewhere, before carra.

[Ben_Itez]

We should be gradually phasing him out, however, under Roy Jamie is first name on the team sheet

The fact he signed his new 'lucrative' contract just hours before our takeover was complete really rankles with me.

With our deep line it has exposed his lack of strength in the air and his appalling distribution. Although it has covered up his lack of pace. He used to be pretty much my favourite player but if even half of what we've heard, regarding his behaviour over the past year or so, is true then he needs to go.

It's all well and good keeping him as a squad player or reserve full back but do we really want to be spending 90,000 a week for, effectively, a reserve?

[-V-]

Thing is he has never really been rested because we haven't had the quality to replace. I felt he looked really tired last season, he's getting older and playing 60+ games a season has taken a toll on him. We need to spend alot of money to improve the squad, our defence certainly needs updated.

That said, he was brilliant against Chelsea. He just can't do it every week

[Shaggy]

Really? 'very poor'? Not so sure about that.

As a team, we've been a bit ****, so as part of the collective, he's been below his best.

But there's plenty of fingers i'd be pointing elsewhere, before carra.

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.

[squaddie]

I do think he needs to start getting dropped certain games, against the big teams he's a no brainer. The problem with that is he definitely wont be too happy about it. Plus who would fill the boots of organizing the back line. I would have said Agger originally but i don't no whether he's vocal enough, plus its out the window anyway as he's never fit and when he is he gets stuck on the bench (for inexplicable reasons!)

[danperkins]

I think alot of the anger/comments towards Carra have come from the supporters of Rafa some of whom preceive that Carra had something to od with him leaving.

I think alot of the comments are unjust as the guy has served the club really well over god knows how many years, but i will say that in no way should any player get picked based purely on either his past exploits or because he's a local lad.

I think he is in the picked week in week out by Roy purely because he is a local lad and because of his exploits and because Roy would be scared of a perceived backlash from the fans.