Jamie Carragher

[Frenchie]

you wont be dissapointed Shags...Ive seen about 10 of his club games and all of his Uruguay games, the Leones fitness coach is a Uruguayan living in Mexico and raves about the National team and Nacional

[The Birdman]

Seperate question, if Carra wasnt a scouser would there be this big of a debate about his place in the team and leaving him out??

Hyppia, Henchoz for example were both moved out of the team with a lot, lot less fuss (potential fuss, Carra isnt gone just yet) when it became obvious that either the system or their form or age meant we had better options.

IMO Kenny is the only manager who has the respect, record and balls to leave him out.

[Arn]

Seperate question, if Carra wasnt a scouser would there be this big of a debate about his place in the team and leaving him out??

Hyppia, Henchoz for example were both moved out of the team with a lot, lot less fuss (potential fuss, Carra isnt gone just yet) when it became obvious that either the system or their form or age meant we had better options.

IMO Kenny is the only manager who has the respect, record and balls to leave him out.

We will have to wait and see if Kenny got the balls to bench him week after week this season. I think it will be Agger out and Coates in and not Carra out and Coates in.

I think the Carra article a few days ago when he pointed out that he isn't afraid about competition in real words means that he is very very afraid that he will soon be benched.

The positive thing is that he will have to much respect for Kenny as you point out that he won't act like an idiot in the same way he did against Rafa when he refused to play. He won't have a chance to win a fight against Kenny.

[Craig_H]

Arn, i often feel that you dont tell us enough what you think of Carra.

[Chris]

Seperate question, if Carra wasnt a scouser would there be this big of a debate about his place in the team and leaving him out??

Hyppia, Henchoz for example were both moved out of the team with a lot, lot less fuss (potential fuss, Carra isnt gone just yet) when it became obvious that either the system or their form or age meant we had better options.

IMO Kenny is the only manager who has the respect, record and balls to leave him out.

Well Carra isnt keeping a Daniel Agger out of the team. Coates may be but we'll find out over time.

[Chris]

We will have to wait and see if Kenny got the balls to bench him week after week this season. I think it will be Agger out and Coates in and not Carra out and Coates in.

We dont have to wait and see if Kenny has got balls, anyone who think he hasnt knows absolutely **** all about this club or the history of it.

The positive thing is that he will have to much respect for Kenny as you point out that he won't act like an idiot in the same way he did against Rafa when he refused to play. He won't have a chance to win a fight against Kenny.

Yep, well Kenny is a better manager than Rafa so thats a given really.

[Rich]

He hasn't had a great start but it's too early to ditch him IMO.

[RichC]

tough one really, if we had a fully fit Johnson or Kelly I could imagine him being dropped for Skrtel at the moment but not sure Coates will be drafted in quite yet in Carra's position.

I guess it all depends on what Kenny see's in training, if there are better options in better form then Carra will be taken out if not he'll stay in the side, I think Xmas time onwards though we might see Coates really pushing to be a starter, maybe not quite yet though

[barnes10]

the two goals in the last 2 games do set alarm bells ringing. it was last season too he just looks like his legs have gone to me.

just because he's a legend, it doesnt mean we should risk losing even 1 point just so we can play him.

being realistic, coates is his replacement and will take at least this season to bed in. but at least he's here

[Red_Polo]

Who our first choice pairing will be come the end of the season is anyone's guess and that's not meant in a particularly good way. I expect to see Coates brought in gradually. I can see Carra getting dropped for a forthcoming game and it reinvigorating him for a while. I can see Agger getting injured, Skrtel having a dip in form. Central defence is undoubtedly the area of the pitch we have least stability in.

[TheElephantMan]

I don't doubt that Carragher is past his peak, but he's still by far the best person to organise the defence. Until we have another defender who can command the back line like Carragher does then he should play. It's not just about his individual performance, it's about what he brings to the team. He is a leader on the pitch - other defenders may have other attributes, but we need someone to organise the defence.

[RichC]

I don't doubt that Carragher is past his peak, but he's still by far the best person to organise the defence. Until we have another defender who can command the back line like Carragher does then he should play. It's not just about his individual performance, it's about what he brings to the team. He is a leader on the pitch - other defenders may have other attributes, but we need someone to organise the defence.

thing is individual mistakes are costly, he's made 2 in 2 games granted the Bolton one didn't cost us anything other than letting in a silly late goal.

I find keeping a player in because "he's a good organiser" a weak reason to keep someone in the side, you'd hope in training players would be able to organise themselves as part of a unit through training and consistenly working together.

If we have better options at the back in terms of defending he should be replaced for that individual, the thing is do we currently have someone to come in and do a better job ? I like to think we have but not 100% sure if we do.

[Lee]

Thing is we can't keep Carragher in the team just because he's a good organiser. And is he really that good in doing so?

Great servant but he's been on a sharp decline for the last two or three seasons now.

[TheElephantMan]

is he really that good in doing so?

Yes.

[Lee]

Yes.

I disagree mate.

For me he's not doing anything that Agger can't do. He constantly bollocks players, he would rather hoof the ball than pass to Lucas and he's costing us goals.

I'm really not having a go at him but I think he needs to be replaced.