Jamie Carragher

[Exiled_red]

I agree he is past his best. But even his 'sub-best' is currently the best partner for Agger.

It depends on what circumstances you would want him left out. With the squad we have, i dont see the scenario that says he should be dropped.

If we sign a quality aggressive CB, then yeah, for sure he becomes a squad player and not an automatic 1st teamer.

I agree with all that

[RedReet]

I thought he'd become a bit of a liability, but I've realised that we're much weaker without him in the side. The sooner he returns the better.

My sentiments exactly. I was looking forward to the defensive experiment without Carragher, but sadly it has failed miserably.

What Craig’s post also doesn’t highlight is that we’ve had a long run of easy games on paper since Carragher got injured and we’ve still done worse. A new CB is needed urgently or Kenny should throw Ayala / Wilson / Kelly in at the deep end.

[Tee]

Right now we need Carra but it is inevitable that he will need to be phased out due to 1) his age and 2) hopefully our progression in playing style.

[Exiled_red]

My sentiments exactly. I was looking forward to the defensive experiment without Carragher, but sadly it has failed miserably.

What Craig’s post also doesn’t highlight is that we’ve had a long run of easy games on paper since Carragher got injured and we’ve still done worse. A new CB is needed urgently or Kenny should throw Ayala / Wilson / Kelly in at the deep end.

We need a leader of the defence, at the moment Carragher is the only one we have, Skrtel and Kyriakos aren't good enough, Agger I'm unsure about he seems to have a more calming influence on the defence than either of the other two, the problem is he doesn't seem to get a run of enough games to find out.

The last few games has caused me to think that a commanding centre back has to be high on the list of priorities

[RedReet]

We need a leader of the defence, at the moment Carragher is the only one we have, Skrtel and Kyriakos aren't good enough, Agger I'm unsure about he seems to have a more calming influence on the defence than either of the other two, the problem is he doesn't seem to get a run of enough games to find out.

The last few games has caused me to think that a commanding centre back has to be high on the list of priorities

Aye, a few months ago when Kyrgiakos was regularly picking up MOTM awards I’d have said that a new CB is the least of our worries, but we need to get someone in ASAP who we can rely on week in week out, settle on a regular back four and start picking up clean sheets again. I’d say even Pepe needs to even step it up a gear or two as bar the 30 second flurry of saves against United I can’t remember him doing too much of late. (I’m probably being overly harsh on him as I’ve had him in my FF team for ages and am getting no points.)


There was also one set-piece in the second half yesterday when everyone took up their positions. One of the bigger Everton players was left free at the back though and our players were looking at eachother as if to say ‘what the **** do we do here?’. A player was then pulled from the centre which highlighted the fact that Lucas was left in the middle marking the much bigger Anichebe who inevitably had a free header which he put wide. It was just a bit of a shambles really as TBH I wasn’t surprised when we conceded the first goal and even less surprised that Skrtel was culpable.

[Subby]

the "problem" with Carra isn't really his ability, may be on the wane but not too much thus far, it's more to do with the clout he carries in the dressing room. Shop steward scenario?

[Exiled_red]

Aye, a few months ago when Kyrgiakos was regularly picking up MOTM awards I’d have said that a new CB is the least of our worries, but we need to get someone in ASAP who we can rely on week in week out, settle on a regular back four and start picking up clean sheets again. I’d say even Pepe needs to even step it up a gear or two as bar the 30 second flurry of saves against United I can’t remember him doing too much of late. (I’m probably being overly harsh on him as I’ve had him in my FF team for ages and am getting no points.)


There was also one set-piece in the second half yesterday when everyone took up their positions. One of the bigger Everton players was left free at the back though and our players were looking at eachother as if to say ‘what the **** do we do here?’. A player was then pulled from the centre which highlighted the fact that Lucas was left in the middle marking the much bigger Anichebe who inevitably had a free header which he put wide. It was just a bit of a shambles really as TBH I wasn’t surprised when we conceded the first goal and even less surprised that Skrtel was culpable.

Kyriakos is just so cavalier in his approach he's either going to have a great game and be immence, or he's going to make a really bad mistake. He was only really a stop gap and as a 4th choice defender would be fine in normal circumstances, it's just worrying we have to use him so much, because of injuries.

I can recall Pepe making a couple of mistakes this season (opening day) and another but I can't recall the game, but other than that he's been fine. I think the problem is the defence in front of him, I know it's a cliche but a keeper is only as good as his back 4 and our back four is all over the place, so that doesn't inspire confidence.

[Redspin]

And why did we do that? The answer is that we played a very defensive game. A game that suited him perfectly.

If you want us to change and play a more attacking game then you also need central defenders that will be able to pass the ball out of a tight and pressured situation. Carra is very good DEFENSIVE central defender but a very average attacking central defender.

You appear not to have read the rules. Please refrain from posting logical arguments and common sense in this thread

[RedReet]

Kyriakos is just so cavalier in his approach he's either going to have a great game and be immence, or he's going to make a really bad mistake. He was only really a stop gap and as a 4th choice defender would be fine in normal circumstances, it's just worrying we have to use him so much, because of injuries.

I can recall Pepe making a couple of mistakes this season (opening day) and another but I can't recall the game, but other than that he's been fine. I think the problem is the defence in front of him, I know it's a cliche but a keeper is only as good as his back 4 and our back four is all over the place, so that doesn't inspire confidence.

I’m not saying that Pepe has been playing badly, he’s been left horribly exposed by the defence in front of him. Last year we didn’t defend great either, but Pepe was still able to pull us out of a few holes and was regularly nominated for MOTM.

I suppose though all that ‘English style’ training has probably had an effect.

[Arn]

You appear not to have read the rules. Please refrain from posting logical arguments and common sense in this thread

Sorry

[Craig_H]

I love it when two lunatics agree with each other. I dont know which of the pair should cringe more.

[Arn]

I love it when two lunatics agree with each other. I dont know which of the pair should cringe more.

Whatever

[The Birdman]

I thought someone previously posted stats to prove we won more games when Gerrard didn't play???

[Fivex]

Didn't we also have an unbeaten streak for the first 20 odd games that Ngog appeared in?

[Helios Creed]

We need a leader of the defence, at the moment Carragher is the only one we have, Skrtel and Kyriakos aren't good enough, Agger I'm unsure about he seems to have a more calming influence on the defence than either of the other two, the problem is he doesn't seem to get a run of enough games to find out.

The last few games has caused me to think that a commanding centre back has to be high on the list of priorities

/\

that