We All Dream of A Team of Carraghers

[rezaeos]

First off as Nicey said Carra is god. He is the only one who never entertained leaving us even in the darkest hour. Rafa must have had a reason for what he said but it's water under the bridge now.

What has Roberto Carlos got to do with it?

He was an attacking F.B. who could score and didn't mind getting stuck in. Maybe Rafa sees some potential there for mascha?!

Both South American?

.

No I don't think so. Besides Brazil and Argentina don't like each other, when it comes to football.

Masch does have the engine and tackling ability thats for sure.
Ive always thought Kuyt would make a good right back.

So why did Rafa say he had no other choices at right back?

Where's Dunk when you need him. We can sure use all of his INSHISTER knowledge now.

First time we've had South American full backs.

Some South American flavour for our celebration when we win the C.L. at the end on the season.

still dont see a connection to Roberto Carlos...other than they are both short arses.

Short Assses. Can tackle. South American. Very comfortable going forward. Can play mean and nasty if needed. I am not sure where I read this but didn't Carlos start in midfield?

[Shaggy]

Well regarding Carra it looks like we're well behind. Various other forums had sources reporting Carra's refusal to play right-back yesterday morning.

And there's this:

Keane going, Kuyt on his own, these felt like miscalculations and four years and nine months since his appointment, Benitez must examine his squad and still find it unbalanced. Martin Skrtel, a centre-half playing right-back against an in-form Stewart Downing, personified this. Benitez can be opaque in his replies but he suggested Carragher had declined to play on the right. "Carragher told me he had heavy legs and so, as a centre-back, he could run less," Benitez said. "At right-back normally you run more, so he played at centre-half. That was the idea."

It was a compromised idea – and there was no handshake between Carragher and Benitez when Carragher was taken off – though in the first 16 minutes when Boro goalkeeper Brad Jones made three smart stops and the returning Steven Gerrard was free and creative, Liverpool appeared sound. But as opportunities withered, Downing's influence grew. It was the England winger's fast corner that cannoned off the unfortunate Xabi Alonso – after Skrtel appeared to duck out of a header.

http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/europe-our-best-bet-says-benitez-1635174.html

[Shaggy]

Rafa Benitez became embroiled in a bizarre exchange with BBC football reporter Ian Dennis after refusing to reveal why he selected Javier Mascherano at right-back for the game with Sunderland on Tuesday.


Questioned over his team selection following the 2-0 win, Benitez was at his most elusive when interviewed by Dennis. While the interview has been cut from the BBC website, Radio Five Live has provided a full airing of the lengthy game of question and avoidance.


Benitez: "Mascherano had to play there so we needed to do it in this way."


Dennis: "Jamie [Carragher] has played there before so why didn't you use him?"


Benitez: "Mascherano had to play there."


Dennis: "But why?"


Benitez: "Because Mascherano had to play there."


Dennis: "Was it a tactical decision?"


Benitez: "No. He had to play there."


Dennis: "Ok. Any news on your contract?"


Benitez: "No news. We have to enjoy our victory tonight."


Dennis: "You're not helping me much, Rafa! Come on! No clues?"


Benitez: "As I said, the best thing to do is enjoy the victory. I think everyone will be happy tonight."


Dennis: "Enjoy your evening."


Benitez's reluctance to discuss his selection at right-back was mirrored before the game. The Liverpool website still carries the following exchange made between the Spaniard and an unidentified radio hack in the wake of Saturday's 2-0 defeat at the Riverside:


Journalist: "Your injury problems meant you had to put Martin Skrtel at right-back against Middlesbrough. Could you explain why you didn't use Jamie Carragher in that position, and did you feel Martin struggled?"


Benitez: "We had to do it for this game, so we did it."


Journalist: "Do you think he maybe had a tough time in that position? Was it a bit unnatural for him?"


Benitez: "I was really pleased with him because he wanted to play in this position. It was good for the team."

[dww]

So does anyone expect some more to come of this Carra/right-back farce? If you ask me – assuming this is true of course and there’s no reason to believe it isn’t (Martin Tyler is relatively close to a lot of players and gets good info) – Carragher should be fined.

If he was so ****ing ‘heavy-legged’ he shouldn’t have played at all. He’s either fit to play or he isn’t. Granted playing full-back requires a lot more running, galloping up and down the line, but still. Sounds like a cop-out to me anyway. Heavy-legged my arse. He just didn’t fancy it. Anyway Rafa decides who’s ‘heavy-legged’ as he has all the fitness stats at his disposal.

Carra may not be the best attacking full-back around but he knows how to play there. He knows how to stay in line and to keep the shape. Poor old Skittles was all at sea and who can blame him having never played there before.

Yeah, thanks ‘Jamie la’.

Don’t get me wrong I love Carra but I was fuming when I heard this last night. Hope there’s a proper explanation but Rafa didn’t seem too happy when stressing “he had to play Mascherano there”.

I'd be inclined to give Carra the benefit of the doubt. Either way though I think it is fair enough to not want to play fullback if he felt less than fully fit. It is a more athletic position and I seem to remember Rafa talking the other week about the fact he didn't rotate Carra as 'centre backs don't run as much as midfielders' or something to that effect. Surely that logic holds in this situation to a lesser extent too.

If he outright refused then that is less than great but if he advised Rafa that he felt too 'heavy legged' but left the decision to Rafa I don't see any problem at all.

[Shaggy]

Good work mods.

Nice title too.

[Jennings]

Good thread.

Certainly looks a bit fishy. One would expect a strong manager to drop someone for a flat refusal to play in the requested position. So perhaps it is not as cut & dried as that.

[Marky]

What did Tyler say about it last night?

[G]

I read it on TLW on Sat after the game that he refused/declined to play there.Thought it was just hysterical bollix in the aftermath of a defeat.Interesting that there appears to have been some truth to it.After all he didn't look to happy when he was subbed and how often does Carra get subbed anyway,very rarely.

After reading his book he has a good relationship with Rafa but he's like he is on the pitch,100% honest so it wouldn't surprise me if he told Rafa he couldn't play there.What I was shocked and extremely pissed off at was Skrtel ducking under the ball from the corner for the first goal.I'd have hauled him off there and then for that,it was an easy ball to clear

[TheElephantMan]

Can I just add that Carragher was ****ing immense as usual last night? Gerrard might be the official club captain, but Carra is much more of a leader on the pitch. Kenwyn Jones is twice the size of JC, but Carragher never shirked a challenge once against him - totally overpowered him. He's got more guts than anyone else in the team, and if it's true that he felt unable to play at right back then I don't see what the problem is - there are younger, more athletic players at the club who are better suited to that role.

[Elvoz]

jamie jamie jamie

smoke fire etc

very disappointed to hear/read this

[Carras_Shin_Pads]

Just have to wait and see what he says, he's not the sort of person to throw his toys out the pram, i'm sure there was a more then good enough reason.

[redlancer]

don't see the problem
Rafa has often stated and looks to play players on their physical state for roles.
que the comments on Steive and Torres will make final desicion if they are fit.

downing is in inform and Carra rightly should say if he can do a role or not. how that's discussed is another thing.
Easily Carra could think he's better backing up skirtle than the other way round and he'll know how he feels post match re fitness or if he could last the full 90 at RB and play there for the next few games.

Carra not fit to play RB or CB at 100% in a few matches would be worse than trying some else at RB IMO.

[Kenneth]

don't see the problem
Rafa has often stated and looks to play players on their physical state for roles.
que the comments on Steive and Torres will make final desicion if they are fit.

downing is in inform and Carra rightly should say if he can do a role or not. how that's discussed is another thing.
Easily Carra could think he's better backing up skirtle than the other way round and he'll know how he feels post match re fitness or if he could last the full 90 at RB and play there for the next few games.

Carra not fit to play RB or CB at 100% in a few matches would be worse than trying some else at RB IMO.

If he couldn't hack 90 mins, he should have played 45 mins and he could have been subbed when necessary.

[Kev_81]

The thing is, at Boro Carra could see Skrtel was having a nightmare, Benitez must have seen it too, they could've swapped. Carra is what? 31, retired from England and we've recently had a break for the cup exit. Just think he was being a tit, as he is the only of the three, Masch him and Skrtel who has played there before. Masch was great tho

[BobTheCharmer]

Well I hope its true and Carra told Rafa on yer ****ing bike.

Wasn't Darby on the bench against Boro? If so why not play him?

When does Rio or Terry get asked to play right back?

As the established player, Carra should be priorty at centre back and dodgy old bruiser Mr Given-the-runaround-by-the-mighty-nonleaguers-on-his-debut should be the one to either play right back or be left out altogether. But I feel the guy is another favourite like Kuyt. Agger will be off soon.

I'd like it if Carra and Gerrard had the bollocks to question some of Rafa's woeful decisions, since it appears Rafa has surrounded himself with 'yes' men.

I'd take Carra over Rafa every single time.