Carragher

[sutty]

If we bring in a centre half or 2 and Carra becomes less of a fixture, what happens to him?

 

He's not got the Hyypia situational benefit (i.e. we're playing yard dogs, lets get Sami in to head the ball away and be generally brilliant).

 

It's going to require some stones from Kenny (assuming it is him) to shape Carragher's role appropriately. His best chance is probably as back up to the full backs and the occasional game at CB at home in lesser games.

 

Would he even accept that?

[Bailo]

He's already said he wouldn't.

 

I hope Kenny does have the stones to make the change.

[Epic Swindle]

Still think he can be vital cover as it's hard to replace that level of experience. If he doesn't accept it he should be told to find another club. Love the lad but there should be no sentiment if the time has come to progress.

Edited April 4, 2011 by Epic Swindle

[muleskinner]

We need competition for places, if he doesn't earn a start and isn't happy he knows what the options are.

 

 

[sutty]

Still think he can be vital cover as it's hard to replace that level of experience. If he doesn't accept it he should be told to find another club. Love the lad but there should be no sentiment if the time has come to progress.

But my problem about the cover thing is the for what question...

[Billy Talbot]

Bit of an elephant in the room isn't it really.

 

He's been a great servant - and our other CBs play better when he's in the team but he's not a long term solution any more.

 

He's always said he doesn't mind who comes in, he always finds a way back into the team. If he sticks with this attitude, he'll be ok.

 

My main worry is that he does tend to take a few games to get into his stride as it were and not playing regularly might impact on his ability to fulfil a useful role.

 

That said - if we've got 4 defenders that are fit and better than Carragher, then I don't think we've got a lot to worry about defensively.

 

And let's not forget he got a nice big contract renewal recently. Wages most other clubs wouldn't match.

[sutty]

We need competition for places, if he doesn't earn a start and isn't happy he knows what the options are.

My question is though if you bring in the boss 2 and sell Agger, is Carra willing to be 4th choice.

 

Skrtel is a better player than Carragher at the moment and it's unlikely to get reversed.

[épieur]

I think, given Agger's injury record, we can deal with it without having to worry much about this. There will be games for Carragher in the centre and he is by no means so poor that this is such a bad thing. What is paramount is that we have a constant in the centre who is better. Having Agger and Carragher duke it out for the second spot with skittles as 4th choice is overall a good situation for centreback. For now at any rate.

 

And if he should not get games because Agger remains fit, then really - who gives a f***? He'll play what he can get and if he wants more games, he can drop to a lower club as many a great player has done before him. And there will be nothing wrong with either scenario.

 

 

 

Skrtel is a better player than Carragher at the moment and it's unlikely to get reversed.

 

The second Carra starts playing it along the floor it gets reversed though.

[sutty]

I think, given Agger's injury record, we can deal with it without having to worry much about this. There will be games for Carragher in the centre and he is by no means so poor that this is such a bad thing. What is paramount is that we have a constant in the centre who is better. Having Agger and Carragher duke it out for the second spot with skittles as 4th choice is overall a good situation for centreback. For now at any rate.

 

And if he should not get games because Agger remains fit, then really - who gives a f***? He'll play what he can get and if he wants more games, he can drop to a lower club as many a great player has done before him. And there will be nothing wrong with either scenario.

My view is that we need 2 centre halves and we sell Agger.

 

So that would be mystery CB1, mystery CB2, Skrtel, Carragher. In that order.

[Epic Swindle]

CB for me. He can play RB but I think we need to move on from that as it stunts any sort of attacking game. He's still capable of big game performances and, if used sparingly, could be a good asset to the squad.

 

I think his stints on Sky also suggests he's already thinking his time is coming to an end anyway.

[sutty]

 

 

 

The second Carra starts playing it along the floor it gets reversed though.

 

*holdsbreath*

*startsstruggling*

*startstodie*

*dies*

*wisheshadn'theldbreath*

[Antynwa]

He's still the best, most consistent defender at the club.

 

Even Kenny said he can go on for a few years yet. I personally feel that if we get someone like Gary Cahill Carra can still have a prominent role at the club and in the first team especially.

 

Of course it's not ideal that at his age he's still crucial to us, but ability and form will dictate wether Carra can play a role, and I feel he can next season.

 

If Kenny gets the job, we won't get a defender to replace Carragher, we'll be getting one to compliment him I feel.

[épieur]

My view is that we need 2 centre halves and we sell Agger.

 

So that would be mystery CB1, mystery CB2, Skrtel, Carragher. In that order.

I am not sure I agree with either premise: That we need two 2 centrebacks (it would be nice like, but a second one is way down the list of priorities right now) or that skretl is, or should be, ahead of carra in the pecking order.

 

 

Assuming both are true then you tell carragher sweet little lies about his chances and how he still has a great chance of forcing himself into contention and come next summer, you re-evaluate based on the season just past.

 

 

[Epic Swindle]

He's still the best, most consistent defender at the club.

 

That's not saying much though. He's certainly the most consistent at wellying it upfield. Great servant but I think his influence needs to phased out sooner rather than later.

Edited April 4, 2011 by Epic Swindle

[sutty]

He's still the best, most consistent defender at the club.

 

Even Kenny said he can go on for a few years yet. I personally feel that if we get someone like Gary Cahill Carra can still have a prominent role at the club and in the first team especially.

 

Of course it's not ideal that at his age he's still crucial to us, but ability and form will dictate wether Carra can play a role, and I feel he can next season.

 

If Kenny gets the job, we won't get a defender to replace Carragher, we'll be getting one to compliment him I feel.

Consistent. Not good. But he maintains that same level of not goodness and the ability to hit 70 yard aimless punts in the region of a big b*****d with a pony tail to about an equal standard.

[Bailo]

We should definitely be selling Agger to anyone who thinks they can keep him fit.

[CarraLegend]

He's still the best, most consistent defender at the club.

 

 

He's not the best, thats Agger clearly. Consistent, hmm, not sure there either.

[Falconhoof]

I'd sell all 3 and get 3 new ones.

[sutty]

I am not sure I agree with either premise: That we need two 2 centrebacks (it would be nice like, but a second one is way down the list of priorities right now) or that skretl is, or should be, ahead of carra in the pecking order.

 

 

Assuming both are true then you tell carragher sweet little lies about his chances and how he still has a great chance of forcing himself into contention and come next summer, you re-evaluate based on the season just past.

 

Depends on what are objectives are

 

If it is to challenge for major trophies then we need 1 f***ing good one and with Agger being as frequently unavailable as he is we need to replace him.

[Antynwa]

That's not saying much. He's certainly the most consistent at wellying it upfield. Great servant but I think his influence needs to phased out sooner rather than later.

 

Considering we have zero quality in midfield we can't really be expecting him to become the play maker.

 

His hoofing is a problem, mainly because we have no wingers, no options. Skrtel does it, Agger does it. Granted not as much, but they still do it.

 

Carra is a leader, he organises the defence well, he reads the game well and can put in a few challenges. Just ask Drogba, Torres etc if they think Carra is past it. The problem with our defence is, it's not consistent, under the better half of Rafa's reign we had a consistent defence. Finnan, Carra, Sami and Riise.

 

Our defence has been decimated by injuries and poor buys. I like the Greek but he's susceptible to rash challenges. Skrtel blows hot and cold, and well Agger...He's just injured all the time.

 

if the club want to spend £30 Million on replacing Carragher now and buying two world class and fit defenders then fair enough, but Cahill alongside Carra has the potential to be a class partnership for us for a few more years yet.

 

All of our problems aren't going to be solved overnight, I agree we need a new Central Defender, but not to replace Carragher. If anything, to replace Agger.

[sutty]

Considering we have zero quality in midfield we can't really be expecting him to become the play maker.

 

His hoofing is a problem, mainly because we have no wingers, no options. Skrtel does it, Agger does it. Granted not as much, but they still do it.

 

Carra is a leader, he organises the defence well, he reads the game well and can put in a few challenges. Just ask Drogba, Torres etc if they think Carra is past it. The problem with our defence is, it's not consistent, under the better half of Rafa's reign we had a consistent defence. Finnan, Carra, Sami and Riise.

 

Our defence has been decimated by injuries and poor buys. I like the Greek but he's susceptible to rash challenges. Skrtel blows hot and cold, and well Agger...He's just injured all the time.

 

if the club want to spend £30 Million on replacing Carragher now and buying two world class and fit defenders then fair enough, but Cahill alongside Carra has the potential to be a class partnership for us for a few more years yet.

 

All of our problems aren't going to be solved overnight, I agree we need a new Central Defender, but not to replace Carragher. If anything, to replace Agger.

 

 

Need to replace both. But given Agger hardly plays anyway, it's to replace one of Carragher or Skrtel. And if it were one or the other the choice is pretty straightforward as things stand.

[Epic Swindle]

Considering we have zero quality in midfield we can't really be expecting him to become the play maker.

 

His hoofing is a problem, mainly because we have no wingers, no options. Skrtel does it, Agger does it. Granted not as much, but they still do it.

 

Carra is a leader, he organises the defence well, he reads the game well and can put in a few challenges. Just ask Drogba, Torres etc if they think Carra is past it. The problem with our defence is, it's not consistent, under the better half of Rafa's reign we had a consistent defence. Finnan, Carra, Sami and Riise.

 

Our defence has been decimated by injuries and poor buys. I like the Greek but he's susceptible to rash challenges. Skrtel blows hot and cold, and well Agger...He's just injured all the time.

 

if the club want to spend £30 Million on replacing Carragher now and buying two world class and fit defenders then fair enough, but Cahill alongside Carra has the potential to be a class partnership for us for a few more years yet.

 

All of our problems aren't going to be solved overnight, I agree we need a new Central Defender, but not to replace Carragher. If anything, to replace Agger.

 

He'd be hoofing it with Messi in the team, he always has but he made up for it by being a great defender but those days are gone. It's hard to let go of the long time servants but it needs to be done, or at least demoting him to a squad role. If he doesn't accept that at his age and current form then he should be told to find another club.

[épieur]

Considering we have zero quality in midfield we can't really be expecting him to become the play maker.

 

His hoofing is a problem, mainly because we have no wingers, no options. Skrtel does it, Agger does it. Granted not as much, but they still do it.

Agger doesn't hoof it. He actually picks out players with long passers, like a proper footballer. Carragher just lumps it in the general direction of the big man, puts plenty of air under it and the result is a slow lofted ball that gives defenders all the time in the world to compensate. But more importantly, Agger is comfortable on the floor, comfortable in possession. You can just see how nervous Carragher gets when he has to play. He has no ideas, not even simple ones like playing it to the midfielders, other than passing it toa defender (if in space) or hoofing it long. Skretl is a bit of a middle ground between the two.

 

 

No amount of wingers is going to improve on that. It's not as if carra is suddenly going to pick out people on the wing with his aimless punts.

 

 

[CarraLegend]

I'd sell all 3 and get 3 new ones.

 

I wouldnt be unhappy with that. Agger is awesome but its getting pointless, the defence is constantly disrupted and not to mention he's even going off in games, thats 3 times this season we've had to re-jig in a game.

 

I'd keep Skrtel, he's decent, certainly dont think he's inferior to Smalling and he's better than what Arsenal have starting let alone 3rd choice. But wouldnt be upset if he's replaced.

 

Carragher's ball work is hideous and I dont think he's good enough defensively to make up for it now. He's not horrendous but I think he'd become a problem when he's dropped so send him to Villa.

[Antynwa]

I don't see why you don't need both. Carragher has hoofed it yes, but only because we haven't had anyone alongside him that has been able to play the ball.

 

The standard of the team has decreased over the past few years, we all know that.That is why him and Sami did so well. Sami was the ball playing defender, Carra did the dirty work that Hyypia was un-able to. Agger when fit, can be the ball playing defender, he has been able to do it, just not often because of his poor fitness.

 

With the right quality infront of him, he doesn't hoof the ball half as much. People pointed out that under Hodgson Reina didn't do as many kicks upfront, people made excuses for Torres and the quality around him. Surely the same stands to reason under Carra?

 

As I said if there is enough money in the kitty to buy two brand new centre backs then fair enough. But I can think of at least areas we need to sort out before we even come to the 'Carragher Issue'

Edited April 4, 2011 by Antynwa