Before I start this article I would like to make it clear that i have the upmost respect for Jamie Carragher for what he has done for the club and what he represents. However, I’m starting to have the opinion that his time as one of the 1st names on the team sheet is coming to an end. For years now Jamie has been one of the 1st names you would have in your starting 11 when picking the team, but over the last 18 months or so I have noticed that he’s started to lose a yard of pace and if there is one league in the world that you don’t want to lose pace it’s the Premiership.
Now don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying that Carragher is done for and is no longer worthy of playing for us, that would be completely wrong because I do still believe he’s good enough to play at the top level and still good enough to play at Liverpool Football Club. I just feel that he should now become a squad player rather than a definite 1st team starter every week.
I know that the team in general hasn’t been playing great lately but i’ve also noticed that Carragher hasn’t been the same solid player that he used to be either, I’ve noticed little mistakes coming into his game, he’s been getting beaten in the air and done for pace a few times. Any defender can be beaten in the air and beaten by pace, but with Carragher because he was so solid it’s something you never associated with him. And now that this is happening it has made me ask the question of whether his advancing years are starting to catch up on him a bit like they did with Hyypia. And like Hyypia, Carragher has the presence and mind still to be a great influence around the club, but should now only really be called upon when needed.
As a centre back in the Premiership, you are under constant threat from pacey attackers. Now I know Jamie has never been the quickest of defenders but he had the mind and enough pace do deal with speed. However, after year upon year of dealing with the fastest league and fastest attackers in the world, something is going to have to give and I actually do believe now at the age of 32 Carragher’s speed has started to go and I don’t just mean straight line speed I’m also talking about his turn of speed and his speed to beat an attacker in the air. And like I said, even though Carragher has never been the quickest, he did have enough to make him a top class defender, but once you start to lose a yard for someone who has just enough like Carragher, it can be fatal, and once an attacker smells fear in your pace then you become isolated and vulnerable, just ask Nemanja Vidic? I’m sure he still has nightmares about Torres.
The problem we have is, that Hodgson doesn’t seem to have the guts to drop him. Now I understand that we have a shortage of CB’s at the moment, but for me Kyrgiakos has been our best defender this season and his partnership with Skrtel has been our best CB pairing , but yet when Kyrgiakos missed one game, he was back on the bench behind Carragher. Another thing I don’t get is Carragher at right back. All season the two people that have been playing RB have been Glen Johnson and Martin Kelly, but yet as soon as Johnson gets injured, instead of Hodgson playing Kelly (his natural replacement) he plays Carragher, and the thing is, I don’t actually believe Carragher is playing at right back because Hodgson doesn’t believe in Kelly, I think Carragher is being played there to accommodate him being in the team.
Now I don’t blame Carragher for any of this, as I’m sure Carragher has plenty of belief in his own ability to do a job where needed. It’s down to the manager to drop him when he is not playing well and it’s down to the manager to tell him he is a squad player rather than a regular 1st team starter. And that’s not to say Carragher can never be a 1st team starter, if he plays well then he deserves his starting role like anyone else, but equally when he plays poorly he deserves to be dropped like anyone else.
I have no doubt that being vice captain and a local lad Carragher is a big voice in the dressing room and I’m sure he’s a great character around especially for the youngsters coming through, but does that mean he warrants a place in the starting line up even when playing poorly?
No matter what happens over the next 3 years of his contract, Carragher been a great servant to this club and will go down as a legend I believe. And maybe in the future he’ll one day manage the club, but surely now it’s time too look to the future?
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Tbh you are being overly polite about this. Ofc Jamie has been a loyal servant and I’m sure his words weigh heavy in the locker room and so forth. But seriously, he should not be anywhere near the starting eleven, and playing him as a right back is just beyond retarded.
Carra is a true legend in every sense but I honestly think this is his last season in the starting line up. Time for Agger and Skytel to step up. For me Wilson, possibly Carra on the bench but Jamie should be given a very hands on job in training. Working closely with Sammy and creating a new bootroom at Anfield. Change from the ground up is what we need!
No doubt Carra’s a legend and I really appreciate the work he’s done for the club for the last 15 years but there comes a time when he has to step down. I believe this should be his last season in the starting line up and I’m being quite generous here. Of course, he gives 120% every match and is one of the hardest, if not the hardest working player in the team. I agree with this article and even more so with the fact that Roy hasn’t got the guts to drop him. Carra’s losing more and more headers and strikers are taking advantage of his slow pace and sometimes we are forced to play quite deep because of his pace we can’t play an offside trap. You just have to look at what Manutd are doing with Neville, Scholes and Giggs. They are legends but they don’t play every game and only play when their experience is needed. Sami Hyypia is also a good example and I’m sure Carra can play till he’s 35 like Hyypia. It’s about time for Carra to step down and for Skrtel and Agger to really step up to the plate. No doubt Soto’s been magnificent this year but for the future we must be looking at Skrtel, Agger, Wilson and Ayala. You’ve been a fantastic servant to the club Carra but perhaps it’s time for you to step down, thank you very much and you will always be remembered for the work you’ve done for Liverpool Football Club. YNWA
I can see Ayala leaving the club in the summer
I hope not but with Hodgson as manager, players like him and Pacheco will probably leave…
For many years Carragher was very under rated but was one of the best defenders in the world and should have played a lot more for England but I would agree with this any defender who goes past 32 while is going to get done for pace a lot and I agree that Carragher can still do a job for us but I would actually like to see a pairing of Skrtel-Agger as we have not really had a chance to see this and if they start playing together regularly within a year or so i’m sure they could form a great partnership and both are relativley young so could be a long term solution and while I agree Krygiakos has been very solid this year he is also lacking in pace and about to turn 30, he should be playing in games against teams like Bolton,Blackburn and Stoke as he is dominant in the air, I would like to see an English centre half come into the club maybe Phil Jones or Gary Cahill
Agreed, time for Carra to tale a lesser role.
Like everyone else, I agree. Jamie has been one of the finest defenders in recent Reds history, however he should move aside before he tarnishes his reputation. When he is playing as right back now, he is too slow, and when centre back he is a penalty waiting to happen. Ayala or Wilson should be given the chance, though Soto is on form at the minute and with Agger getting closer to fitnes, the managers choice should be a difficult one, though knowing Hodgson, he will pick Skirt and Carra as he is devoid of imagination and doesn’t know his own team.
Carra is a legend, and will remain one, and represents a significant coaching talent for the future, though maybe he should hang up his boots, or at least leave them for occasions when our injury list is of greater concern.
I think Jamie shouting at his team mates and pointing and pushing is just too much….considering he is often at fault for he longer has the ability to put his body on the line as he used to…
agree yes but not sure skrtel is the man to step up.. Agger yes definitely (when he can stay fit) and kyrgiakos is good for games when you need strength, but sometimes his lack of pace is evident. but skrtel just doesn’t seem good enough to me, dodgy passing, not good under pressure. think kelly would actually be a good partner for agger, but as yet he’s unproven in the league in that position, plus we need him as a right back because johnson can’t defend.
I agree one hundred per cent – a squad player, yes; an automatic first team choice, no. Time to give younger in-form players a fair go, not just the odd game or two, but a decent run; players like Wilson and Kelly, and of course, Agger. Also playing Carra out of position is a recipe for disaster. But Hodgson being who he is, a gutless dinosaur, I won’t be holding my breath for this to happen anytime soon.
I agree with Paul, use more as a 2nd coach on the training ground whilst playing him in Europe & domestic cup games. A fantastic career thus far & we need to keep him involved not like what we did witg Hypia at the end…..
definitely agree that when another good CB comes in, Carra should step down. His usual pace and his hoof the ball up approach has been useful but not in today’s game where you are needed to pace up as a s second winger to support attack. He is more of a defneder who breaks donw opposition attacks
Skrtel and Kyrgiakos are not better than Carra, Agger is but he can’t keep himself fit, and all the young guys would do better with a Carra at their side to bring them on.
Until 2 of the young ones are brought through or we buy 2 better CB’s than Carra, Carra’s is the first defenders name to be put on the sheet.
don’t know how many times i’ve said this over the past 18 months only to be slated by the ‘real’ liverpool fans!
needless to say, i agree with the majority of this.
personally i’d like to see young wilson get a run in the side but i would also like to see us buy the likes of cahill or shawcross