After a cagey start to life under Kenny Dalglish, the embers of a revival were starting to flare up, but after the showing against West Ham, we were firmly put back in our place, and rightly so. The display was something we all know Liverpool had in them. Too many players going missing and the usual scapegoats being made, well, the usual scapegoats.
Two players that stood out, in terms of absolute worthlessness though, were Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher. This might sound like a strange shout, but it’s all about perspective. I’ve heard many many fans slating David Ngog, sometimes fairly, sometimes unfairly, and I’ve felt the brunt of criticisms of Lucas over and over along with Kyrgiakos. There is a difference between the nagging comments of these three players, who cost £7.5m in total, to the ‘invaluable’ combo of Gerrard and Carragher.
These stalwarts, the so called life-blood and embodiment of all things LFC, have been off the boil for too long now, and in Carragher’s case, never quite had the ability to cut it at the peak. If this is the backbone of Liverpool Football Club, then we are suffering from a broken back. The silence, when it comes to the analysis of the two English players is deafening. I don’t mean to be sensational when I write, just for the sake of it, but I cannot be the only one who feels Liverpool might better off without them (proper investment permitting).
First up, Jamie Carragher. A player who, after reading his autobiography, has a lot of self worth it seems. His ability to read a situation and make a possible saving challenge is unquestionable. He is highly competent at doing so. But, from a footballing standpoint, he is not good enough. His distribution is atrocious. Soft, 30-yard chipped balls up to anybody who is up front is not good enough. The ball inevitably comes back straight away, possession it seems is not an option when Carragher has the ball at his feet.
I can see an immediate future for the centre back, dogged defending is his forté and when he stands alongside Daniel Agger, it can work. But when paired with anybody who can’t use the ball well, i.e. Martin Skrtel, he may as well be standing on one leg. For a professional footballer, I find it shocking. If Jamie Carragher did not carry so much fanfare, then I would be able to accept his deficiencies. It’s all too common for other players to be lambasted, and Carragher to be let off the hook. If you’re wondering where I’m coming from, the next time Liverpool play, just look at how good ol’ JC uses the ball. I only pray Agger is present to hold his hand through it.
Deep down, maybe I have a grudge against him, but one exert in his autobiography forever turned me from being endeared to him. After taking some criticism from a journalist in a local paper, Carragher judged it unfair, and then infers that a phone call was made resulting in nothing critical being written again, if that’s not blinding arrogance I don’t know what is. I can see why successive England managers overlooked the Bootle born defender. His heart is there, his head is there, he has the organizational skills to be a leader, but his ability lets not only him, but the team down.
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Good article!
I have exhausted my ideas on these pages about Carragher and Gerrard, but for the benefit of discussion I will air them again. In my opinion Carra should only be used when we need him and should not be first choice. Carragher plays to deep because of his lack of pace which causes major problems for us, often leaving large gaps between our defence and midfield, and his composure and passing have long since left him. This is compounded even more when Gerrard is playing in front of him in the centre midfield when they both play in the same team together. As I said many time before, Gerrard is tactically inept and his ball retention is very poor. He often goes missing from his position at the wrong times and that leaves us wide open because Carragher is always playing to deep.
I would prefer to play a 4-2-3-1 formation, and with the players we currently have, and I would play them in the following positions barring injuries and suspension.
GK=REINA best goalkeeper in the country
RB=KELLY good prospect, definite future centre half, tactically aware, good pace.
CH=SKRYTL good no nonsense centre half.
CH=AGGER best ball playing defender in the country when fit.
LB=JOHNSON good attacking fullback, done well at left back.
CM=LUCAS most tactically aware player we have, good passer with high completion.
CM=MEIRELES showing good quality, tactically better than Gerrard.
AML=SUAREZ better coming from wide left as he did for Ajax.
AMC=GERRARD better when he doesn’t have to think and just plays, instinctually brilliant.
AMR=MAXI or KUYT both reliable, Maxi better technically and retains ball better.
ST=CARROL can’t wait for him to play, perfect for this role.
The side below is the team I would like to see, and with only two more big signings. It might be difficult to persuade Aquilani, but it’s worth a try. This team would be well balanced and would also be technically and tactically proficient with a lot of intelligence. In the forward positions they would be able to interchange with each other which would be a great attacking threat.
Gk= Reina (Cpt)
RB= Johnson
CH= Kelly, the lad is nearly ready to play centre half
CH= Agger
LB= Fabio Coentrao?????
CM=Lucas
CM= Meireles
AML= Suarez
AMC= Aquilani
AMR= Eden Hazard?????
ST= Carrol
Most importantly there would be no old guard to frown at them so they could play with freedom. I think that’s one more negative of having Gerrard and Carragher in the team. They seem to have the same effect on the team that Henry had on the Arsenal players before he left.
Some bold decisions have to be made at the end of the season. One of them maybe, is it time that we let Gerrard go? I would sell him if we get a good offer. Carragher in turn should also be allowed to leave if he cannot accept the fact he will not be first choice. Joe Cole should also be sold along with a few others to free up some funds for re-investment.