FROM being an untouchable first choice player to don the red shirt on a matchday for over a decade, to being left on the fringes of the action as the inarguable first-choice partnership of Skrtel and Agger usurped him as the solid defensive barrier at the club, it has been a difficult year for Liverpool stalwart Jamie Carragher.
When interviewed after our Carling Cup triumph Sky’s Andy Burton insinuated that the game was his swansong referring to the Reds defender enjoying the moment. This sparked the reaction of flipping the question on the bewildered interviewer asking him if he is the manager and telling him he is lucky to have a job after what happened last season at Wolves, referring to “Sian Masseygate” where he supposedly set up Andy Gray into launching a sexist tirade.
It is obvious to everyone that Carra has reached the peak of his powers, now that the ravages of age and 15 years at the top level which has slowed his recovery and reaction speed in his creaking body he has been reduced to being a back-up utility stopper. This is something every player suffers as his career hits a downward gradient but few wish to admit it. I believe that the last time we have seen a vintage Carragher was during our 1-0 victory over Chelsea at their place last year, the man was imperious that day, keeping Drogba and Torres as quiet as a doormouse! His passing, long and short was impeccable, his marking was touch-tight and his reading of the game showed something which only the best cerebral players have and never lose. Unfortunately these qualities have been seen more rarely of late, not because he has been used sparingly but the fact that the aura which he has carried of being a defensive rock with a ‘thou shall not pass’ attitude has been increasingly porous of late.
In live4liverpool’s Chris Tobin’s engaging article, he spoke about “The Liverpool Way“ of which patience and loyalty are by-words. In certain times these can be a double edged sword. Yes Carragher’s optimum performances over the years has earned our patience and loyalty as has his leadership qualities and his ability to become a mainstay under various managers with different philosophies, but as a club we need to be constantly moving forward and striving for more from our players. If the Bootle man was a prima donna and went crying to the press about not getting game time he would be out the door, but that’s not his style. His behaviour and professionalism has been a credit to himself and indicative of his respect for the club and Dalglish.
I do believe Carragher has more to give to the club, although I can’t see him ever regaining his first team place on merit and with Comolli constantly on the lookout for young talent, I fear his playing days at the club are numbered. As a man who has an encyclopaedic knowledge of the game, leadership qualities and the coaching badges to form a second career in the game I would rather see us keep him as a coach and emergency back-up defender then see his experience and expertise being used a rival club. No player wishes to admit his time has come and those that do finish playing miss the buzz of the dressing room, the adrenaline of a matchday and the pleasure of playing football every day for a living. Nobody likes seeing their hero’s in decline, we would all rather see them at the peak of their powers, when boxing fans think of Muhammed Ali they may think of his rope-a dope against Foreman, with Carra I’d like to remember him giving up every ounce of sweat and stretching every sinew to block AC Milan’s path to goal at Istanbul, not toiling away searching in vain for his former self. Will he bow out, or will Kenny afford him more time?
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Think you should be having a similar article with relation to Pepe Reina, who is costing us at least a goal a game at present.
He is glued to his line, doesn’t come for crosses four yards out and he continually gets beaten at his near post.
He has not been the same player since he ‘Threatened ‘ to leave a couple of season’s ago.
It’s about time Doni got a chance – if nothing else to put some pressure on Reina which might improve his focus.
Yes, he does’nt seem that he’s all that bothered, or he’s lost his bottle. Deserves to be dropped, might shake him up a bit., Playing the way he is, no other club will want him.
Finally I can join in on discussing pepe. I too have observed that he stays still with arms and legs not very wide open and he tends NOT to go forward to reduce the angles…. So far he has failed to stop many goals from going in..except or the obvious ones which went at him… Hmmm, something’s amiss with pepe reina recently.
this article is excellent and it’s something i have been saying time without number,i always said that kenny should always introduce in later part of the game if it matters,and the most difficult problem at lfc back is pepe reina and i wonder kenny dalglish can’t see it,for some time now reina can’t save any ball that comes his (reina)way and am worried why kenny can not give keeper DONI a chance to show if he (doni)can do the job for us (lfc).
Agreed. Pepe Reina not interested anymore to play for Liverpool. We shd now play Doni for all league games so we can test him for the first choice. Pepe will leave Liverpool at the end of the season anyway.
Good chance.
Yes, carragher, has lost the extra half yard, and it sticks out like a sore thumb. Got to bleed Coates now, prepare him for next season. Also Doni and perhaps give some yougsters a taste of first team football. Young sterling did’nt seem out of place when he came on. Might save us some money,because it’s going to cost a bomb to get back challenging.
Liverpool won’t get 4th place and have already qualified for next season’s Europa League so Liverpool should concentrate on winning the FA Cup and for the remaining league games Kenny should play the young players. Coates should play alongside Skrtel at the back and perhaps Kenny could try playing Kelly at centre back for some games. Henderson should not play again this season and same for Adam, glad this guy is injured. Shelvey should be starting in centre midfield for the remaining league games. Enrique is clearly exhausted as he’s played almost every game this season so give him a rest and start Aurelio at left back. Downing seems to be improving so rest him for the FA Cup and play him less frequently in the league as Sterling should be playing more.
I agree about reina form this season, but having watch doni in pre-season, I,d rather recall gulasci from hull and play him, carragher is a weak link when he plays with skrtel, I think they are simalar type of players, when agger plays alongside 1 of them, the difference is there for all to see, kenny needs to stop playing hendeson on the right, he was a centre midfielder at sunderland, so why not play him there, jonjo shelvey should of had a lot more games, and why after are last 2 home games against everton and stoke where carroll played with suarez and we won both , would kenny drop carroll, enrique has not played well for the last 4 games, maybe aurellio deserves a recall, if when the players that aren’t performing never get dropped, then they will never be bothered about losing! Kenny? Please please start being a BOSS, and not there friends! Be tough, there all big boys, who get payed a lot! Throw some youngsters in the deep end! If your good enough your old enough! Owen, Rooney, Fabregas, Messi, Beckham, Scholes, Giggs etc etc were young when they were giving there chance! If not, I,m afraid to say it, but maybe kenny should move upstairs and let somebody else have a go! 8pts since xmas is simply not good enough! (Relegation form)! Y..N..W..A
Why is everyone slagging off Pepe of late? Did he make a mistake yesterday? Any of the 2 goals his fault?
Against QPR?
He’s had the odd thumble but who hasn’t?
In Pepe I trust…. In KK do not!
Let’s not not turn on the good things at our club.
Great piece Derek. It is particularly difficult when such a fantastic servant like Carra begins to wain. He will himself surely appreciate that his playing days at the highest level cannot last forever.
I think that carra is just trying to hang on in there in the hope of a real swansong at wembley
in the FA cup final,the ironic thing is if carra
does play in the semi-final we will be well beaten
wether we play sunderland or everton on current form of both liverpool as a team or carra as an individual thanks for all these years jamie,and i hope you get a job learning futre players how to defend with passion and guts.
Have to agree. It’s no coincidence that since Agger has been out we have been questionable defensively. To accommodate Carra, Skrtel is playing on the left which clearly causes him issues. Carra has seen better days, play Coates and get Carra on the coaching staff.
carra out henderson out adam out
sterling in coates in shelvey in adam morgan in maxi back too teach the young lads how to play classy football
So…a great article discussing whether Carra should leave gracefully starts with everyone calling for Pepe to be dropped/sold/binned. Wish people would actuall;y discuss the point in hand instead of using it as a chance to slag off other players…fickle fickle people…