THIS May will signal the end of a 17 year playing career of Liverpool stalwart Jamie Carragher. His imminent retirement means an entire facelift is needed on our increasingly porous and at times, physically weak back-line.
The danger of replacing a heart-beat with a dodgy pace-maker is the fear we will all have when the restructuring is in full flow. The Bootle man’s Indian Summer this season has made his decision to bow out all the more saddening. We still need him and we will miss him; especially with Martin Skrtel’s head in apparent full rotation towards an exit, Sebastian Coates’ indefensible defending and Dan Agger’s need to more protection as he tends to be left over-exposed on occasions.
But what kind of player (or players) fit the mould? Ashley Williams’ name has been hanging around like a bad smell, and any regular readers of my blogs will know what I think of this graceless Swan. I have no problem with managers raiding their old clubs but I just don’t see the fit.
Does he go for youthful promise or cunning nous and a few wrinkles? The stark reality is we are not dining at the top table reserved for Champions League members and billionaire benefactors. A shrewdness in the market is required, a vast knowledge and even vaster contacts book needs to be tapped into to level the playing field.
Today I have compiled 5 potential replacements for Carra. Men who are realistic targets and can help our back-four become un-breachable or at least less susceptible to big centre-forwards and reach a level of consistency in performance and aptitude that is worthy of the Liverpool shirt.
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Any of these talented defenders would enhance our squad; some at a high cost and others with sell on potential. Martin Kelly has a lot to do next season as he attempts to cement a place in the centre of the Reds defence. I don’t believe he will get a better chance than in the 2013/14 season.
Ideally we need a flexible utility defender who can fill in across the back four and undertake a variety of roles and tactical adjustments and a rock solid no-nonsense stopper with physical presence and technical know how.
These are not fantasy signings but possible ones already on the clubs radar.
Who would you have? Who’s face fits? Click on the image below to see if you agree with any of my choices, and as always, your comments are welcome.
Live4Liverpool is recruiting columnists. For further info contact the site editor at live4liverpool@snack-media.com
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