Topic: Will Carra get back in the team?

[GerrardL]

I wish people would fuck off with the "respect carra" shite... he's getting old and shouldn't be a number one choice if we want to start winning things again, get over it!

still okay if he is squard player next season, but not the starter

[Gerrard[LFC]]

In a recent interview, Carragher said he has a "minimum" of two years left in him. On today's performance, he'll be lucky to make it through this season as a first teamer. It's not that he's not adding anything to our play, it's that he's actually a big hindrance now.

We found some good balance in our defence just before Carragher's comeback but now the balance has messed up again with his return. Can't be a coincidence.

  Spot on, but with injury to Agger didnt help and made him starter sooner then expected. Like I said last week against Mancs that he is fast becoming a liability more than adding anything to the team. Carroll came on and off he went Hoofing towards him, admit our midfield was weak but we have better people to deliver Hoof balls to him then Carra. Shame as he has been a great servant but got to realise that he is slowing the team down. Use as a sub when we need to close out games perhaps. Kenny has to see this as well and not be sentimental about it. We need a CB next season who has bit of pace. Kelly could be ideal as well if we can get LB.

[stevedo]

  Spot on, but with injury to Agger didnt help and made him starter sooner then expected. Like I said last week against Mancs that he is fast becoming a liability more than adding anything to the team. Carroll came on and off he went Hoofing towards him, admit our midfield was weak but we have better people to deliver Hoof balls to him then Carra. Shame as he has been a great servant but got to realise that he is slowing the team down. Use as a sub when we need to close out games perhaps. Kenny has to see this as well and not be sentimental about it. We need a CB next season who has bit of pace. Kelly could be ideal as well if we can get LB.

I hope you didnt mean we need another Hoofer? 

[JP!]

Fucking liability lately, holding us back and sending us back to hoofball. Fuck off with the 'respect Carra' shite too, got nothing to do with whether he should be a Liverpool 1st eleven player any more. I respect Barnes, Rush, Fowler, Hansen, Dalglish, Tommo and christ knows who else, doesn't mean they should be in the team every week.

A long way past his best. A long long LONG way past his best. Time has gone to replace him. Must go to the bench, if not this season then the start of next season and to be frank if he doesn't like that he can find another club that will 'respect' him.

[Neil D]

Jesus, he's not at Right Back out of choice. Incase you hadn't noticed we've got no fullbacks.

[The Grinch]

Jesus, he's not at Right Back out of choice. Incase you hadn't noticed we've got no fullbacks.

We have got no full backs because certain xenophobic individuals at the Club thought it was a good idea to give away a home grown Argentinian International and replace him with PFK .

As someone once said Carra was asked to play right back because of the shite the manager bought in the summer.

[Stanno06]

We have got no full backs because certain xenophobic individuals at the Club thought it was a good idea to give away a home grown Argentinian International and replace him with PFK .

As someone once said Carra was asked to play right back because of the shite the manager bought in the summer.

xenophobic?

[carling]

I love Carra but some of these hoofs are pretty much unacceptable.  It's good he is passing to Lucas more now but he shouldn't be allowed to hit the ball over head height unless it is preventing a certain goal.

[The Grinch]

xenophobic?

I don't think we would of given away a 21yr old £5m rated international full back for nothing if had been a local lad do you?

[Bob Loblaw]

Clearly not good enough to be considered fist choice  any more. But then neither would Skrtel or Soto and Agger is always injured so.......

My worry though, is that we won't go looking to replace him in the summer and that he'll still be first choice starting next season. Hopefully that won't be the case.

[The Grinch]

I love Carra but some of these hoofs are pretty much unacceptable.  It's good he is passing to Lucas more now but he shouldn't be allowed to hit the ball over head height unless it is preventing a certain goal.

He has played in midfield for the full England side and can actually pass the ball it is just a chronic lack of self belief on Carra's part coupled with a wish to take the easy way out and to get back to the sanctuary of defending the 18 yard line.

[GerrardL]

We all hate hoofball !

[scatman]

I love Carra but some of these hoofs are pretty much unacceptable.  It's good he is passing to Lucas more now but he shouldn't be allowed to hit the ball over head height unless it is preventing a certain goal.

The weird thing is though, he obviously knows how to bloody pass but his stubborn ass just wants to get the ball as far away from himself as possible, even though it comes back straight away.

[Stanno06]

I don't think we would of given away a 21yr old £5m rated international full back for nothing if had been a local lad do you?

It was a calamitous decision to get rid of Insua but it certainly wasn't xenophobic.

[Stanno06]

To be fair he wasn't alone in the hoof ball stakes last night. The whole back four reverted to alehouse football. It wasn't helped by Carroll coming on either.

[thegoodfella]

We need two CD who are good with the ball on feet and are quick. Carra's been a brilliant servent and a legend, but he cannot be in the starting eleven if we aim to control the game and push 10-15 yards up.

[steveeastend]

It was a calamitous decision to get rid of Insua but it certainly wasn't xenophobic.

You are right. It was pure stupidity.

[Mal]

From the BBC

Ferguson slams Carragher's tackle

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/


In a shocking personal admission Mr. Ferguson, 69, yesterday admitted that Carragher’s tackle is “disgraceful”.

Carragher, 33, feeling forced to defend his realm, said “I’ve never had any complaints”, he further went onto explain that he had never had any personal liaisons with Ferguson stating “I wouldn’t go anywhere near the bacon-faced alcoholic tramp”.

Carragher, further confirmed the existence of 2 offspring which he claims demonstrates that his tackle is far from “disgraceful” and that in fact it’s “perfectly normal”.

Mrs Carragher was un-available for comment.

[TSC]

We have got no full backs because certain xenophobic individuals at the Club thought it was a good idea to give away a home grown Argentinian International and replace him with PFK .

As someone once said Carra was asked to play right back because of the shite the manager bought in the summer.

Yeah those xenophobes at Liverpool gave all our foreign players away.  Now there's not a foreigner at the club.  Disgracefull

[JohnHobbes]

If Agger can avoid injury then he should be the rock on which our defence is built on, then it's either Carra or Skrtel who has the other place. Or they may even bring in another player who can run with the ball, which will be good for competition at the back.

Carra himself must accept that his chances will be more and more limited the older he gets, it's not a slight on the player but just a natural result of getting old - takes longer to recover from a tough game/a knock/etc...

[stevedo]

The weird thing is though, he obviously knows how to bloody pass but his stubborn ass just wants to get the ball as far away from himself as possible, even though it comes back straight away.

That's the annoying thing. Hoping Clarkes training sessions are a bit more cultured than mimicking the Crossbar Challenge. 

[Abeer14]

I think Carra knows his time is nearly up.

He realised it when we bought Danny Wilson ( who by the way i think is a quality player)

He not fast, Hes not especialy strong.

I think the only reason he's in the team is to help the players morale and to secure his legendry status at the club.

Then again id love him to carry on and play and hopefully win the league with Liverpool. Him and Stevie both deserve it.

[withgreataplomb]

From the BBC

Ferguson slams Carragher's tackle

And yet Rat-fael's tackle was perfectly legitimate and above board.

[Ron]

Ferguson slams Carragher's tackle

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/


In a shocking personal admission Mr. Ferguson, 69, yesterday admitted that Carragher’s tackle is “disgraceful”.

It was a bad tackle.
In the same way as Berbatov's FA Cup dive, that was a bit disgraceful too.

[lankyguy007]

And yet Rat-fael's tackle was perfectly legitimate and above board.

And of course Rooney's elbow was fine

[Gnurglan]

It was a bad tackle.
In the same way as Berbatov's FA Cup dive, that was a bit disgraceful too.

And Rafael's assault on Lucas.

[Kopite B205]

I don't think any of our centre backs have been on top form this season. Skrtel has been a bit of a liability for quite a while now and struggles for any real consistency, Soto is always prone to an error, has poor distribution and struggles against pace, Agger is constantly injured and Carra has also had his fair share of problems with injuries and form.

However, personally I think Jamie has alot more to give, granted he does frustrate me with his distribution and at his age he is not going to get any better. However, I do genuinely believe that his performance level has declined – mainly due to the shortfalls of his defensive partners (for reasons mentioned above)

On a side note; I think certain posters need to wind their necks in and show a little more reverence to a fantastic servant and talisman for our club – he deserves alot more than the flippant and obnoxious crap some of the idiots on here are dishing out.

[GerrardL]

Time's up, Carr.

[The Grinch]

Yeah those xenophobes at Liverpool gave all our foreign players away.  Now there's not a foreigner at the club.  Disgracefull

We gave away Insua and Aquilani for the season and replaced them with PFK and Cole, we paid Benitez and Pellegrino to leave and replaced them with Hodgson and kelly.

We replaced five Spanish speaking players and a Spanish speaking Manager and assistant and brought in 6 English players an English manager and  assistant.

Out of the Spanish speaking contingent we have Pepe, Maxi and Pacheco left in and around the first team, how many of them will still be around after this summer.

At a time when the two best teams on the planet are Barca and the Spanish national team we decided to recruit and target the likes of Koncheskey, Luke Young, Joe Cole, Scott Parker and Carlton Cole all failed players from the supposed golden generation that never was.

Then look at the players given new contracts ahead of Lucas the likes of Carra, Spearing and Eccleston.

In the summer it is undeniable that the Club lurched dramatically away from being a cosmopolitan Club to being a retirement home for aging failed English Coaching and playing staff at a time when English managers and players are at an all time low.

Xenophobic too bloody right mate and it may well take us a decade to recover from some of the decisions that were made by Purslow and his cohorts in the summer.

At least we are not making it as easy for them foreigners to come over here and take our jobs as Carra so eloquently said in his book.

[1021]

And Rafael's assault on Lucas.

What are you talking about.
Rafael went for the ball and Lucas jumped because he was clearly trying to stamp on him but missed.
 

[1021]

We gave away Insua and Aquilani for the season and replaced them with PFK and Cole, we paid Benitez and Pellegrino to leave and replaced them with Hodgson and kelly.

We replaced five Spanish speaking players and a Spanish speaking Manager and assistant and brought in 6 English players an English manager and  assistant.

Out of the Spanish speaking contingent we have Pepe, Maxi and Pacheco left in and around the first team, how many of them will still be around after this summer.

At a time when the two best teams on the planet are Barca and the Spanish national team we decided to recruit and target the likes of Koncheskey, Luke Young, Joe Cole, Scott Parker and Carlton Cole all failed players from the supposed golden generation that never was.

Then look at the players given new contracts ahead of Lucas the likes of Carra, Spearing and Eccleston.

In the summer it is undeniable that the Club lurched dramatically away from being a cosmopolitan Club to being a retirement home for aging failed English Coaching and playing staff at a time when English managers and players are at an all time low.

Xenophobic too bloody right mate and it may well take us a decade to recover from some of the decisions that were made by Purslow and his cohorts in the summer.

At least we are not making it as easy for them foreigners to come over here and take our jobs as Carra so eloquently said in his book.

I think you are spot on.
Look at the list that Purslow drew up to have shipped out as well.
Media and club were in tandem with regards to Liverpool this summer.
Bloody foreigners.

[Gnurglan]

We gave away Insua and Aquilani for the season and replaced them with PFK and Cole, we paid Benitez and Pellegrino to leave and replaced them with Hodgson and kelly.

We replaced five Spanish speaking players and a Spanish speaking Manager and assistant and brought in 6 English players an English manager and  assistant.

Out of the Spanish speaking contingent we have Pepe, Maxi and Pacheco left in and around the first team, how many of them will still be around after this summer.

At a time when the two best teams on the planet are Barca and the Spanish national team we decided to recruit and target the likes of Koncheskey, Luke Young, Joe Cole, Scott Parker and Carlton Cole all failed players from the supposed golden generation that never was.

Then look at the players given new contracts ahead of Lucas the likes of Carra, Spearing and Eccleston.

In the summer it is undeniable that the Club lurched dramatically away from being a cosmopolitan Club to being a retirement home for aging failed English Coaching and playing staff at a time when English managers and players are at an all time low.

Xenophobic too bloody right mate and it may well take us a decade to recover from some of the decisions that were made by Purslow and his cohorts in the summer.

At least we are not making it as easy for them foreigners to come over here and take our jobs as Carra so eloquently said in his book.

The full effects of all those mistakes last summer are yet to be seen. Don't think it will take us a decade to fix it, but it's no easy task as the mistakes involved lowering our ambition and quality while hurting the age mix and squad balance. Right now it's still possible to stop the bleeding, but it will require some big decisions. (I question if we have the money for it, partly because of how much we spent on Carroll).

I think it may be necessary, for various reasons, to marginalize Carra for next season. He has been a great servant to the club, but we all know he is not the future. It may be that we make him a bench player or sell him. To continue with him as first pick would not send the right message.

[TSC]

We gave away Insua and Aquilani for the season and replaced them with PFK and Cole, we paid Benitez and Pellegrino to leave and replaced them with Hodgson and kelly.

We replaced five Spanish speaking players and a Spanish speaking Manager and assistant and brought in 6 English players an English manager and  assistant.

Out of the Spanish speaking contingent we have Pepe, Maxi and Pacheco left in and around the first team, how many of them will still be around after this summer.

At a time when the two best teams on the planet are Barca and the Spanish national team we decided to recruit and target the likes of Koncheskey, Luke Young, Joe Cole, Scott Parker and Carlton Cole all failed players from the supposed golden generation that never was.

Then look at the players given new contracts ahead of Lucas the likes of Carra, Spearing and Eccleston.

In the summer it is undeniable that the Club lurched dramatically away from being a cosmopolitan Club to being a retirement home for aging failed English Coaching and playing staff at a time when English managers and players are at an all time low.

Xenophobic too bloody right mate and it may well take us a decade to recover from some of the decisions that were made by Purslow and his cohorts in the summer.

At least we are not making it as easy for them foreigners to come over here and take our jobs as Carra so eloquently said in his book.

Even if your view was accurate the regime responsible is no longer there.  And out of the players you mentioned we signed Konchesky and Joe Cole.  The latter of which was at the time hailed as a great signing by many.  With hindsight it hasn't worked out.  Carlton Cole, Luke Young and Scott Parker don't play for us.  Yeah I know there was speculation in papers etc re being linked, but there was also speculation about overseas players also.  And at least one of the Spanish speakers who left wanted to go to such an extent he refused to play. 

Lucas may yet get a new contract.  This decision will rest with Dalglish.

Since last Summer we've signed another Spanish speaking player - Suarez.

I don't think it'll take a decade to recover from what happened last Summer.  We weren't exactly in great shape heading into it anyway.  In fact with Kenny at the helm, signings of Carroll and Suarez, and potentially more in the Summer, I'd say we'll be in a much healthier position this Summer than last.  Depends on the owners investing of course.

[Gnurglan]

Even if your view was accurate the regime responsible is no longer there.  And out of the players you mentioned we signed Konchesky and Joe Cole.  The latter of which was at the time hailed as a great signing by many.  With hindsight it hasn't worked out.  Carlton Cole, Luke Young and Scott Parker don't play for us.  Yeah I know there was speculation in papers etc re being linked, but there was also speculation about overseas players also.  And at least one of the Spanish speakers who left wanted to go to such an extent he refused to play. 

Lucas may yet get a new contract.  This decision will rest with Dalglish.

Since last Summer we've signed another Spanish speaking player - Suarez.

I don't think it'll take a decade to recover from what happened last Summer.  We weren't exactly in great shape heading into it anyway.  In fact with Kenny at the helm, signings of Carroll and Suarez, and potentially more in the Summer, I'd say we'll be in a much healthier position this Summer than last.  Depends on the owners investing of course.

Why do players want to leave? Doesn't sound like a healthy position. We have spent around 70M to replace Mascherano and Torres and at best we are slightly better because we have one more player, a player we overpaid quite significantly for.

We were in a better position last summer. The squad was much better balanced then. Our age problem is a year worse. Aurelio, Konchesky, Carra, Kyrgiakos, Poulsen, Gerrard, Jovanovic, Maxi, Cole and Kuyt are all close to or over 30. To spend those 70M, without even touching on that problem is a major issue.

To turn this back to Carra, if we are to replace him, we won't get much of a transfer fee. We may even have to pay to lose him. The same is true for some of the others. So the change could/will be both difficult and expensive. And it's a process we must start immediately because it's so many players.

That those responsible last summer could not plan better or spot this was very poor. It's so bad that I'd almost say that they tried to damage the club on purpose.

[Sangria]

Why do players want to leave? Doesn't sound like a healthy position. We have spent around 70M to replace Mascherano and Torres and at best we are slightly better because we have one more player, a player we overpaid quite significantly for.

We were in a better position last summer. The squad was much better balanced then. Our age problem is a year worse. Aurelio, Konchesky, Carra, Kyrgiakos, Poulsen, Gerrard, Jovanovic, Maxi, Cole and Kuyt are all close to or over 30. To spend those 70M, without even touching on that problem is a major issue.

To turn this back to Carra, if we are to replace him, we won't get much of a transfer fee. We may even have to pay to lose him. The same is true for some of the others. So the change could/will be both difficult and expensive. And it's a process we must start immediately because it's so many players.

That those responsible last summer could not plan better or spot this was very poor. It's so bad that I'd almost say that they tried to damage the club on purpose.

I wouldn't mind keeping just Gerrard and Kuyt, and losing all the others. I don't think the squad would be that much weaker.

[RedinExeter]

Carra needs to start being eased into an off-field role, my back 4 next season would look like this:

Johnson----Kelly----Agger----Coentrao/Insua

Obviously it's a dream for us to get Coentrao and Insua may not come back but a LB has to be priority this summer, Carra can come on off the bench if we're closing a game out as suggested.

[KurtVerbose]

Even if your view was accurate the regime responsible is no longer there.

Since last Summer we've signed another Spanish speaking player - Suarez.

Think you're reinforcing his point there.

..of the players you mentioned we signed Konchesky and Joe Cole.  The latter of which was at the time hailed as a great signing by many.  With hindsight it hasn't worked out.

On of the quotes I remember from last summer from a supposed ITK was that Rafa would never have signed Joe Cole. Well Rafa wasn't using hindsight.

[rowan_d]

If Kelly can step into a centre-back role as easily as he has into right-back, that line-up with Johnson and Coentreao would be stunning. I'd consider keeping Skrtel around for Agger's injuries and for when we want to play 5 at the back.

[KurtVerbose]

My worry though, is that we won't go looking to replace him in the summer and that he'll still be first choice starting next season. Hopefully that won't be the case.

We were in for Micah Richards during the transfer window so I hope that won't be the case.

One thing I don't understand about the last regime is the contract they gave Cara lasting until 2013. I don't understand why that was done. By the time it expires he'll be 35.

Absolute nonesense.

[TSC]

Why do players want to leave? Doesn't sound like a healthy position. We have spent around 70M to replace Mascherano and Torres and at best we are slightly better because we have one more player, a player we overpaid quite significantly for.

We were in a better position last summer. The squad was much better balanced then. Our age problem is a year worse. Aurelio, Konchesky, Carra, Kyrgiakos, Poulsen, Gerrard, Jovanovic, Maxi, Cole and Kuyt are all close to or over 30. To spend those 70M, without even touching on that problem is a major issue.

To turn this back to Carra, if we are to replace him, we won't get much of a transfer fee. We may even have to pay to lose him. The same is true for some of the others. So the change could/will be both difficult and expensive. And it's a process we must start immediately because it's so many players.

That those responsible last summer could not plan better or spot this was very poor. It's so bad that I'd almost say that they tried to damage the club on purpose.

Masch wanted out for about 2 yrs - apparently it was his wife who never liked England.  Surely you've read about it on here?  Torres?  Well that was recent. 

Of course it's a healthier position than last Summer.  We've now Dalglish in charge instead of Hodgson.  We've just broken our transfer record for prob English Centre Forward over the next 10 yrs or so, and spent another 22m on Suarez.

We've got great prospects at younger level (tomorrows youth cup game v mancs may be evidence of this).  Maybe we've already signed Carra's replacement - Wilson?  Already made his debut, and by all accounts a decent player.  Added benefit he can play the ball out of defence.

Out of those ten players you mentioned above only a few are actually integral to the team at the moment. Carra, Gerrard and Kuyt.  Some may argue Maxi too. Could also say Aurelio, but since he's never fit I'll leave him out as he rarely plays anyway.

I don't think many would argue that Purslow wasn't the long term answer - evidenced by his swift departure following the takeover.  But things are different now.  New owners, Dalglish at the helm.  Playing better, big signings.  We've taken both UTD and Chelsea to the cleaners recently.

We're in way healthier position than we were this time last yr.  And the main thing is the ownership change was the springboard.