I remember the first time I saw him play for us. I was in the old 147 in town with a load of mates. They used to get the Norwegian satellite channel in there, it was always packed out for matches. There was an ongoing debate about whether they used the Scando commentary or piped in radio city, which would be about twenty seconds ahead of the action.
It was the game against Villa. Cracking goal, everyone went mad. "Who was it? Who scored?" "It's the new lad!" "Weeeey! Hope we'll see a few more of them from him."
We didn't.
He never managed to get a regular place as a centre-mid. He looked a bit limited on the ball, but he had determination. Dropped back to full-back. Most of us thought he'd be decent cover. He had some great games there. Pretty sure he played both sides a few times.
It wasn't until he moved into the centre that he really started to look the part. No-one else seemed to rate him, but he had this sixth sense of where he needed to be. He was never the quickest, but somehow he'd get to his man just in time to put in the challenge. You'd see someone bearing down on goal, just the keeper to beat - and then WHAM! - Carra arrives from nowhere and the fella's flying through the air. No foul, of course, just taken the ball in a split second before anyone really saw it coming. Put it out for a corner. And then he'd be shouting and pointing, organising everyone.
I remember seeing him at the worst game I've ever been to (I don't get to the match that often and I've been very lucky when I have). Away to Spurs a few seasons back. The game I regard as the beginning of the end for Rafa Benitez. Not going to go on about that here, but what stood out then... We had a corner up their end. Johnson, making his debut for us, and Carra stayed back. Carra was taking the opportunity to explain something to Johnno. There was something about that. The fact he chose that moment, and the way Glen was nodding, both of them moving their hands while Carra explained exactly what it was he was getting at. I've no idea what it was, or if it affected Johnson at all, but it was the way he went over to him then and clearly said something like "get on this mate, this is how we do this" spoke volumes about him. I don't even know if that makes any sense to anyone else, but to me it confirmed a lot.
One of the all time greats. Shame he couldn't have played another 100 games.
