why is everyone comparing the hansen replacing the hughes. Hansen came into a team that was the best in england and in europe. When u have such quality players he had around him to support him, he was able to play to his potential... Unlike to coates where he has quality players but when the team is still trying to gel in its difficult. We can see that even downing who after all these years in england is still trying to be at par with the likes of suarez n gerrard etc. Give the lads some time and when they are on the pitch give them our full support...
I agree with that, up to a certain point and have on many occasions talked about how the squad has lacked a winning mentality. And I have no doubt that being part of a squad that just won the European Cup and had the phenomenal players that it had is easily preferable to coming into squad that has 7 new players and about 15 that left.
But I think that it's more important to the new players to have some sort of future line-up in mind. We're having the new players like Adam, Downing and Henderson adapting to a back 4 that will not be the same next season. Charlie Adam for example would no doubt benefit significantly from starting every chance we get 5-10 yards further up the pitch because the center back brings the ball to him, instead of having to come deep to collect it. I think it's more important now than it was 2-3 seasons ago since we have such a new squad to have some sort of foundations, whether it be Skrtel, Coates or a new center back for that matter. Reina will be in goal, Enrique at left back but what else can we take for granted? An aging Carra, injury prone Agger, inconsistent Skrtel and then Kelly and Johnson who can't stay fit. Which is why I'm advocating putting Coates in who, if nothing else, gives us a height advantage.
That is such an absurd generalization of Carra's abilities it is not even worth replying, but still. So, according to you Carra's only abilities in defence are last ditch tackles, playing with cramps and hoofs. While Coates is the panacea to all our problems.
By all means point to where I said that. I said that his game was about sliding tackles and back-to-the-wall defending. Which, thanks to Rafa Benitez, made him a starting CB in 2 Champions League Finals. Before that he was a makeshift fullback, holding midfielder and a stop gap for everything that needed. His short comings were glossed over by a phenomenal midfield that consisted amongst others of Mascherano and Sissoko who provided excellent cover for the back 4, whilst Xabi Alonso dropped down and reliefed Carra of the pain of playing the ball.
And it's no secret that some people's opinion of Carragher gets a certain romantic feel due to unforgettable moments like his defending in Istanbul. Again, a phenomenal achievement that no one can or is even trying to take away from him. I'm simply saying that in anyway criticizing Carrgher you get bombarded with endless accounts of Carra's heroic acts in a red shirt, which for whatever reason seem to dwarf the likes of Emlyn Hughes, Phil Neal, Phil Thompson et al who all did wonderful things for the club.
And do please highlight where I said Coates was going to save us from all evil. I simply stated that he has done enough to at least warrant a chance of failing or succeeding.
Firstly, I do not buy in to this myth that Carra is losing his abilities. Carragher's reading of the game is still one of the best in the league.. He was never fast, and his game hasn't deteriorated.
Do you honestly believe that? So is it a myth that we're losing points, and he's scoring own goals and giving away penalties? So you don't think it's a worrying sign that a man who once upon a time terrorised Shevchenko is now turned by such powerhouse strikers as Jon Walters.
Take for example arguably the best 30+ defender out there, Alessandro Nesta. He was faced one-on-one with Lionel Messi inside his own box and inside 5 seconds he slid in, won the ball, stood up and had passed the ball to the full back when was the last time Carragher did anything close to that. Let alone against someonen in Messi's range of quality. An unfair comparison, I will admit that much as they were two seperate occasions that can not possibly be compared. But to explain my reasoning for doing so. Turn the tables and make it Carra vs. Messi and Nesta vs. Walters and ask a 100 people. Who do you think they'll put money on to come away with the ball?
Next, Coates winning medals in Uruguayan league isn't inspiring confidence. He played well in 4-5 games in the south american championship which shows definite potential, but we need to understand that the premier league is faster than anything else. I have already covered other points about Coates, so not going to dwelve on it again.
I'm pretty sure that people know that there's a difference between the Uruguayan league and the PL. Also I feel confident that if Coates can cope against the likes of Alexis Sanchez he can cope with someone like Peter Crouch. And I mean Chile play high-pressing football, on both a more intense level and with much better players than your average PL side.
You make it sound like we are dropping points because of Carra, why would managers then line up to keep Carra in the side, we have had 3(with 2 of them being amongst some of the top managers this club has ever had) managers. We also have seen Capello insist and take him to the world cup. If he was just an average joe who plays with heart and not anywhere near the ilk of the Maldinis and Baressis, why would he be picked consistently.
Never said Carra was never a good player, but now he's seriously pushing it. Using England's World Cup squad to back up your arguement won't win many people over as the same squad also had Matthew Upson, Gareth Barry, Joe Cole, Aaron Lennon, Shuan Wright-Phillips, Emile Heskey and Stephen Warnock.
And if Hyypia had signed a new contract, Agger had stayed fit, Rafa gotten more than 1.5m to buy a new center back, San Jose not been shown the door and Skrtel showed more consistency Carra might have been moved on already.
And this will be controversial no doubt, and I'll probably bring on a hailstorm of abuse for it, but does anyone honestly believe that if Carra had been a Liverpool player in the late 70's or the 80's he would have anywhere near 700 appearances for the club?
Do you know more than managers who are working in the game, are you saying they do not have sufficient balls to drop him. He is 33, not an old man. Most defenders play the game at their best when they have acquired that experience, but let that go.
I don't know more than the managers, but that doesn't mean I can't question them. You claim with absolute certainty that because they picked him, and are fantastic managers, thusly he is as good as the Maldinis and Baresis of this world. If that works for you, who am I to question it.
33 does not make him an old man. But in terms of great Liverpool defenders it makes him one. Emlyn Hughes, European Cup and League winning captain - 30 when he left LFC. Alan Hansen, possibly our greatest ever CB - 34 when he left Liverpool. Phil Neal's accomplishments don't need to be counted - 34 when he left the club. Tommy Smith - 33 when he played his last game. Phil Thompson - 29 years old when he left. Sami Hyypia - 36 but by then he was used in rotation and despite featuring in important games didn't make 10 games in his last season. Ron Yeats - 34 when he left. Mark Lawrenson - 32 when he left.
All of those were replaced because they had reached that age. All of them are legends at the club with a medal collection envied by all. Do you not think we should be doing the same to Carragher, since we did so to all of them?
The Irony of your name being aristotle is too much to handle given your points.
Because I'm neither dead nor Greek?