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Is Carragher’s first choice status coming under threat?

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Jürgen4PM

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Is Carragher’s first choice status coming under threat?
Posted on Friday, 25th June 2010 by Sean Mullan

Since making his first team debut over 13 years ago, Jamie Carragher has become a key figure in Liverpool’s defence, making over 600 appearances and very rarely missing games, except in the case of injury or suspension. Having mainly operated at right back under Gerard Houllier, Carragher was switched to a central role by Rafa Benitez, forming a solid partnership with Sami Hyypia, and more recently alternating between Daniel Agger and Martin Skrtel.

Under Benitez, Carragher seemed almost un-droppable, more so even than captain Steven Gerrard. During the Spaniard’s tenure at the club, Carragher missed just nine out of 228 Premier League games. But at 32 years of age, time is not on his side. Carragher has always struggled against pace, and at times last season was really showing his age, as he, like most around him, suffered from poor form.

This has been further highlighted during Carragher’s performances for England during their World Cup campaign. Two clumsy challenges earned him bookings which ruled him out of the final group game against Slovenia, and he lack of pace was made clear for all to see against the USA, as Hull City flop Jozy Altidore flashed past him with ease on numerous occasions.


Agger and Skrtel are both 25, and look to be the future first choice partnership in the Reds’ defence. One thing that has become clear from watching both play alongside Carragher is how much more comfortable they are on the ball. For all Carragher’s positive attributes, he does have a tendency to loft the ball forward with more hope than expectation.

In contrast, Agger has shown his dribbling ability in the past, and has also demonstrated his confidence at taking players on. Skrtel, while perhaps not to the same standard, does at least look for a pass more often than hitting it long like Carragher.

Jamie Carragher has been a loyal servant and a key player for Liverpool for over a decade now, but he won’t be around forever and is starting to look like he is feeling the strain of the fast paced modern game. It might be time to see him eased out of the team, as was done with Hyypia. He still has a role to play at Anfield, but perhaps we will be seeing less of him in coming seasons.
 
You'd have thought that with the little local kickabout going on in africa, they wouldn't be struggling to fill column inches.
 
He did during the Treble season (to great effect) and at times afterwards, but it probably is true that he played more at RB overall.
 
Altidore has looked like a complete different player in the world cups.. If he played like that for Hull last season they would be much further up the table.

Carra does make a few clumsy tackles - His determination also assists him to make some amazing tackles that most wouldnt even try.. Part and parcel of having a born winner in the squad.. most of the the time his tackles stop goals.. but unfortunately sometimes they give away pens.

As for his physical attributes - it is a concern as neither Agger, Johnson, Skrtel or Insua are fast enough to cover him. In the air Carra does struggle against the large physical forwards but there is no denying his experience and tenacity. Id be shocked if the new manager didnt consider the future... perhaps if its Hodgson we may see Carra being prepared to take over.
 
As ive been saying for a while now, i think carra should play less and our CB partnership should be Agger/Skrtel. Carra looks to hoof the ball up the field and most times we lose possession because of it. Also he is quite slow and anyone with pace will rape him. He should be cover for the other 2
 
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