Carragher instead of Carrick? Oh dear.
May 30, 2006
Seems like Sven is not done bamboozling the masses. As he promises to play his strongest XI, and likely World Cup starting XI, against Hungary in England’s final friendly before the finals it is now rumored that he intends to play Jamie Carragher in the midfield holding role rather than Michael Carrick.
In a Keegan-esque move (Southgate in midfield?), Eriksson has opted to put a defender in a unfamiliar, but key role and who has actually said himself that he is not good enough to play for England. Brilliant.
Michael Carrick may not have been that impressive against Belarus, but he has been in fine form for Tottenham for the entire season. To not put the trust in a form player playing in a key position seems bizarre to say the least, especially one who has played well for England in previous internationals - earning rave reviews during last summer’s US tour.
The argument for Carragher is that Sven may want more of a destroyer holding player (ala Makelele) rather than a finesse (ala Pirlo of Milan). But if that is the case, why not call up Scott Parker who has played that exact role to extreme effect for Newcastle all season? (Ed: Yes we know he has glandular fever, author has been drawn and quartered)
Yes, the Liverpool defender has been in superb form for the club over the past two seasons, but he has been shielded by two defensive midfielders in every match - a tactic that made even Stephane Henchoz look like a world beater during Houllier’s reign.
It’s hard to imagine that Carragher would suddenly be comfortable in a defensive midfield role, with no supporting defenders either side of him and attack-minded midfielders in front. A position where it is more important to maintain defensive discipline and block passing lanes, than it is to simply clear the ball whenever it comes to you.
But hey, it’s not like Sven is some crazy batsh*t insane manager that we should have every reason to doubt, right?
Comments
118 Responses to “Carragher instead of Carrick? Oh dear.”
Got something to say?
Sponsor
Bet on Football
COS Mentalists Poll
Things That COS Nutters Are Currently Saying
- Who should Tottenham sign to replace Berbatov? (36)
oneForTheRoad: spurs will show there strengh in the transfer market this summer, big names are coming, does anyone really think we would have got ramos on...
- Race concerns over UEFA finalists (3)
Hun: Q - What does a Glasgow Rangers fan do when they win the 2008 UEFA Cup Final? A - He switches off his playstation and gets back into bed with his sister.
- Mike Tyson offers support to Newcastle, Tottenham and England legend! (6)
jomil: i herd that mike tyson is comin to newcastle is it true
- Can Liverpool striker score more than 40 goals next season? (15)
You are retarded: FernandoTorresLiverpool’ sNumber9 Loverpill? Chokers? What the fuck are you talking about you prick? Ian - Liverpool won’t make...
ian: LMFAO liverpool will not make it past 40 goals, they have no real goal threat other than torres. Crouch i hate to say because i have a passion for the...
Kano: NO FUCKING CHANCE
- Liverpool line up £12m superstar bid – This guy would be great signing! (44)
LiverpoolAreShitAndAlwaysHaveBeen: LiverpoolAreShitAndAlwaysHaveB eenLiverpoolAreShitAndAlwaysHa veBeenLiverpoolAreShitAndAl...
- Portsmouth midfielder ‘didn’t feel good enough’ at Arsenal (11)
Jman: er, rayparlourforpresident, its called shorthand, it makes it easier to write lol. its not that someone cant spell its that its a bit quicker. it...
- Can Arsenal come back from losing TWO top midfielders? (13)
Jman: simples answer - come back from wot? 3rd place?
More COS...MORE! Bwahahaha!
- Arsenal’s star midfielder gets his own TV show… woohoo!
- Fabregas - Puyol swap? What a mismatch!
- Portsmouth midfielder ‘didn’t feel good enough’ at Arsenal
- Race concerns over UEFA finalists
- What are your TOP THREE Premier League signings this season?
- Can Arsenal come back from losing TWO top midfielders?
- Yaya Toure wants to team up with Arsenal’s big brother
- Manchester City and Tottenham set to play keeper swap
- Chelsea pip Manchester United to Bosingwa - and boost the Porto coffers again!
- Who should Tottenham sign to replace Berbatov?
Mate, no offence but you are a c**k!!!!
Jamie is in a different lge to Carrick!! and for your information he actually started his career in central midfield - where he scored on his debut against the Villa in 1997!
Also in recent internationals, more often than not, he has played in central midfield.
Hey, everyone knows that england’s defence is weak, so maybe we need a fifth defender (albeit in midfield) to stop us leaking the goals.
Robbie
Who cares if Carragher played there when he was 5 years old, he said himself he isn’t good enough for the role so why would you want a player to play somewhere they aren’t confident of
Carrick ‘failed to impress’? No Carrick ballsed it up. And Parker is sick.
Carragher is class and if it works England will be a much better defensive unit with the wing backs tearing the opposition apart - if it works it will be brilliant - give Carragher a chance before you condemn him…he deserves a go at a place in the first team he’ll play his guts out - that’s what the national team needs some guts…
Can’t help but disagree. Jamie Carragher is the most capped England U21 player of all time and most of his appearances were as the holding midfielder.
Played behind two defensive midfielders all season? Sissoko falls into the defensive midfielder catagory but somehow I don’t think Gerrard or Alonso do. Check your facts mate, that is a piss poor excuse for an article.
Uh sorry Five Times but you’re embarassing as a pool fan. Alonso isn’t a defensive midfielder? Do you even know what the role is.
If Carrick is, so is Alonso, he sits deep and sprays passes about. Defensively he sits deep and protects the defense, Sissoko, Hamann and Alonso all play a DM role for Pool
Sissoko is box to box, not defensive…
It actually doesn’t matter Box to Box or whatever you want to call it, but Benitez does play with every midfielder back shielding the defense, with at least two central midfielders sitting deep.
Doesn’t matter if Cisse or Crouch are one of those CM’,s that’s the way we play FFS
Although I also think Carra could do a job at DM, he’s smarter than people give him credit for.
like Reo Coker, Gerrard, Vieira and Barton are box to box…… a defensive midfielder is Mullins, Gilberto and Makalele………. and a normal centre mid that doesnt really go backwards or forwards is the likes of Alonso, Hamaan, Carrick etc
England don’t need a headless chicken like Carra running around in front of our defense, we need a smart player who can make interceptions and stifle attacking play, not just head the ball clear.
Carra would be shit on at Internaitonal lvl
Spot on Brad, and with Pool Rafa has Alonso and Hamann positioned deep to protect our backline.
Works a treat.
like the job he did at full back against Denmark? Carragher is one of the most over-rated players in the world… along with Defoe, Carrick, Richardson, Beattie and Crouch
Sissoko IS defensive - Box to box midfielders tend to score goals, how many goals has momo scored? None!! Class defensively but a bit dodgy going forward!
Are these comments about england or liverpool? And what’s the point of al this swearing? Is there really any need for it?
I’d rather see Carra on instead of Campbell. But then Wenger would be angry at Sven for not helping Campbell and Cole regain fitness, and Walcott get match experience - and Sven would never want that…
cnut
his job isnt really about that… its about the powerful runs he makes going forward the commits defenders…. pretty much like Nigel Reo-Coker for West Ham, he doesnt score many goals and is a box to box player
Is there any other country or international manager that is still yet to decide what tactics to use at the World Cup?
We’re a joke
God you absolute muppet. So Carra has only had an excellent season due to shielding by the midfielders ?? What about in games where Liverpool were over run and he was still diving in there last minute, Champions League final for one. He’s a top quality defender and to say he’s only as good as he is due to protection from the middle is an insult and only highlights what a clearly ignorant fool you are.
Robbie,
Martin Keown was a central midfielder for years until he went back to centre back. An absolute world class centre back but a hopeless midfielder. Carra will not be able to play in that position and as lightweight as Carrick is, he should be there above carra
It wasn’t that Carrick “may not have been that impressive against Belarus”, he was downright diabolical! And that’s being polite!
Quite frankly, if I was Svennis, by the time that Carrick had played his 41st beautiful pass to Belarus right on the edge of his own 18yard box before half time had even arrived, I would have been tempted to run on the pitch and nut him right then and there.
I’m hardly surprised Svennis doesn’t want to play him after that, it’s not as if he even had the excuse of some dodgy lasagne to blame!
Even Green would have done a better job……………AFTER his injury!
hamann… is hardly positioned deep to protect the backline.. he is so far back he is always on the bench..
Shane
Carragher is a quality defender, no doubt. But why is it that he’s only come to the forefront now that Benitez is in charge and he’s playing in a very defensive team, with a defensive midfield?
Same reason why Hyppia is back in form after being crap during Houllier’s ‘attacking’ phase, because they need the protection.
Carra has never said he’s not good enough to play for England, what he actually said was he didn’t think he was good enough to play in a holding role.
Scott Parker has glandular fever. Probably not the best thing to call him up then eh?
Facts right first lad.
All the negativity towards Jamie Carragher before he’s even played is uncalled for. Sven is the bloke putting him in there FFS.
i wouldnt go that far mitchelbichel!!!
But i am baffled why we are taking Walcott (no experience whatsoever), Jenas (complete rubbish), Carrick (complete rubbish), Crouch (tall rubbish)!!
IMO we shouldve took the likes of Ashton, Harewood or Bent to the world cup….. at least they have proven themselves this year… unlike some!!
jamie will always give 110%
at brad…. there is hardly a better front player who is english and can hold the ball up better than crouch…. he maybe doesnt get lots of goals but he does a diff job and will be a great assett to England….
Carragher is a quality defender, no doubt. But why is it that he’s only come to the forefront now that Benitez is in charge and he’s playing in a very defensive team, with a defensive midfield?
Same reason why Hyppia is back in form after being crap during Houllier’s ‘attacking’ phase, because they need the protection.
Beinitez’s very defensive team & Houlliers attacking phase. Rafa-bashing and revisionism at it’s best.
I raise you a European Cup, a Super Cup and and FA Cup. You fold yet?
is his 110% good enough as a holding midfielder? maybe aqgainst the likes of Trinidad but against the likes of Brazil, we will come unstuck!!
wait and see whethr his 110% is good enough before slating him…
Boggs,
Should’ve clarified mate. Not anyone having a go here, more the general disbelief in the media\t’internet land that Carra is generally not good enough for England.
:o)
Anonymous,
Ashton is possibly 1 billion times better than Crouch in the air and holding up the ball, he has better finishing and passing…
Harewood or Bent ? Brad have you been smoking something!! Bent is a bad excuse for a striker!! and as for Harewood he’s just another heskey!
bored_of_morons
Where exactly did I bash Rafa? If you don’t think Benitez puts defensive solidity as the no. 1 priority for his side, you are blind or perhaps bored of yourself?
errrr Alonso is doing the same thing Jan Molby used to do in the 80’s, sissoko is back-up to Gerrard so that Gerrard can go up more freely, the same thing makelele is doing for fat frank!
to say that carra has done well the past 2 seasons because he is shielded by 2 DM’s, thats alot of bullcrap, we have leaked in less goals last season because of his and hyppias superiority!!
and Crouch isnt? LOVL
at least Harewood hits the net…. he also does it in important/big games!! vs Chelsea, Man Utd, FA Cup Semi Final
listen mate, Carra has played in every position of the pitch other than as a keeper, AND is a better player than Carrick. Carra is good enough to do a good job their, and in fact i suggested this a while back. Well done Sven, kets hope it works!
brad your having a laugh..ok ashton might be better attacking the ball in the air… but holding the ball up? nah mate….
he tore Liverpool to shreds in the final… FACT
man ur shitee Carragher is pure class and i rate him ahead of rio and sol. By rights he should be partnering terry in defence but thanks to sven playing his favourite rio. Carra will do well in this role, watch it.
I dont know why you guys are arguing its not like england have a chance of winning anyway!
at brad…i seem to remember liverpool lifted the cup though… obviously not torn apart too many times… you mean for his goal that dribbled under Reina.. (as opposed to crouches one touch finish into the corner which was wrongly disallowed?!!!!!!) done n dusted
Tore liverpool to shreads?!? Didn’t he miss a sitter in extra time????
Carrick was woeful against Belarus. He gave the ball away nearly every time he touched it. The guy seemed totally overcome with nerves, so you have to be sympathetic, but if he’s going to bottle in a B friendly against Belarus, how is he going to cope in a World Cup quarter final against Argentina or whoever.
Carragher won’t pass like Carrick, but he will break things up and play short sensible balls to Lampard or Beckham. And what people are missing is his influence on the field. He is the supreme battler. He never gives up. Ever. And he thinks about the game. Football is his passion, even than most professionals. Benitez, it is said, recognises his own meticulous approach in Carragher.
Some examples: It was Carragher who took Dudek by the throat before the penalties in Istanbul and FORCED him to “do a Grobbelaar”. He’d thought about it, and decided that it might just give a little advantage to the keeper. Dudek made some great saves, but maybe his movement just gave him that little bit of edge.
Another: 90 minutes gone in the FA Cup Final. Cisse is down and West Ham plays the ball out to let him get treatment. The Reds are obliged to play the ball back to the Hammers near their corner flag. It’s Carragher - way out of position - that goes to close down the defender, forcing him to panic clear. The ball comes back to a red shirt, moments later Gerrard makes history.
To my mind Carragher is incomparable and we desperately had to find a way to get him in the starting eleven somehow.
Just for reference if im not mistaken carragher is the record cap holder at u21 level and guess which position he played at that level yes correct central midfield, on top of that he has been the most consistant english player over the last 2 seasons apart from gerrard.
One thing no one has mentioned, that picture of Sven is quality!
ok everyone? good debate here, but getting back to the game tonight, whose gonna win england or hungary? and what do yo reckon the score will be? 2-1 england for me.
Carradona is a footballing God!
Carrick is wank and he has been also season - that’s why the lilylivers finished 5th.
Harry, let’s try and stay on topic rather than spurs-arse alright? WC time is the time to focus on England
I’d rather see Carra on instead of Campbell. But then Wenger would be angry at Sven for not helping Campbell and Cole regain fitness, and Walcott get match experience - and Sven would never want that…
cnut
Comment by Anonymous
———-
I see you have had your rant at Arsenal for no reason.
Cole is arguably the best left back in the world. Sol has been England’s best most experienced defender in all the past major tournaments even scoring vital goals. And Walcott has shown glimpses of great talent.
So, please shut up!
England 2 - 0 Hungary
~Hungary 0 England 3
sol has been englands “best defender”? i dont think so… one is forgetting Tony Adams…sol is superbly overrated and finished at the level he used to be at…
Sol has been the best defender in the past 6 years(Euro and World Cup) before Rio and Terry have become good enough to lead the defence.
Have to say, but our defenders are nothing to write home about. It’s not that they not any good, but its a case of scoring more then we let in. Rooney out, but Owen coming back, some good attacking midfielders and an extra defender in midfield might just do the trick!
rio has not been or ever will be good enough to “lead the defence” he is another overrated premadonna..he thinks he is a much better footballer than he actually is and forgets to do the basics….like defend
This article is crap. Carra is the best man for the job. Nuff said.
carra is the best!..he desrves a chance in the starting XI in front of rio..then owen hargreaves or carrick could take up the midfield holding role..
a whole lot of crap going on here.
Carrick is shit of a world class player. England wont do anything with him as a holding midfielder at the World Cup. Sven was way off using his B-team against Belarus, what use is it to see how your B-team plays together??
Should have used his best team with maybe one or two experiments. But now is better than in middle of june. I think it is a chance worth takin using Carra as a holding MC.
He would use King there if he would be fit.
If it wont work, I guess Sven must use Carrick and England will fall out soon, unless Rooney will make a miraculus recovery and make history.
p.s. England will win 3-0,
Walcott will score the third late in the game.
If Walcott scores great! It’s what the England team and the nation needs. Could he do what Owen did in the 1998 World Cup?
Carrick has shown himself to be poor against a slack team like Belarus. His chance has come and gone. A player like Carragher does not need to be babysat or mollycoddled like these Tottenham/West Ham youngters we keep hearing about.
Face facts, the world cup starts next week and we need players who will do a job, not players who need time to settle into an ineternational roll
Carragher in…Carrick out….nuff said…nft
Give Carra a chance. Besides, it’s just a friendly. We’ll know if he can fit in that role before the real game begins. Who knows?! Maybe he’ll be good and we’ll have another backup for the DM role. Go England!
Everyone made up their mind already!! Let’s wait till after the game to see what Carragher is like in midfield. Then we truly know who is better in that position.
Houllier is a defensive minded coach. Rafa is not. If you call rafa defensive you might as well call Jose Mourinho defensive as well coz Chelsea conceded the fewest goals in the league. Rafa’s mindset on defensive solidity is simply down to the fact that a team with a solid defense is a team that is more likely to win a game. If you watched any Liverpool matches you would see Liverpool solid defensively but you would also see them with more possession and more attempts on goal. The fact that the strikers were a bit crap in front of goal let them down otherwise they would easily have scored as many as manure and chelsea and been closer to them than they were.
The Carra bashers should at least give him a chance before jumping all over him. For all you know he might excel at the position and become the key ingredient to England success. Face it… England is never going to outgun Brazil etc so the best way would be to contain them and Carra will run down the devil if he had to. Give him a chance people.
Defensive minded does not mean the team hates to attack, remember everyone calling Chelsea boring for grinding out 1-0 results?
give jamie a chance. he has proven he is world class in his last 2 seasons. stop all the nonsense of him having great midfielders helping him out at liverpool. if so …isnt he gonna have the same with england ?? and if theres anyone whos gonna score a late third…its gonna be crouch after coming on. just like heskey scored the 5th against germany.
What is the point of Hargreaves? 5th choice right back, 9th choice centre forward and 18th choice midfielder?
Surely there is a better use of his spot if he is never in contention for anything.
And beside ‘y’all’ this isn’t even his favoured formation.
Stop doing ‘the sun’ and jumping to conclusions that might not necessarily be true.
Jenas and Hargreaves are both in the sqad and Jenas CAN do that role. As can Ferdinand and Gerrard if called apon. This is a friendly match. I’m surprised that no-one is making as much fuss about Gerrard possibly being used as a second striker.
Sven has a lamentable list of results from friendlies, but his competitive record is good. Chris even Horse-face Anelka gave us the run around in a friendly - even with the ‘ledge Adams in defence! (that might not have been sven actually!!! ,.. hehehe but you see my point)
I must agree with fefe… What the hell is he doing there?? He has nothing different to give this team.
I think Sven should have picked Ashton or Reo-Cocker (I know he is injured now, but those were my thoughts at the time).
Hopefully Sven just wont use Hargreaves at all, that way he will best serve the team.
WELL ENGLAND WILL LOOSE HEY LADS LETS CHEER FOR THE LOSERS WHICH IS ENGLAND. AND TO THE TOTTENHAM SUPPORTERS THEYW WILL LOOSE WITH THE SPURS PLAYERS THEY HAVE
I THINK TOGO WILL WIN THE WORLD CUP. BEATING ENGLAND 7 - 0 IN THE FINALS. FOUR GOALS BY ADEBAYOR AND AN OWN GOAL AND TWO PENALTIES.
Mad_Man_Moon
I’m pretty sure any of us could have gotten the same results that Eriksson has in competitive matches, the team picks itself and the players clearly are not getting any extra quality to their play as a result of Eriksson’s shrewd tactics or rousing half time talks.
i don’t really think this is the time for experiments just 10 days before the biggest tournament in the world. No disrespect to Carragher, an excellent club player who i’m sure would be a more than able deputy to RF, JT at CENTRE BACK, could also fill in at RIGHT/LEFT BACK. We cannot be taken seriously as world cup candidates if we’re playing a player out of position in such a key role in the team, the likes of Riquelme, Ronaldinho must be pissing their sides at this. Buffon has said at the weekend we have one of the best midfields in the world - why fuck it up?
Kop Jim knows fuck all.
What’s the point in that Five Times, try to keep things above a Chav argument in an alleyway
Midfield is excellent, attack could be better, defence could be better. So looks like our key is midfield this world cup. everyone works together to score and defend goals and we should make it pass the first stage and into the knockout stages. Beyond that, it will get difficult. But chin up, Rooney might be back by then, Owen might also be on fire once again and then we won’t need a five defenders on the pitch.
Don’t really think carraghers the man for defensive midfield. Hes a die hard worker whihc is exactly want \ENgland need but he hasnt got the experience/skill needed for that position (under21s was a long time ago and not the same ball game)
Svenny should have 3 centre backs and include sol or carrags for the 3rd spot. gary neville and ashley cole as wing backs. lampard gerrard and beckham in the centre with option to play more freely and go wide as there is enough support. Joe Cole advanced a little attacking up left and owen in centre. Kicking out Joe Cole when Rooners is back! This would give flexiblity as when we are in possession, ashley and gary can whizz up the wings and allow for lampard/beckham/gerrard to attack and support owen, ensuring he isn’t left unsupported in a 2006 nistleroy kind of way.
Only downside to this theory is that Neville may not be able to hack the pace of teh wing back job
This could be easily transformed into 442 if needed with carrags going forward a touch. But I wouldnt recommend it.
The only reason for this is rooneys injury and svens knowledge that gerrard must be given a free role. I f carragher is poor tonight then he will have to rethink but better now than against sweden. You cannot deny that gerrard and lampard together has squeezed the life out of gerrard. I agree about hargreaves though if he can’t play this role, why is he in the squad?
You sad pathetic fools who dont think carra is good enough to play for england, carra is probaly on a par with terry in defensive abilities, and is a far better defender than rio im too cool my backside, will ever be. Remember wot carra has done for liverpool and also take a look at his medal collection which i think has a champions league WINNERS medal in it somewhere.
If Carragher fails fair enough - its a friendly and its been tried - as for insulting him and his club some of you really are ignorant muppets who should be off watching the subbuteo world cup (and no insult to subbuteo intended).
As for ‘Five Times’ how unimaginative can you get?
CARRA IS CLASS
Looks like eveyone has left work and heading to the pub, to friends or home to catch the game!
Ledley King came in and did a brilliant job for England as the DM. I know he was injured towards the end of the season but, if fit again, surely he should be playing rather than Carra or Carrick? (though I do love Carra - and I’m not a ‘pool fan)
Alonso owns the centre circle
Whoever plays now and whatever tactics…for whatever reasons Carra can even play as a forward because now Sven is pissed and even England sucked in WC, he’ll quit and it doesn’t matter to him. He, imho, is now in a unique position where lose or win, he’ll quit. He wants to try out new things. I don’t see Carra will play full 90. He wants 45 mins to see how the team can react to new tactics. Playing 4-4-2 all the time is not going to be the only answer in WC. So give Sven the chance but hey does he care what we or the press say - HELL NO!!!
Carra is to modest to say he is good. Unlike someplayers. he’l do the job sven may be insane but he is not stupid. I say u retire from writing mate because you are clearly not up to the task!
Carra should be in the starting 11….But he should be there instead of Rio at the heart of defence alonside Terry!! I would feel much more comfortable with them than the dopey completlly overated Ferdinand.. & Sven what an idiot!! Why dont you play your midfielders in midfield..
England have there best team in years unfortunatlly they have one of the worst and most negative managers around..
So much talk bout Carra instead of Carrick and crap.. end of the day, he not only played well as a holding midfield but went on to play another positon in the second half as a right back and was equally good! No doubt he’s not a player with much flair but end of the day, he does a bloody good job..
Totally agree mate! End of the day, with much doubt of Gerrard’s ability as the second striker, Crouch for even being in the squad and Carra for playing a holding midfielder, what happens? A goal each by Gerrard and Crouch plus an equally superb display by Carra at the back..
YNWA
Jamie played that exact same role for Liverpool when they lifted the FA Youth Cup a decade or so ago. He started his career as DM and as his performace tonight showed, he’s more than upto it.
Good article and well said - I like Carra - excellent defender but midfield - NO - Not at international level. Would rather we had blo*dy Rio there to be honest
Thanks to all the morons for slating Carragher..as ussual those anti Liverpool fans make themselves look stupid end of the day. Carragher played really well today and as ussual, gave his 110% as he does for his club. By the way, between Sol Campbell, Carrick, Terry and Ferdinand, who has won the most trophies ranging from European CL trophy, UEFA Cup trophy, FA Cup’s and League Cups in his career playing as a right back, center back, left back and defensive midfielder before? Only one name comes in mind and is trustworthy Carra! Enough said…
Thought Carra did what everyone expected, ran around a lot. Didn’t show that he’s an international class DM and his performance was nothing beyond what Michael Brown or Robbie Savage do all the time.
He’s fine as an extremely limited DM, but to win the world cup it’d be nice to get a little more.
If Carragher did well, why was the first half England’s worst leading to wholesale changes in tactics for the second (with no Carra DM)?
Talk about blinkered Kopites
To take analysis from Soccernet:
Carragher was supposed to be screening the defence but the Hungarians forced him into the role of a reluctant playmaker by letting him have the ball and cutting off his options.
Owen Hargreaves came on as the midfield anchorman and the goals went in.
———-
Gosh, Carragher too limited offensively to play as a DM? Wasn’t that what everyone was saying? On the international level a DM has to be able to distribute the ball effectively as well as tackle.
Carrick or Hargreaves in, please.
Carragher is a defender no doubt about that - but he’s a superb defensive utility player he may not be the answer to providing an offensive passing game but if he’s needed he seldom puts a foot wrong…I don’t personally think he’s th answer in this position and as a liverpool and Carradonna fan I’m honest enough to say it..but leave him off the bench at your peril and he is miles better than Ferdinand or Cole…any injuries and Jamie is yer man…
those who understand what the game is all about will know that Carragher did his job tonight without fuss or glory as always.
Face facts, Carrick is supposed to be this mighty defensive superstar holding midfielder yet Jamie Carragher took 45 minutes to show how it should be done
Not bad for someone who doesn’t even play that position eh
btw to the above comment (anonymous) a dm must distribute the ball to feet with short passes, break up attacks and NOT repeat NOT give the ball away, ring any bells yet ??
oh and pps
anyone who uses the phrase ‘Gosh’ in their daily vocab cannot be taken seriously
Don’t care who plays DM holding as long as it’s not Hargreaves!
I like Carragher, but he’s no midfielder, Carrick brings a whole lot more to the team in that position. I think Carragher is a bit limited there. Have no idea why he brought Hargreaves on? And what did Walcott do? Nothing. Im sorry im not getting on this kids back but why the hell is he in and Jermain Defoe not? He is clearly lacking, he hardly even got a touch of the ball. Even Crouch got more touches! Im tired of cheering on 2nd rate England players, the World Cup hasn’t even started and im already fed up, and worried Sven is gonna fuk it all up again.
If Carragher did well, why was the first half England’s worst leading to wholesale changes in tactics for the second (with no Carra DM)?
Talk about blinkered Kopites
Comment by Anonymous
—————————————————-
You smart co*k, Carragher went to right back because neville was substituted because of some minor injury and Carra took that position because HE CAN play that position as well. I don’t deny playing right/left back and defensive midfielder is not his best position compared to being as a center back, but he’s no worst than many of the other players suggested.
By the way, when Carragher switched roles, didn’t Hungary score one and Hargraves was playing the DM which did not block the shot which led to the goal?
Talk about just being plain biased to liverpool players…ignorant scum
Has anyone ever watched Hargreaves play and understood why he is on the park. I keep reading good reviews of his club performances but have never been impressed with him in an England shirt.
Cole pulled off some great moves, and his contribution to Crouch’s goal was superb, but I think defenders are starting to figure him out. His quick foot movements don’t seem to bamboozle them as often as they used to. Percentage wise, his trickery seems to work less often.
Great game by Carra, in both positions.
I disagree totally……I thought Carra had a good game. I think Sven’s aim was to have a defensive midfielder with centre back experience - so that Terry and Ferdinand could advance with the ball when able to……with Carra switching to CB as temporary cover.
It was a solid, no-nonsense performance, so why are people making such a fuss?
You probably know fook all about footy. Leave your name next time you write such a biased article…..$hitb@g.
Didn’t look like Gerrard was touched for the penalty. Mind you, I’d have taken that leap as well when seeing the tackle coming in.
Cole also guilty of diving - won a free kick with a spectacular fall when barely hindered.
My main worry is any WC refs watching these friendlies. We could have genuine claims turned down as the refs may feel the playes are trying to con them.
my main concern was crouch’s celebration! god, the rest of the world are gonna think we’re a right bunch of knobs if he does that in the WC!
“my main concern was crouch’s celebration! god, the rest of the world are gonna think we’re a right bunch of knobs if he does that in the WC!
Comment by jackson5″
It was just his Cyberman impersonation - he’s been watching too much Dr Who!
Thought Carra did ok last night defo better than Hargreaves but even tho Carra is a quality player not sure if he’s the man in that position. Watched Carrick last summer and thought he did well in that position for Englands tour of US. Know he didn’t play well against Belarus but neither did alot of first team players after a long season.
Carrick is more than capable of breaking up attacks. OK so when spurs have the ball he is fantastic and helping us retain possession but people seem to forget about his defensive capabilities. He does not run around like a bull in a china shop with loads of dangerous sliding tackles giving away free kicks outside the area. No it is his positional play and his interceptions that make him a great DM. He may not get much attention but if you watch him carefully his defensive contribution is immense.
Carra did precisely what I said he would do. No fuss. Defensively almost faultless. Picked out a safe pass when he had possession.
In fact he was one of the more creative players in the first half, charging forward a few times and getting a couple of decent balls into the box.
He isn’t a natural there - no great 40 yard passes, no fancy moves to get out of trouble, just a reliable force to break up the opposition’s moves and get the ball moving again for England.
As for Hargreaves, its fair to say he did look more attacking than Carra, but he didn’t contribute much to any of the goals we scored. And he was entirely at fault for their goal, failing to get anywhere near close enough to his man and sticking a feeble foot out after the shot had already passed him.
Carrick is only going to get better. He stepped up to the plate in the US. Hes the option we should use against less attacking teams as his movement of the ball and passing are brilliant. However against the like of brazil kedly knig would have been ideal because of his defensive abilities, Sven is trying to replace him with the scouser.
To be honest, I would not lose sleep if Carra did not play that position and i’m a Liverpool fan. I’d like Carra to get some rest whilst other players take the blame for goals conceded.
Good article but i wonder if it doesn’t give Sven enough credit? If Carrick would have played in that role, our WC opponents would have seen how he works in that role and planned strategies for how to deal with him in the WCup.
I think Sven is doing exactly the right thing in playing the other two there. You look at the two warm-up games and he has given everyone a run out, has got Walcott’s first cap out of the way, has tried a new system -got everyone used to it apart from the one player he knows can play in that system so doesn’t need the practice.
I fully expect Carrick to have the shirt against Paraguay but what’s the harm in trying another couple of players in an unfamiliar role in case something happens to Carrick?
To deal with a couple of comments above - Carrick is described as lightweight because he doesn’t kick the opponents round like Paul Ince or David Batty used to. What he tends to do is fill the gaps, prevent 2-on-1s and do the little things that make the team tick. Players like Deschamps and Dunga did similar and in him we have a gem to do that job. Last ditch blood-and-thunder tackles aren’t necessary when you’re in the right position to start with.
As for Carragher - showed again can play anywhere you ask him to and is a solid, dependable team player who will give it 100%. If Carrick gets injured he would be straight on the pitch in my book. (Please god not Hargreaves though!)
Rest of Spurs players there - Robbo in goal of course, would put Lennon on the bench. JJ only in an emergency if we have injuries.
Gary (Spurs fan)
Five times you really dont know what you’re talking about. Go watch the tennis.
Everyone knows Carrick is the best man for the role, he has everything you could want from a player to play in that position. He’s also liable to pop up and get you a goal..i know he hasnt been on fire for Spurs this season but he can strike a ball.
Have you Scouse clowns not got a Liverpool site where you can have your ill thought out rants. You make me laugh, it is your national team on the cusp of the world cup and instead of getting behind your team you spend your time slagging off players from other clubs. To completely dismiss Michael Carrick because of one bad 45 minutes displays a lack of knowledge of the nature of football and a gold-fish like memory of past performances. More balance is required in your analysis.
Carragher is a shining example to all youngsters of little ability that you CAN make a career for yourself in footy!
Feel Carricks defensive abilities are getting a little over looked, Carrick is a clever player off the ball and offers the team an extra dimension with his passing. I do feel carragher is brilliant defensively but lacks the killer pass. While Carrick can fill in the gaps at the back and prevent us from being outnumbered but at anytime can create defence splitting passing. I agree with comparisons between Carrick to Deschamps and Dunga. Outcome for me is both can do a top job for England but Carrick I think will rise to the ocassion and edge it.