17 Sept 2012

Sad news as LFC star confirms: This is my 'last year at Anfield...'

Much to the frustration of Jamie Carragher, Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers' team selections show that Martin Skrtel/Daniel Agger is his preferred central defensive partnership. Consequently, Carra's pitch time is increasingly limited these days, and the experienced defender has now given the strongest indication yet that he could retire at the end of the season.

In an interview yesterday, Carra revealed his regrets that Liverpool were 'never really good enough' to win the league during his 17-year stint, and seemed resigned to the possibility that his football career could almost be over. He observed:

"To be honest, I’ve got a year to go [at Liverpool], and it might be my last year in football. I don’t want to think about it too much, even though I do think about it a lot. I just want to enjoy it as much as possible

"It doesn’t worry me. I wouldn’t say I’m looking forward to finishing, that would be wrong, but I wouldn’t say I’m terrified about it either. When it does finish I can look back and say, “That was brilliant, that was great"


Time waits for no man, and sadly, the bell now tolls for Carra, a player continues to be a fantastic ambassador for Liverpool FC, and football in general.

I still vividly remember Carra breaking into the first team in 1997, and his partnership with Sami Hyypia still remains was one of the best I've ever seen.

I first saw Carra play live in 1999, in the 2-2 draw with Manchester United at Anfield. Unfortunately, he had a pretty poor game, and gave away a penalty after hammering Jesper Blomqvist with a Karate kick to to chest :-) (Not that I approve of outright assault on Man United's players...)

It will be the end of an era when Carra finally retires, but with his experience and know-how, I'm sure he'll back in the game in a coaching capacity in next to no time. Perhaps even at Anfield...

Jaimie Kanwar


68 comments:

  1. Great servant to the club, YNWA. Sad to see him come to the end, but it would be worse to see him keep playing and the fans turn against him.

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  2. It is sad that he and gerrard won't have a chance to hold the premier league champion...

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  3. We can still win the league this season! Who's with me...?

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  4. at least he won the champions league!

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  5. Gerrard may well do he has at least another 3 years in him

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  6. Carragher has made the most of his talent and has always given his all for LFC.
    Even when I have disagreed with his attitude to some players it's always been for the right reasons.


    Jaimie, I was watching Carra with Brendan Rogers and they were involved in a long deep technical discussion about the game.
    Also having watched his analysis during the Euros this summer it's clear that he's a deep thinker about the game and has learnt of some of the most influential managers in the game, Evans,Houllier,Benetiz,Dalglish & more recently with Rogers will stand him in good stead IF he goes in to coaching and managing.


    He has the respect of LFC players past and present as well as Arsenal,Chelsea & Man United.
    None of them ever enjoyed playing against him.


    I know it's a little early but he's antics in Istanbul were one or the reasons we won that night

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  7. When Rafa dropped Stephene Henchoz I thought what on earth are you doing breaking the Hyypia-Henchoz partnership? But Carragher really blossomed next to Hyypia and if I'm not mistaken broke the clubs clean sheet record together? Just a shame that he is in the final part of his career, hopefully a Europa League success will be a fairwell gift.

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  8. Agree, his analysis during the Euro's was very interesting, and I have a feeling he'll go into TV punditry for a while before entering management. As you say though, what an education: Evans, Houllier, Benitez, Dalglish, Hodgson (irrespective of LFC, still an experienced manager), and Rodgers. I wonder from whom he'd take the most knowledge, and who he'd be most like?

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  9. I felt exactly the same at the time. I loved the Henchoz-Hyypia partnership, but it was clearly a good decision.

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  10. not many lol carragher great servant hope he considers moving on still as a lot to other maybe a league or two down

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  11. Rubbish player and a liability

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  12. Rubbish and a liability and a rubbish site. do something better Jamie!

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  13. Rubbish and a liability and a rubbish site. do something better Jamie! Ok!

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  14. Rubbish and a liability and a rubbish site. do something better Jamie! Rubbish site

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  15. id hope for a mixture of king kenny and benitez with evans manner

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  16. One things certain he'll have to lose that scouse accent when phoning player trying to convince them to come to LFC

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  17. Why is it a sad news, i am delighted to see him come to the end because last season he was crap.I also think his Ogoal at Spur cost us the league in 2009.

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  18. Should have been benched after the 08-09 season. Been a liability since.

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  19. I remember 11 years ago or so. Liverpool was playing a pre season friendly against city at main road.City I think had just got promotion then. I got tickets and at half time met a friend when buying drinks and he tod me to come and sit over with him and his mate. Low and behold carragher was sitting behind him on his own. He wasn`t selected for the match.
    Me being the menace that I am shouted out our first 11 team and then looked at carragher and said sorry son your on the bench. He looked at me as if to say what planet am I on and oh boy did he prove me wrong.


    What a top geezer. A future manager even before Gerrard in my opinion.

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  20. Rarely injured, tough as nails, Jamie Carragher for you. Sad to see a legend go but I think it's the right decision for both club and player. Wonder who the replacement would be. Coady? Wisdom?

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  21. Also many Controversy, 1998 Christmas party where he was naked with a stripper and whipped cream, before he allegedly had sex in front of everyonedoing a doggy style.On 28 February 2008, Carragher was arrested and cautioned for assault outside a school near his home in Crosby

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  22. Pray not Jaimie. The last thing we want is a team of HOOFERS!

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  23. I am with you. Our prayers are finally answered.

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  24. and as for your blatant destruction of a man who cares more about the club from his cut fingernails than you. go and support another team

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  25. He is still defending very well for Liverpool.

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  26. Really hope your right as he's looked a shadow of himself for a while now.

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  27. what is wrong with you ? i said something you didnt like i have to go and support another team? so you want him to play for ever even he is now crap, i bet you love his hoofball

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  28. tears will flow when it becomes official....ynwa

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  29. Thank god for that, happy retirement!!! could you ask your mate stevie G to join you?

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  30. yea all we have to do is ask every other team to roll over and we have it in the bag!!!

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  31. Totally Agree thing is the tight Bas-tards at Liverpool dont really have a replacement

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  32. It is sad to hear that Jamie Carragher is hinting at calling it quits on his Liverpool career. He has been a great servant of the club of that there is no doubt. Mr Carragher saw himself lose his starting spot to Daniel Agger under Brendan Rodgers and he began to wonder if he was really making a difference in the team.


    With veteran players it is always tricky for management. Especially if they are injury prone. For example Ryan Giggs is used rather sparingly by Sir Alex, he doesn't start every game for United , At a certain age constant play just means more time on the treatment table for veteran players. Another great example is the captain of AS Roma Francisco Totti. He has been a great servant of the "Eternal City club," for nearly two decades just like Carragher has for Liverpool. Totti has in recent seasons missed a lot of games for AS Roma due to injury. It is normal for Jamie Carragher to feel the way he does about his reduced minutes. It is a blow to a players ego if he feels that he that younger less talented players are shown more favorism over him.


    I think that Carragher can go the route of other veteran players when they are not getting the minutes they would like. I think he can decide to come to America and play for Major League Soccer(MLS). MLS is our league over here and it is known affectionately "as a place where great players go to die!" Carragher can come in at his advanced age and be guaranteed a start every game and a great salary. it is a non pressure league where he could play for a couple more years till he decided to hang up his boots. With players like Beckham, Henry, Tim Cahill, Rafeal Marquez, Eider Gudjohnson ( and many others) he would be certainly in good company.


    It is obvious that Brendan Rodgers is not playing Carragher regularly in a bid to keep him from getting unnecessary injuries. Just an opinion here that's all.

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  33. He's scouse, He's Sound,
    He'll Twat you with a pound,
    Carragher Carragher

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  34. You first saw Carra play live in 1999??? Does that mean you first went to Anfield in 1999???? How old are you son? And how long you been supporting the Reds?

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  35. No, I first went to Anfield in 1986. I was studying from 1997-2001, so I didn't get the chance to get to Anfield that much due during that period due costs/location/studying etc. Basically, I was a poor student (cue violins), and I had to cut back on luxuries for a while.

    I'm 34, and I've been supporting LFC for about 29 years now (well, my earliest memories of LFC are from the 1982-3 season)

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  36. A legend by anybody's standards!!!!

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  37. I don't usually admire the LEGEND talk for local lads
    But he stood out for me and definitely had talent.
    You don't get into PFA team of the year unless you have TALENT
    so for me he is a LEGEND

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  38. Well, that didn't come as a surprise, did it. Thanks for the great service you gave to the club.

    Anyhow, Carra as manager? You should better think twice. It is well reported that he wasn't very fond of having so many foreigners in our squad (his missus couldn't talk to their wives). We might go all British if he were to manage us. Reminds me of the glorious summer of 2011. He'd probably make a pretty good coach, though.

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  39. Will miss the commitment. Not been great in the twilight of his career but will always remember the Hyppia-Carra combo, which helped to elevate him as one of the better defenders around.

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  40. great lad,not given proper credit as a cenre half....by other club fans anyway.

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  41. he's been a liability the past season or two but was a top player for us.
    him and hyypia together were an excellent partnership.

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  42. At one point "we all dreamed of a team of carraghers". Legend but his time is coming to an end.

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  43. If you have nothing positive to say about if dont post , save your crap for man u

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  44. Respect his achievements and commitment to the club he gave 110% every game. You cant even be bothered to write own instead you have Ogoal, I mean you are to lazy to put the s at the end of spurs!

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  45. And you my friend is equally guilty of laziness in not putting an additional 'o' to the word 'too'.

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  46. Of course, Carra makes a difference in the team. With him, the team is weaker. Period!

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  47. True guess that makes me about half as lazy L4ever.

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  48. While we are doing grammar jack, you shout have written you my friend are equally guilty, not is guilty. :-)

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  49. ha ha your story brung a tear to my eye jaimie

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  50. we can... it's still early! lol

    Win this wkend is important though!! otherwise the gap just starts getting ridiculous...

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  51. he has always given his everything on the pitch, there's no doubt about that. but unfortunately the modern football is not for him.nowadays we dont just expect defenders to hit the ball high and far each and every time he gets the ball. instead defenders are expected to be involved in the passing the ball and creating attacks. carra has never had these qualities sorry to say that. and am afraid to say so but even a young jamie carragher would not have had his place in this new modern way of playing. thats a fact

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  52. Erm, where did he "confirm" this? "It might be my last year". I "might" win the lottery on Saturday, but am by no means confirming this.

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  53. He also said 'to be honest I've got one year left'. Pretty clear to me. His 'might' comment refers to his retirement, not to LFC. #astonishingfootballpedant



    Sent from Samsung Galaxy Note

    -------- Original message --------
    Subject: [liverpoolkop] Re: Sad news as LFC star confirms: This is my 'last year at Anfield...' | Liverpool-Kop.com

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  54. Hope the likes of homegrown lads Kelly, Robinson and Flanagan can replicate his love for the club as well as his quality at the peak of his powers. Always good to see a homegrown lad make it in the long term at the club, especially as committed as Carra.

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  55. Yes, one year left on his current contract, that doesn't make it quite so clear to me. See what you've done there, that's called "conjecture". Great journalism, well done. #manipulatingstoriestogetmorehitsandfinishingnearlyeverypostwithaquestionmark

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  56. AndWithSuchSimplicity12:10 am, September 19, 2012

    If we couldn't get anywhere near with the squad we had last year, how on earth are we going to win it this year??

    :(

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  57. Yet again, it'll be a year too late - we should've encouraged Carragher to step down gracefully in the summer (and save the club a bucketload in wages) rather than spend a year sitting on the bench/holding back younger players from getting game time.

    In the same way we should've allowed Kuyt, Maxi et al to move last year when deals were on the table, especially if management knew that they were only going to remain at the club on their massive wages as fringe players.
    Unfortunately LFC doesn't seem to be very good at laying out even the simplest of plans for the future.

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  58. It's always sad to see the end of an era, but I honestly think that the right time to move on was during the summer, if not last summer.


    Coates, Kelly & Wisdom are all ready to step up and perform a job at least equal to that of Carragher's standard (and as far as I'm concerned, not too far off of Skrtel's standard, who appears to have reverted back to the boneheaded, foul-prone defender of yesteryear imho)

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  59. Well, I think we definitely have a better squad this year, so fear not!

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