Jamie Carragher has refuted suggestions that he is planning to retire in the next couple of years. The press has been saturated this week with stories about Carra retiring in the next couple of years, but according to the man himself, it's all press spin.
Earlier in the week, Carra was asked how long he had left in the game, to which he responded:
"Ask Kenny. He picks the team. It will be up to the coaching staff I suppose. You want to try to get as much out of your career and play as long as possible. The time will come in the next 12, 18 months, maybe two years. That won't be down to myself. It will be down to the people around me, the staff, the manager. They will decide.'
Last night, Carra was asked if he was really planning to retire so soon, and the Liverpool vice-captain was emphatic in his response:
"No, as always it's the press; no matter what you say they twist it in a different way. I just got asked how long I'd be playing, and I just said it would be up to the managers and the staff at Liverpool more than myself.
"Kenny picks the team, and the day will come when he stops picking me, and that'll probably be the day when I have to finish as I wouldn't enjoy being a substitute too much. I don't know when Kenny will stop picking me so that was all that it was".
Obviously, Carra wants to play on for as long as he can but he's realistic enough to know that he probably won't have much choice about the timing of his retirement. I think it's clear from his comments: when he's no longer picked for the first team, he'll retire.
When that will be though is anybody's guess, but I think he'll still be at Liverpool for at least another three years.
Jaimie Kanwar
Earlier in the week, Carra was asked how long he had left in the game, to which he responded:
"Ask Kenny. He picks the team. It will be up to the coaching staff I suppose. You want to try to get as much out of your career and play as long as possible. The time will come in the next 12, 18 months, maybe two years. That won't be down to myself. It will be down to the people around me, the staff, the manager. They will decide.'
Last night, Carra was asked if he was really planning to retire so soon, and the Liverpool vice-captain was emphatic in his response:
"No, as always it's the press; no matter what you say they twist it in a different way. I just got asked how long I'd be playing, and I just said it would be up to the managers and the staff at Liverpool more than myself.
"Kenny picks the team, and the day will come when he stops picking me, and that'll probably be the day when I have to finish as I wouldn't enjoy being a substitute too much. I don't know when Kenny will stop picking me so that was all that it was".
Obviously, Carra wants to play on for as long as he can but he's realistic enough to know that he probably won't have much choice about the timing of his retirement. I think it's clear from his comments: when he's no longer picked for the first team, he'll retire.
When that will be though is anybody's guess, but I think he'll still be at Liverpool for at least another three years.
Jaimie Kanwar
Not an exclusive as you didn't ask the question did you? Shithouse!
ReplyDeleteSee you next Sunday at the Rafa Q&A
We are going to be trophy less for at least...lets say...another three years then.
ReplyDeletethree years? Id be the happiest man if someone would guarantee me we wont win anything in just 3 years, I think it will be way more than that, all we get is average expensive players who of course fail to prove their worth so with these players we got winning a trophy would be a miracle.
ReplyDeleteHow exactly is this exclusive? this interview is from another news source.
ReplyDeleteI reckon Carragher is looking to management and coaching already and his thinking about his Gary Neville moments in games recently that made Neville realise he was struggling. Back to his best though for the last couple of games.
ReplyDeleteCarragher also said England are cheating for having a foreign manager so does that count at club level as well seeing that Kenny and Clarke are Scottish and Man United,Arsenal,Chelsea and Man City are cheating as well and they should have an English man from the City as manager? This is the real reason why England have a foreign manager because their are non at the top clubs except for Harry Redknapp and he still has n't got Spurs involved in Champions League regulary or looked like winning the league.
Does n't talk about having to many foreigners cause anxiety in the club and should be saved for when he retires seeing that we are owned by Americans and most of the investment in the club comes from companies like Addidas,Carlsberg and Standard Charter?
Well said
ReplyDeleteCarragher was good whilst Sami Hypia was with him..made life easy for him but since Hypia left we have lost numerous games by carraghers mistakes i.e. handballs ..own goals..penalty's..being ripped to shreds by anyone with pace...the quicker he retires the better for us.
ReplyDeleteHow exactly is this exclusive when the interview was given to another website?
ReplyDeleteTypical modern day LFC fan, go support city or chelsea.
ReplyDeleteCarra was done three years ago. And in our era of dominance, he would have been long since gone. His mistakes now are cropping up in loads of consecutive games. It's sad to witness.
ReplyDeleteIf only kenny had bought Cahill for 20million instead of Henderson..i think Henderson will not offer us anything substantial this season. but Cahill would have made us stronger at the back
ReplyDeleteThe problem with Carragher of late has been his slow starts to each season, a sign of age I guess. once he gets goin i think hes top class and unfortunatly any mistake is instantly jumped on by fans saying hes aging.
ReplyDeleteHowever lets not forget since hes been playing of the right of centre hes had to deal with constantly changing rightbacks and the likes of skrtle beside him...probably doesnt help him much.
Shocked by the level of disrespect on this website. Even if your opinion is that Carragher's best days are behind him, this man is a legend and deserves to be treated as such, not in the cynical, shortsighted way that I'm reading above.
ReplyDeleteI couldn't agree more, all you hear is fans saying we want people who want to play for the club and not prima donas, Barring super stevie is there anyone who wants to play for lfc more than carra?? He never had speed he had what he still has an amazing gift for reading the game. Plenty of players have "down periods" in their game but that doesn't mean that as a player they are done. I am really starting to wonder if this is a contingent of fans who are not true fans and just glory hunters, or if as a fan base they have just forgotten the true meaning of "You'll never walk alone". Either way I trust KK judgement more than any on-looker and if he thinks he is fit enough to start at the ripe old age of 70 then I will back that decision. JFT96 YNWA In King Kenny we trust. Don't buy the Scum or daily fail papers.
ReplyDeletehe's a liverpool lad playin for liverpool. that's how it should be. if you can do better get your boots on get down the park. try looking up the word SUPPORTer's
ReplyDeletewell said
ReplyDeleteCarragher is a Liverpool lad brought up an Everton fan playing for Liverpool.
ReplyDeleteWe do need to be looking at another high class center half to come in as under study to Carragher before it is to late because Carragher is great at organising the defence which can't be taught on the training ground.
ReplyDeletevery true but dont forget coates Who I feel probably hasn't been played alot due to this reason and that next year we will start to see alot more of him. Along with wilson and other such loans and youth he is guaranteed to be passing his wealth of knowledge on. Although some things just cannot be taught ;^)
ReplyDeleteIncredible. So I have to support Carra in order to be called a true fan of LFC? Football is a game full of emotions but still essentially a game. The aim of most games is to win unless that is of course you believe in the old corrupted adage that "it's the taking part that counts". When Carra retires he'll have a bag full of money and memories that he is fully entitled to. When we pay our season ticket money or post on forums we support in very much the same way we support of wives, children, government or war.....critically. Removing the critical aspect of supporting makes us sheep. I believe they go hand in hand and always will.
ReplyDeleteFirstly point to where I state anything about true fans HAVING to support Carra?? But any fan knows that supporting a team is also supporting the main aspects of the team which Carra is. To deny him the right of being exactly that, is to deny his career of the recognition it deserves, If he still has the manager behind him and the achievements he has gained. As I stated before I will back KK in this decision over any on-looker fan or otherwise. I was talking about "A contingent of fans" and for you to take this as a personal attack on you, would suggest YOU feel you are a part of that contingent, or someone who trolls the internet trying to pick holes in other peoples views, instead of justifying their own.
ReplyDeleteStop blaming the press for "twisting your words" Carra. Instead, learn to enunciate your words clearly.
ReplyDeleteSays a whole lot about King Kenny, doesn't it?
ReplyDeleteStop offering excuses for a Carragher who at best, is merely a 60-yard hoofer of a ball. And stop flattering yourself into believing that you have the verbosity of a decent writer.
ReplyDeleteIs your last sentence meant for Carra?
ReplyDeleteAgreed
ReplyDeleteCouldn't carragher pass his wealth of knowledge on from the sidelines rather than be on the pitch and against the better teams all he does is put pressure on the rest of the team. The keeper has a problem by having him as his last line of defense ...the other defenders cannot do their duties to the max because of being vulnerable in the central area..and the central midfielder has to be even more defensive to help Carra.
ReplyDeleteCome January ..hope kenny spends 20million on Cahill and partners him with Agger and the back will be at full strength.
No-one is flattering anyone bell end its called having a valid opinion, but clearly the last line of my last statement includes you
ReplyDeleteRob I'm guessing as you haven't had anything half inciteful to say that you are just a troll?? Just for clarification I don't mean the type that lives under a bridge (although I suspect highly possible given your level of reply), but more the type who runs around the internet looking for peoples views to attempt (and I use the word loosely) to discredit because you have no valid point or justification of your own. Grow up and come back when you want to have a conversation about real football not just quote whatever your favourite passage is from your (footballing for dummies) booklet.
ReplyDeleteCarra among many others. Anyone can be taught the beautiful game, however 1 thing you cant teach is an incredible ability for reading the game i.e. giggs, Gerrard, Carra, Tevez etc
ReplyDeleteWhilst I disagree with your point, it is a fair point at least, I still feel he has a lot to offer the club and partnered with the correct CD, still a pivotal part of the squad. It is true he has fallen behind his game recently but, seems to be recovering from it. We can't really heavily on Agger due to his continuing injury issues (although on his day there is no doubt he deserves his place). As of next year I expect to see Coates being used more regularly and Agger or Skrtel moved on to make way for another quality CB. Cahill is one option but not the only option ;^)
ReplyDeleteLets be honest Carra has always been regarded as a last ditch defender. Great readers of the game like Tony Adams and Hyppia snuff the danger out before they ever feel the need to make a last ditch effort. Carra was a great last ditch defender but don't be deluded that he was ever a Hyypia type defender because he wasn't. He relied on that yard of pace that he used to have. H
ReplyDeleteIf we are going to be honest he never had pace, which makes me laugh when people say he is losing his pace, In earlier years Carra wasn't the best defender but even though he has started most seasons quite slow, he has always improved as the season wore on. He has been a main stayer at the back for years now (although not the full 15 years he has been there). He has had to consistently deal with changing partners at the back, but was a part of the most solid defensive pairing in the prem, for a number of years, and with the right partner could do so for another couple of years yet.
ReplyDelete