9 Mar 2013

Summer boost: Carra reveals interesting 'fact' about LFC's transfer plans

Much to the disappointment of Liverpool fans everywhere, Reds legend Jamie Carragher has today reiterated his intention to retire this summer. In the course of explaining his decision (again) Carra made it clear that he's not happy to sit on the bench, and he also indirectly confirmed that there will be major changes in the LFC's defensive unit over the summer.

Earlier this week, Reds legend John Aldridge made a public plea for Carra to play on for another year, but in an interview with the Liverpool Echo, the 35-year old confirmed that:

* He'd 'not had any second thought just because things are going well'

* He 'wants to go out on a hight', proving that he can 'still perform' at the highest level.

Carra also revealed a tidbit of potentially important information about the club's summer transfer activities, and suggested that one of the reasons he's retiring in May is due to increased competition coming to the club. He explained:

"Obviously the previous 12 months had been difficult in terms of starting games. I could play on for another season but the fact is the club will be buying players in my position in the summer and I can't go back to being a substitute again."

Carra - who is obviously 'in the know' at Anfield - says the club will be buying' players' (plural), which suggest that Brendan Rodgers may be looking at a complete overhaul of the club's central defensive positions. So, what could this mean? Who is leaving, and who could be coming in? I think the following will happen:

* Skrtel, Coates (plus Carra) out.
* Daniel Agger to stay (Rodgers loves him)
* Two first choice centre-backs to come in, plus a youngster to replace Coates.

I wouldn't be too unhappy if Liverpool sold both Agger and Skrtel in the summer, but in terms of transitioning, it wouldn't make sense to get rid of both the club's senior central defenders at the same time.

An influx of new defenders could provide Agger with the much-needed competition for his place, which would force him to up his level and minimise the costly mistakes that have blighted his season.



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46 comments:

  1. if carra is going to retire it should be his last start tomorrow if we lose to spurs gives us time to try other options he should defo start the last game of the season thou,or at least be made to leave the club on a high ,even jaimie would not begrudge a dodgy pen if cara was to take it and score

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  2. Innocent ogbonnaya7:27 pm, March 09, 2013

    Ager should stay.but there has 2 be plea 4 him 2 stay,just like suarez.but I maintain we need 2 back players,a cover pointman n keeper n maybe a midle man incase lucas gets injured n I bet u lfc will tear teams next season.

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  3.  Agger is one of the best CB's in Europe be stupid selling him.

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  4. I dont understand why it should be his last start tomorrow? We should be trying to win games and picking the best 11 from now til the end of the season and if Carra is in the best 11 then he starts games regardless of age. I think Coates should br loaned out to another Premiership club, increasing his value hopefully or seeing whether he can make leaps and bounds and become an important player. Hes still very young. Skrtel for me was our player of the year last season, personally though i think both him and Agger have been disappointing.

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  5. i was thinking of giving wisdom a run to see how he copes

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  6.  If we lose to spurs tomorrow we may as well start trying a few players in a few positions to see how thay cope

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  7. thats what i am saying m8 even if we draw the seasons over imo evenif we win we will not get forth so lets see what we have as a squad

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  8. What is a pointman??

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  9. We have 10 games left of which two of them are against Spurs and Chelsea contenders for Champions League. If we win tomorrow it will help significantly in closing the gap down. That's all we can do, that alone will build pressure. How? Teams like Spurs, Chelsea, Arsenal even Everton will have to win if they want to maintain the gap. Look at the fixtures Liverpool and Arsenal have a much easier remaining games compared to others.   

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  10. As much stick as our CBs got, and I am one of their harshest critics, we have conceded the least in the league at home except for ManC(and with an equal record to Chelsea).
    Away from home we have been terrible and have conceded more than the current top 6, Swansea and Stoke. I don't know who's to blame, but obviously we have not had a terrible season defence-wise, just a bad one.

    Yes, there were some terrible mistakes by Reina, Skrtel, Agger and Carra, but I don't think we need a massive overhaul, since both Agger and Skrtel have the abilty as they have demonstrated in the past.

    IMO we simply need strong competition for places which will drive our current CBs to play at the top of their game week in week out, or be aware they're gonna be dropped and have to wait for one of the players that took their place to underperform.

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  11. I'm guessing a striker, as in 'on point', being at the front of the team.

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  12. Ashley Williams and Ryan Shawcross would be interesting.

    I wouldn't be sad to see Skrtel leave.

    Agger is classy, but has been badly exposed a few times, especially by Lukaku recently.

    Agree that losing both at the same time could be dodgy, unless we make the deals early

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  13. You are a manc cunt Jamie

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  14. Tbh, I can see us replacing Carragher and Skrtel but if we sell Coates (or loan), I expect Kelly, Wisdom or Sama stepping in. I actually hope that's what will happen at least

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  15. dont agree on shawcross . think he holds too many players and instead of the ball hes more intrested in holding instead of attacking the ball . hes been at stoke to long and thats the way him and huth defend its just a pity the epl refeerees let then get away with this sort of defending

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  16. Your post is so badly written I now have brain cancer from reading it!

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  17. As I always say, we need cover for Agger. Left footed centrebacks don't come by easily. It is easy enough to replace Skrtel or Coates because they are right footers. Shawcross please!

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  18. If Liverpool do scrape up the money to buy some players, we should prioritise the main positions we are getting rid of. At least 2 central defenders IMO because carragher and possibly skyrtl + Coates are going... Possibly holger badstauber from munchen or Ezekiel garay as 2 potential bricks in defence... Also we need a target man for cover if sturridge or Suarez get injured. Possibly Rodrigo from benfica as they produce a lot of talent. Finally we need a defensive minded midfielder like Scott Parker to replace Lucas leiva as he is injury prone

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  19. This is a topic, come end of the season. On hand now we have to look at the next game.  With Bale on fire, GJ is going to have a busy game. If Carra plays, will he be able to cope with Bale's pace when he comes in the middle. GJ has to stand his line and not try to bomb into attack too often. Spurs are dangerous on the counter and they will punish us.

    It would be interesting to see BR's defensive tactics for this one.
    Can he pull a master stroke on AVB?

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  20. People keep labeling Agger as one of the best CB's in Europe and fact is he's not..

    He flatters to deceive.. I've always likened Agger to a dressage horse.. look's lovely trotting out from the back with the ball from time to time but as an 'actual' defender he's often found wanting with some of the very basics.

    What we need is a Grand National horse.. a strong solid reliable guy to go the distance.. I think with Carra gone we are going to loose a bit of our bite at the back in the center.. which is vital

    Agger isn't strong enough .. Just look at the way Lukaku brushed past him recently in the 0-2 defeat to West Brom as an example.. He can't mark up in the box for a corner or free kick and is constantly loosing his man, while the ironic thing is he's actually a decent goal threat in the oppositions box from similar set pieces.

    Skirtel for all his tattoos and mean looking head is actually quite soft too.. although , present form excluded , has shown himself a more capable 'defender' than Agger.. player of the year last season.. and it was a fair enough shout.

    I'd love to see Martin Kelly given his chance in the centre.. His natural position. If he can put his injuries behind him, I believe we have a excellent strong (and local ) CB that will serve the club with distinction for year's to come .. a la Carra.

       

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  21. Sakho AND Ogbonna are left footed and you'd prefer a mid-table rugby player?

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  22. Anyone who wants Agger to be sold is a 100% clown.

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  23. You mention set pieces, but our defence at set pieces isn't man marking, it's zonal marking, so if a player in the zone that agger is marking moves to another zone, it's up to the defender marking that zone to pick him up, not Agger.

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  24. Lukaku has the ability to expose any CB

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  25. How is Lucas injury prone? He had a knee injury last season, the first injury of his career, he came back 2 months before his scheduled return, then picked up another injury, which was during his scheduled recovery time anyway. For a player who is 25 or 26 to have only had 2 injuries in his career, this hardly makes him injury prone. Why do we need to get rid of Lucas for being injury prone, but keep Gerrard, who is much more injury prone?

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  26. Bringing someone in to cover for Agger or any CB for that matter is not an issue. I see Agger as a problem itself. He has the propensity to ever-so-often commit school-boy errors in the heart of our defence that would make Titus Bramble look like an outstanding CB.

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  27. Yeah, I looked at the FA knockout game, Agger wasn't strong enough. Looked the same against the potters when we played them as well. We do need more toughness on D, but of the options we've got, I'm all for keeping Agger through the summer and seeing who we can get around him. Of all the defensive options, honestly the one I'd most like to keep is Enrique, but maybe moved to a more mid-field position rather than a back.

    But the Defense needs a major overhaul. With Carra gone, I can't see Coates, Johnson, Kelly or Skertl being the full time answers. And I think Wisdom needs a few years on loan to learn the game more and beef up a little. I hope Wisdom doesn't get signed elsewhere. But the D needs a total upgrade, and it wouldn't be a good idea to ship everyone off. So yeah, I'd keep Agger, as he's, I guess, the best of what's left. Still dreaming of a whole team of Carraghers.

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  28. Everyone is forgetting Rodgers wont just buy any good centre back. He will look for ball playing abilities as well at the back.

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  29. Mr. Point Of View6:45 am, March 10, 2013

    i think carra will be on stanby list just like Scholes did....

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  30. The type of CB BR is looking for (Ball playing CBs, who can carry the ball up & pass in between the back 5, rather than blast to clear); I hardly see any English CB fitting the system.  Skartel is a brilliant CB in traditional Sweeper Back position & in KKs more direct approach, he was one of our best players.  I don't think if Skartel doesn't fit in his system (apparently that's the case), I doubt Showcross, Williams or any English CB 'll do.   

    I think, BR 'll go for a pair of CBs, from Continental Europe or Latin America; one to start & a younger one as backup.  Only problem I see in Sakho is with Agger, he also is a left-footed CB/LB; but Howeads or Lovern fit's the bill perfectly.  For the backup CB, I am sure he 'll get one of De Virj, Martins Indi or Ismat Mirin.

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  31. have i said we should sell agger lol

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  32. so what its not going to happen ,so every side is going to crumble and lfc are going on a massive winning streak,our best run in the league this season is 2 wins on the trot,we have a chance against spurs due to them playing on thursday,also we have the derby as well

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  33. And thats why we are leaking goals from set pieces.
    Another important aspect that is lacking is communication. Defenders must constantly be shouting orders at each other. Carra is a fine example. he is constantly shouting and giving instructions throughout a game. proof of number of clean sheets since he's come on the first team. 

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  34. Good to note you've changed opinion about Agger,with the introduction of new modern style centre back partner & young backup,the competition will bring his best game forward,Agger is a red & always wants best for Liverpool,defensively we need left back competition for Enrique & we will have a defence ready to challenge in Premier & Champions league

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  35. I think the youngster who will replace coates will be kelly. agger will stay. skrtel 100% going. 2 in 2 out IMO. LB will be a free to £5M. Would love to see downing replaced by sanchez plus hendo replaced by eriksen. jonjo should be sold. a new keeper will defo come in. i just hope BR gets it right with purchases.

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  36. Maybe Barcelona should give up on Agger and turn their attention towards Bramble then........

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  37. carra and skrtel to leave. coates should go on season long loan. brendan should buy a quality cb to challenge agger and kelly for starting line up

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  38. ashley williams, de vries and erickson for midfield - maybe another young forward

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  39. Glad you don't know either.
    I assume its an expression from an American sport, adapted for football!

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  40. Have got to agree bout Lucas,he's a terrific player who's back from serious injury,he's someone we need to keep!with cover by Diame as a different option,not because injury prone,the guy can't have been watching reds for long.As for other posts thinking Agger,Johnson can go are nuts! Ok Agger knows he's had some off games & will put that right,as for Johnson he's had a great season,get a grip people.For me Skrtel & Coates will be going & carra is retired,if we get 2 C/backs & we're looking to strengthen attack,even perhaps Ericsson as attacking midfielder,next season shows promise & I for one can't wait,c'mon you mighty reds

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  41. Skrtel last season was magnificent but this season he has been off his game, perhaps the higher defensive line is causing him problems and exposing his shortcomings. I think Skrtel, Coates, Wilson, and Carrag (Ret), does mean we will need more than 1 CB coming in. Agger I think is a quality player, comfortable on the ball which is a quality in the CB positions most top teams look for, no wonder Barca' want him; I don't think we should let him go but with Barca' possibly being interested in Reina another one of our players, should they be willing to offer more than £50mil for the both of them, I that would see the deal go through. 

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  42. All Liverpool can do is win games, forget the positioning or whether its going to happen or not. We are out of all the domestic cups & Europe. Liverpool have nothing to loose team's above them will be under pressure. The win today will benefit Arsenal. It only takes a couple of draws or couple of losses and it will be considered a bad run. I'm not saying we are going to get Champions League.  But every win we get its a tiny bit of pressure for teams above us to maintain that distance. Reason why United coked it up last season. Maintaining a lead in points shows the quality of the team. 

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  43. I think this is a good blog and agree we need a couple of CBs

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  44. anyone thinks hes a great defender as in actually winning balls in the air and along the ground is a 100% clown

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  45. thank god !!! someone else who actually sees what I see !!!
    spot on...........
    2 soft goals today because of soft poor defending, like all this season and the last few seasons for that matter.
    well said

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  46. Agree m8 Agger is sound & will be staying with us, why are big teams offering top money for him,it happens most seasons but he wants to stay & Brendan is happy about that,Agger knows when his form drops & works to return to form,as for this Chris guy making horseracing comparison,what tosh,Aintree is the place if that's what he wants eh !

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