Liverpool FC Forum

by **Paul C** » Wed Jun 07, 2006 3:59 pm

How can Carra be ignored?

Jun 7 2006

By Robbie Fowler, Liverpool Echo

Jamie Carragher in action for England

WATCHING England's final warm-up match against Jamaica last Saturday, I was left speechless during one part of John Motson's commentary.

As he was talking to Mark Lawrenson about England's possible starting line-up against Paraguay, Motty suggested that the 11 who began against Jamaica would do so in Frankfurt this weekend.

Suddenly, though, he seemed flustered and felt the need to correct himself.

"Sorry," he said. "Gary Neville will come back in for Jamie Carragher at right-back, obviously."

Obviously what? Carra has played in England's last three matches in three different positions and could not have been more impressive.

I thought he was excellent in the holding role against Hungary but what more does he have to do to get credit from the so-called experts?

Some people have often wondered whether Carra offers enough going forward, but unless my eyes were deceiving me, I'm pretty sure I saw him surge into the box and deliver a perfect cross for Peter Crouch to score his second.

Play him as a right-back, central defender or central midfielder and he'll never let you down, but to suggest Neville should walk straight back into the team is at best grossly unfair and at worst, patronising.

Football is all about having the ability to take your chances and there is nothing more certain to weaken a squad than lack of competition for places.

When a player knows no matter how well he does that he will be dropped, there is nothing more demoralising.

Take it from me, I must be the only player in history who has been dropped after scoring a hat-trick - twice!

I read one column the other week that indicated he was happy just to be part of the squad.

Rubbish. The reason Carra gives 100% in every training session is because he is desperate to play.

He will hate being stuck in a hotel room uncertain about whether he will play or not.

In my opinion, he should be one of the first names on the teamsheet.

I know for a fact the Italians and the Spaniards can't believe Carra isn't first choice at centre-half.

We all think that at Melwood, too. Earlier this season, even the legendary Franco Baresi named Carra alongside John Terry as two of the best defenders in the world.

Having seen the heroics Carra performed in helping Liverpool win the European Cup, the AC Milan legend is hardly a bad judge, is he?

You'd be hard pressed to find four better defenders than Carra in the world.

He must be given the platform his talents deserve.

by **ivor_the_injun** » Wed Jun 07, 2006 4:01 pm

I just beat you to this one! I posted it a couple of minutes ago in the Carra thread.

by **Paul C** » Wed Jun 07, 2006 4:15 pm

ivor_the_injun wrote:I just beat you to this one! I posted it a couple of minutes ago in the Carra thread.

Oh

by **JBG** » Wed Jun 07, 2006 6:20 pm

Well, Robbie is a tinsy bit biased seeing that he absolutely hates Gary Neville.

by **Lando_Griffin** » Thu Jun 08, 2006 1:53 am

JBG wrote:Well, Robbie is a tinsy bit biased seeing that he absolutely hates Gary Neville.

He's right though!

How he can be dropped is beyond me. :no

by **babu** » Thu Jun 08, 2006 1:54 am

JBG wrote:Well, Robbie is a tinsy bit biased seeing that he absolutely hates Gary Neville.

but apart from his mum, who doesn't?

by **Lando_Griffin** » Thu Jun 08, 2006 1:56 am

babu wrote:
JBG wrote:Well, Robbie is a tinsy bit biased seeing that he absolutely hates Gary Neville.

but apart from his mum, who doesn't?

You mean she didn't pay someone to kick her in the stomach when she was pregnant?

Silly bitch. :angry:

by **kopite_1232002** » Thu Jun 08, 2006 2:01 am

it will be a :censored:

joke iv carra is dropped, the lad has played well in his last 3 games, i h8 nevil angers me inbred

by **The_Rock** » Thu Jun 08, 2006 3:36 am

Gray Nevil is an ugly midget...... he has no reason to be on TV

by **tel** » Thu Jun 08, 2006 7:26 am

I cant believe Carra isnt preferred to Ferdinand. He has twice the defensive talent and 100 times the committment

I also cant believe Fowler is not in the squad. He was the league's inform striker at the end of the season.

by **Espionage** » Thu Jun 08, 2006 7:49 am

^ I think that if it was Crouch that got injured instead of Rooney then Fowler would have been brought in, but basically Crouch and Fowler are pretty similiar and there would not be enough room for both. Rooney gets injured, you bring in another quick player (ala Walcott).
Great shout from Robbie though, hopefully it ends up putting more pressure on Sven...

by **EddieC** » Thu Jun 08, 2006 9:03 am

Espionage wrote:basically Crouch and Fowler are pretty similiar

Get a grip, Crouch is 6'7" and great at hold up play, maybe not the worlds greatest finisher, although he's starting to prove everyone wrong.

Fowlers a poacher, ok he's lost his pace, but he's a poacher nonetheless. What he isn't going to do is hold up the ball & bring the midfield into the game.

Similar? I think not.

by **GOAT** » Thu Jun 08, 2006 10:23 am

Spot on robbie, how they can leave carra out ill never understand

by **Rafa D** » Thu Jun 08, 2006 11:12 am

Fowler would never play for England again!!! He hates Sven and slated Sven in his book. Fowler is a legend but England talk isa ridiculous IMO.

*Back to topic*

Carra is a legend , I love the lad and I reckon he is one of the most consistent performers in the Premiership. However when he made the step up for England against Denmark, he looked out of his depth. Harsh but true words.

I was wondering why as he is easily a world class defender, but he restored his reputation in the last 3 England games by playing solidly at every position. The Denmark game was just a fluke. However Rio is a big game player as the 2002 WC showed, but me ...

I'd go Carra and Terry everytime

by **taff** » Thu Jun 08, 2006 1:13 pm

My main reservation about England winning the world cup is that I think Sven picks on reputation.

If we are being honest Ferdinand and Campbell are above Carra BUT and this is where I think Sven lacks as a manager, Carra is the form player. If you consider him partnering Terry then you have key figures in the tightest defences in the league. Ferdinand and Campbell, Campbell especially just do not deserve to take a place ahead of either of these two based on their current form.

With neville as much as I dislike him he has a great understanding with Beckham that will give England options.

There was an interesting programme about the 66 team and the fuss with Greaves being dropped but Alf Ramsay chose players in form who were part of a great team spirit. I cant help but think about the Rooney situation where England is waiting for him to be fit, well the team spirit must start now and not wait for a player to be ready, they must think they can win this with any squad player. The media is unhelpful at times but it must be ignored.

IMO Carra and Terry would give the team a solid platform and two vocal motivated players and I cant think how any other choice would be more appealing.

Liverpool FC Forum

Good carra article by robbie - From the echo

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