Aerial Worries

Leo No.8 · October 5, 2006

I think if you were to do a poll of who people's first choice centre-half pairing would be right now, a pretty strong majority would vote for Agger and Carragher.

Agger has been an absolute sensation this season, to the point where I'd actually say many would make him first choice. He's so composed on the ball, and I think that in particular has endeared him to fans greatly - everyone loves a skilful centre-half if he can defend as well. Hyypia is of course ageing (although not quite as quickly as some think!), and Carra has been a little out of form this season leaving the young Dane as most people's first choice directly in front of Reina.

When Carragher gets back to his best, it seems as though him and Agger will be first choice; however although I rate both players extremely highly I do have serious concerns about how susceptible we look aerially when they play together. I don't think that Carra not being the tallest centre-half has been an issue up until now because of having the nigh-on unbeatable in the air Hyypia next to him, to mark their tallest striker and head set-pieces and crosses away. With Sami starting to play less, it looks more of an issue to me.

Agger is OK in the air, as is Carra for his height, but my concern is that most sides have one forward who is dominant aerially, and without having one centre-half who can combat that, we may find ourselves conceding goals from crosses with greater regularity.

I'm not just looking at the goals we've conceded either (and we have conceded from a lot of headers this season so far), and knee-jerking about it, I'm looking at general play; I first worried about Agger and Carra's aerial capacity when in an otherwise fairly routine win against Newcastle, the only time they looked dangerous was when longer balls were flighted up to Ameobi, who in actual fact dominated them with the little service he did receive but they were that poor it wasn't really noticed. He's a strong lad, but no Alan Shearer.

Both Agger and Carra are more than happy to give back what they get; they are both strong and committed, can take the knocks and get back up. Both are also fantastic footballers in very different ways. However I'm just a little worried we may begin to be attacked more and more by the aerial route as Hyypia plays less, and whether that will mean that in the long term they may not work together as a partnership. At least in certain games against strikers like Ashton and Davies I wouldn't play the two together, and Paletta may come through to play with either /or of them in the future.

johngibo YPC · October 5, 2006

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