Time to Think the Unthinkable

[Gomez]

Is Carra past it? Does he still merit a starting place at CB?

 

He's not half the player he was 2-3 years ago, we have two fantastic CBs in Skrtel and Agger, one we are very likely to lose if we don't play him.

 

Maybe he just needs a rest, but our defence has been p*ss poor these last two matches, and it is effectively ended our season. Something needs doing.

[domlfc]

Is Carra past it? Does he still merit a starting place at CB?

 

He's not half the player he was 2-3 years ago, we have two fantastic CBs in Skrtel and Agger, one we are very likely to lose if we don't play him.

 

Maybe he just needs a rest, but our defence has been p*ss poor these last two matches, and it is effectively ended our season. Something needs doing.

Don't think this is the time to change things but next season......

[floyd the barber]

bloody weird time to post this....

 

didnt think he did a whole lot wrong tonight.....

[Case]

He's been excellent all season, but poor tonight and against Chelsea. BUT .... we had to chase two of those three games, and he's been left exposed. No way is he past it.

[smithdown]

Made several bad bad decisions tonight, no doubt about that.

 

Don't like him being the captain, tbh.

[dorgie]

Were it not for inexcusable individual errors by Mascherano, Arbeloa & Aurelio tonight, this post would not have happened.

[carrafan]

didnt think he did a whole lot wrong tonight.....

 

And if this thread was posted after he'd had a bad game, then the thread starter would have been called a kneejerk.

[Rahul]

Not saying anything against Carra specifically but what the f*ck has happened to our defence in the last month? Can't believe how vulnerable we look at the back. If we hadn't defended so poorly and still drawn then fair enough, but the fact that we've pretty much given them most their goals takes the p1ss.

[carrafan]

Thought Mascherano was playing too high up the pitch today in a game when we actually needed him to be a tad cautios as Arsenal are great on the counter. Alonso isnt a defensive midfielder, more a deep playmaker and i thought that Rafa should have ordered Masch to look after our centrebacks especially as Aurelio and Arbeloa were going forward that often.

 

Carra looked tired today, our whole team did by the end. Its the back end of a very tough season, so maybe thats understandable.

 

One reason i might consider dropping Carra is the promise of an extra 7-10 goals that Skrtel and Agger might bring next season. He's an absolute liability off attacking corners and doesnt even go upfront, nowadays. Skrtel and Agger also bring the ball forward better and have a half decent shot on both of them.

Edited April 21, 2009 by carrafan

[Gomez]

bloody weird time to post this....

 

Not blaming him for tonight, Masch, Webb, Arbeloa and Reina are all in the queue well ahead of him, been thinking it for a while. But our defence has been so disorganised for so many of the goals we've conceded these last two matches, Something does need to be done. It cannot be allowed to continue. Four all, Four f*cking all! that's a f**king newcastle score, a Roy Evans score not a Liverpool score.

 

And BTW, by the time we play Hull, this season will almost certainly be over. It's over.

 

He's been excellent all season, but poor tonight and against Chelsea. BUT .... we had to chase two of those three games, and he's been left exposed. No way is he past it.

OK, maybe not past it, but maybe it is also time to give Agger and Skrtel a go? If it was judged on pure form, would he not have been 'rested' more? I would suggest sticking him at FB, but I don't think A&A have done anything to deserve dropping.

 

Ultimately, he isn't doing what he was doing 2-3 years ago when he was phenomenal, single handedly keeping the opposition out.

[Swipe]

He's looked poor lately. Looks tired.

[Falconhoof]

Early season, and for a good few months he was one of our better players. I'm not sure he's been at his best for a while now.

Mascherano was poor today. Defensively, right through the middle we were unpleasant to watch. It was amateur.

[Gomez]

He's looked poor lately. Looks tired.

 

I wouldn't even go so far as to say poor, Fowler knows, we've had our fair share of poor defenders, and JC hasn't come close to them, it's just that he's not been great, and unfortunately, we need great

[Ste M]

Thought Carra was very good myself.

 

The fact they created nothing (did they even get a corner?) shows the defence did play well. Bar the obvious.

[smithdown]

Thought Mascherano was playing too high up the pitch today in a game when we actually needed him to be a tad cautios as Arsenal are great on the counter. .

 

For some reason he seemed to have it in his head that he's a boss dribbler tonight - was screaming at him to stay close to the centre halves and leave well alone. Don't think he made a tackle or closed anyone down all night.

[Bootle Buck]

Against Chelsea twice and tonight we completely played out of character and left ourselves wide open. When we play that way Carra always seems to look really ragged. I honestly think he needs to be challenged for his place and Rafa needs to decide who his best two CB's are. I still feel the Rafa would fear the fallout if he left Carra out for any length of time.

[anfieldgaz]

bloody weird time to post this....

 

didnt think he did a whole lot wrong tonight.....

Heading the ball to Arby with a man on him instead of putting his foot through it!

 

He has been a complete rock at the back for years and is and will be a great servant to the club I am one of his biggest fans but maybe just maybe.

[Falconhoof]

shows the defence did play well. Bar the obvious.

 

good god man, they sat back conserving their energy for bigger games and then when they bothered to attack in numbers they made our defenders s*** themselves. We were shocking in defence tonight. When was the last time we defended like that?

[muleskinner]

good god man, they sat back conserving their energy for bigger games and then when they bothered to attack in numbers they made our defenders s*** themselves. We were shocking in defence tonight. When was the last time we defended like that?

 

Twice in the past fortnight?

[Ste M]

good god man, they sat back conserving their energy for bigger games and then when they bothered to attack in numbers they made our defenders s*** themselves. We were shocking in defence tonight. When was the last time we defended like that?

 

They had 8 chances total, 3 of them through simple defensive lapses. They were trash.

[Falconhoof]

For some reason he seemed to have it in his head that he's a boss dribbler tonight - was screaming at him to stay close to the centre halves and leave well alone. Don't think he made a tackle or closed anyone down all night.

 

Spot on that. I didn't see him put a foot in where it counts once.

He was a bit like that against Chelsea prior to being subbed.

[Gomez]

Thought Carra was very good myself.

 

The fact they created nothing (did they even get a corner?) shows the defence did play well. Bar the obvious.

 

How many 'obvious' incidents does it take to mean the defence had a bad game.

[madaboutlfc]

i would say we missed Skrtel more.. I think Daniel Agger is just not the same player

[Gomez]

good god man, they sat back conserving their energy for bigger games and then when they bothered to attack in numbers they made our defenders s*** themselves. We were shocking in defence tonight. When was the last time we defended like that?

Last Tuesday?

[carrafan]

Last Tuesday?

 

Think we've let in some free goals all thoughout the season and have had a lot of those due defensive mistakes from our players. Its something that Rafa and his bunch need to sort out in the summer beucase the last time i saw us making so many errors is in Rafa's first season.