500 for Carragher

[kinboshi]

From the Echo, echo, echo...

Rafa Benitez to join players in guard of honour for Jamie Carragher


RAFA BENITEZ will tonight pay Jamie Carragher the ultimate tribute by joining his players in a guard of honour for Liverpool's 500 man.

Carragher makes his 500th Liverpool appearance in the FA Cup third round replay against Luton at Anfield and will be welcomed onto the pitch by his manager and his team-mates.

Benitez told the ECHO: "It is my idea to join the players on the pitch before the game because to play 500 games for one club is a fantastic achievement."

Carragher has also been handed the captaincy for tonight's game, a gesture requested by club captain Steven Gerrard.

Benitez is full of praise for Carragher, a player who has grown into one of Europe's finest central defenders under his guidance,

He said: "We always knew that he was a good player because when we played against Liverpool with Valencia we were checking on them and it was clear that he was a good player.

"I saw him playing in a lot of different positions in defence and he did well in all of them.

"But really you know the players best when you have worked with them because you get to know the mentality and the character and I now know how good Carra is.

"To play 500 games in your career is one thing, but to play them for just one team – to whom you give so much passion and so much determination – is even more special.

"It is really difficult to find players like this in the modern game."

Benitez hopes the inspirational example Carragher has set in his 11 years of first team service will inspire youngsters at Liverpool's academy to follow in his footsteps.

And the Reds boss believes the best may still be to come from Carragher.

"In football it is very important for clubs to have people coming through the academy, especially local players, so hopefully the young players at Liverpool will learn from Carra," he said.

"He is very professional and he always takes care of himself and I think that has made a big difference to him.

"Sometimes you have players who have a lot of passion but they are not as good professionals as Carra but he can play for a long time because he is always taking care of himself.

"He is still learning as well, especially tactically.

"He is at that age where he has experience and because of that he analyses everything and because of that he learns more all the time.

"That is the reason why he is still improving and in one or two years time he will not need to be so physical because he has learned the movements and the positions – maybe he will learn the positions before so he doesn't need to go and run, he will be there. "

While one Liverpool centre back prepares for a landmark occasion, another is facing up to a spell on the sidelines after Daniel Agger's metatarsal problem flared up again.

The Dane will now see a specialist in Spain as Liverpool look for a solution to his long standing problem.

Meanwhile, despite speculation that new signing Martin Skrtel could feature tonight, there is no chance of him being involved,

Under FA rules, players who are signed after an initial cup tie cannot feature in any replay.

[TightEnd]

Daniel, I don't mean to be pedantic but he was the best centre half available in your opinion. Not in the manager's. Doesn't matter if the manager is an idiot or not, its his choice

Who knows who Capello's favoured centre backs will be?

Carragher should make himself available and not spit out the dummy if not picked as first choice

[Rod Paradise]

Carragher should make himself available and not spit out the dummy if not picked as first choice

Neither should England spit the dummy and not invite him (e.g. Sutton).

He had a fair case getting trotted all over the place & never getting a game. If you're someone's understudy, they get injured & another player is brought in for you to be their understudy you've got to feel someone's taking the piss surely?

[kinboshi]

Daniel, I don't mean to be pedantic but he was the best centre half available in your opinion. Not in the manager's. Doesn't matter if the manager is an idiot or not, its his choice

Who knows who Capello's favoured centre backs will be?

Carragher should make himself available and not spit out the dummy if not picked as first choice

I'm being critical of McClaren's decisions.  Not only did he overlook Carragher, he also continued to play players out of position, to accommodate them in the team.

It is my opinion, but does England's recent successes in the World Cup and Euro qualifiers suggest that McClaren was right?  It was his choice, and the choices he made means that he's no longer the England manager.  Why is that?

Carragher never said he should be first choice, and neither did I.  But when Terry is out, is there a better defensive centre-back in England?  He was quite willing to be second-choice to Terry.  It was when he was shown that he wasn't even 5th choice that he decided that travelling around to sit on the bench wasn't a great idea.  When did he 'spit his dummy out'?

[Acidmouse]

500 games thats good going. Nice easy one for him tonight

I personally don't think he's world class.

A very good player and certainly an England squad member.

[TightEnd]

Rod he got games, 34 caps since 1999

A squad player, as this indicates, and considered so by successive England managers.

[Rod Paradise]

Rod he got games, 34 caps since 1999

A squad player, as this indicates, and considered so by successive England managers.

Dunno I think he'd a fair point. It's one of my criticisms of England actually - too much emphasis on the 'form' players who make the news & not enough on getting a team of hard workers together, the backbone of the team if you like, then add the panache.

[TightEnd]

wikipedia

In 1996, before signing a professional contract or making his league début, Carragher had his first appearance for the England under-21 team. Playing as a defensive midfielder, he became a regular for the team, and eventually captain. In 2000, when he became ineligible for the team, he held the national record for most caps at this level, with 27. The record was eclipsed in 2007 by Scott Carson.

On 28 April 1999 he made his début for the senior England team, as a substitute against Hungary. He made his full international début against Holland at White Hart Lane in 2001. Carragher missed the 2002 World Cup through injury, but travelled with England to Euro 2004. He eventually ended up with no playing time, losing out to Ledley King when a vacancy opened up. He was selected for the England squad for the 2006 World Cup in Germany, and was not in the original starting eleven, but came into the team after Gary Neville suffered an injury.

Carragher's versatility has seen him occupy centre-back, right-back, left-back and defensive midfield positions for England. Former England manager Sven-Göran Eriksson generally used two from John Terry, Rio Ferdinand and Sol Campbell in preference to Carragher as centre-back, but has occasionally used Carragher as right-back as deputy for Gary Neville, as he did during the 2006 World Cup. Eriksson rarely uses a defensive midfielder, but is seen to prefer Owen Hargreaves to Carragher in the midfield. Jamie featured in three games in the 2006 World Cup, he started the match against Sweden, as a replacement for the injured Gary Neville at right-back, and appeared as a substitute in the matches against Ecuador and Portugal.

On 1 July 2006 Carragher was one of three players to have a penalty saved by Ricardo Pereira, as England yet again succumbed on penalties to exit the 2006 World Cup in the quarter finals against Portugal. Carragher, who had been brought on as a substitute for Aaron Lennon in the dying moments of the game, presumably with the "shoot-out" in mind, was the most unfortunate of the three players who missed, as he scored with his first attempt but was forced to re-take the kick by the referee, who had not blown his whistle. Carragher then saw his second effort saved.

On July 9, 2007 it was reported that Carragher was thinking of retiring from the England set-up. TalkSport Radio Presenter Adrian Durham accused Carragher of "bottling it" and was asked by one caller if he would say that to Carragher's face. Durham said that he would but was surprised when Carragher actually did phone in. He then confirmed that he was thinking about leaving the national set-up but he had already had two talks with the England head coach Steve McClaren and would leave it until the upcoming match against Germany to decide.[3]

Carragher did subsequently retire from International football. England former head coach Steve McClaren attempted to persuade him to return to the International setup on at least one occasion, but Carragher declined. Carragher was said to have been unhappy at the failure of successive England managers to pick him at centre-back[4], preferring to use him as cover along the back four and even as a holding midfielder. In England's last qualification match for Euro 08 against Croatia, three inexperienced players played in defence, these being Richards, Lescott, and Bridge. The latter players were picked due to injuries suffered by John Terry and Rio Ferdinand. England lost the match 3-2 and therefore failed to qualify, a result which reportedly 'delighted' Carragher.

With the sacking of Steve McClaren, England were in need of a new head coach. The F.A. hired Fabio Capello who stated that he may attempt to bring back "one or two" players who had retired from international football. He gave no indication of which players he would attempt to bring back. On Radio 5 Live Jamie Carragher said that he doubts he would return if asked as he has commitments to his family and club.

[TightEnd]

though even with wikipedia there seems to be some journalistic assumptions at work!

[Rod Paradise]

though especially with wikipedia there seems to be some journalistic assumptions at work!

FYP - I've seen enough 'selective editting' of Wiki to look for confirmation of anything that's an opinion.

BTW Jackie McNamara did the same thing with Scotland at one time, being sick of watching others play in his best position because he was a 'utility' player.

[TightEnd]

agreed

I didn't edit the above!

[Rod Paradise]

agreed

I didn't edit the above!

LOL, not enough big words for me to believe it was you

[Josedinho]

Carragher wasn't better than Campbell when he was part of our defence.
He is not better than Rio.
I think Terry is an over-rated gobby chav of a centre half but still a decent player.
During 2005 he probably had a point that he should be in the England team and was given a few chances. I believe he played 45mins against Denmark away and we lost 4-1. All goals conceded after he'd come on. Down to David James of course but it doesn't look good when Terry keeps a clean sheet for 45mins and then you come on and concede 4.
I would never turn down the chance to have any part of the squad if my country called.
He goes down in the same book as Gerrard for me. World Class for club, average for England.

Fully respect what he has done at club level and wish more players would show that loyalty. Well done Carragher.

[TheChipPrince]

I think Terry is an over-rated gobby chav of a centre half but still a decent player.

Good technical analysis...

[Josedinho]

I think Terry is an over-rated gobby chav of a centre half but still a decent player.

Good technical analysis...

Ok....
Strong, good in the air. Will put his body on the line. Decent passing skills.  Sometimes thinks he is better than he is and seems to suffer a rush of blood to the head at times when it is best to be cautious. Shouts at the ref too much, chases refs round the pitch to much and for a captain he doesn't control his players and sets them bad examples.
Personally i think King is better.