The Soccer Blog: Carragher

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Monday, 28 March 2011

Video: Goals on Sunday with Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher

By: Ed | March 28th, 2011
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gos I suppose one of the nice things about being a famous footballer that’s generally well-known and popular and likeable is that people enjoy having you stop by to share your thoughts on any number of topics once in awhile. Goes without saying that I’m yet to receive such an invitation, but as our legend grows, I’m confident that, at the very least, either Noel or I will one day receive an offer to appear on a podcast or a strange foreign webcam chat.

Anyhow, when you’re Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher you luck out and get the luxury treatment from Sky Sports, and Goals on Sunday hosted the Liverpool men for a nice Sunday (go figure) sitdown. It’s typical for these types of things to be completely politicized and neutered, and I think we get that to some extent. But I also think we get a fairly candid assessment of a number of important issues in the club’s recent history, or at least as much as we could expect when two of the club’s legends get sat down for a discussion about recent departures, future directions, terrible tackles, and the unlikely difficulty one experiences when trying to shake hands with a primary school student.

Full video for those who missed it live (read: me) has been hard to come by, but I’ve included the few I could gather below, along with some excerpts from the transcript.

Thoughts on Scott Parker, playing for England, and the shenanigans about the captaincy:

Thoughts on the start of the season, Roy Hodgson, and Liverpool’s performances:

Thoughts on scratching Nani’s leg:

And, for those struggling to decipher the noises emanating from Jamie Carragher’s mouth, a few bits from the transcript published by the official site:

On playing for Liverpool:

Jamie Carragher: Why would you want to leave? I’m playing for one of the biggest clubs in the world, I’m a local lad, I’ve got my family around me and I play every week. Probably Stevie is in a different boat because clubs around the world have wanted him – I’ve never been in that boat. He’s had decisions to make at certain times but he’s stayed loyal to the club. It’s not just about winning the Champions League – you win it and your family and friends are there, when you come back you know so many people who were involved. You feel like your family and friends are part of winning things with you. Winning things at the club where you’ve come through means a lot more.

Steven Gerrard: It’s been well-documented that it’s turned my head at times when clubs have been interested in me, but now looking back I’m just glad I did make the right decisions. The feeling you get when you’re a local lad and you win a trophy, and you see your people, your family and friends joining in and celebrating with you – it’s unbeatable. It’s better than winning trophies where you’re not local.

On the fans:

SG: We believe we’ve got the best fans in the world. European nights at Anfield – go there and experience it. The support we get on and off the pitch from the fans is unbelievable. We’d love to go and win those fans a few more trophies before we finish.

JC: I never played when they had standing on the Kop but it comes alive on European nights. It’s touch and go whether we make Europe this season but I’m desperate to get in because they are the great nights – they’re something we’ll always remember when our careers finish.

On Torres leaving:

SG: We felt slightly let down, like the supporters did. He was a top player and a friend. We wanted him to stay but he made his decision and we have to respect that. Only he knows whether he downed tools and only he can explain why his form wasn’t as good in his last few months. But knowing Fernando, I don’t think that was the case. I think he just wanted a change. It’s sad the terms in which he left because he was idolised by the fans, the people around the club and by us as players.

JC: He always kept himself to himself, even when he was banging the goals in. It wasn’t like he’d changed his character. After the World Cup we probably realised he was half looking to move on. Then he spoke to the club and decided to stay, but it didn’t go that well. The disappointing thing was that it was so late in the window, but fortunately Damien Comolli and the owners made a difference for us. It’s football, we got a great price and we got two new players in.

On Robbie Keane:

SG: He’s a top player and we were gutted it didn’t work out for him at Liverpool. We’d have liked him to have stayed around a bit longer. Maybe under a different manager it would have worked out.

That last bit is included for sheer comedic value, as it’s a) not founded in reality, and b) coming on the heels of the boys saying how managers can’t be taken to task for the performances of individuals. But again, not wanting to hurt anyone’s feelings, a fairly standard response, even if the dig at Rafa is unwarranted.

All in all, a decent enough appearance and a decent enough excuse to buy some time until I figure out what the hell I’m supposed to post next. The only real issue I’d take with any of their comments is the thoughts on Roy Hodgson and the fans’ feelings towards him, as well as the apparent coolness towards Rafa Benitez that comes through, which we mostly knew existed to some extent anyhow.

But whatever, I’ll save it for that webcam podcast I’m doing with those guys in Bangladesh on Wednesday.

Some Related Liverpool Posts:Steven Gerrard Out, Segura to Coach Reserves, and Other Friday NotesVideo: Carragher and Agger v. ChelseaThe Inconsistent Brilliance of Steven GerrardVideo: The King SpeaksGerrard on Dalglish, Approaching Wolves, and Other Notes

Category: Team News

Tags: English National Team, Goals on Sunday, Jamie Carragher, Kenny Dalglish, Not Fernando Torres, Roy Hodgson, Sky Sports, Steven Gerrard, Talking Heads, Team News, Video Killed the Radio Star
Tweet « More Renovation Rumors, Saturday Recap, and Other Sunday Notes | Home | NoelHaving a face for radio and a voice for the newspaper, I'll be waiting on some kind of semaphore-based football program to invite me on.UgeswaranLove you GERRARD... YNWANoelgopsillGreat piece of writing lets have moreblog comments powered by Disqus

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Monday, 7 March 2011

Nani Injury After Jamie Carragher Tackle: WARNING Graphic Images (Photos)

127 comments by Mad Dog and Glory on March 7th, 2011

This looks pretty bad and I think even the most ardent Liverpool supporter would admit that Jamie Carragher was lucky to stay on the field after this shockingly late high challenge. Thanks to EPL Talk for the more grotesque image.

Wednesday, 9 February 2011

Video: Carragher and Agger v. Chelsea

By: Noel | February 9th, 2011
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There’s obviously been the timely finishing, the increased pressure high up the pitch, and the renewed belief in pass and move football. But just as important over the past two matches has been the greatly improved performance of the defence in an unusual–for the Premier League in particular, but also for modern top flight football in general–three man defensive system. With a focus on that, and thanks to the always worthwhile footylounge, we have a chance to dig a little more into that side of the game with this six minute compilation of all the touches, tackles, and general what have you of Jamie Carragher and Daniel Agger in the Chelsea match. Video and a brief breakdown follow below the break.

As seen in the compilation, the outside members of the defensive trio–Carragher on the right and Agger on the left–were tasked with marking whichever of Didier Drogba and Fernando Torres wandered onto their side of the pitch while Martin Skrtel mopped up behind them. At times in the video you can also clearly see the role played by Lucas as a holding midfielder, both in how he acts as a sweeper mopping up loose balls in the central areas in front of them even as Skrtel fills a similar role in reserve, as well as in the way his presence allows either player to occasionally swing into the wider areas a fullback would normally cover. With Kelly and Johnson stationed higher up the pitch–at least until Liverpool went up a goal and they moved to form a permanent five man defensive unit–this flexibility helped Liverpool cover the entire back line effectively, though Chelsea’s insistence on playing through the central areas also played a role in making the three man back line viable.

Much of this was discussed to at least some extent–in some cases extensively–in the earlier tactical deconstruction of the match and the idea of zone 14 as the most dangerous attacking area, but seeing a compilation that is singularly (or I suppose in this case doubly) focused on the most important individual components of Sunday’s defensive set up is certainly rewarding and illuminating. It’s also nice to be able to watch all the nervy moments that come from focusing on defenders in the knowledge that the side you’re rooting for came out on top at the end of the day, and moreover that the team managed to keep a clean sheet in the process.

It’s also fair to say that it is almost shocking, watching the footage, just how well Jamie Carragher played against Chelsea. After spending much of the first half of the season looking past his prime and just off a long absence due to injury, up against a forward in Drogba who had given him fits in the past, it wouldn’t have been unfair to have had some reservations about his inclusion prior to the match, but for at least one weekend he rolled back the years and gave a world class performance. Whether he can continue playing like he did against Chelsea for much of the remainder of the season is still an open question of course, but along with Martin Skrtel appearing more solid since Kenny Dalglish returned with Steve Clarke in tow it certainly seems to put Liverpool’s defence in a much more solid position than it was only a few short weeks ago. Now if only he could learn to fully trust Lucas in front of him and finish cutting down on the tendency to launch it, he really might be like the brand new signing Dalglish suggested he was after the match.

Some Related Liverpool Posts:Zone 14Video: The Liverpool GrooveLiverpool 1, Chelsea 0: “We’re More Important”Match Preview: Liverpool v. Chelsea, 02.06.11Match Preview: Liverpool v. Chelsea, 11.07.10

Category: Miscellaneous, Premier League

Tags: Chelsea, Daniel Agger, Didier Drogba, Fernando Torres, Jamie Carragher, Lucas Leiva, Martin Škrtel, Miscellaneous, Premier League, Tactics, Video Killed the Radio Star
Tweet « Say the Right Thing: The Manager | Home | Fun, Fear, Friendlies »cheekyfellowJesus never seen Drogbra grope Carragher so much beforeZito_v2Agger is so classyYannThe beauty of a long lay-off due to injury which requires surgery is that an ageing player can recover more fully from general long-term soreness and chronic niggles acquired during a season which are not easy to shake off with matches being so frequent. For a while at least, Carragher should have a spring in his step and more freedom of movement because he is essentially a fresh clean slate at the moment. Happens to players a lot in the very physical sport of Aussie Rules.lfc4eternityNice one Noel, Saw the 'zone 14' one as well.
Perhaps we were too hasty re Carra and the enforced rest of a couple of months has done him the power of good.
An alternative thought could be that his less than stunning performances were down to the previous Manager's preference for hoofball? After all Agger was the first inside the team to go public on this. Now we are a football team again, personally I don't think Carra will let anyone down, least of all Kenny.blog comments powered by Disqus