Should Carragher keep his place for Man City?

Lot of people seeing Carragher as out MOTM at Arsenal.
I agree he was the pick of our defenders, although I thought our defending overall was poor.
So should he keep his place?

I would say, er, no.
While individually he looked decent, he was probably the main reason we spent most of the game camped on the edge of our own box, which for me was a big disappointment, regardless of the not-bad result.
He is solid but obviously he is slow, and I dont think he fancied a foot race against Podolski, Giroud or, gulp, Walcott.
So he drops back to not leave space behind him, and of course the whole back 4 have to go with him, and then the midfield get sucked back with them.

Do not want to see the same thing against City - (a) just as a matter of general principle and (b) lets be honest if the Arse had been even moderately clinical they would have had 4 or 5.

Plus Skrtel can be the future of our defense, and Carragher, useful though he still is to have around, can't.
Brendan has given Skrtel his public boot up the arse - now show a bit of faith and get him back in the team.

Based on his performance against Arsenal, he probably should and probably will.

Agree Daz

He played well Wednesday.. Deserves to keep his place.
Carra and Agger are a better partnership for me and I'm not a massive Skrtel fan..

But just simply Carra doesn't deserve to be dropped

Carra did have a good game against Arsenal, but it doesn't mean he should keep his place.  He has been a liability at the back more often than not in the last 18 months, and as mentioned his pace means we must play deeper to minimize the space between CB's and GK.  This is counterproductive to the ethos that BR is trying to set up. 

Also, Skrtel may not be having his best run of form, but he is still a very good center half and he has a good chemistry with Agger.  We will need his athleticism to counteract the pace of Aguero/Tevez on Sunday. 

Probably deserves it tho skrtel will start ad say

Carragher had a very good game against Arsenal. 

And he had to work immensely hard for all 98 minutes in the game.

And for that latter reason I wouldn't play him 4 days later.  As good as he played - I'd rather have Skrtel in the side against Man City.

Yes.

He's still the best defender we've got and if he doesn't and City play Dzeko we will see all our frailties return once more. Agger and Skrtel have proven too often this year they can't handle the big physical centre forwards.

And if anything, Wisdom plays better with Carra beside him.

Skrtel and Agger for me. Carragher played well but like JD says he would need the break after Wednesday night.

Carra should keep his place if he feels like he can play, he should be able to deal with Dzeko if he starts a lot better than Skrtel. He is also a massive presence at the back which is something we will need against City when it comes to organisation and such like.

 I wouldn't play him again no. He's more than proved he's still worth his slot in the squad, but at his age two games in four days is too much. Also, Skrtel has had a shot accross his bows now (I think next time Agger should get one) and hopefully that'll get him back to his best. I'd like to see us revert to our best back four unit, with Enrique and Johnson as full backs, Agger and Skrtel in at centre halves. That back four is pretty good by any standards, and both fullbacks bomb on as well.

I've a slight hunch Sturridge will miss out as well. He didn't take being subbed the other day too well, and my guess is we're going to go with pretty much a lone striker. If we are, there is no question Luis is our best bet, and I've a feeling we might see Borini replacing Danny Sturridge and playing the inside left role which the Uruguayan manfully filled against Arsenal. My other hope is that we call time on the Lucas rehabilitation programme and start with Gerrard as the holding midfielder. He's the best we've got in the position by about seven million miles, and although we compromise going forward I think this time it's the right call. Alongside him, I'd have Allen and Shelvey.   

If he's fit enough yes he should.

Gave me more comfort with his display than Skrtel has for a while.

I'd play Skrtel.
Its too soon after the Arsenal game.

Now Skrtel knows he needs to sharpen up.

On the basis of performance vs Arsenal, no.

Can his legs cope with 2 massive games in 4 days - don't know.

Do I want him to play - yes.

will he - don't know.


Comprehensve enough

He deserves to play based on form.

But JD raises a fair point about how soon the next game is.

I have a feeling he'll play.

I'd go Skrtel for the reason listed above.  And the fact Man City are not really a physical team up front aside from Toure in midfield - or is he away?

Carragher had a very good game against Arsenal. 

And he had to work immensely hard for all 98 minutes in the game.

And for that latter reason I wouldn't play him 4 days later.  As good as he played - I'd rather have Skrtel in the side against Man City.

Mate, that's the best argued opinion I've seen in this thread so far.

I agree with you 100%. He's not a young lad anymore, he must be wrecked after the arse match. Let him rest, I say.

And he had to work immensely hard for all 98 minutes in the game.

That is why its more than arguable he shouldn't, and probably won't, play against City.

Carragher probably won't keep his place for the City game due to the age/two games in a week thing, but I think he should.

The way he didn't bottle out of taking a direct blow from a shot at close range against Arsenal is not a reason, but a symbol of why.

We need more steel at the back for this latter part of the season. We ship goals for fun when under attack at set pieces and our shape can be pulled all over the show. Carragher is a flea in everyones ear all around the defence and he orders people about.

Organisation is key against top sides. Not ultimately someone who can run around for long periods of time.

If Carragher didn't hoof the ball so much, I think we'd see a lot more of him, to be frank.

If Carragher didn't hoof the ball so much, I think we'd see a lot more of him, to be frank.

I actually think he has been listening to the manager Ken and hasn't hoofed it just as much when he has played this season.

I think Brendan thought initially that Skrtel and Agger were his top two, Jamie was a bit old to be playing all the time but as the season has went on and wiht Martin's indifferent form Jamie has moved his way in.

I see him playing more often than not for the remainder of the season.

I actually think he has been listening to the manager Ken and hasn't hoofed it just as much when he has played this season.

Well he's had to hasn't he? There's no chance anyone who is enthusiastic about hoofing, or who advocates it, will be allowed in the squad these days.

Well he's had to hasn't he? There's no chance anyone who is enthusiastic about hoofing, or who advocates it, will be allowed in the squad these days.

Too true!

But I do feel that Jamie has tried to adapt his game to suit the manager this season which is admirable at his age.

I think Carra will be on the bench for the start.  Gives him a rest and Skrtel something to prove.

I think we should keep him in there.