Should Carra get a new contract?

Give him a coaching contract

Without disrupting the thread too much (last post on this matter) How many players have gone out on loan and come back and won a regular first team place?

The usual scenario, is the player goes out on loan, comes back only to find that someone else has taken his place in the reserves, there is no place in the first team or on the bench, so the club now has a player but no where to play him. They then loan him out again but with an option to buy included. Another player falls by the wayside.

Most players who make it at this club(admittedly not many) have fought for their place, taken advantage of injuries or the opportunities when they have arisen (something they can't do while on loan) and forced their way into the team.     

None that spring to mind immediately, but that's more down to the fact that LFC have very high (and rightly so, IMO) standards and when you combine that with the academy being in such a poor state prior to the last few years, it doesn't come as a surprise whatsoever.  By no means should we stop trying though and I refuse to believe that Jay Spearing and Martin Kelly didn't benefit from their most recent respective loan spells.

I can see how that 'usual scenario' would be a massive problem though.  It's not a case of just buying all the top talent and loaning them out, it's a careful process which needs to be done intelligently and so that it benefits both parties (LFC and our player, couldn't give a sh*t if benefits the club who is taking our player on loan, but the hope is that our player is good enough and by extension he helps the club he's currently at).  No point in simply sending any player out on loan if they're not going to get valuable minutes, nor is their any point in sending out players under the false pretence that "because they're out on loan, they'll improve", it's a whole lot more delicate and complicated than that.

If that scenario you've described is constantly happening, that's a problem our management should address.  It's exactly why we keep players like Mendy around until he leaves on a free at the end of this year (would've made sense to sell him two years ago and receive a nominal fee rather than letting him walk on a free at the end of this year).  Fact is, the lad plays anywhere across the back four (and I think even RM a handful of times), players like him with no future at our club should step in and effectively be given one last chance to prove their worth while one of Flanagan/Robinson/Wisdom are out on loan.

No, I wouldn't offer Jamie a new contract. I'd like him to take a coaching role with the club at the end of next season, but obviously that decision is between the club and the player.

Let Carra go out at the top.

I dont think he would want to go on if his legs wouldnt carry him or if the team could suffer due to lack of pace.
Carra is a local lad with LFC DNA in every cell of his body.
He will be honest enough to be straight with Kenny at the time ... as Kenny will be with him.

Me thinks he will defo be offered a job on the coaching or back up staff... thats a given.

At this stage I wouldn't offer Jamie a new contract but at the end of next season I'd offer a one year rolling contract or pay as you play with a coaching role should he wish to stay here.

Still think he has something to offer the squad and especially in some sort of coaching capacity but not on the wages he is on currently so that's why I'd let this contract run out and see where we are next summer.

Keep him until the end of his contract then offer him a coaching role.
Let's us see how the younger players are developing and I think his experience is as valuable as whether or not he starts.
We can accept that he is no longer first choice but I have no doubts his contribution in the squad and at training with the younger players warrents he stays on.

Not sure. Depends what options we have. Carra has been a great servant, and still is doing a decent job. But we need to be bringing younger players through, giving guys experience, bringing them on. If he's OK not being paid a fortune, could stay on playing staff. He's a great guy to have about the place, has masses of experience some of the lads could learn from. Seems to be interested in coaching too. Would be good to have him stay in some shape or form, deffo.

I think Carra's getting a bit of a hard time from some on here regarding his ability purely because his pace has dropped in the last couple of seasons as it inevitably would as you get older. Never knew he was on 90 grand myself but you have to look at the bigger picture as others have pointed out. He's more than a player, he's a Champions League winning defender with 15 years experience and is massively influential and knowledgable for the younger players particularly defenders obviously.

He's just turned 34, Paul Scholes is 37.

Current attributes?

Pace - Quite slow now but not deadly slow or he wouldn't be in the team.

Positioning - Seems to be quite good when facing attacks despite the lack of pace.

Heading - 100 percent from what I see.

Tackling - Excellent more often than not.

Fouls - Gives a few away but he has done for years.

I would let him play out the remainder of his contract and get him on a player/coaching role one at the end of it where he can feature if an injury crisis but the focus would be the coaching development of someone I think is perfect for our future management team wether it's the top job or not.

i would never let him go , he needs to go on staff maybe coaching . possible future manager of lfc. His knowledge of the game is second to none.

I'll let him know he is 4th choice centre half next season, if he doesnt like it he can go elsewhere. Would benefit the club to get him off the wage bill, 90,000 is just crazy for a lad that will be 35 next season and is no longer a first team regular

If it was up to me I'd get rid in the Summer if it was possible

Dont want to piss on your crisps Corb, but you speak as tho Carra has only been at Anfield 3-4 yrs, we're talking about a legend here,second only to Iain Callaghan in the games played league,

so what if he's on 90k a week, the lad has given nigh on 30yrs of his life to this club and deserves a bit more than, 'get rid' or 'he can go elsewhere',  don't you think he deserves to make up his own mind about his own future?

he has stated before he probably wouldn't want to finish his career warming the bench, but, i'm sure he is well aware that once he's hung up his boots he'll miss the everyday routine he has had to endure all these years, ask any player who has gone before and they will tell him play on as long as you can, health permitting,

we all know he's slower now than ever,but, you cant buy the experience he has and what he can pass on, i'd give him one last season with Kenny & co, give him his deservred swansong, and who knows, he could get that league winners medal after all, and that would be the best farewell moment anyone could ask for,

for all his heroics, his total devotion, his loyalty, his blood sweat and tears,his passion and his fantastic attitude, who are you or i to deny him that one last chance, 90k a week seems peanuts to what he can tell his grand kids one day, and for his career with LFC, we hear stories of yesteryear of past Reds many decades ago,one day, people will be talking about that fella Carragher, the Bootle kid who became a hero, a born and bred scouser,brought with his own people, kept his feet on the ground,and never forgot his roots,and won everything in the game,  a TRUE legend of our fantastic club.

                     IKWT   YNWA

Sorry mate football is a ruthless business.  Carragher no longer justifies 90000 a week. No one is saying he hasn't being a great servant

I'll let him know he is 4th choice centre half next season, if he doesnt like it he can go elsewhere. Would benefit the club to get him off the wage bill, 90,000 is just crazy for a lad that will be 35 next season and is no longer a first team regular

I agree with this to an extent, however his loyalty and fact that he's saved us millions in not having to buy somoeone in that position means his wages are less of a worry and more a reward. I'd offer him an extension but on a pay cut due to the fact he is no longer first choice and understands that he is there as back up because he is still decent enough back-up. With the option to join the coaching staff and retire himself at any point moving forward because that is the clear best option for all involved really. A legend and his retirement should be his choice but nudged in that direction moving forward as that day is dawning in the very near future Carra.

I think Carra's getting a bit of a hard time from some on here regarding his ability purely because his pace has dropped in the last couple of seasons as it inevitably would as you get older. Never knew he was on 90 grand myself but you have to look at the bigger picture as others have pointed out. He's more than a player, he's a Champions League winning defender with 15 years experience and is massively influential and knowledgable for the younger players particularly defenders obviously.

He's just turned 34, Paul Scholes is 37.

Current attributes?

Pace - Quite slow now but not deadly slow or he wouldn't be in the team.

Positioning - Seems to be quite good when facing attacks despite the lack of pace.

Heading - 100 percent from what I see.

Tackling - Excellent more often than not.

Fouls - Gives a few away but he has done for years.

I would let him play out the remainder of his contract and get him on a player/coaching role one at the end of it where he can feature if an injury crisis but the focus would be the coaching development of someone I think is perfect for our future management team wether it's the top job or not.

Pace is deadly slow, and that is why he is rarely in the team
He has also lost his positioning if you watch Arsenals two goals against us
100% still isnt better than Agger, Skrtel or Coates or Wisdom for that matter.
Tackling - too slow to make them nowadays

Sorry mate football is a ruthless business.  Carragher no longer justifies 90000 a week. No one is saying he hasn't being a great servant

I can understand football being ruthless and all that, but we are a special club with special people, and Carra being as local as you can get, that in itself should quantify a alternative way of ending ones career, i dont think someone like Jocky Hansen should get specialised treatment but i'd put Carra in the same mould as one of the best defenders ever to wear the shirt, we're all going to miss our Carra, and i'd like to see one last season with him in the squad, and hopefully see him bow out with a league winners medal hanging around his Gregory Peck.

Mate we have being ruthless many times in the past. If you want to be successful you have to be ruthless

Getting rid of Carra this summer would be stupid not ruthless.. We aren't Man City in terms of cash as has been pointed out many times do why bomb someone who can still do a job when required when we can and should spend that money in other areas.



Arguments sake, we get rid of Carra and Agger gets a long term injury which isn't beyond the realms of possibility, then we rely on Skrtel and Coates to stay fit or we risk a young untried cb at the top level?
Daft.

The situation shouldn't change for me, we go into next season with Carra, Skrtel, Agger and Coates.. A tried and tested set of CBS that have all at one point or another been part of a defence that this season has been great.
Then next summer when his contract is up look then.

Don't see the point of forcing him out.

Mate we have being ruthless many times in the past. If you want to be successful you have to be ruthless

Thats very true, but, you have to have respect also, and dumping one of your own after almost 3 decades of service is showing total disrespect, a bit like a sqauddie giving his all in combat, then told at the end of the conflict,F**k off we dont need ya now.

I would let him play out the remainder of his contract and get him on a player/coaching role one at the end of it where he can feature if an injury crisis but the focus would be the coaching development of someone I think is perfect for our future management team wether it's the top job or not.

this is perfect for carra

Pay as you play. It would kill me to see him step down without the league (along with Stevie).

Let him see out his contract, if he wants to, also increase his involvement with regards to coaching.

If we sell Carra this summer we need another centre back unless Kenny has faith in a few youngsters who could quite easily be called up considering Agger is quite injury prone still.

Yes, as a coach.

I think Carra's mistakes have been highlighted this season through a lack of goals from our forwards and brought about by lack of match fitness.

When you haven't played regularly it takes you a few games to get sharp and up to speed, something Carra hasn't really had this season.

Also a defender like a keeper mistakes are normally punished far worse than say a midfielders.

I wouldn't offer Carra a new contract as a player, but i'd allow him another season and concentrate on more pressing area's and that would give us another year to either give such as Wisdom, Wilson etc to develop or buy in some one else.

I'm not bothered about what Carra said about Houllier, even though I think it tells its own story.

I just think its whats best for the club, if Carra moves into a coaching role with us great, if not then i'm sure he will else where, but beyond next season, I just don't think any playing contract would make sense to helping us progress at all.