Jamie Carragher to start for England...... in MIDFIELD?

[Silent Bob]

According to the early editions of the morning papers Jamie Carragher will start tommorow's friendly against Hungary in the holding midfield role.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,28782-2202324,00.html
http://sport.independent.co.uk/football/internationals/article621789.ece

Given that Sven has said he will field his strongest team this would be a worrying move, we have two good holding midfielders in the squad in Carrick and Hargreaves, why play Carragher there? Hell, even Rio Ferdinand should be in there ahead of him (although his pace is needed in defence).

 

[Kinky Gerbil]

When was Mcghee given an England coaching role?

 

[Goring Gull]

quarters final is the furthest we will go - i think this proves that.

 

[blockhseagull]

I'm not completely against this idea, good player...can tackle pass and has a good engine and is probably more of an international player than Carrick or Hargreaves.

I myself would probably pick Carrick but maybe Sven wants a defender in the role, has picked King there before and maybe wants Carragher to win the ball and just give it to the midfield a job he could probably do.

 

[Napper]

maybe because Carrick didnt play well the other day , Hargreaves I feel is more in there for cover in a variety of positions so he's trying it in the same way he did Ledley King . . . .which he was also slagged off for

 

[blockhseagull]

maybe because Carrick didnt play well the other day , Hargreaves I feel is more in there for cover in a variety of positions so he's trying it in the same way he did Ledley King . . . .which he was also slagged off for

I'm guessing you are right, Carrick wasn't great in the B international.... and he did try playing some long crossfield passes that didn't work.

Sven has plenty of other players in the team that can play those passes well so really just wants a workhorse in that holding role to allow Lamps and Gerrard to play their best game

 

[Napper]

also , I think Sven is thinking that as his best offensive player is out , the best chance we have of progressing is to have a mean tight defence ala in the Italian traditional mould . . .not pretty but effective

 

[blockhseagull]

Without Rooney our best chances involves Gerrard and Lampard having a major impact and probably having the best four weeks of their career.

Playing someone as solid as Carragher means they can push on without fear...... the more i think about this the more i think it's a good idea

 

[Easy 10]

Its frightening, it really is.
Add in the fact that Owen felt a "tweak" yesterday and pulled out of training, and it becomes apparent just how dreadfully exposed Eriksson has left this squad. We're overloaded with midfielders, balatantly not enough cover for the stikers, and he's trying a defender in midfield role tonight.

Shambles.

 

[Tricky Dicky]

Although a little unusual, I'm not against the idea (until I see it). A very good all round versatile player, who you'd want in most squads, and assuming Gerrard is going to push forward behind Owen, it should help the Lamps/Gerrard problem.

Give it a go and see what happens. Better to do it tonight than next week.

 

[Kinky Gerbil]

Its frightening, it really is.
Add in the fact that Owen felt a "tweak" yesterday and pulled out of training, and it becomes apparent just how dreadfully exposed Eriksson has left this squad. We're overloaded with midfielders, balatantly not enough cover for the stikers, and he's trying a defender in midfield role tonight.

Shambles.

I guess his thinking with the midfielders is that jj, lampard, gerrard and cole all got a fair number of goals this year.

 

[Barnet Seagull]

Good call (IMO)

Depends on Carra's discipline, but I think you need a natural defender in a holding role. King would be my first choice as he's more athletic but worth having a punt on Carra I'd have thought.

 

[Easy 10]

I guess his thinking with the midfielders is that jj, lampard, gerrard and cole all got a fair number of goals this year.

But we've got a couple of specialised holding midfielders in the squad - so why play Carragher there in an unfamiliar role ? I do rate Carragher, he's a good versatile defender. But he's not got himself into the England squad by playing as a holding midfielder for Liverpool, so why does Sven suddenly decide to play him there ?

The guy has completely lost the plot, and its all coming home to roost in a couple of weeks.

 

[Marshy]

If Carragher starts in midfield tonight it will prove once and for all that Sven is absolutely clueless.

Words cannot describe how infuriated i will be if Carragher gets the nod over Carrick tonight.

Only if Carrick is injured can this be an option and then there are better selections that could be made.

 

[Napper]

If Carragher starts in midfield tonight it will prove once and for all that Sven is absolutely clueless.

Words cannot describe how infuriated i will be if Carragher gets the nod over Carrick tonight.

Only if Carrick is injured can this be an option and then there are better selections that could be made.

but what if you play carrick again tonight and yet again he plays pony ?

surely best to have a look tonight ,

No one though Ledley would be a decent holding player until Sven gave him a go ?

 

[Marshy]

but what if you play carrick again tonight and yet again he plays pony ?

surely best to have a look tonight ,

No one though Ledley would be a decent holding player until Sven gave him a go ?

is that a serious comment ?......

Please.....we will learn nothing from Carragher playing in midfield tonight, just like we did when King played in midfield. As soon as we come up against a decent side he will be leftr wanting. Even Carrager himself has said that there a far better players than him in the squad for that role.

After one average performance by Carrick Sven is casting him aside in favour of a defender, what about the previous 4 or 5 games where Carrick has been a very good addition to the side.

 

[Behind Enemy Lines]

Sven really can't win can he? He's been slagged off to death for sticking too rigidly to 4-4-2 and now he's attacked for experimenting! It's a FRIENDLY and in my opinion, a good thing to see if he can play there given our options in the holding position aren't as strong as they were. Give it a chance.

 

[Marshy]

He's experimenting less than 3 hours before the World Cup still....
Hes had 5 or more years to do that.....

 

[Napper]

He's experimenting less than 3 hours before the World Cup still....
Hes had 5 or more years to do that.....

Injury forcing hand,

leave the bloke alone and lets just see shall we.

 

[blockhseagull]

f*** sake, it's a friendly.

It might turn out to be a good idea.... for starters Carragher is a player of international standard... is Carrick..maybe maybe not.

Has Carragher played big matches...yes...has Carrick...no.

This could be a case of playing someone with experience over someone with little, at least give it a chance before slagging it off.

Everyone has been crying out for a holding midfielder and now it looks like happening everyone is still moaning.

Not saying Carragher would have been my first choice to play the role, but Sven has obviously seen something in training and made that choice and the more i think about it the more i think it could work.