Carra to play as the holding mid

[Harv]

By : Henry Winter , 30/05/2006 (The Telegraph)

Sven-Goran Eriksson last night turned to Liverpool's heroes of Istanbul, Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher, to drive England towards the World Cup final.

The European Cup-winning pair have landed key roles in England's summer campaign with Gerrard as the support striker to Michael Owen and Carragher in the holding role in a 4-1-3-1-1 formation.

After Eriksson promised that the England XI facing Hungary in tonight's Old Trafford friendly "would start" against Paraguay in the World Cup on June 10, the inclusion of Carragher and the re-positioning of Gerrard are hugely significant.

With Wayne Rooney all but ruled out of Eriksson's World Cup party yesterday, the England head coach has pushed Gerrard forward to assist Owen, who has reported fit after a scan yesterday on a tight thigh muscle.

The rest of the side are as expected with Paul Robinson in goal shielded by Gary Neville, Rio Ferdinand, John Terry and Ashley Cole, while David Beckham, Frank Lampard and Joe Cole form the middle strand of a three-tier midfield.

[funkdoctorspock]

Carrick really blew his chance to start from the Belarus game... I'm very interested to see how Carra plays in the holding role (any Pool fans have in insight on this?)...

I'm thinking that Lamps and Gerrard are going to have equal opportunities to push forward... I like this formation... it should be interesting to see if it's executed well...

[Harv]

Us Pool fans will have no insight as Carra has never played in that position before...he's played all across the defence...but never as the holding mid...

I'm curious to see how he gets on though...

And the most exciting part of this is seeing Gerrard playing an attacking role just behind Owen...although Owen hurt his thigh today so Gerrard may be playing behind Crouch against Hungary...

[Bruun]

http://sport.independent.co.uk/football/internationals/article621789.ece

Well... will certainly be interesting to see how that works out. No Crouchinho on top, but at least all the pools get to see Carragher instead. Would be a shame for Jamie, if he didn't get to play for his team. Unlucky for a class player like him, to have to compete with two utter worldclass defenders like Terry and Rio.

[aqualex]

gerrard does have a lethal shot

[King Kenny]

Us Pool fans will have no insight as Carra has never played in that position before...he's played all across the defence...but never as the holding mid...The use of "us" and "we", when referring to the views of fans, should be used very carefully.

Carra started with us playing as a DM and played all across the midfield in his early career. He didn't start all that frequently early on, but came on often into the holding role, but also at RM and all across the back. More recently under Houllier he had a few games at LM. He was England's most capped U-21, played almost exclusively at DM, and he captained in that role quite often.

I remember him being 'OK' at DM, not much more. But at that time, about 8-10 years or so ago, he was less than 10% of the player he is now. DM is primarily about a players reading of the game and their ability to see an attack develop, their decision making in making the tackle or not, and their ability to disrupt play even when they choose not to tackle (by virtue of positioning). Carra has an excellent reading of the game, his tackling ability is equally developed, his positioning is usually very good (and that's how he manages to successfully command a defence, with the rocket Sami ( :eek: ) alongside him, without being the fastest player in the world).

The only area where I might fault him is his choice of tackle: Carra sees ball = Carra tackles. The art of DM is often to not commit to the tackle, to stay on your feet, to slow the play (even without winning the ball) to allow your colleagues to get back into position. To watch Didi play the role is an education, you can almost see him reading the Matrix to calculate all the variables before hustling in on the attacking player - it's often akin to watching a killer whale toy with a seal before flipping it skyward and consuming it.

Carra's distribution isn't magnificent, though it has got better more recently. But in this team it isn't a question of spotting the through ball, and there isn't the expectation there may be on Carrick to do that, Carra just needs to get it and make the 5yd pass.

I'm very positive about Jamie's chances of playing the role well, he's one of the most experienced English players alive: how many others have played a CL, EuroSuperCup, WCC, UEFA, League Cup, and Charity Shield final? There'll be no nerves, total concentration and a determination and desire unmatched by any player ever to don the red and white.

[aqualex]

im actually starting to wonder why not put ferdinand in the holding midfield. he did paly a couple games for united in midfield. plus carra plays all over defence but has never done this. either way, i do like the new set up with pushing gerrard forward.

[King Kenny]

plus carra plays all over defence but has never done this.:rolleyes:

http://www.fbtz.com/forum/showpost.php?p=415969&postcount=6

[Yiannis]

Well at least is better to use the 4-5-1 instead of the 4-4-2 and placing Stevie as the holding midfielder:eek:
As for Jamie i have my doubts about that position and if he can be effective over there.My main concern is his distribution and if he can do what KK said

"The only area where I might fault him is his choice of tackle: Carra sees ball = Carra tackles. The art of DM is often to not commit to the tackle, to stay on your feet, to slow the play (even without winning the ball) to allow your colleagues to get back into position."

I didn't watch the game against Belarus but was Carrick that bad in order not get a second chance?

[Kan]

I want to see Carrick cement his place in this role. I find this very interesting and also very happy for Carra. I remember him playing in the CMD role for a little under Houllier. I still prefer Carrick though.

Like Aqualax said, why not put Rio there and Carra back with Terry. Well, I hope Rafa gives Carra a call about not "seeing the ball = tackling" as KK said because we all know Sven is pants.

[acricketer]

I didn't watch the game against Belarus but was Carrick that bad in order not get a second chance?

I'm afraid he didn't cover himself in glory. He still has a lot to offer and will figure in the team during the tournament.

[staggerlee]

im actually starting to wonder why not put ferdinand in the holding midfield.
Actually, this was my first question too, as Ferdinand recently played there, and we have enough cover at centre half as it is - but I came to this conclusion: Sven is watching these players everyday and he might just have realised that Jamie Carragher is capable of doing a better job than Ferdinand. Carra is England's most underrated footballer, ever since the CL people have been waking up to him, that he doesn't start for England when Carrick, King and others were being considered is a bit of a joke. Sven seems to have worked out a way to cut the fat out of the team and work with the best players - not some idealistic gameplan that requires specific roles to be filled. Let's hope he got it right.

One thing is for certain, if you need a bit of passion, playing Terry, Carra and Gerrard through the middle is one brutal blow for the opposition. Come on England.

[KOPKING5]

Good luck Carra lad and also to Crouchie.Owen is a non starter tonight Stevie playing just off the big man tonight!

[Imran]

Carra good or not at DM, i dont really care I just think that would be a very negative move and England will as usual not play to its potential...Give Carrick a go! the lad deserves it, especially that position and it will be far more versatile and promising option.

Carra for CENTRAL DEFENDER woot. TERRY & CARRA could be harder than aunt's rock cakes

[dolpiaza]

sven is unlikely to go for a terry / carra partnership. as a liverpool fan, i hope to see carra do well in this role and give sven something to think about. carrick hasn't blown his chances. regardless of sven's comments that today's squad will the one he's gonna start with in the opening WC game, i still feel he's merely testing his options. Better late than never. At least he's thinking a bit now.

[BristolUK]

DM is primarily about a players reading of the game ...... Carra has an excellent reading of the game, his tackling ability is equally developed, his positioning is usually very good.....
Carra's distribution isn't magnificent, though it has got better more recently. But in this team it isn't a question of spotting the through ball, and there isn't the expectation there may be on Carrick to do that, Carra just needs to get it and make the 5yd pass.
I think what we're looking for is someone to 'stop' the other team before they can cause us damage. I like Ferdinand. Sometimes he looks class. But other times he gets over confident and instead of making that 'simple' 5 yard pass, against the really top players I can see him losing the ball in a dangerous area.
Sven is watching these players everyday and he might just have realised that Jamie Carragher is capable of doing a better job than Ferdinand.
Yes...this is something that people forget.
Also, Ferdinand might be that little bit more attack minded...creative, if you will... but is that needed with Beckham, Lampard, Gerrard, Cole and Owen in front? I think not.

[Noel]

Nigel Reo-Coker might have got a chance if he wasnt injured


My left left hand pinky has more knowledge of footall than Sven :p

Seriously the world cup is less than 2 weeks away and he is throwing jamie carragher into defensive midfield. carragher should be centre back he is better than ferdinand, ferdinand has better ball skills so maybe he should play ahead of the centre backs. its a shame england the size of the country and supposed best football league in the world can only rely on owen and rooney up front.

if sven used his head and actually gave beattie, johnson, defoe &bent actual chances to show potential then maybe they would not be in this situation.

one situation i remember vividly and was disgusted by

Andy Johnson was top english goal scorer in england and i was a personal fan, he gets his england call up for his debut in a FRIENDLY, so what does sven do? he brings the lad on for 15 minutes at the end on RIGHT WING. that meant he got his debut and the hype will dissapear and sven can forget about him because the media wil move onto something else.

tell me im wrong

[madtroll]

I'll reserve full judgement until I've watched the match today.

Despite being a scouser, you can't help but respect Caaaaaarragher. His dedication to the cause will be 100%, and another pillar in the team is a good thing for confidence. It would seem odd for such a player to not feature in the World Cup.

There I've said it. Now I need to buy some potent mouthwash.

[Yiannis]

Andy Johnson was top english goal scorer in england and i was a personal fan, he gets his england call up for his debut in a FRIENDLY, so what does sven do? he brings the lad on for 15 minutes at the end on RIGHT WING. that meant he got his debut and the hype will dissapear and sven can forget about him because the media wil move onto something else.

tell me im wrong

Well you're right about the fact that he didn't get more chances but i believe players like him,Bent and Beattie are not up to that level.Someone may say that neither Crouch is.They are right but because of his height he can bring something extra(only from the bench though:D ).