By
Nabeel <http://bleacherreport.com/users/130823-nabeel-khokhar> Khokhar
(Featured Columnist) on March 6, 2012
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - MARCH 03: Dejected Jamie Carragher of Liverpool
after defeat in the Barclays Premier League match between Liverpool
and Arsenal at Anfield on March 3, 2012 in Liverpool, England. (Photo
by Clive Mason/Getty Images)
Clive Mason/Getty Images
Jamie Carragher <http://bleacherreport.com/jamie-carragher> is Mr.
Liverpool <http://bleacherreport.com/liverpool> .
"We all dream of a team of Carraghers" is the saying that reverberates
when Liverpool fans congregate.
But is it time for Mr. Liverpool to bring down the curtain on a fabulous career?
Certainly the man himself has come
<http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/latest-news/carra-i-want-more-medals>
out saying that he wants to add to the medals that he has already
collected.
Liverpool's 34-year-old No. 23 has so far amassed winners medals from
two FA Cups, three League Cups, two UEFA Super Cups, two FA Community
Shields, one UEFA Cup and a Champions League.
This is an impressive list no doubt, but is it time for Carragher to
gracefully step aside?
This season has seen the partnership of Martin Skrtel and Daniel Agger
flourish, and in particular Skrtel has improved in leaps and bounds
and is a candidate for the Reds' Player of the Year.
Carragher has found his appearances becoming more and more limited to
Cup matches or when either of Kenny Dalglish's first-choice pairing
are injured.
This was the case in Liverpool's latest Premier League match at home
to Arsenal <http://bleacherreport.com/arsenal> ; Agger was not
available and Carragher stepped in to deputise.
140616539_crop_340x234Clive Mason/Getty Images
But Liverpool's No. 23 came up against the most deadly striker in the league.
Robin Van Persie has been in electric form and this, quite possibly,
was the reason why Carragher really looked his age and long in the
tooth.
For Van Persie's first goal, the Arsenal striker outmaneuvered
Carragher and got in his header, when a few seasons ago the Liverpool
defender would have reacted quicker and cleared the danger with little
fuss.
Van Persie's second was a stunning volley from a lofted through ball.
It was Carragher who seemed to react just that split second too slowly
allowing the Dutchman the space to beat Pepe Reina.
This is not a "Carra-bashing" article, not matter how much it seems to
read as such. I am a huge fan of Carragher's and have seen him be the
rock of the Liverpool defense for so many years.
But, first and foremost, I am a Liverpool fan and want the best for
the club and all Liverpool fans know that this is what Carra himself
wants too.
Although Carragher
<http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story/_/id/1031593/liverpool%27s-jamie-carragher-not-ready-to-retire?cc=5739>
has come out saying he is far from considering retirement, maybe it
is time for our No. 23 to hang up his boots and let the likes of
Skrtel, Agger and Sebastian Coates take over the position that he has
so wonderfully dominated for so many years.
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