Tuesday, September 22, 2009

Former Teammate Suggests Benitez Needs To Find Carragher Replacement


The former Aston Villa and Liverpool striker Stan Collymore believes his former Anfield teammate Jamie Carragher is on the wane, and Rafa Benitez should begin to consider replacing him.

Carragher has endured a troubled start to the Premier League season looking vulnerable during their defeats to Aston Villa and Tottenham, whilst also being culpable at Upton Park against West Ham on Saturday, and Collymore believes the defender is beginning to look past his best.

Collymore told mirrorfootball.co.uk: “As much as I respect Jamie Carragher and everything he's done for Liverpool, I do think he's starting to dip.”

“Carragher and Martin Skrtel have had a shaky start to the season and again at West Ham he didn't have the best of games.”

“Once again Liverpool conceded goals from set-pieces and Carragher does not look as solid as he did.”

“It makes me wonder if Rafa Benitez shouldn't take whatever transfer budget he will have in January and spend it all on a top-quality centre-half.”

“I'm not saying he should replace Carragher now or that he is finished - far from it.”

“But I do think you should strengthen your team from a position of strength so if Benitez brought the new Jamie Carragher in now, he would have time to bed him in over the next season or two.”

“Every player - no matter how good they are - dips at some point and it would make sense to have Carra's replacement groomed and ready to take over for when he finally has to go.”

“Carragher is 31 and can't go on forever, so it's better to think about these things in advance.”

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