Knee-jerk reactions are increasingly common in the modern game. It seems you are either a world beater or a no-hoper; the middle ground has never been smaller.
After the opening weekend defeat at Spurs, critics were queuing up to claim Liverpool would be consigned to a season of struggle without “lynchpin” Xabi Alonso.
Fast forward five weeks and on the back of five successive wins the Spaniard barely merits a passing mention.
Steven Gerrard has a rare off night against Aston Villa and inquests are held on the airwaves into why he’s “lost his way”.
One swing of his right boot at Bolton and those same pundits are lauding the skipper as the greatest midfielder on the planet.
Fernando Torres goes two games without scoring and is said to be fatigued and in need of a rest.
A devastating two-goal burst at West Ham and Rafa Benitez is asked if Torres is now favourite for the Golden Boot.
This week it was Jamie Carragher’s turn to be on the receiving end of some misguided flak from the “experts”.
The 31-year-old centre-back didn’t need to be told he wasn’t at his best against the Hammers.
He had an off day in the capital but the fact that he was once beaten for pace by 20-year-old Jamaican speed merchant Javon Hines was seized upon as somehow proof that Father Time is catching up with him.
Former Reds striker Stan Collymore, who retired at the age of 30 having never fulfilled his own potential, was one of the first to stick the boot in.
“As much as I respect Jamie Carragher and everything he’s done for Liverpool, I do think he’s starting to dip,” he said.
“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.”
Former Manchester City goalkeeper John Burridge chipped in with: “I think Jamie Carragher is finished. His legs are gone and he’s going the way of Sami Hyypia. He is coming to the end of his career now.”
Of course being written off is nothing new for Carragher. He has seen the lot since he broke into the Liverpool side back in 1997.
There was the frustration of being played out of position by Gerard Houllier.
It took him the best part of five years to stop letters to the Echo saying Liverpool would never win major honours with players like him in the side.
Not only did he emphatically win over supporters but he established himself as the ultimate player of the people.
A home grown defensive rock who wears his heart on his sleeve and gives his all regardless of whether he’s up against Burnley or Barcelona.
A man brave and honest enough to front up when things go wrong, while happy to slip into the shadows and let others take the plaudits on nights of triumph.
The Kop love him because he’s one of them and he boasts a medal collection the likes of Collymore and Burridge can only dream of.
When things don’t go right he hurts. After his own goal in last year’s 2-2 home draw with Hull he couldn’t bring himself to attend the BBC Sports Personality of the Year awards at the Echo Arena.
“I couldn’t get out of the house, couldn’t look at anyone,” he said.
But Carragher has no reason to beat himself up about Liverpool’s defensive problems so far this season. Nine goals conceded in six league games isn’t acceptable but then this is a new look back four.
Glen Johnson is still settling in following his summer move and his burning desire to attack can leave the Reds exposed. On the other flank Emiliano Insua has made great progress but is still a rookie with only 25 appearances under his belt.
Injury has meant that Carragher has already had three different centre-back partners in Martin Skrtel, Sotirios Kyrgiakos and Daniel Ayala.
Liverpool’s backline is a work in progress and to suggest Carragher is on borrowed time is ridiculous.
He will make his 586th appearance for the club against Hull on Saturday. He is currently ninth in the club’s all-time list and before the end of the season should overtake Alan Hansen (620) and Bruce Grobbelaar (628).
With Daniel Agger coming back to fitness, competition for places is about to hot up. A defensive partnership of Agger and Skrtel, who are both 24, may represent the future but it’s a long way off.
Carragher took up boxing this summer to ensure he was in peak physical condition for the start of the campaign and expect the gloves to come off in the coming weeks as he proves the critics wrong.
After the opening weekend defeat at Spurs, critics were queuing up to claim Liverpool would be consigned to a season of struggle without “lynchpin” Xabi Alonso.
Fast forward five weeks and on the back of five successive wins the Spaniard barely merits a passing mention.
Steven Gerrard has a rare off night against Aston Villa and inquests are held on the airwaves into why he’s “lost his way”.
One swing of his right boot at Bolton and those same pundits are lauding the skipper as the greatest midfielder on the planet.
Fernando Torres goes two games without scoring and is said to be fatigued and in need of a rest.
A devastating two-goal burst at West Ham and Rafa Benitez is asked if Torres is now favourite for the Golden Boot.
This week it was Jamie Carragher’s turn to be on the receiving end of some misguided flak from the “experts”.
The 31-year-old centre-back didn’t need to be told he wasn’t at his best against the Hammers.
He had an off day in the capital but the fact that he was once beaten for pace by 20-year-old Jamaican speed merchant Javon Hines was seized upon as somehow proof that Father Time is catching up with him.
Former Reds striker Stan Collymore, who retired at the age of 30 having never fulfilled his own potential, was one of the first to stick the boot in.
“As much as I respect Jamie Carragher and everything he’s done for Liverpool, I do think he’s starting to dip,” he said.
“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.”
Former Manchester City goalkeeper John Burridge chipped in with: “I think Jamie Carragher is finished. His legs are gone and he’s going the way of Sami Hyypia. He is coming to the end of his career now.”
Of course being written off is nothing new for Carragher. He has seen the lot since he broke into the Liverpool side back in 1997.
There was the frustration of being played out of position by Gerard Houllier.
It took him the best part of five years to stop letters to the Echo saying Liverpool would never win major honours with players like him in the side.
Not only did he emphatically win over supporters but he established himself as the ultimate player of the people.
A home grown defensive rock who wears his heart on his sleeve and gives his all regardless of whether he’s up against Burnley or Barcelona.
A man brave and honest enough to front up when things go wrong, while happy to slip into the shadows and let others take the plaudits on nights of triumph.
The Kop love him because he’s one of them and he boasts a medal collection the likes of Collymore and Burridge can only dream of.
When things don’t go right he hurts. After his own goal in last year’s 2-2 home draw with Hull he couldn’t bring himself to attend the BBC Sports Personality of the Year awards at the Echo Arena.
“I couldn’t get out of the house, couldn’t look at anyone,” he said.
But Carragher has no reason to beat himself up about Liverpool’s defensive problems so far this season. Nine goals conceded in six league games isn’t acceptable but then this is a new look back four.
Glen Johnson is still settling in following his summer move and his burning desire to attack can leave the Reds exposed. On the other flank Emiliano Insua has made great progress but is still a rookie with only 25 appearances under his belt.
Injury has meant that Carragher has already had three different centre-back partners in Martin Skrtel, Sotirios Kyrgiakos and Daniel Ayala.
Liverpool’s backline is a work in progress and to suggest Carragher is on borrowed time is ridiculous.
He will make his 586th appearance for the club against Hull on Saturday. He is currently ninth in the club’s all-time list and before the end of the season should overtake Alan Hansen (620) and Bruce Grobbelaar (628).
With Daniel Agger coming back to fitness, competition for places is about to hot up. A defensive partnership of Agger and Skrtel, who are both 24, may represent the future but it’s a long way off.
Carragher took up boxing this summer to ensure he was in peak physical condition for the start of the campaign and expect the gloves to come off in the coming weeks as he proves the critics wrong.
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