Thoughts on Carra and Kenny

As someone who was firmly in the ‘faze Carra out’ camp for much of the season, I have to say my opinion has changed based on what I have seen recently.

While never questioning his defensive qualities, a lot of my frustrations with him (leaving ‘political’ issues aside) stemmed from his negative and often ineffective style of play when on the ball. As a footballer, he essentially has 3 ‘skills’ in his regular armoury: back pass to Reina, sideways pass (usually to Skrtel or full-back) and long pass (usually to opposition). [I emphasise the word ‘regular’ as I know it is a simplistic view.] At one point during the West Brom game, I actually howled in frustration when, as I knew he would, around the half-way line under very little pressure he put his foot on the ball, turned and played a long pass back to Reina.

That game was a perfect example of everything that frustrates me about Carra but it has to be acknowledged he was playing at right-back in a back four comprised (after the injuries to Johnson and Agger) of four centre-halves all of whom could be best described as ‘stoppers’ as opposed to being ‘ball-playing’ centre-halves (e.g. Agger).

Since that game, Kenny has deployed genuine full-backs on both sides of the pitch and moved Carra back into the centre. This has reduced the team’s dependency on Carra to play progressive football as there are others around him who can bring the ball forward and support the attack. Meanwhile, Carra has been allowed to focus on what he is good (if not better than good) at: defending and organising the defence.

The way he has helped the likes of Flanagan through games has been absolutely superb and he himself has not put a foot wrong. Even Skrtel has looked a million miles better alongside him.

In conclusion, I think that Carra is NOT a full-back and needs to be played in the centre of a back four with genuine full-backs either side of him. If we do that, we will get the best out of him and others.

Going off on a tangent, I believe that WBA game was a watershed moment for Kenny (and Steve Clarke). Having lost Kelly and with Aurelio already injured, the ‘obvious’ solution was to play a centre-half [Carra] out of position at full-back. When Johnson then pulled up lame, the ‘obvious’ solution was to switch Agger (who has played left-back previously under both Rafa and Roy) to full-back and bring on an established and experienced first team player in Kyrgiakos. When Agger went off injured, the ‘obvious’ solution was to bring on Wilson at left-back given his first team experience at Rangers and also his recent experience of playing on the left for Liverpool this season. These moves were so obvious Roy Hodgson would have made them.

I am certain that the footballing limitations of that back four contributed to the dreadful performance and result at the Hawthorns while Kyrgiakos was directly at fault for both Baggies’ goals. With Man City coming to Anfield followed by a trip to the Emirates in the next two fixtures, the ‘obvious’ solution would have been to stick with experienced first team players.

What Kenny and Steve did was bring in Flanagan. Better to play an inexperienced full-back at full-back than try to slot a square peg in a round hole. When Aurelio broke down at the Emirates, the management team had the choice of bringing on a third centre-half and playing one of them out of position or bringing on a 17-year old full-back. They chose to slot a round peg in the round hole and it worked.

It is clear that they saw what went wrong at the Hawthorns and learned from it. Their response was to make brave decisions in-keeping with their footballing principles which have really paid off.

We’ve had to listen to idiots like Jamie Redknapp trivialising Kenny’s role in orchestrating our mid-season revival putting it down to players ‘smiling more’ and ‘having belief’ as though Kenny’s sole contribution has been to charm and motivate. The longer he has been in post, the more I have seen that his success has been down to using the right players in the right positions and getting them to play the right way.

Everything else about Kenny is the perfect fit for the role of Liverpool manager but I had nagging doubts about his tactical knowledge and ability. In that respect he has removed any doubts. That is why I believe that Kenny should be appointed permanent manager.