Before becoming one of the most prominent pundits in the football media space, Jamie Carragher was a bang-average centre-back at Liverpool for 16 years.
At least, that’s what many online would have you believe. In the past few days, claims about Liverpool’s second-highest appearance maker being overrated have picked up steam.
The argument is that despite all the accolades, he was never a top player at Anfield. He was propped up by teammates like Steven Gerrard and Xabi Alonso. Carragher isn’t having it, though. He took to social media to defend himself.
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Jamie Carragher defends himself in the face of ‘average’ criticism
The original post Carragher referenced in his retort was from Sunday, and a so-called Liverpool fan’s hot take.
They wrote: “Why have so many LFC fans forgotten that Jamie Carragher was an average centre-back … I remember seeing him chase shadows and score own goals. As a pundit, he’s worse.”
Another agreed, saying: “Carragher was Henderson of his time. A loud leader that pushed teammates to be better. Overall he was an average CB with outstanding moments like Istanbul after 1st half.
“Because he is a famous pundit and a local lad he is overrated by local fans. PFA Team Of The Year once.”
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The very fact that this second fan is diminishing Jordan Henderson, a Liverpool captain who won everything while donning the armband, shows how they view the club’s greats.
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Carragher might not have been among the very elite, but he was a reliable defender, a leader, and a winner.
He wasn’t having the slander, responding on X: “I don’t blow my own trumpet as it’s not my style or the style for people from the city of Liverpool, but we are allowed to defend ourselves!
“There has only been three CB’s from LFC to make the PFA TOTY in the PL era, VVD, Sami [Hypiaa] & me!!
The year was 2005/6 when the PL CB’s were Rio, Vidic, Terry, Carvalho, Campbell, King………….. I’m very proud of the fact that I was a loud leader who pushed his teammates to be better.”
The thing is, I genuinely don’t think these fans mean what they say, or understand it anyway. To be an average Premier League centre-back is to be no better than half of the competition.
If they are going to say a Champions League winner and 38-cap England international should have been the second-best centre-back on a mid-table side, it’s an argument that doesn’t really fly.
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