Premature, I know, because the season is not yet done, but the deputizing of Alex and the emergence of Ivanovic in the game at Anfield has made me wonder where that leaves the (current) odd man out

Carvalho is an excellent defender, one of the worlds best on his day. But we have several very good defenders, and he is the oldest among them. JT is obviously going nowhere. Ivanovic and Alex have had the odd stinker, but have mostly been as advertised: world class defenders on their day. Might that make Carvy somewhat dispensable? I have to wonder if, in the post credit crunch world if the club would consider trying to do astute business and try to sell him on for a handsome fee (which I think he could command, even at 30)

The flipside is that he the most technically skilled of our CBs, and for this reason I would probably want to keep him for at least another year. Like i said, its not a "time to go" thought, just me gathering some opinions.

The only thing that worries me about Riccy is his injury list. He used to be quite injury-free in his time with us, but in this last season alone he has spent more time off the pitch than on it.

If this goes on for another year, I don't see why we should keep him, gifted as he may be.

The only thing that worries me about Riccy is his injury list. He used to be quite injury-free in his time with us, but in this last season alone he has spent more time off the pitch than on it.

If this goes on for another year, I don't see why we should keep him, gifted as he may be.

I think this is a fair comment - id like to see how many games he has played in the past two seasons.

I have to agree that it's something we should be looking at. At some point, all players have to move on, and it would be far more astute of us to get rid of them when they can still earn us a decent transfer fee, and when we have quality younger players to replace them, than when they are clearly past it and of no value to anyone.

Riccy is still top class on his day, but as you say is also getting injured increasingly often, and I don't think Alex deserves to be dropped just because Riccy is fit, and Hiddink seems to agree. I still have reservations about the speed of the JT-Alex combo, but if, if we were to be offered 15-20 million for Riccy in the summer, surely we'd have to think about taking it, especially when you add Mancienne and Ivanovic into the equation.

Put it this way, if we have to sell one of the defenders to keep the others happy, Riccy would probably, probably be the one I would grudgingly choose to move on, simply as he is the oldest and seemingly most injury prone.

The only thing that worries me about Riccy is his injury list. He used to be quite injury-free in his time with us, but in this last season alone he has spent more time off the pitch than on it.

If this goes on for another year, I don't see why we should keep him, gifted as he may be.

This. He's probably the best centre-back we have, but he's started what, six matches this season?

And he's been poor for at least half of those due to injury recovery..

I think today we saw what our CB pairing just might be at the start of next season. Terry and Ivan.

I think Riccy has been an amazing playeer since he joined us, other than the few heart stopping challenges he was prone to throw around whilst inside the box. However, he and Terry formed one of the most formidable CB pairings that I have ever seen at the Bridge.

He was never a player keen to be in the public eye, and he was always the consumate professional. However, I think he is now too injury prone, and we will see him move on. I suspect back to a mid table side in Portugal. I also think we should cash in on him while we still can.

Amazing player, but I am afraid to say I think we've seen his best days for us pass already

Scott

He will go to Inter, and be an excellent defender for another 4-5 years. Exceptional player, but best thing for everyone is for him to move on.

i think youre right, icecoolguy, in that he will wind up in Italy. Riccy is such a technically superb player that I think he could still thrive in a slower paced, more tactical league like Serie A for at least another few years.

Put it this way, if we have to sell one of the defenders to keep the others happy, Riccy would probably, probably be the one I would grudgingly choose to move on, simply as he is the oldest and seemingly most injury prone.

I can agree with that. At the beginning of the year, I would have said Alex, but his performances this year have totally changed my mind. But as you say, its all grudgingly

I'd hold onto him unless there was a silly offer.

if he continues to have serious problems next season then we should probably let him go. but for the time being, I don't se why we'd sell. fit and on form he's still a better partner for jt than anyone else we have.

I'd hold onto him unless there was a silly offer.

if he continues to have serious problems next season then we should probably let him go. but for the time being, I don't se why we'd sell. fit and on form he's still a better partner for jt than anyone else we have.

But G4, only one can partner JT at any one time. If say Ricci, Ivanovic and Alex all went injury and supsension free for a while, we will be left with at least one, possibly two good centre backs getting the hump with lack of regular playing time and viewing their options.

On that basis, I would sell Carvalho and get whatever we can for him, rather than run the risk of losing eithet Alex or Ivanovic who have plenty of seasons in them.

But G4, only one can partner JT at any one time. If say Ricci, Ivanovic and Alex all went injury and supsension free for a while, we will be left with at least one, possibly two good centre backs getting the hump with lack of regular playing time and viewing their options.

On that basis, I would sell Carvalho and get whatever we can for him, rather than run the risk of losing eithet Alex or Ivanovic who have plenty of seasons in them.

my fear is that I don't think alex is the ideal partner given his lack of pace, and I don't think ivanovic is as good as riccy (yet). I don't think we're in a position where we have to sell one of the three just yet, but if we absolutely had to I'd still let alex go before riccy.

It is a tough call.

I also think that JT/Alex partnership is not the ideal one.

Basically I see Alex as a back up for JT and Ivanovic as back up for Carvalho.

In terms of ability right now then the JT/Carvalho partnership is still my preferred option however I certainly don't want to see Ivanovic leave as he has the added quality of being able to fill in at full back as well.

I think it depends how Carvalho feels about it. My preference would be to think about the JT/Ivanovic partnership as being the long term future. if Carvalho is happy with that and can contend himself with maybe 10-15 games a season then I think the best course of action would be to let Alex go and go with the four of JT, Ivanovic, Carvalho and Mancienne.

None of that is a reflection on Alex though who I think has done very well since signing for us.

But then who will kick those ferocious free kicks?

I'd hold onto him unless there was a silly offer.

That's my view too.

I've never been as enamoured with Carvalho as most on here. He does have quite obvious flaws and, even at his peak, has never been as consistently good as Gallas was. However, that is not meant as a slight on Riccy, and for the style of defender he is, (chasing the ball down, anticipation and interception are his forte, not positional discipline, aerial strength and holding up), there are not many better.

Basically I see Alex as a back up for JT and Ivanovic as back up for Carvalho.

In terms of ability right now then the JT/Carvalho partnership is still my preferred option however I certainly don't want to see Ivanovic leave as he has the added quality of being able to fill in at full back as well.

I think it depends how Carvalho feels about it. My preference would be to think about the JT/Ivanovic partnership as being the long term future.

This, essentially.