Following on from last week’s analysis of Shay Given, it is clear from all the comments that there is a large difference of opinion regarding his future role at the club. Newcastle-Online now moves from one Irishman to another, as we now turn our attentions to right back Stephen Carr and see whether fan opinion is just as divided.

The Lowdown

Having failed to agree a fee for Portuguese right back Miguel in 2004, former comedian Freddie Shepherd announced that he wasn’t going to over spend in the full back area, as there was “another car in other lot.” Staying true to his word play, Newcastle United signed Stephen Carr.

While talking about automobiles, it is worth looking back and noting that over the past four years since, Miguel has turned out the Rolls Royce performances that Shepherd spoke of during the previous season, although we’ll let you make your own minds up as to what vehicle Carr’s performances have most resembled over the past four seasons.

Following three years disrupted by injury, the Irishman has lost his place in the team to Habib Beye, and with our number two’s contract set to expire at the end of the season, the club will have to make an immediate decision regarding his future.

He Should Stay

Full back is a very specialist position, and teams generally play much better when they are fielding two specialist full backs. Other players can stand in on a short term basis, for example we have seen the likes of Taylor, Geremi, Solano, Huntington and Edgar at right back over the past couple of years, but the team lacks a bit of balance. We only have one other specialist right back in Habib Beye, and Carr is currently the only cover we have. Furthermore, he is currently the best cover for Enrique at left back.

In recent weeks, the team has taken pressure off the defence by showing good form and having a more attacking outlook. Whereas Carr has been frequently exposed in the past, there is now more impetus on allowing him to burst forward and support the attack. One of the Irishman’s greatest strengths is his ability to work the touchline, and this is helped by an occasional burst of speed. It is possible that he may find himself under Kevin Keegan. After all, there was a time that Carr was considered an international defender and one of the better right backs in the Premier League.

He Should Go

It is all very well saying that Carr provides adequate back up to the likes of Habib Beye, but the truth is that should Beye get injured or suspended, it would be a safe bet that Carr would be unable to cover due to injury. The Irishman’s injury record at Newcastle United has been nothing short of a disgrace. A mere seventy-eight appearances in four seasons at a club where he has been considered a first team player for much of that period was never going to provide us with a consistent and stable back four. A string of delayed comebacks means that the club can never rely on Carr coming back on schedule.
Habib Beye epitomises the modern day full back. Whereas classic English fullbacks of old were renowned for their strength in the tackle and their ability to work the touchline, a 21st Century full back combines these attributes with strength, endurance, and aerial ability.

Those three attributes have never been possessed by Carr to any satisfactory level of competency. There is much more emphasis on pace and power in the Premier League, and the game has consequently left players such as Carr behind. Whereas he might have been valuable to clubs in the past, he is now a defensive liability that no Premier League club should want to touch with a bargepole.

If you think about the popular full backs between 1998 and 2002, you think of the likes of Gary Kelly, Danny Mills and Ian Harte, they possessed similar strengths and weaknesses to Carr and have all fallen from grace. The Irishman has been lucky not to follow them.

Conclusion

Far from a Rolls-Royce, Carr resembles one of those ancient beige coloured Volvo’s. Good at what they were supposed to do in the old days, but now past it and falling apart. There is little use to retaining the Irishman, and he should be consigned to the scrap heap for good this summer, and it his hard to see another Premier League club approving another M.O.T. It is unlikely that Newcastle fans will be sad to see him Go.

Is Carr worth keeping? Or has he been driving you up the wall? Have Your Say.

Coming soon: Should He Stay or Should He Go?: Jose Enrique.