re: Liverpool FC 2012/13 Season Long Thread

Yeah, Carra had a tremendous amount of respect for Houllier, who got us back on the right track after the "Spice Boys" era... we started winning trophies again... Unfortuantely, he said it was a tale of 2 eras... his first couple of years and then after his heart condition, his last couple of years when he was a shell of the man he was...

He gave this account on how he dressed down Paul Ince (the captain) in front of the team and showed everyone who was in charge.. shipped Ince out the next year..

quote:

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In his autobiography, 'Carra: My Autobiography', Carragher describes how Houllier underlined his authority by tearing a strip off Ince but ended his reign a broken man after being struck down by a life-threatening heart condition.

"Ince was the unwitting victim of the most brutal exhibition of management I have seen at Anfield," he says. Liverpool were leading an FA Cup fourth-round tie at Old Trafford 1-0 but, after Ince limped off, United fought back to win 2-1.

"There was a team meeting a week later, and Ince decided, as club captain, it was time to take Houllier on. He questioned training methods and the response was furiously impressive.

"Fixing Ince with a stare, Houllier asked: 'Since the day I arrived, how many five-a-sides have you won? Ill tell you 'four in six months.'

"Ince was bewildered, as we all were, by Houlliers memory and grasp of detail, and it didnt end there. 'Now perhaps you can explain to the lads what happened to you against United. When my team are 1-0 up at Old Trafford in a cup tie, I dont expect my captain to limp off with an injury. If he has to come off, I expect it to be on a stretcher.'

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