The Great Professional

Jamie Carragher. A man hailed by all and sundry for his honesty, down-to-earthness and professionalism.

Even the great Stevie Gerrard said so in March: “It’s a wonderful record for Carra to have and I’m sure he will go on to break even more records in the future because he is a top professional who always looks after himself and who always gives 100% in every game.”

Interesting. What then, to make of the following excerpt from Honest Carra’s autobiography, as serialised in The Daily Mirror today, in which he discusses former Liverpool teammate Rigobert Song:

‘He strolled off to his French speaking friends and began talking to them. I could see him pointing towards me while everyone was grinning. It was clear what he was saying and the rage inside me simmered.

‘Later, Song walked on to the training pitch with a smile on his face. He was limping off it with a grimace an hour later. The first chance I got, I did him. Never have I hunted down a 50-50 tackle with greater appetite

“You’re not f***ing laughing now are you, you soft t**t?” I said as he hobbled away.

‘Did I care he had a knock? No way. I don’t remember him or anyone else in the squad for that matter trying to take the piss out of my ability again.’

Carra & his mates

�When my leg was broken in an horrific tackle by Lucas Neill in September 2003, my mates were ready to hunt him down if I gave the go-ahead.

A few weeks later I received a phone call. �You won�t believe this, Jay. We�re in the Trafford Centre and Lucas Neill is walking straight towards us. What do you reckon?�

Did I really want Neill to take a crack? �There�s only one problem,� added the voice. �Little Davey Thommo is with him.�

That was that. I could hardly let one of my best mates, David Thompson, now a Blackburn player, become a witness to an assault. Besides he�d have recognised the attackers. The impromptu mission was aborted and I sent a text to Thommo telling him Neill should give him a hug of thanks.

As word got back to Blackburn about the near miss, or should that be hit, their coach Terry Darracott, a Scouser, appealed to one of my friends to call the boys off. I agreed. (Daily Mirror)�