 |
| Picture Courtesy-David Vandepeer |
After a bizarre deadline day of January 2011,the biggest doubt hung over Andy Carroll’s move to Liverpool and whether the Geordie was worth 35 million pounds.But in the subsequent months the spotlight was not on him as the man who he replaced at Liverpool,Fernando Torres made a horrible start to his Chelsea career.Kenny Dalglish further protected his number 9 by saying Carroll wasn’t fully fit,and he at his age was more of a buy for the future rather than the present.
Certainly Carroll needs to work harder to contribute more to Liverpools’s overall build up play like Suarez,especially when Craig Bellamy is fit and raring to go.Also Steven Gerrard’s return to fitness should prompt Dalglish to play a 4-2-3-1 with Suarez up top and Gerrard supporting him.Carroll was certainly more than a big man striker at Newcastle as Tom Nash points out here.His linkup play at Newcastle was excellent,you wouldn’t expect a “big man striker” like AC to drop deep and link with his midfielders but as the article above points out,he was more of a all round striker at Newcastle.He even had a tendency to tackle and he has a good success rate too.
But in the recent games against Everton and Wolves he has rarely been involved in the games as we can see from the chalkboards,although he did get the goal against Everton.
 |
| Picture Courtesy-Graeme Bandeira |
3 Responses
Good article, but I must point out some of the myths surrounding him.
His price tag is being set as a noose around his neck. But as was pointed out by John W Henry when asked about the price, he cost Chelsea £35m. They were told that whatever Newcastle wanted for him, Liverpool wanted £15m over and above that price for Torres. Basically, they were selling Torres for £15 plus Carroll.
If NUFC wanted £20m, Torres would have cost £35m.
The price tag is actually irrelevant to Carroll, as it depended on how much Chelsea were willing to pay.
The other thing is his drinking.
Capello actually said that he needs to drink LESS than other players. Meaning that it brings more attention to him than others.
His youth is also being made a noose.
He is still 22, and is only starting his 2nd season in the Prem, after a long injury. He has the raw talent, and I look forward to him realising that talent.
@Danny_McTurner
I believe Liverpool got the wrong man. They knew they had to get another striker ASAP with Torres leaving, and they bought a pricey Carroll. He doesn’t fit the Liverpool gameplan as it always looks as if Carroll’s slowing the game down, plus Liverpool is better of playing the ball on the ground.
The only way to use him, imo, is to let him be the centre striker with Suarez attacking from either the left or right wing as a wide forward in a 4-3-3. This should bring better performances for Carroll but might lessen the impact of Suarez.
Dalglish has many important decisions to make regarding the Carroll conundrum…
KT – Couch Coach
@danny_mcturner i havent heard about the theory that torres was going to be 15 mill + whatever carroll costs.I feel carroll was bought to fill in for torres,and to please the fans as Liverpool had just sold their star player