Andy Carroll - Best Striker in the World

[memzey]

A player low on confidence should still be able to control a ball, pass a ball and try NOT to run into 3 or 4 defenders.

Great finish by him last night, even if the chance came about from a mis-control and then him trying to bundle his way through 2 defenders and it happened to fall nicely for him. Unstoppable shot though!

Can I just ask ... why do people think Andy Carroll has started the season low on confidence. He had a full pre-season in which he scored quite a few goals. Where has the lack of confidence come from?

We can't be 100% sure why, but it would be a fair guess that he knows his shortcomings are being highlighted at the moment, both by the way we play when he's on the pitch and by the astounding brilliance of Suarez. He certainly exhibits all the symptoms of a player lacking in confidence at the moment. IMHO we should stick with him, give him our support and watch as he blossoms.

In addition, and I think I've said this before, it's been so long since we had a quality player with his attributes in the team we seem to lack the understanding of how to make the most of what he brings. Simply lumping it up to him diagonally from 50 yards and hoping for the best will never get the best out of him. We need to get runners playing off him and not leave him so isolated. Plus crosses need to come in from more sensible areas if he's going to get headers on target. Right now if either of our fullbacks are 10 yards in the opposition area and reasonably near the touchline, a ball aimed at his spam seems a really appealing option. I'd like to see them restrict this to crosses coming from the parallel of the penalty area. At least then he'd have a chance of scoring and not just scuffing the center halves (which to be fair to him he's very good at).

[Neil Young]

I dreamt last night he scored a fantastic header from a corner.

I was in the team too though so I doubt it's a wholly accurate prediction.

[Norbs]

i don't think he has the passion or desire....doesn't seem motivated..compare him to suarez who is the complete opposite

That was another point I made in my thread after one of his early games, when he was looking at odds with life. I tried to point out that he was great for his home town club and that he voiced himself that he didn't want to move to Liverpool. I said he'd struggle to settle, moreso than a foreign player who had made a conscious decision to move to a new country. Seems clear as mud to me that he could be a good player but that he's at the wrong club. For us to accomodate him compromises too much elsewhere.

Every team gets corners, free kicks and puts in a fair share of crosses. It's at these set plays that he should come to the fore, we shouldn't be constantly trying to play a long ball centrally to him, it does nothing to flatter him. He needs to gain a yard to get on to the crosses otherwise he's only as useful as Soto at set pieces and pretty redundant otherwise.

[Craig_H]

I agree but even the basics were missing last night. Couldn't trap the simplest of balls. There is a beast in there somewhere but he needs a lot of work.

That's all true, but i never go into any game thinking "Carroll to score? Nah, no chance!"

He's always liable to get goals and be a threat, even when playing poorly.

[Alex]

I agree Craig. I never think, there isnt a goal in this team, whenever he starts. Teams know he can score.

[G]

I dreamt last night he scored a fantastic header from a corner.

I was in the team too though so I doubt it's a wholly accurate prediction.

[Vermilion]

I dreamt last night he scored a fantastic header from a corner.

I was in the team too though so I doubt it's a wholly accurate prediction

Was Roy 'The Bodger' Hodger the manager in this dream, if so that would explain it ?

[Parr_Zee]

We can't be 100% sure why, but it would be a fair guess that he knows his shortcomings are being highlighted at the moment, both by the way we play when he's on the pitch and by the astounding brilliance of Suarez. He certainly exhibits all the symptoms of a player lacking in confidence at the moment. IMHO we should stick with him, give him our support and watch as he blossoms.

In addition, and I think I've said this before, it's been so long since we had a quality player with his attributes in the team we seem to lack the understanding of how to make the most of what he brings. Simply lumping it up to him diagonally from 50 yards and hoping for the best will never get the best out of him. We need to get runners playing off him and not leave him so isolated. Plus crosses need to come in from more sensible areas if he's going to get headers on target. Right now if either of our fullbacks are 10 yards in the opposition area and reasonably near the touchline, a ball aimed at his spam seems a really appealing option. I'd like to see them restrict this to crosses coming from the parallel of the penalty area. At least then he'd have a chance of scoring and not just scuffing the center halves (which to be fair to him he's very good at).

Great Post! The best argument i've heard so far for continuing to play Carroll.

[Norbs]

Simply lumping it up to him diagonally from 50 yards and hoping for the best will never get the best out of him. We need to get runners playing off him and not leave him so isolated. Plus crosses need to come in from more sensible areas if he's going to get headers on target. Right now if either of our fullbacks are 10 yards in the opposition area and reasonably near the touchline, a ball aimed at his spam seems a really appealing option. I'd like to see them restrict this to crosses coming from the parallel of the penalty area. At least then he'd have a chance of scoring and not just scuffing the center halves (which to be fair to him he's very good at).

Every team gets corners, free kicks and puts in a fair share of crosses. It's at these set plays that he should come to the fore, we shouldn't be constantly trying to play a long ball centrally to him, it does nothing to flatter him. He needs to gain a yard to get on to the crosses otherwise he's only as useful as Soto at set pieces and pretty redundant otherwise.

You said what I meant

[red g]

Adrian Durham must feel there is some Wumming fun to be had with backing Carroll.

So he is

Gough does talk ****e though, have to respect Adrians Durham ability to get people to bite though.

[Slinky Skills]

What struck me last night was that he was gesturing to Henderson at one point to play it to his feet, he ovbiously wants it played to him on the ground and doesn't just want it on his head he looked well annoyed that Hendo didn't play it across the floor for him.

If he wanted it on the head all the time then there'd be no point on him having any legs.

[Glenn Hysen]

When he's gotten used to playing sober he will dominate the premiership...

[Kenneth]

Watched some of the game again and wasn't impressed with the way he reacted to his team mates when he didn't like the pass. Not cool at all and he needs to cut it out sharpish.

[Buzzo]

Incidentally Buzzo, I've now taken to pronouncing your username (in my head) as "Butt-so". Like "Fatso" but with a more percussive 't' and the classic Italian vowel sounds, including the relatively short, round 'o'.

I prefer Donald Buzzworth.

[CJ]

I prefer Donald Buzzworth.

make it happen