Andy Carroll - Best Striker in the World

[vlahka]

But that was enough for everyone to slag off Aquilani, call him a flop and a pussy etc. If Carroll came from a different league everyone would have a theory about how he can't adapt. Carroll has showed nothing, I didn't think he'd fit in before we signed him. I'm not saying things won't improve but I just struggle to see it happening.

But we didn't pay 8m for him. If we did then I'd agree that it'd have been a risk worth taking, but being our record signing, expectation comes with the territory. I know it's not his fault what he was bought for, and no one is having a go at him as a human being, but questioning his footballing ability. Fees matter, when it comes to expectation. There's a reason we didn't spend 20m on Ngog, so I don't buy that notion. Over the years barring Keane and Aquilani our other big money signings have generally played consistently, and played well.

Lastly when you look at the fee and the other players in that price range Carroll sticks out like a sore thumb. Now I'm not saying "Carroll cost x so did Aguero, what were we thinking?" but when it comes to strikers in that cost bracket we could've done better, a lot better. I'd rather have even bought a cheaper alternative to get us through until this season, instead of panic buying in January. Spending 10m or so (hypothetically obviously) on someone like Kenwyn Jones who'd offer roughly the same positives, then buying a proper attacker at the start of this season when there was time to negotiate a reasonable fee etc.

This is pretty much spot on. One glaring problem with Carroll is his heading ability. He may be 22 but I'm pretty sure he's spent a LOT of time practicing with his head. Why is it then he cannot control his headed balls properly. Ignoring this debate, why is it that players SMALLER then him consistently WIN the ball in the air and most times knock his huge form away? If he cant win balls in the air, what exactly are we supposed to be positive about? I think Spearings won more air balls then him.

I also do not sign up to the 'back the players even if they have 1 leg' mentality. Yes you can back them, you can cheer for them while they're on the field. But most times you can look at a player and say he wont make it. Just like Ngog before who many here kept defending and launching at anyone who said otherwise, you can mostly tell those who are LFC quality and those who are not. You dont win titles if you keep on backing players you already know are not title winning players.

I'd also like to point out the absolute abuse Luis Garcia got from practically everyone. Despite him always performing he would give the ball away now and then. The home support, the best supporters in the world, would collectively GROAN so loud every time he misspassed the ball, that even the commentators would mention it. It was immensely embarrassing as a supporter to watch this. Credit to the little champion he never let this knock him down, his confidence never wavered, he kept on producing. Thats the sort of player I want in my team. Not someone who needs to be given 1-2 years to come good, to massage his ego, to tell him everythings going to be ok despite how **** you actually are. Travesty how Garcia was treated. Even more when players like Carroll are treated like kings to him.

He will lumber around, get the odd goal here and there for his 5-10 a season tally, and then be sold 3 years from now for about 14million. Roll your eyes if you want but you're free to note this down and come back to it. I expect more from an LFC player. And also much MUCH more when that player costs 35million.

[SB]

I think Gerrard holds they key to getting the best out of carroll. he's the one player that can link the midfield to the attack quickly. He loved playing off of Crouch and I think he'll enjoy similar with Carroll.

I hope your right Bob.

[cream]

I think Gerrard holds they key to getting the best out of carroll. he's the one player that can link the midfield to the attack quickly. He loved playing off of Crouch and I think he'll enjoy similar with Carroll.

That's what we said when signed downing though, its just another excuse for him. He needs to show a lot more desire, otherwise you could link him up with Xavi, Iniesta and Messi and it wouldn't make a blind bit of difference.

[Norbs]

This is pretty much spot on. One glaring problem with Carroll is his heading ability. He may be 22 but I'm pretty sure he's spent a LOT of time practicing with his head. Why is it then he cannot control his headed balls properly. Ignoring this debate, why is it that players SMALLER then him consistently WIN the ball in the air and most times knock his huge form away? If he cant win balls in the air, what exactly are we supposed to be positive about? I think Spearings won more air balls then him.

I also do not sign up to the 'back the players even if they have 1 leg' mentality. Yes you can back them, you can cheer for them while they're on the field. But most times you can look at a player and say he wont make it. Just like Ngog before who many here kept defending and launching at anyone who said otherwise, you can mostly tell those who are LFC quality and those who are not. You dont win titles if you keep on backing players you already know are not title winning players.

I'd also like to point out the absolute abuse Luis Garcia got from practically everyone. Despite him always performing he would give the ball away now and then. The home support, the best supporters in the world, would collectively GROAN so loud every time he misspassed the ball, that even the commentators would mention it. It was immensely embarrassing as a supporter to watch this. Credit to the little champion he never let this knock him down, his confidence never wavered, he kept on producing. Thats the sort of player I want in my team. Not someone who needs to be given 1-2 years to come good, to massage his ego, to tell him everythings going to be ok despite how **** you actually are. Travesty how Garcia was treated. Even more when players like Carroll are treated like kings to him.

He will lumber around, get the odd goal here and there for his 5-10 a season tally, and then be sold 3 years from now for about 14million. Roll your eyes if you want but you're free to note this down and come back to it. I expect more from an LFC player. And also much MUCH more when that player costs 35million.

I'm not rolling my eyes, I still don't know why we've signed a player who would be allegedly more suited to Stoke and Wimbledon.

Let's just hope the stuttering start to his Liverpool career is because he's being forced to adjust to our style of play, and that the heading ability is just a bonus. From what we're seeing at the moment, I doubt it.

[Roboklopp]

Lots of us loved Lil Luis & gave him our full support. I dont get to a huge amount of matches being a lazy ******* & Anfield being in another city, but I dont think he got loads of abuse on the occassions I did see him live.

[vlahka]

Everytime I watched him on the tv all I could hear was the crowd groaning over and over again. Even in the matchday threads plenty of people would moan over him passing badly. It wasnt his fault our players wouldnt move their arses and get themselves in free positions or actually understand what a through ball was half the time. Why he didnt turn his back on us is a mystery to me. Instead he helped us win the champions league and some other trophies. When we sold him I was devastated. And then after that Alonso and that was basically it, all my favourite LFC players were gone.

[Craig_H]

But that was enough for everyone to slag off Aquilani, call him a flop and a pussy etc. If Carroll came from a different league everyone would have a theory about how he can't adapt. Carroll has showed nothing, I didn't think he'd fit in before we signed him. I'm not saying things won't improve but I just struggle to see it happening.

But we didn't pay 8m for him. If we did then I'd agree that it'd have been a risk worth taking, but being our record signing, expectation comes with the territory. I know it's not his fault what he was bought for, and no one is having a go at him as a human being, but questioning his footballing ability. Fees matter, when it comes to expectation. There's a reason we didn't spend 20m on Ngog, so I don't buy that notion. Over the years barring Keane and Aquilani our other big money signings have generally played consistently, and played well.

Lastly when you look at the fee and the other players in that price range Carroll sticks out like a sore thumb. Now I'm not saying "Carroll cost x so did Aguero, what were we thinking?" but when it comes to strikers in that cost bracket we could've done better, a lot better. I'd rather have even bought a cheaper alternative to get us through until this season, instead of panic buying in January. Spending 10m or so (hypothetically obviously) on someone like Kenwyn Jones who'd offer roughly the same positives, then buying a proper attacker at the start of this season when there was time to negotiate a reasonable fee etc.

1. I dont think "everyone" slagged off Aquilani.
2. Nothing in your post about the fee is anything to do with Carroll, or his fault.

[Craig_H]

And generally speaking, it boils down to whether or not we trust Kenny's judgement. I do.

[Vermilion]

But, Even if you trust his judgement, and i do too, it does'nt mean i don't think he's not capable of making mistakes with players, so there's still an element of doubt in my mind with certain players because of that, i think it'll be the same for most fans too, and trusting Kenny won't change that.....players performing will.

[vlahka]

Every manager makes mistakes. Kennys made some in the past. Using this trust rule that basically means every single player bought should be allowed to play for a full season no matter how bad they are, because we trust the manager, which includes throwing in your El Zar's, your Degen's, your Diao's. This is what usually would happen if we didnt decide this or that player wasnt good enough. We'd be cheering those sorts of players on for the entire season straight to mid table. You can usually tell how a player is after his first dozen or so matches. Carroll wont be improving much.

[Exiled_red]

I'm still hoping (perhaps naively) that Carroll has been poor because of his injuries and a lack of a pre-season hence he hasn't got going yet and it might take a while before we see what he can really do.

[Kenneth]

Everytime I watched him on the tv all I could hear was the crowd groaning over and over again. Even in the matchday threads plenty of people would moan over him passing badly. It wasnt his fault our players wouldnt move their arses and get themselves in free positions or actually understand what a through ball was half the time. Why he didnt turn his back on us is a mystery to me. Instead he helped us win the champions league and some other trophies. When we sold him I was devastated. And then after that Alonso and that was basically it, all my favourite LFC players were gone.

He was a special little player, but he was also very wasteful in possession a lot of the time. The reaction was saddening, but it's still true.

[McDermotX]

Really don't think its a fitness or conditioning thing at this stage. Its all in his melon, that badly bearded thing on top of his shoulders.

[Nick77]

I think he's not where he should be mentally - I mean at Newcastle he would win 90% of balls in the air & now if it's 20% it's a lot. I'm not saying he can only play when the ball's in the air - what I am saying is that's supposed to be his strength...

[Mostar]

Watch his 3rd goal vs Aston villa late last year.

Pay attention where he took the ball and where he finished it.

I still haven't seen this type of effort with us.


[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VprS4ONcyjY"]Andy Carroll hat trick vs Aston Villa - YouTube[/ame]