Andy Carroll - Best Striker in the World

[Vermilion]

Performance vs Wolves for those who are interested.

Looking back he showed good awareness of where other players were. His passing was mostly to a good standard, the occasional stray ball and his first touch looked much better. He should have had a goal and was unlucky. He needs to improve his movement but he is young and that comes with experience. If he keeps giving performances like that then I will be happy.

Andy Carroll Vs. Wolves - 24.9.11 - YouTube

Nothing wrong with his vision anyway, looks up, some nice balls over the top, in-between and a few decent crosses too.

[Neil Young]

Has anyone listened to yesterday's The Anfield Wrap Podcast?

One of the guys touched up on player abuse from the stands, our own players I'm talking about here.

Said there was a guy in front of him slating Henderson at every opportunity on Saturday, flying out of his seat arms waiving, says he felt like telling him to **** off and punching him in the face!

It was actually quite interesting - he feels as supporters we really should come together and back our players even if they are not doing well.

Crowd pressure is only going to have a negative, detrimental effect on the said player.

He explained he could see how much the pressure was getting to Henderson, kind of the same type of pressure Lucas had to deal with when he was breaking through and the same pressure and expectation Carroll is now under.

I guess it's easy to start ranting and raving and getting on players backs, we are all entitled to voice our concerns about players but these guys need our backing to help get them through these difficult phases.

I couldn't agree more.

I remember Darren Potter's home debut. Some in the crowd - enough to be heard quite clearly - got on his back during the first half. OK, so he wasn't good enough (and probably a more supportive reception wouldn't have changed that, although you can never be 100% sure) but it was sickening to hear some of the "best supporters in the world" lay into a young kid like that.

There are tossers everywhere of course but I think we need more people to 'have a word' when "fans" forget they're supposed to be supporters.

[Vermilion]

I couldn't agree more.

I remember Darren Potter's home debut. Some in the crowd - enough to be heard quite clearly - got on his back during the first half. OK, so he wasn't good enough (and probably a more supportive reception wouldn't have changed that, although you can never be 100% sure) but it was sickening to hear some of the "best supporters in the world" lay into a young kid like that.

There are tossers everywhere of course but I think we need more people to 'have a word' when "fans" forget they're supposed to be supporters.

Especially the bit in bold, self policing these nutters is the only way imo, if the fans on mass say....we don't need 'support' like that..stop or your out, for good, i think it's a lot better done that way than the club imposing it, although they'd have to get involved obviously, but the fans need to point these people out if they won't stop being idiots.

[Kenneth]

I almost got into a fight for laying into Smicer during one his ****ter performances (there were quite a few to be fair). Generally I'm all happy clappy at anfield, but sometimes it's hard not to react negatively when you want the team to win so badly. Anyway, Smicer was a ****ing donkey that day, after a couple of seasons of being a donkey so I don't regret it. Laying in to henderson is certainly dubious behaviour.

[Shaggy]

I couldn't agree more.

I remember Darren Potter's home debut. Some in the crowd - enough to be heard quite clearly - got on his back during the first half. OK, so he wasn't good enough (and probably a more supportive reception wouldn't have changed that, although you can never be 100% sure) but it was sickening to hear some of the "best supporters in the world" lay into a young kid like that.

There are tossers everywhere of course but I think we need more people to 'have a word' when "fans" forget they're supposed to be supporters.

Totally agree, we've all seen it and it's horrible. However it's been going on for years and happens at every single football ground in the country.

[Shaggy]

I almost got into a fight for laying into Smicer during one his ****ter performances (there were quite a few to be fair). Generally I'm all happy clappy at anfield, but sometimes it's hard not to react negatively when you want the team to win so badly. Anyway, Smicer was a ****ing donkey that day, after a couple of seasons of being a donkey so I don't regret it. Laying in to henderson is certainly dubious behaviour.

Think I've recounted this before....I was sat on the front row of the Lower Cent one night, a CL game I think. Someone rolled a simple ball to Vlad who was stood on the touchline, and Vlad let it roll under his foot. I'm always supportive inside the ground but on this occasion I shouted "FOR ****S SAKE SMICER". I was only a few feet away from him. Anyway he made the fatal mistake of looking right into the crowd, and looked right at me.

I felt absolutely horrendous. There was almost fear in his eyes.

[Kenneth]

Ah, but did he do it again though?


Well yes, I'm sure he did.

[Shaggy]

[little dave hedgehog]

fans on mass

[lfcred]

Iv done this before and instantly felt bad! When you make eye contact with the footballers you realise that they are human after all and that they dont mean to make the mistakes! I you felt more guilty with smicer as he is one of the nicer guys in football!

[BringbackBiscan]

Waste of mon...

[Norbs]

Didn't make it in to today's top 3, IMO. Great to see him score though...

[BringbackBiscan]

I'm sure some are actually disappointed he did score.

[little dave hedgehog]

I'm sure some are actually disappointed he did score.

i don't think so. maybe like one guy.

[McDermotX]

Very poor first half,......improved a little in the 2nd and was buzzing after the goal.
More concerned with Downing TBH