Andy Carroll - Best Striker in the World

[Lecter]

Some truth in this.

Also, hate the way he never attacks corners running in. Must be an instruction that.

If its an instruction its a bizarre one

I did notice him taking a run in against Fulham but you're right generally hes been pretty static

[Mostar]

Agreed

You look at Carroll for someone "lacking in game intelligence" hes making runs and getting on the end of some chances

You dont do that if you are as thick as two short planks

Yes his build up play isnt great etc.. but hes far from stupid in terms of having a football brain

Not nearly enough and you cannot blame his built up play for that alone.

He has the long way to go to improve his game as imo at the moment he doesn't deserve to start and cannot lead the line.

He doesn't move well without the ball, he's almost always at least one step behind when when the play is developing and wide players and fullbacks need to wait for him to get in the box, he doesn't anticipates where the ball may end up in the box well neither, that is, his positioning in the box is poor.

For the man of his size you want to see him storm in the box and find his way to 5-6 yard line and he almost never, ever does that.

I hate to see him being so far out during the corner kicks too coz he is not a goal threat from that distance at all and yet he does it all the time.

Also he is very shaky on his feet and frequently is knocked down during the play in the box, which I find very frustrating for someone of his built and strength.

I won't comment on his game intelligence but to me his work rate could be better and his movement and positioning in the box and heading technique, which should be his bread and butter, need some major improvements.

As it stands right now imo he is not even close to what we expect from a striker.

[kris90210]

Some great 'supporters' showing their true colours on this thread

So much for "When you walk through a storm...."

Sorry Andy, but for some, it seems you'll always walk alone...

Hypocrit alert! Coming from possibly the most opinionated poster on the site... Please don't pretend you're some superfan who never criticises anyone.

Carroll has been absolutely shocking since he's arrived, and there's nothing wrong with expressing that opinion. Obviously everyone wants him to improve, and we continue to support him.

[Daniel 7]

Not nearly enough and you cannot blame his built up play for that alone.

He has the long way to go to improve his game as imo at the moment he doesn't deserve to start and cannot lead the line.

He doesn't move well without the ball, he's almost always at least one step behind when when the play is developing and wide players and fullbacks need to wait for him to get in the box, he doesn't anticipates where the ball may end up in the box well neither, that is, his positioning in the box is poor.

For the man of his size you want to see him storm in the box and find his way to 5-6 yard line and he almost never, ever does that.

I hate to see him being so far out during the corner kicks too coz he is not a goal threat from that distance at all and yet he does it all the time.

Also he is very shaky on his feet and frequently is knocked down during the play in the box, which I find very frustrating for someone of his built and strength.

I won't comment on his game intelligence but to me his work rate could be better and his movement and positioning in the box and heading technique, which should be his bread and butter, need some major improvements.

As it stands right now imo he is not even close to what we expect from a striker.

Just for the record Mostar, is this opinion affected by how much Liverpool paid for him?

[Mostar]

Just for the record Mostar, is this opinion affected by how much Liverpool paid for him?

Not at all.

I am looking at him purely from the skills perspective and in that respect my views would be the same if he cost 5m or 35m.

How much we paid for him imo is irrelevant when it comes to evaluating his form, his skills and what he brings to our team.

[kris90210]

Difference with Torres, age aside, is that his weapon was electric pace and drive. He now has neither. Carroll's footballing assets arent the kind of things to just disappear at the age of 22.

Carroll possesses assets that form shouldn't necessarily affect - his strength, his aggression... he was out fought and beaten to the ball several times by Senderos on Monday - a player, smaller than him!

[cled the red]

Hypocrit alert! Coming from possibly the most opinionated poster on the site... Please don't pretend you're some superfan who never criticises anyone.

Carroll has been absolutely shocking since he's arrived, and there's nothing wrong with expressing that opinion. Obviously everyone wants him to improve, and we continue to support him.

I think you'll find that Truefan999 doesn't

[kris90210]

What's the problem with judging a player based on their price tag? I think it's perfectly understandable and reasonable to do so. Obviously it's not the be all and end all, but it's something else to consider when judging whether a player has been a success or not.

[Lecter]

Not nearly enough and you cannot blame his built up play for that alone.

He has the long way to go to improve his game as imo at the moment he doesn't deserve to start and cannot lead the line.

He doesn't move well without the ball, he's almost always at least one step behind when when the play is developing and wide players and fullbacks need to wait for him to get in the box, he doesn't anticipates where the ball may end up in the box well neither, that is, his positioning in the box is poor.

For the man of his size you want to see him storm in the box and find his way to 5-6 yard line and he almost never, ever does that.

I hate to see him being so far out during the corner kicks too coz he is not a goal threat from that distance at all and yet he does it all the time.

Also he is very shaky on his feet and frequently is knocked down during the play in the box, which I find very frustrating for someone of his built and strength.

I won't comment on his game intelligence but to me his work rate could be better and his movement and positioning in the box and heading technique, which should be his bread and butter, need some major improvements.

As it stands right now imo he is not even close to what we expect from a striker.

I dont think his positioning in the box is that poor

He had the Swansea chance because of a good run into the box and he had two chances against Fulham for the same reason

Yes he could do more but the critique about him is VERY harsh and frankly inaccurate

I think a lot of people are frustrated with him and that is clouding their view of his game

I'm not saying its perfect by any stretch of the imagination but the critique of him is way OTT

His heading does need to improve though and I've stated that previously

[Daniel 7]

Not at all.

I am looking at him purely from the skills perspective and in that respect my views would be the same if he cost 5m or 35m.

How much we paid for him imo is irrelevant when it comes to evaluating his form, his skills and what he brings to our team.

Exactly. Thats how I have been viewing it too.

[kris90210]

I think you'll find that Truefan999 doesn't

Yeah, there's always going to be that 5-10% who are never happy. I reckon you should center your arguments based on what the majority of fans believe, rather than the minority.

Truefan has repeatedly shown himself to be someone who's opinions aren't to be taken too seriously.

[cled the red]

Yeah, there's always going to be that 5-10% who are never happy. I reckon you should center your arguments based on what the majority of fans believe, rather than the minority.

Truefan has repeatedly shown himself to be someone who's opinions aren't to be taken too seriously.

[Lecter]

What's the problem with judging a player based on their price tag? I think it's perfectly understandable and reasonable to do so. Obviously it's not the be all and end all, but it's something else to consider when judging whether a player has been a success or not.

Hes not worth £35 million no doubt about that, however he isnt the "worst buy in LFC history" etc.....

I'm old enough to remember us shelling out a fortune for Paul Stewart

However we tried for a number of other players at that time (Llorente for one) and were knocked back so we had to jump in

That said despite my belief he aint worth £35 million I dont think hes completely crap either - as many on here are claiming

Thats the problem with many posters on this forum its either black or white there is no considered middle ground to their views

Carroll could quite easily bang in a couple of goals in his next few games and I guarantee some of those criticising him would turn round and say hes a value member of the team

[Mostar]

I dont think his positioning in the box is that poor

He had the Swansea chance because of a good run into the box and he had two chances against Fulham for the same reason

Yes he could do more but the critique about him is VERY harsh and frankly inaccurate

I think a lot of people are frustrated with him and that is clouding their view of his game

I'm not saying its perfect by any stretch of the imagination but the critique of him is way OTT

His heading does need to improve though and I've stated that previously

Having 2 goal score chances in 2 games that you mentioned is not enough for a striker and better movement and positioning in the box would help him to find himself with more opportunities coz the fact remain that we are creating a lot of chances but we are failing to convert those and for the most part he's not the one missing out on those chances.

You said critique about him is very harsh and inaccurate. I would agree with that to some extent but in reality he is not helping himself either.

So far he's been playing below expectations and he'll need to do a lot of good to change those views.

[Darth Marty]

Carroll could quite easily bang in a couple of goals in his next few games and I guarantee some of those criticising him would turn round and say hes a value member of the team

I agree, much like Meireles who scored a few after playing, well, pretty **** really, then when we sold him he was a huge loss, an awesome player etc.

Bull****, he was an average squaddie


Much like Maxi.