Andy Carroll - Best Striker in the World

[Mostar]

Cant agree with this he should have played it early

Keeping the ball cut down the options and the box then was crowded

Sometimes you have to play the percentages

This is what I keep saying about our players, the decision making of some of them is appalling

Knowing when to put it in early, rather than keeping it and losing all the options

If I was playing with Carroll in the side I'd be asking myself the same question everytime I got the ball. What sort of ball does Carroll want

He wants it in the air so he can attack it

Gerrard has played a handful of games with him and he knows it so I see no reason why players who have played with him far longer dont know that

He's too predictable and defense can cope with that.

He needs to expand his game, change direction, use his feet more, do things that defenders don't expect him to do and doesn't do that enough.

When you watch the video pay attention to his run to the box. He is moving so nonchalantly and without any conviction.

[Mostar]

You cant tell anything from that footage at all

Enrique should have crossed that as soon as he got inside the box

Come'n..

[Lecter]

He's too predictable and defense can cope with that.

He needs to expand his game, change direction, use his feet more, do things that defenders don't expect him to do and doesn't do that enough.

When you watch the video pay attention to his run to the box. He is moving so nonchalantly and without any conviction.

Yes he does need to expand his game no one is arguing that as a general rule

He makes the run outside to take the defenders away from Enrique

Enrique had acres of time and space to pick him out but he made the wrong choice and held on to it too long and it narrow down the space

[Mostar]

No I saw Enriques reaction but it was impossible to tell what he wanted

Carroll clearly wanted the ball stood up, because that is what type of delivery suits him best

There was definitely other occasions when you could blame Carroll for it breaking down but not that one imo

That was down to Enrique

We'll need to agree to disagree on this one.

[Lecter]

He should've aimed for Gerrard.

He should have either A) hit it early to Carroll at the back stick or B) cut it back to Gerrard when he carried it towards the byline

Either way wrong choice by Enrique

[Lecter]

Come'n..

Come on what

You can tell absolutely **** all

Theres no gestures to see what hes on about just him running off at the mouth in response to Carroll having a go at him

[Mostar]

Yes he does need to expand his game no one is arguing that as a general rule

He makes the run outside to take the defenders away from Enrique

Enrique had acres of time and space to pick him out but he made the wrong choice and held on to it too long and it narrow down the space

There wasn't a moment for Enrique to try the cross during that run regardless of space.

Carroll was moving so slowly and not only that he was covered by Coloccini at all times but Cabaye also out run him into the box even though he was behind him during the initial play.

Any aerial cross would've been picked up with easy by either Krul or Coloccini.

[The Birdman]

As good as Enrique has been in general he takes 1 or 2 touches too many when in the attacking 3rd.
Bellamy was also having a go at Enrique for delaying too long and choosing the wrong option.
I was at the Blackburn game, Carroll worked hard and was unlucky, he played well again last night.
Continuing to criticise him now is petty and is the usual blind agenda we saw with Lucas and even Henderson at the start of the season

[Mostar]

Come on what

You can tell absolutely **** all

Theres no gestures to see what hes on about just him running off at the mouth in response to Carroll having a go at him

Clearly Carroll wasn't too happy with the Enriques low cross and Enrique didn't really like his reaction much either.

Look at hand gesture by Carroll right after the play (I told you I have seen it from different angle and I saw Carroll's face clearly) that started that, followed by Enrique's talking back and then Carroll reaction to Enrique.

Personally I don't mind seeing this type of reaction from our players if that's what's needed to raise their intensity on the pitch.

[Mattshark]

There wasn't a moment for Enrique to try the cross during that run regardless of space.

Carroll was moving so slowly and not only that he was covered by Coloccini at all times but Cabaye also out run him into the box even though he was behind him during the initial play.

Any aerial cross would've been picked up with easy by either Krul or Coloccini.

Going slowly towards the back post like that is exactly what the defenders would want him to do.

[~LFCHistory~]

Going slowly towards the back post like that is exactly what the defenders would want him to do.

I think one of Andy's biggest weaknesses is that when he gets in the box he just seems to stand in one spot and expects the ball to magically arrive at his feet or on his head. He never delays his run or attempts to confuse defenders. More movement and guile needed if he wants a chance to succeed here.

[Red_Polo]

Have to say, I agree with Mos and Matt. Enrique was looking up and sees the space between the defenders you'd expect a striker to attack, he's waiting for Carroll to make the run but AC's so adamant he wants to head it that he neglected to make the more dangerous run.

[saveferris]

I think on the whole the crossing from free play (Gerrard aside) was poor last night and has been for a while.

Carroll will do well when the ball is delivered in for him and although the obvious shooting advantages of playing Bellamy on the left and Downing on the right for crossing they are relying on the full backs to get to the byline, which they have done rarely, meaning that Carroll doesnt get the service that would benefit him most.

Interestingly when Pardew was on goals on sunday a few weeks back he said that Jose Enrique, whilst a good LB was not one that would provide the crosses that Carroll would normally feed off of.

If Aurelio was fit he would be good player for Carroll, he would need to displace Jose Enrique though, which is unlikely.

[saveferris]

Have to say, I agree with Mos and Matt. Enrique was looking up and sees the space between the defenders you'd expect a striker to attack, he's waiting for Carroll to make the run but AC's so adamant he wants to head it that he neglected to make the more dangerous run.

Think its more 50/50 there, Jose Enrique doesnt really play the high cross, I think the ball across is a little forced too as if he's tried to blast it across the 2 Newcastle CBs.

Carroll could have changed the direction of his run but I wouldn't have seen Carroll go for that space, he isnt sharp enough to make that quick change like Bellamy or Suarez would have done.

I think generally the tactic was to get crosses in the ball for Carroll to head in, as Sky pointed out he mentioned it to Johnson during the game and a few times you saw the gesture pointing for the ball over the top.

Someone mentioned that its a predictable tactic but if executed well then it still remains a threat as his header showed.

[Red_Polo]

He didn't need to get ahead of anyone though, there was plenty of space and he could have had a simple first time shot on his favoured foot. The ball Enrique ended up playing was not too dissimilar to what he was probably expecting to play had Carroll moved into that obvious danger area Cabaye (I think?) was desperately running back to fill. Heading might be Carroll's strength but it doesn't mean he should neglect potentially more fruitful opportunities to carve out heading chances.