Andy Carroll - Best Striker in the World

[Reece]

I've kept pretty quiet on Carroll as I had convinced myself (more out of hope?) that he'd come good. As every game passes, that has deteriorated and I just don't see it happening. Gutted

Kenny has rightly backked him publicly, but I'd love to know what he genuinely thinks the future holds for Carroll.

It's surely no coincidence that he has got better and better with each game since this post.

It was obviously the kick up the backside that he needed.

Me

[Lecter]

For me Carroll has been improving for weeks now

Yet the rate of improvement has been VERY gradual

However in the last few games a lot of those improvements have come together

Maybe its a confidence thing

The performances in the last couple of games is what we should be expecting as a bare minimum from Carroll and I would hope that the upward curve in his form continues to push on upward

[Bender]

well you can only put your skills to use if you get games.... and you need a good number of games also.....think it's fair to say carroll is a good usefull player but he needs games simple as that!plus the media dare say don't help his confidence.

[Alex]

Well I certainly hope he continues with what he is doing at the moment. Annoying that he comes into some sort of form just before Suarez comes back. He is then pushed down the pecking order.

[Phoenix07]

For me Carroll has been improving for weeks now

Yet the rate of improvement has been VERY gradual

However in the last few games a lot of those improvements have come together

Maybe its a confidence thing

The performances in the last couple of games is what we should be expecting as a bare minimum from Carroll and I would hope that the upward curve in his form continues to push on upward

Exactly. I'm not going to get carried away. Still got big reservations about him, but he has to keep working, keep going for the ball, know when to release, where the runners are and keep harassing defenders off the ball.

I am wondering whether Kenny's had a word with him though.

[Norbs]

For me Carroll has been improving for weeks now

Yet the rate of improvement has been VERY gradual

However in the last few games a lot of those improvements have come together

Maybe its a confidence thing

The performances in the last couple of games is what we should be expecting as a bare minimum from Carroll and I would hope that the upward curve in his form continues to push on upward

Not surprisingly Carroll's goal came from a decent ball put in from the left. The Downing/Enrique combo hasn't been able to deliver anything productive and at pace to Carroll's better side but Adam finally did. Enrique passed the ball longer and quicker and was less guilty of the dribble and backward pass combo that he's resorted to far too regularly. Downing was absent so we didn't see loopy crosses either.

Hopefully now the coaching staff will take note and we'll see more of the same. The pace of our build up was much quicker last night, which enables Carroll to run on to the ball as opposed to recieving it just with his back to goal. The number of times that he chose to fall over (as I think he was guilty of doing this out of frustration) was almost zilch and he looked keen, strong and happy.

Well done to him, more of the same please.

[Nick77]

Like Downing, although improving, neither of them have come anywhere close to justifying their price tags - YET.

[kris90210]

The biggest change I've noticed in him having watched the last two games is that he seems to be playing with more energy. Putting himself about a bit more, and not falling to ground at the slightest touch.

He just needs to play (and train) with that same attitude, and I'm sure he'll be effective for us.

[cream]

Some improvement over the last two games. This level of performance needs to be the norm though and not sporadic runs of form.

[BigChief]

Should have had 3 direct assists and a goal. But Kuyt failed to score from 2 yards out and Henderson was day dreaming 25 yards away when Carroll knocked back a perfectly weighted header. There was also a third set up which a Scholes type player would have put away.

This used to be the norm when he played for Newcastle. CBs have to double team against Andy on crosses and that will always leave space for the likes of Bellamy and Suarez. Parker will have his work cut out trying to plug that gap against us. I can see Spurs going ultra-defensive.

[doogle]

full credit to him for his goal yesterday, won the header for the corner to which Enrique played the quick ball through to Bellamy who obviously took the quick throw to Adam and the big man ran the whole length of the pitch to get on the end of the cross in a short space of time

[Craig_H]

CBs have to double team against Andy on crosses and that will always leave space for the likes of Bellamy and Suarez.

I made this exact point when discussing the Stoke game at home and the sitter of a header that Dirk put wide. The reason that sitter came Dirk's way was because the CBs went near post due to being worried about Carroll & this left Dirk in space & free of a marker.

Some people laughed this off & mocked the idea & value of Carroll sometimes being a'decoy' but it's entirely true & valid.

Even if Andy doesn't score himself, his presence in the box can cause problems & create space for others.

[Kenneth]

I made this exact point when discussing the Stoke game at home and the sitter of a header that Dirk put wide. The reason that sitter came Dirk's way was because the CBs went near post due to being worried about Carroll & this left Dirk in space & free of a marker.

Some people laughed this off & mocked the idea & value of Carroll sometimes being a'decoy' but it's entirely true & valid.

I think people understand that it's true and valid, they were mocking the level of significance you placed on it in the thread.

[serenejim]

went last night and was impressed with Carroll. There was an immediate and huge improvement in his game after he scored. He became a monster. Reminds me of Clark Kent going into the phone box and emerging as Superman. If he continues to score think we will see his true worth and ability. Needs to start next game though to keep his confidence up.

[Craig_H]

I think people understand that it's true and valid, they were mocking the level of significance you placed on it in the thread.

If it leads to us scoring goals, it's extremely significant.