Andy Carroll - Best Striker in the World

[RichC]

He's doing bloody well for us but he's only 19 and made just 10 appearances or so in the Premier League he knows probably better than anyone that he has some way to go yet as a defender and is still learning the game.

I'd be happy for him to continue as he and lets look at him for England perhaps next season, last thing we'd need is him to have a shocker at international level and his confidence gets knocked.

[Mostar]

Kelly is a better right back then Johnson so that's bollocks.

No he is not. Kelly is better CB as that is his natural position.

[Mostar]

I really don't think he is mate. Kelly has some real issues with his game still that he needs to over come like giving the ball away, he had a pass completion of 55% v Chelsea, 67% v Stoke, 69% v Stoke, 56% v Wolves and 63% v Everton. Playing fullback he needs to learn to keep possession better than that at the top level. He also got successfully isolated very well by Everton and Wolves in particular and wasn't strong enough in the air and his positioning has been questionable too.

He is a very good prospect, but he isn't ready for international football at all yet.

[Drago]

No he is not. Kelly is better CB as that is his natural position.

No one knows yet where he will end up permanently. Just cause he played CB at youth level doesn't mean that will be his best position. Remind me where Carra was playing at that age?

All I know is right now he has the RB shirt on merit.

[Kronenburg1892]

The thing with these comparisons with Gascoigne, is that Andy has a living barametric to compare himself with. A living demon if you like, one that fore warns an ending. It's probably stronger than anyone's advice.

[Lecter]

No he is not. Kelly is better CB as that is his natural position.

Firstly until we see him at centreback in the Premiership you cant possibly say this

Secondly I have real doubts about him at centrehalf because he lacks a presence in the air, he gets bullied and dominated in the air

[RedSince1964]

Firstly until we see him at centreback in the Premiership you cant possibly say this

Secondly I have real doubts about him at centrehalf because he lacks a presence in the air, he gets bullied and dominated in the air

I swear i've heard this quote mentioned somewhere before Lec? oh yes i remember, it was replied back to me by you Lec mate

No offence intended Lec bud

[Mostar]

Firstly until we see him at centreback in the Premiership you cant possibly say this

Secondly I have real doubts about him at centrehalf because he lacks a presence in the air, he gets bullied and dominated in the air

He played as CB his entire youth career and if the past performance is any indication of the future than imo that is where he should play.

I am not so sure that I agree with "he gets bullied in the air" statement and even if that is the case it really doesn't mean much. Neither Carra, Agger or Skrtel have much aerial presence and all of them are pretty good CBs.

That said, as RB I do think he lacks bursts of pace and on the more than one occasion he was skinned by pacey wingers so that can become a problem over time. His crossing is not great and more often than not he doesn't give us anything offensively so imo RB is not his strongest position.

I guess time will tell but I can see him moved gradually to CB role that I think suits him the best.

[Rowan]

I really don't think he is mate. Kelly has some real issues with his game still that he needs to over come like giving the ball away, he had a pass completion of 55% v Chelsea, 67% v Stoke, 69% v Stoke, 56% v Wolves and 63% v Everton. Playing fullback he needs to learn to keep possession better than that at the top level. He also got successfully isolated very well by Everton and Wolves in particular and wasn't strong enough in the air and his positioning has been questionable too.

He is a very good prospect, but he isn't ready for international football at all yet.

Alright Matt!!!! How much of the pass completion lark is down to him putting crosses in and them not being won by our lads (as opposed to him mindlessly giving the ball away)?

[Mattshark]

Alright Matt!!!! How much of the pass completion lark is down to him putting crosses in and them not being won by our lads (as opposed to him mindlessly giving the ball away)?

Very little, the problem has been giving it away in the midfield.

[Lecter]

I swear i've heard this quote mentioned somewhere before Lec? oh yes i remember, it was replied back to me by you Lec mate

No offence intended Lec bud

Thats fair enough its the second most repeated phrase about Kelly

After "he should move to centreback because thats where he played in the youth sides"

[RedReet]

He played as CB his entire youth career and if the past performance is any indication of the future than imo that is where he should play.

I am not so sure that I agree with "he gets bullied in the air" statement and even if that is the case it really doesn't mean much. Neither Carra, Agger or Skrtel have much aerial presence and all of them are pretty good CBs.

That said, as RB I do think he lacks bursts of pace and on the more than one occasion he was skinned by pacey wingers so that can become a problem over time. His crossing is not great and more often than not he doesn't give us anything offensively so imo RB is not his strongest position.

I guess time will tell but I can see him moved gradually to CB role that I think suits him the best.

That is a couple of people on this site I've heard say that, what are you watching? He's extremely fast, one of the fastest in our first team I'd say (although that's not saying much).

Against Stoke, he made up 3 yards on Pennant in seconds. When Pennant changed sides, Johnson was just about able to keep up with him in an even race and Johnson is pretty fast.

If he was skinned ny 'pacey wingers' then it would have been because of his starting position, not his pace. What wingers are you talking about BTW and what matches?

[Reece]

I always thought he had decent pace, but there was a couple of occasions against Chelsea where he at the very least kept pace with Ashley Cole.

[RedReet]

Was Cole even playing?

[Reece]