Andy Carroll - Best Striker in the World

[Craig_H]

Carroll has not even started 6 games on the trott.

Has he deserved to Start at least 6 games on the trott. YES.

Is he good enough to play in our current set up. YES.

You can't lay the shoulder of blame on him when he does not even get a fair run in the team.

This is what i mean about certain issues which arent his fault, that get ignored. He hasnt been what we expected, no. But he's had games where he's been very good and inevitably gets dropped the game after. I think Kenny's handling of him hasnt been as good as it should.

[Craig_H]

its not carrolls fault he cost 35m.
its carrolls fault he is so ****, though. we have seen him do it for newcastle, and in odd games for us, but its clearly apparent that he just aint arsed trying. that is his fault.
stop trying to defend him like he is your first born child, or your his agent.

Clearly apparent? What a load of bull****. How do you know, are you a mind reader? I dont agree that he aint arsed, not in the slightest. We have dropped him when he's had good games, we've not given him the kind of service he had at Newcastle and we dont play in a way that suits him, while Newcastle did. Maybe that's why he 'did it' for them and not for us? Did that ever cross your mind, or is it too easy to just slag off one of our own?

And yeah, what a weirdo i must be for defending one of our own. God, i'll even go as far as supporting them next(!)

[tbounce]

I have never booed a Liverpool player (and for that matter I always defend all our players when they are criticised by opposition fans - which is a lot)

However, I do think, particularly on a Liverpool forum, I am entitled to comment on the performances of our players. I think this is particularly true of our record signing. In that respect I don't think Carroll's performance has been good enough for the duration of his time at our club.

We are not City. We do not have £35 million to piss away and so the transfer fee is relevant I'm afraid. It just is - if you can't see that then there is no point discussing that aspect further.

You say some of the causes of his failure here are his fault and some are not. Which factors (other than the fee) have hindered him that you feel are his fault?

[Daniel 7]

I don't know if he isn't trying. I think his gait probably gives a false impression sometimes - he's never going to look like Bellamy, always bustling.

Also, sometimes it looks like he's trying too hard. When instinct has taken over, he has done better, like the wallops against City and Exeter.

There are flashes, but they're few and far between. Which does raise the question if, physically, he's unable to do what he did in the past.

[Daniel 7]

Carroll has not even started 6 games on the trott.

Has he deserved to Start at least 6 games on the trott. YES.

Is he good enough to play in our current set up. YES.

You can't lay the shoulder of blame on him when he does not even get a fair run in the team.

Bunch of moaning *******s. Never satisfied even when we win.

Save the abuse, I agree with some of what you say. I wouldn't send out abuse when I disagree with you, its juvenile.

I have been an advocate of persevering with him because we're stuck with him. Can't honestly understand why he isn't given a run when it looked like he may have been playing his way into some kind of form. He was at least providing the minimum we'd expect - bringing others into play and looking to get involved.

[Craig_H]

I have never booed a Liverpool player (and for that matter I always defend all our players when they are criticised by opposition fans - which is a lot)

However, I do think, particularly on a Liverpool forum, I am entitled to comment on the performances of our players. I think this is particularly true of our record signing. In that respect I don't think Carroll's performance has been good enough for the duration of his time at our club.

We are not City. We do not have £35 million to piss away and so the transfer fee is relevant I'm afraid. It just is - if you can't see that then there is no point discussing that aspect further.

You say some of the causes of his failure here are his fault and some are not. Which factors (other than the fee) have hindered him that you feel are his fault?

I've no qualms whatsoever with saying he hasnt been good enough, or his performances have been below par. Of course that's fine, i've never suggested otherwise. It's the mocking and abuse of him, that's just bizarre to me.

Things that have hindered him that have been his fault - sometimes he's made mistakes or stupid decisions on the field, which is clearly down to himself. He sometimes lets emotion take over his play and he's clearly not mentally strong enough to shrug off some of the disappointments he's had.

Everything i've heard from people close to him suggests that he's not a very confident lad and the slightest letdown has a negative affect on him mentally, which is one thing he needs to 'man up' in terms of, but hopefully that'll come with age and experience. That he is so mentally fragile makes it even more baffling that Liverpool fans choose to slag him off, when it's obvious that it's only likely to have a negative impact on him and his performances - and therefore, a negative impact on LFC.

[Craig_H]

I don't know if he isn't trying. I think his gait probably gives a false impression sometimes - he's never going to look like Bellamy, always bustling.

Also, sometimes it looks like he's trying too hard. When instinct has taken over, he has done better, like the wallops against City and Exeter.

There are flashes, but they're few and far between. Which does raise the question if, physically, he's unable to do what he did in the past.

I think you're spot on about trying too hard - and it's largely down to the pressure on him which, obviously, largely comes from the criticism and scrutiny he receives. So again, i cant understand why people cannot see that slagging him off and getting on his back is clearly going to make things harder for him and therefore, for us as a club too.

I think if his confidence was up and we played in a style to suit him (and actually got good delivery into the box, with decent numbers of players in there) then it's very conceivable that he could deliver for us what he did for them.

[baitman]

I have never booed a Liverpool player...

for the record, the one and only time i have booed a Liverpool player was at the 2005 CL final, when harry kewall went off with an injury after about 20 minutes.
i felt that although he had been a long term sick note, and bleeding us dry for his wages, he must have known he wasnt fully fit and only wanted to get on the pitch and pick up a winners medal. his very presence on the pitch and hasty withdrawal cost us the opportunity to bring on another substitute in the latter stages, and this could have been crucial.

from wiki;
On 25 May 2005, Kewell became the only Australian-born player (Craig Johnston was born in South Africa) to win the UEFA Champions League, playing in Liverpool's win over A.C. Milan on penalties. Kewell was controversially selected by manager Rafael Benítez ahead of the defensive midfielder Dietmar Hamann, signaling the club's intent to attack from the outset. The gamble proved unsuccessful, and an injured Kewell was substituted early in the first half with a torn adductor muscle. Liverpool were losing 1–0 at the time and Kewell was infamously booed off the pitch by Liverpool fans with many suggesting he had faked the injury

[Craig_H]

Your logic is flawed a bit there, because Kewell would've got a medal whether he'd been on the pitch or not. So he wasnt on the pitch to pick up a winners' medal.

And furthermore, if you're a footballer and you get picked for a CL final, you're not going to say no. I've no doubt Kewell would've felt fine going into the game and injuries happen. I cant fathom blaming the guy for getting injured. And booing him? Crikey. I couldnt do it.

[baitman]

Your logic is flawed a bit there, because Kewell would've got a medal whether he'd been on the pitch or not. So he wasnt on the pitch to pick up a winners' medal.

And furthermore, if you're a footballer and you get picked for a CL final, you're not going to say no. I've no doubt Kewell would've felt fine going into the game and injuries happen. I cant fathom blaming the guy for getting injured. And booing him? Crikey. I couldnt do it.

yeh, i know every footballer would not want to be out of the team for a CL final, but he wasnt playing regularly through injury. everyone was shocked to see his name on the team sheet. he must have known he was carrying an injury and not fully fit. it could have cost us everything, just so he could say he played in a CL final. a little selfish, imho. it should be about the Team, not harry ****in kewall.

anyways... back to the thread. sorry for the diversion.

[Craig_H]

Well you're relying a lot on mind-reading there, but fair enough.

[Red_Polo]

yeh, i know every footballer would not want to be out of the team for a CL final, but he wasnt playing regularly through injury. everyone was shocked to see his name on the team sheet. he must have known he was carrying an injury and not fully fit. it could have cost us everything, just so he could say he played in a CL final. a little selfish, imho. it should be about the Team, not harry ****in kewall.

anyways... back to the thread. sorry for the diversion.

So you're telling us the muscle he tore was already damaged to some degree and he knew it, based on what exactly?

[Mattshark]

Carroll has not even started 6 games on the trott.

Has he deserved to Start at least 6 games on the trott. YES.

Is he good enough to play in our current set up. YES.

You can't lay the shoulder of blame on him when he does not even get a fair run in the team.

Bunch of moaning *******s. Never satisfied even when we win.

Sorry mate, but I don't think he is, he really isn't very good.

[Roboklopp]

So, Craig you're finally admitting we are a mentally weak side then?

[Yozza]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2127433/Andy-Carroll-reveals-despair-35million-price-tag.html

EXCLUSIVE: Carroll's £35m fee despair: Liverpool striker reveals price-tag torment

Misfiring Liverpool striker Andy Carroll has admitted privately that he is struggling to cope with the pressure of the £35million price tag that made him the most expensive British footballer.

Carroll and his Liverpool team-mates head to Blackburn tonight hoping to win only their second Barclays Premier League game since the end of January.

The former Newcastle striker has become symbolic of Liverpool's struggles, scoring just three times in the league this season.

Now it has emerged that the England international has admitted to friends that he has struggled to deal with the attention and pressure that came with a transfer fee that shocked the Premier League when Liverpool bought him in January last year.

It is understood that the 23-year-old is determined to make things work at Anfield and still believes he has what it takes to prove himself a valuable asset on Merseyside.
However, he feels his best form will not come until he can forget about the enormous amount Liverpool paid to take him to the North West from his home city. One friend of the mentally weak Carroll said this week: 'Andy isn't unhappy at Liverpool - he thinks Kenny Dalglish has been supportive and he still thinks he can make it work.

'But one of his main problems is the fact that Liverpool paid so much for him.

'He feels that the size of the fee wasn't his fault but that he has had to deal with the consequences of it being so huge and a record.'

Carroll has scored only five times in the Premier League since arriving at Anfield and only eight times for the club in total.

At Newcastle, he had an impressive record of 31 league goals in 57 league starts.

Dalglish is preparing to leave some of his key performers on the bench tonight against Blackburn at Ewood Park in an attempt to safeguard Liverpool's FA Cup ambitions.

Skipper Steven Gerrard is likely to be the biggest name held back ahead of Saturday's Wembley semi-final showdown against Everton, while leading goalscorer Luis Suarez and defender Daniel Agger could also be rested.