Andy Carroll - Best Striker in the World

[DannyMan2006]

People ruling out Carroll don't see the bigger picture IMO. We aren't winning anything with a line up of Suarez as a lone striker, not even with Gerrard behind him. If we want any chance of progression, we need to integrate Carroll into the team set up. Suarez is not a finisher, our football might look better without Carroll right now but it's not because of Carroll, it's the way we utilize him. Think Kenny's got one thing wrong about Carroll and that's the area he operates in. Carroll needs to sit on the opposition's line of defence and Suarez needs to play the Rooney role. It ends up being the opposite with Suarez playing as an out and out striker and Carroll sitting back and trying to link up play. Suarez' been sitting far too high up the pitch for my liking.

On his movement, Carroll doesn't need to move more, he needs to move less and let the game come to him when it counts. Him running the flanks and dropping to the halfway line up to receive the ball contributes nothing to our game, and it stems from our inability to supply him with quality delivery where he's dangerous (ask yourself this, when was the last time Carroll actually got a quality ball in the box?).

He'll be much more effective when he realizes that he needs to sit right on top of the opposition even if it means he'll look "lazy". We need him in the box, and as long as he tries to be someone he's not and forces the game to come to him, it won't work.

Brilliant post

[RichC]

ok first time I've seen him live for us, I thought he did pretty well in terms of linking play and his overall game was decent (he needs a goal for confidence) but he needs to work on his movement off the ball far too many times he was static watching the game rather than looking to move and find space.

[DannyMan2006]

ok first time I've seen him live for us, I thought he did pretty well in terms of linking play and his overall game was decent (he needs a goal for confidence) but he needs to work on his movement off the ball far too many times he was static watching the game rather than looking to move and find space.

Another post I agree with.

Too many times in games Carroll will come deep for the ball to help build up play. For me, I agree with Johndoes post, he shouldn't be doing this. Leave that to Suarez who excells at building and linking play. But if he really must do this, then as soon as he has played the ball, instead of waiting for a return pass, he needs to bust a gut to get into the box in anticipation of a cross coming in.

No doubt it will be frustrating for him. There will be times he wont be in the game as much, and more often than not his bursts into the box will be pointless as we'll either not cross it or will put in a poor cross. But that's where work ethic comes into play and a willingness to keep going.

[RichC]

Carroll will come good, he was unlucky a couple of times yesterday and should have got on the scoresheet.

[BigChief]

Carroll

[kingfunk]

Just heard a bookie talking about odds for the title so far, apparently we have drifted out further now......after being "unimpressive again" V Wolves....think he said 30/1 now.

If I was a bookie I'd offer 1000/1 there is not a snowballs chance in hell we will win the league.

[yamiedo]

One thing I noticed against Wolves was that Carroll was much deeper than Suarez. Usually being the one trying to play him in.

I found tbjs unusual because I thought the idea would be to have Suarez playing deep and Carroll as far forward to possible to try to get him chances. It was working at Wolves but I think Suarez needs to play behind Carroll as he is going to create great chances for him (Along with Gerrard, Downing, Adam etc)

[yamiedo]

Performance vs Wolves for those who are interested.

Looking back he showed good awareness of where other players were. His passing was mostly to a good standard, the occasional stray ball and his first touch looked much better. He should have had a goal and was unlucky. He needs to improve his movement but he is young and that comes with experience. If he keeps giving performances like that then I will be happy.

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zVPvCxA-mGo"]Andy Carroll Vs. Wolves - 24.9.11 - YouTube[/ame]

[Kenneth]

Interesting clip. He certainly put a shift in but I was surprise how consistently he dropped deep. I know we didn't always get numbers forward, but he needs to move 10-15 yards further up the pitch to keep more pressure on their back four and give us some more space in the middle. Still, he got more involved, used his size well and was unlucky not to score. A winning goal in the derby would certainly give him a major boost.

[Kronenburg1892]

I like these condensed videos, just shows that he did have a good game against Wolves. Infact I thought he had a very good game against Spurs.

[BringbackBiscan]

His link up play with Suarez is really starting to come along now. It shouldn't be much of a surprise that Suarez & Kuyt hit the ground running with them both speaking Dutch & the big man's injuries.

Scoring the winner in either of the next two games will go along way to getting the kop on his side.

[Vermilion]

If I was a bookie I'd offer 1000/1 there is not a snowballs chance in hell we will win the league.

Stingy git! If there's not a snowballs chance in hell you could be a little more generous with those odds don't you think ? Draw the punters in, to amass what would be a guaranteed BIG pot of money...a 'sure thing'.

Makes you wonder why were only 30/1 really does'nt it.....****in bookies!

Although, if you'll give me 1000/1 i'll have a £10 bet with ya.

Easy way for you to make a tenner, bit of fun for the season for me.

[cream]

Looks a fantastic player in that vid. It's all about heart and desire with Andy, if he shows it, he can be a fantastic player for us. He needs to get Liverpool in his heart and forget about Newcastle.

[Slinky Skills]

Some right whoppers on here. Almost taking pleasure from the prospect of Carroll failing. Feck off and support Man City.

BK Whoppers they are!

[Slinky Skills]

Has anyone listened to yesterday's The Anfield Wrap Podcast?

One of the guys touched up on player abuse from the stands, our own players I'm talking about here.

Said there was a guy in front of him slating Henderson at every opportunity on Saturday, flying out of his seat arms waiving, says he felt like telling him to **** off and punching him in the face!

It was actually quite interesting - he feels as supporters we really should come together and back our players even if they are not doing well.

Crowd pressure is only going to have a negative, detrimental effect on the said player.

He explained he could see how much the pressure was getting to Henderson, kind of the same type of pressure Lucas had to deal with when he was breaking through and the same pressure and expectation Carroll is now under.

I guess it's easy to start ranting and raving and getting on players backs, we are all entitled to voice our concerns about players but these guys need our backing to help get them through these difficult phases.