Andy Carroll

[Neil Young]

When you put it like that...

[Mostar]

Can he play tikka takka, or whatever it's called ?

It will be interesting to see how he'll fit in Rodgers style of play.

Rodgers is all about possession football so Andy's ball control and touch technique will need to improve a lot.

[Phoenix07]

It will be interesting to see how he'll fit in Rodgers style of play.

Rodgers is all about possession football so Andy's ball control and touch technique will need to improve a lot.

I hope the type of training drills Rodgers would've picked up and used over the years will help with that.

I don't rate Danny Graham for example. I just see him as a lump, but Rodgers used him well.

[Mostar]

Danny Graham is more mobile than Andy Carroll, which is the reason why I am concerned about how Andy will function in Rodgers system.

I guess we will find out soon enough

[Neil Young]

Really? Carroll seems reasonably mobile to me. He's faster than Dirky for instance (but then so am I).

[Mostar]

I didn't compare him to Dirk though but yeah we all are probably faster than dutch boy.

[Neil Young]

My point really was Graham doesn't seem notably quicker than Carroll although I confess I haven't really watched him play much, except the games against us when I was mainly watching through cracks in my fingers as I could hardly bear it.

[Chrono]

If you play possession football then in theory there is no reason for Carroll to need that much pace. The team retains the ball, play one touch with quick movement and a high line allowing for Andy to remain high up the field and attack the ball when it gets in the box (where he is most deadly anyway).

[Mostar]

My point really was Graham doesn't seem notably quicker than Carroll although I confess I haven't really watched him play much, except the games against us when I was mainly watching through cracks in my fingers as I could hardly bear it.

[baitman]

one of andy carrolls best contributions has been his work rate chasing down the oppositions defence when they are in possession, almost as successfully as Ian Rush used to do. by pressing the game that high up the pitch it prevents our lads dropping back too deep and allowing teams to come at us in numbers.

[Mattshark]

one of andy carrolls best contributions has been his work rate chasing down the oppositions defence when they are in possession, almost as successfully as Ian Rush used to do. by pressing the game that high up the pitch it prevents our lads dropping back too deep and allowing teams to come at us in numbers.

Do you think? I think he quite often just jogs slowly around in that area.

[baitman]

Do you think? I think he quite often just jogs slowly around in that area.

he has spent plenty of time just trying to look alive, but of late he has actually looked a little more lively, getting his toe in and nicking the ball a few times. his harrying of defenders is a good thing, and with other players stepping 10 yards further up the pitch and doing likewise it will mean we win back possession and have more bodies around to quickly take advantage of the winning back of the ball.

[Daniel 7]

The sprint to the byline running towards the Kop against chelsea won a lot of people over

[Shanks]

Do you think he knows the game and is just playing the idiot?..
Or....


[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tK93dNNVvIQ"]Andy Carroll plays the YES/NO game - YouTube[/ame]

[red g]

http://www.thisissouthwales.co.uk/Rodgers-sounds-warning-unplayable-Andy-Carroll/story-16052267-detail/story.html

BRENDAN Rodgers reckons Liverpool's £35 million enigma may be arriving in Wales at just the wrong time.

Andy Carroll has not had an easy ride since the Reds stumped up the highest transfer fee ever paid for a British player to take him from Tyneside to Merseyside almost 16 months ago.

But in recent weeks the towering centre-forward has finally started to look like the powerful line-leader Liverpool hoped they'd signed.

"I thought the game against Chelsea on Tuesday night was the best Andy Carroll has played since he went to Liverpool," Rodgers reveals.

"He looked like a top player, and that just shows you that it can take time for players to adapt to the level and everything else when they change clubs.

"He looked fit and he looked lean, his mobility was good and then you saw his power in the air, which has always been there."

Despite the fact that Liverpool racked up four goals in midweek, Carroll did not get on the scoresheet.

There is not that much new there.

The strikes have not exactly flowed for the England international since he was recruited as a replacement for Fernando Torres, with 11 Liverpool goals to his name in 55 appearances to date.

He has been much-maligned as a result, the media — and the fans — queuing up to give him stick.

However, Carroll's performances in recent times have seen some change their tune.

All of a sudden he is being touted as Liverpool's answer to Didier Drogba, a potential wrecking ball of a striker who defenders will hate having to mark.

Kenny Dalglish described him as "unplayable" after the Chelsea game, when Carroll gave the usually reliable John Terry a torrid time.

He had also caused problems for the Blues when he arrived from the bench in last weekend's FA Cup final, scoring one goal to get Liverpool back into it and very nearly finding an equaliser late on.

There have been other bright displays, too, and it now seems Carroll could be required for Euro 2012 duty this summer even though he has not been selected for recent national squads.

"I think his form in the last two or three months has been fantastic," says Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard.

"He is certainly pushing for a place back in the England squad in my opinion."

Carroll has rarely looked at home in the red of Liverpool, with plenty suggesting that he is not the type of player who fits the bill at Anfield.

But if he can ruffle defences as he did the other night — and as he did consistently in his latter days at Newcastle — he will undoubtedly be an asset.

Whether he will ever justify that extraordinary price tag is debatable, but there have at least been some encouraging signs this spring.

"I have been through a lot (this season)," Carroll said this week.

"Coming out at the end of the season with a few good performances has been great for me."

The giant Geordie will want more of the same on Sunday, at a ground where he has enjoyed success on his one previous appearance.

Carroll was part of the Newcastle side who came to the Liberty Stadium for a top-end Championship fixture in February 2010.

It looked for a while as though David Cotterill's fine goal would mean victory for Swansea, but Carroll equalised late on for a Toon side who would go on to win the league.

Now he returns alongside Luis Suarez and, if both men are in the mood, Ashley Williams and Co will be in for a testing afternoon.

"You saw the other night that Suarez still has that hunger and intensity even at this late stage in the season," Rodgers adds.

"He and Carroll make quite a front two, then they have young players like Jonjo Shelvey, who I believe is a real talent.

"Stewart Downing was a threat cutting in from the right against Chelsea and I thought as a team Liverpool were excellent, I imagine Stewart will benefit from this season and will go on to be one of Liverpool's best players next year his pace and trickery down the right is frightening"

"We want to finish our season on a high, but we know we are going to be at our very best against this Liverpool side if that's going to happen."