Andy Carroll

[baitman]

we dont need a plan B if our plan A allows better movement and goals from anywhere from the front three and middle three. even the lb and rb can get the odd one...

given the choice of andy carroll or dempsey and sahin/tello/afalley, maybe even two from the three

[JohnDoe]

I think highly of Carroll, it's well documented here, think he has potential to be a superb striker, but watching the way we played for a couple of games, I can see why Rodgers doesn't see a role for him. I don't agree with people saying he's not good enough, because he is, but the question isn't about quality, it's about fit.

It's like Zlatan at Barca. It wasn't a good fit because their system did not suit a classic number 9 target man with limited mobility. Rodgers has earmarked Suarez to fill Messi's role, a forward/playmaker hybrid. There is no place for Carroll in the team, because there is no place for a player of his kind, and he's too expensive to keep around on the bench.

It's a damn shame, but I'll have to accept it. Personally, I'm wishing he goes back to Newcastle and continues to develop positively. I have no interest in seeing him rot on the bench, his value will only plummet further.

[Zapater]

I think highly of Carroll, it's well documented here, think he has potential to be a superb striker, but watching the way we played for a couple of games, I can see why Rodgers doesn't see a role for him. I don't agree with people saying he's not good enough, because he is, but the question isn't about quality, it's about fit.

It's like Zlatan at Barca. It wasn't a good fit because their system did not suit a classic number 9 target man with limited mobility. Rodgers has earmarked Suarez to fill Messi's role, a forward/playmaker hybrid. There is no place for Carroll in the team, because there is no place for a player of his kind, and he's too expensive to keep around on the bench.

It's a damn shame, but I'll have to accept it. Personally, I'm wishing he goes back to Newcastle and continues to develop positively. I have no interest in seeing him rot on the bench, his value will only plummet further.

Huge ****ing difference, Ibra got 22 goals and 13 assists at his season at Barca the fact he was poor is a giant misconception. He left because he couldn't get on with Guardiola and his fanatical management style combined with the fact everyone plays for Messi. I'd love if Andy was underperforming with stats like that for us.

[Muddled]

I think it's a valid point JohnDoe raises - it's purely about how a player doesn't fit in to a system, not how well they did. I could go into a 'firing on all cylinders' Barcelona team and come out looking favourably, statistically; Carroll was part of a mis-firing team *ALL* season.

I've come to accept Carroll doesn't have a future here; it's sad, but I hope he goes to a team that plays to his strengths and gets a chance to show his true abilities. Stoke would showcase that for sure.

[Neil Young]

Could it be that we needed to sell Carroll to fund new players and now that he doesn't want the move, we are selling Agger?

Well, colin, sorry to be answering this after you've been Hodgsoned but I've only just seen it. Still, I hope trade is busy for you and the new, decent beers you're now selling are going down well with your oft-abused clientele.

It certainly looks like the possibility of selling Agger is a response to the non-sale of Carroll. And maybe it's that simple. It certainly was my first thought.

But it's an easy and internally coherent narrative to spin around the few facts we know. The problem is there's loads we don't know and it's possible to put a different spin on the few facts we do know.

One thing we don't know is how long Man City have been considering moving for Agger. If it's more than a few weeks then it might just be random chance that their move for him has followed the seeming collapse of other clubs' interest in Carroll.

But it's a compelling story and we tend to have a lot of confidence in stories that 'fit the facts', whereas we aren't so good at recognising the role of blind chance in human life.

So, in short, we don't know.

[JohnDoe]

Huge ****ing difference, Ibra got 22 goals and 13 assists at his season at Barca the fact he was poor is a giant misconception. He left because he couldn't get on with Guardiola and his fanatical management style combined with the fact everyone plays for Messi. I'd love if Andy was underperforming with stats like that for us.

He was playing for a dominant team, I watched the games, Barca were a worse team with him on the pitch. It just didn't work.

[Mattshark]

I think it's a valid point JohnDoe raises - it's purely about how a player doesn't fit in to a system, not how well they did. I could go into a 'firing on all cylinders' Barcelona team and come out looking favourably, statistically; Carroll was part of a mis-firing team *ALL* season.

I've come to accept Carroll doesn't have a future here; it's sad, but I hope he goes to a team that plays to his strengths and gets a chance to show his true abilities. Stoke would showcase that for sure.

That and Carroll sadly is really not a very good player.

[baitman]

some good points about zlat and his fit in the barca team.
im not saying that andy is as good or as intelligent as zlat, but imagine if andy carroll was playing up top for barca. his end of year stats would look ok, as he would get so much service, and even if his contribution was minimal, like zlat, he would still get on the end of enough chances to look like a proper striker.

he is too static and easy for oppo's centre backs to pick up for most of the game. he only looks big and powerful when he is lumbering on to the sort of crosses that we are less likely to be blasting into the area.

[Mostar]

After watching our performance yesterday, I am not sure if Rodgers even has a role earmarked for a Carroll type striker in his plans. We are going to have a fluid front four exchanging positions, dragging the defenders out of position, intelligent quick movement.

Absolutely not which is why he wants to get rid of him.

He also needs money to buy "his" type of players and Andy is clearly not one of them.

The issue is that we cannot get for him what we want and Andy is blocking any deal unless it is back to NUFC.

Tough times ahead of him as I am not sure that he'll get any real chance with us if he stays.

[dww]

some good points about zlat and his fit in the barca team.
im not saying that andy is as good or as intelligent as zlat, but imagine if andy carroll was playing up top for barca. his end of year stats would look ok, as he would get so much service, and even if his contribution was minimal, like zlat, he would still get on the end of enough chances to look like a proper striker.

he is too static and easy for oppo's centre backs to pick up for most of the game. he only looks big and powerful when he is lumbering on to the sort of crosses that we are less likely to be blasting into the area.

I think some of the criticism here is OTT. His movement was inconsistent but in some games it was good, particularly towards the end of last season.

He's not ideal for the way we will mostly be playing but he did look good on the odd occasion when Bellamy and Suarez ran off him. I think Borini & Suarez alongside Carroll would make a useful option. The worst thing for us would be to have him waste away in the reserves losing value - we either have to cut whatever deal we can with Newcastle or make use of him.

[Lee]

I think some of the criticism here is OTT. His movement was inconsistent but in some games it was good, particularly towards the end of last season.

He's not ideal for the way we will mostly be playing but he did look good on the odd occasion when Bellamy and Suarez ran off him. I think Borini & Suarez alongside Carroll would make a useful option. The worst thing for us would be to have him waste away in the reserves losing value - we either have to cut whatever deal we can with Newcastle or make use of him.

Word for word.

[Chazza]

Bang on.

Unless we shift him soon then he has to be made use of in some way probably from the bench.

We can't wait until the last day of the window to sell him it unless we get another striker in before then.

[el matador]

The sort of movement gerrard suarez borini and downing all displayed is beyond what carroll can do. Beforehand I wasnt so sure that he couldnt adapt his game but seeing our display against gomel really brought things home.

Rodgers values mobility over strength and that isnt bid andys forte. We will lose a colossal amount of money on this so its probably best to get it over with and just move on from the saga.

I dont think we will get more than 15m from his sale and all of that will go to subsidise his wages. What a ballsup.

[doogle]

The sort of movement gerrard suarez borini and downing all displayed is beyond what carroll can do. Beforehand I wasnt so sure that he couldnt adapt his game but seeing our display against gomel really brought things home.

Rodgers values mobility over strength and that isnt bid andys forte. We will lose a colossal amount of money on this so its probably best to get it over with and just move on from the saga.

I dont think we will get more than 15m from his sale and all of that will go to subsidise his wages. What a ballsup.

If we bought him for around 20m he wouldn't be here now.
I like Andy but only for the old one big man one little man frontline which I think Kenny was looking for but I now and I feel stupid for only thinking 100% after playing the great Gomel that he wont fit in with BR's system because we will play better teams but it was clear to see

[Gibbo]

I'm happy for him to stay if Rodgers can coach out new style into him.

His main problem is his mobility, but if Rodgers can ensure that we don't hoof it and (I think this one is the most important) Carroll doesn't come looking for the ball outside the penalty area.

I honestly think as a spearhead he could be good for 10-15 goals a season. There is no doubt he is technically very good, just doesn't have that natural pace.