What a fantastic feeling it is to not only win, but to win at Wembley in a semi-final over the bluenoses! A wonderful day, an impeccably observed minutes silence and a lot of class shown by both sets of fans, shame those following our final opponents couldn’t continue this! Anyway, I wanted to take this opportunity to talk about Andy, our number 9.
Anyone who has read any of my other pieces will know that what I am about to discuss isn’t in any way a knee jerk reaction to his winner but a continuation of my support of him and a more in depth view of what he brings.
As is the way in our society that expresses opinions in 140 characters or less, Carroll’s performance centres on two headers, which unquestionably impacted the game and his performance, but did not define it. The first being at the start of the second half when it seemed easier for the big man to bring us level than to nod wide, but nod wide he did. Did he place too much emphasis on the placement of his finish when surely getting it on target would have been enough with Howard stranded? We will never know, but it was at this point where the mocking grew from all quarters and I even heard ridiculous calls for Kenny to take him off. The second header was that glorious winner, rising in the middle of the Everton box to glance home such a delicious delivery from Bellamy despite the Greco-Roman wrestling attempts from Fellaini. Take 5 minutes at this point to go and watch the goal again purely for Fellaini’s reaction, he is so busy trying to foul Carroll that as Andy is peeling away arms stretched out in celebration, the Belgian is still searching for the ball!
For me, neither of these moments is indicative of Andy’s performance, and the goal was well taken and well deserved and helped to prevent what was likely to be an avalanche of abuse and bad press from the earlier miss, ignoring everything else. In order to appropriately assess his performance his whole contribution must be assessed. Like almost every other person on the pitch he found it tough going in the first half with the picking slim but still made a nuisance of himself.
As with the league game at Anfield, Everton’s centre backs could not handle his physicality allowing the big man to win the majority of balls played up to him whether it be flicking it on to try and pick out Suarez or to bring it under control, hold it up allowing our midfield to get up to support him. Personally I think there is still some work needed on the Carroll/Suarez partnership in terms of each reading the others game, but it is looking very positive and given time will grow and grow. I believe that the crucial moment in the game for Andy was that first header. Liverpool of late, in fact pretty much since that late Van Persie winner at Anfield, have had confidence as fragile as Samuel L Jackson’s bones in the film Unbreakable. This goes someway to explaining the defeats and the manner of defeats against QPR, Wigan and Newcastle and the poor performance against Villa, but there were shoots of recovery against Blackburn and how we dealt with the adversity in that match. At 1-0 down and missing such a presentable chance the team and Andy specifically could have let their heads drop and allow Everton to take control and take the match.
However, the team and Andy specifically refused to let this dictate his game, and it was this reaction that needs to be bigged-up and celebrated as it tells us more about the player than tabloid nonsense and goal return. He didn’t hide, he didn’t get disheartened, the miss seemed to spur him on more, firing just wide from the edge of the area after creating himself a yard of space, having Suarez block a decent goal-bound reactionary effort after himself winning the ball in the box, it was his header into space that gave Suarez the opportunity to pressure Distin into a mistake and to go on and slot wonderfully past Howard. Then of course it was his winner, such a deft, Rush-like, glance into the far corner, beating Fellaini, who was acting like a veritable Hulk Hogan in his grapple attempts, in the air which was not for the first time.
So offensively speaking it is clear when viewing the whole game that Carroll brought far more than a goal and a miss to the party. His confidence is growing and the team are learning how to get the best out of him. Not every signing settles immediately, some will take time and patience can be the hardest thing, but more often than not the wait will be worth it. Lucas anyone?
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Defensively speaking Carroll brings a lot, his height and physical presence assists defending set pieces is a given, but his work rate must also be mentioned. In the closing minutes as Everton attacked, pumping a ball into the box, who was up there defending as Jones clung on to the ball? Carroll. Again as Everton attacked and Liverpool scrambled it clear, the ball bounced towards Carroll and like me, I suggest everyone was expecting him to put his foot through it and smash it down the field, what did he do? A controlled volley out to the wing, picking out Bellamy or Suarez (I can’t remember which!) thus retaining possession, allowing the defence to clear out and alleviate pressure and us to waste valuable seconds putting Everton on the back foot.
For me Carroll put in a man of the match performance on Saturday and clearly showed what he can bring to the party. Forget about price tags, he is our number 9 and deserves our support. His confidence is growing, his touch is becoming more assured and goals are starting to supplement his all round good performances. YNWA Andy
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Everybody can criticize what they saw outside of a human being but not inside AndyCarroll knows what he is doing whom would not like to be the best goals scorer the time will say keep it up Andy