“Nothing can go wrong for him this season”
The words uttered by a commentator after Andy Carroll’s 25 yard strike against Liverpool last season for Newcastle, his 2nd last goal for the club and his 10th goal of the season.
These words seam meaningless now looking forward 16 months from that goal as his Liverpool career has stagnated from a promising start.
The painful reality is that despite his age and lack of experience at the top level he will never suit Liverpool’s style of play.
The first time I ever watched Andy Carroll play was in that wretched 08/09 season for Newcastle. He came off the bench away against Stoke, a raw talent with no fear, and netted the equaliser with a powerful header, and a typically passionate celebration followed! He was certainly an unorthodox No.9 with braided hair at the time and not the most muscular physique, but his height, standing and 6ft 3 gave him the ability to terrorise defenders with his heading ability. The potential was there just waiting to be unearthed but it would take a few years before it came to the fore.
28th January 2011. The day Liverpool agreed a fee of £22.8m for Luis Suarez to transfer from Ajax. This was part of the Comolli/Dalglish Vision. Suarez playing just behind Torres would cause most defences nightmares, with eccentric movement and creativity. Two players who would complement each other perfectly but the vision was cut short as a Fernando Torres transfer request and transfer to Chelsea shortly followed. Liverpool were desperate to appease the fans who had seen their star player leave. Moves were made for Fernando Llorente and Mario Gomez but no fees could be agreed.
Liverpool ended up spending £35m plus add-ons for Andy Carroll, who had played less than a full season at the highest level. People could see the Carroll and Suarez partnership creating havoc. I remember vividly his first touch as a Liverpool player when he came off the bench vs Man Utd in a 3-1 win. The ball was floated from a freekick to the edge of the box (Carroll had been on for 10 seconds at this point) and Carroll put in a towering header straight at the keeper. Most fans immediately thought “we’ve got a player here” He got his 1st Liverpool goals vs Man City on the 11th April, the first showing off his powerful left foot with a drive from 25 yards, and the 2nd, a powerful header while outmuscling Kolarov. This coincided with Torres’ demise at Chelsea. Everything was looking rosy for the reds. Liverpool finished the season strongly but their best football was played when Carroll was on the bench or injured. Suarez did not score while Carroll was on the pitch in that half of the season which showed the partnership was not blossoming. The trio of Maxi, Kuyt and Suarez complemented each other perfectly. A pass and move style with fantastic creativity and un-trackable movement. It was what Kenny but most importantly the fans wanted to see, but did leave a question mark hanging over Andy Carroll as to where he would fit into this style.
The summer of 2011 saw Andy Carroll make an appearance at Glastonbury and was seen on holiday with Wayne Rooney in the Caribbean, eventful to say the least. Back at Liverpool though and a team was being built to bring out the best of the £35m frontman. However really a team should have been built that brought continuity to the pass and move philosophy that had been reinstalled into the club. Instead players like Meireles and Aquilani were shipped out, and Maxi and Kuyt were on the fringes of the squad.
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Liverpool followed the “Moneyball” strategy which was so effective in baseball, and bought 3 of the top 10 chance creators in the Premiership the season before (Henderson, Adam and Downing). Liverpool had solved there left back problem in the shape of Jose Enrique and had a mixture of youth and experience in a squad ready to compete. Despite the team starting well, Carroll was in and out of the team due to his inconsistency and was dropped from the England squad. He didn’t get his first league goal until 1st October 2011, but it was a special one being in his first Merseyside Derby which Liverpool won 2-0, Suarez got the other. The goal that was meant to kick off his season did anything but, he was dropped for the next game which was a 1-1 draw against Man Utd.
Carroll just couldn’t get a run of games in the side, partly because the team played better without him in it, and partly due to his inconsistency. He would only get one more league goal before the turn of the year against West Brom away in another 2-0 win. The word flop was branded around with much more regularity, and people were wondering and still wonder to this day where the “old” Andy Carroll has gone. The striker who put in one of the best away performances I’ve ever seen against Arsenal at the Emirates. A player who Ian Holloway called “The best striker in the Premier League” The stats don’t show a lot of difference between his time at Newcastle and Liverpool although the most significant factors are his fall in Chance Conversion by 7% and that he has won less aerial challenges. This shows a lack of confidence which is obviously solved by playing more games, but some people still feel there is a deeper problem. Missing Newcastle, Family and Friends is one option.
The worrying thing is that the pressure is starting to get too much for the young man, whose emotions boiled over at the Sports Direct Arena last Sunday after being substituted. So what is the solution for the club? In my opinion Andy Carroll should have one more season to see if he can change things around. The glimpses we’ve seen of him this season give us a small inclination that things could work for him. Games like the Spurs and Everton one spring to mind. However another striker must be brought in, in case Carroll fails to prove himself once more next season. My preferable choice is someone with experience at the highest level who can play the all round “Number 9? roll, someone like Adebayor springs to mind, although his wages and inconsistency are another issue. I see FSG telling Dalglish/Comolli to pursue someone in the Luuk De Jong/Ricky Van Wolfswinkel mould. Young, scoring freely for their club team, high sell on value, and can be rotated. It is very hard to predict Carroll’s future and to be honest it’s mainly all down to the man himself.
For more from Simon, catch him on Twitter @talk247footy and his blog: talk247footy.wordpress.com
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Carroll i feel sorry for him but he will never be liverpool quality i think he will make it in other small teams time he is moved on and accept the loss
As a Newcastle fan I have to admit that initially I wanted him to fail. It was nothing personal against Liverpool and I knew it was too good an offer to turn down both for Newcastle and Andy but it’s always a bitter feeling when a club hero leaves against the wishes of the fans. I’m sure many of you felt the same over Torres, regardless of the £50 million. But now I just want to see him back to his old self. It’s heartbreaking seeing him so miserable and lacking confidence when he clearly has it in him to be scoring goals. He is world standard but psychology is an extremely powerful force, you can be the best striker in the world but if you’re not confident and you let the press drag you down it’s very difficult to break out of the downward spiral. No player should be worth £35 million in my book, it clearly does more harm than good.
I have to disagree red, Carroll was playing well for a top team who are now chasing the CL, he’s now in a poor mid table team who can’t play ti his strengths. I’ve heard Leon bests avail for 25million, worth a shout maybe?? Hahaha
hahahahaha lets all laff at liverfool
personally myself carroll aint the problem its kenny he done the same to the toon get a decent manager in and carroll will play well again
As a toon fan I feel for him. He is unplayable on his day but as the article points out liverpool are not set up for him. I also agree he is not good enough to be liverpools first choice number 9. I mean by that that Liverpools expectation is to be mixing it up in the CL spots and Carroll is too much a special team player. I could see him being great for certain games and as an impact sub, but would this wreck his confidence. Liverpool do not play to his strengths and many of liverpools problems make Carroll look poor, ie lack of width, lack of crosses into the box. Kenny is overrated as a manager, that is the issue liverpool
lfc should keep andy carroll he will improve, maybe 1 more season….he just need help from his mates. if they bring someone like hazard and tello things will change 4 both carroll and lfc.
‘Moves were made for Fernando Llorente and Mario Gomez but no fees could be agreed.’
How do you know this for certain….this is all just speculation!!
Not just speculation http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1353578/Spain-star-Fernando-Llorente-reveals-Liverpool-failed-January-bid-striker.html
“28th January 2011. The day Liverpool agreed a fee of £22.8m for Luis Suarez to transfer from Ajax. This was part of the Comolli/Dalglish Vision. Suarez playing just behind Torres would cause most defences nightmares, with eccentric movement and creativity. Two players who would complement each other perfectly” THIS RIGHT HERE! My thoughts WERE EXACTLY THE SAME I THINK ABOUT IT NOW AND STILL THINK HAD TORRES HAD SOME PATIENTS IN HIS ASS AND STAYED TILL THE END OF THIS SEASON I HONESTLY THINK HIM AND SUAREZ WOULD’VE MURDERED DEFENCES AND WE WOULD B IN THE TOP FOUR