IMAGINE Liverpool receiving a substantial bid for Andy Carroll. One that made the loss versus the initial £35m outlay not look too bad? Would you sell him, take the cash and invest in other quality players? The fact is this scenario seems to be getting closer to reality.
At the beginning of the year I don’t think many of us would have said no to Carroll’s sale. He wasn’t in great form and after more than 12 months at Anfield was still failing to make any kind of impact. He didn’t look like a player that had a real future at Liverpool.
But times have changed.
A slimmer, fitter, more agile Carroll is looking more and more the deadly finisher we had all been hoping for. He’s scoring goals, is an ever increasing threat upfront and is beginning to dominate even the best defensive units.
His introduction during the FA Cup final demonstrated just what an impact player Carroll can be, almost singlehandedly winning the cup for Liverpool by completely changing the game as well as scoring a life-line goal and being denied an equaliser. Leaving him on the bench at the beginning of the game is something I’m sure Dalglish deeply regrets.
His performance against Sweden in the Euro’s was another example of how Carroll is able to perform at the highest level, scoring arguably the best header of the tournament and the finest headed-goal in an England international for decades. It was simply that good.
But it’s not just Carroll’s prowess upfront that makes him such a valuable and attractive asset. It’s his willingness and desire to help out in defence that makes him the complete article and is putting him on the radar of many top clubs. Even when he isn’t playing well Carroll is constantly chasing down opposition forwards in an attempt to win back the ball. Something Wayne Rooney might want to take note of.
So now rumours begin to circulate that Andy is a wanted in Italy. The son of AC Milan’s owner, Silvio Berlusconi,having recently stated that in rebuilding their squad he would consider Carroll a future target. High praise indeed. So given Carroll’s improved form the question remains would you sell him?
Perhaps the biggest influence on this question is how well will he fit into the new brand and style of football Brendan Rodgers is about to introduce at Liverpool. On Twitter someone asked Paul Dalglish, manager of a team in Austin Texas and son of Kenny, what players should Liverpool be looking to sign. His response was we’d need to know what the system of play is going to be first. That correct logic also applies to which players Liverpool should keep or let go in the current squad.
Back in the 60’s Bill Shankly signed a player very similar in style and stature to Carroll, Tony Hateley. You may also remember his son Mark who played for Rangers. Hateley scored 28 goals in 42 appearances in the 1967-68 season but Shanks sold him to Coventry City the next season because he didn’t fit the passing style of football he wanted to play. Only time will tell how Rodgers views Carroll’s role.
So would you sell Andy Carroll if a decent bid came in? Let us know your thoughts.
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New start and up to Rodgers to decide.
My thought though, why sell when there aren´t anything similar to Andy around which he proved at the end of last season, totally unplayable for any opponent when on form so lets keep the big guy and let him run havoc for years to come.
Why whose put in a bid?????? exactly no one…
So what if the son of AC Milan’s owner likes him big deal, they haven’t made a bid nor are they going to nor is Andy going to want to go to Italy.
Andy is getting better now the way he finished last season and his performance in the Euro’s would have given him a lot of confidence, next season will be a big one for him at LFC.
Well, it all depends on whether anybody actually makes a bid for him, and for how much they want to offer us. If it’s a ridiculous bid, close to what we paid, then I’d say certainly, otherwise we may as well hold on to him and see what they new manager can get out of him.
£20m+ and I would sell. No one is going to offer that though.
Maybe there is hope. Just hope that KD would have the unlikely chance to be appointed manager elsewhere and hope he repeats his moronic act and actually offers 35 mill for Carroll
Yes, I would most definitely sell him, I love him and think he will be brilliant but he will never fit into Rodgers system he doesn’t have the touch and control. That said, a target or Rodgers’ was Lacina Traore who I would also put into that category with Carroll.
the goof that wrote this is not worth the read…Carrol will not be sold as he will be one of the best goal scorers in england…
Artigas, what brand of mattress are you sleeping on that you are able to have such wonderfull dream?
Unless we receive a rather generous offer AND it’s certain that a world-class striker will be signed to replace him, it’s a resounding NO.
Carroll is getting in form and has been playing very very well for both Liverpool and England.
It’s not everyday that a football club would show interest in a donkey just like Liverpool did 2 seasons ago. Or to be more precise, it’s hard to find another moronic, clueless manager like Kenny Dalglish who will sign a donkey for a striker. I say SELL the donkey this instant!
You see C;yde there is a very important difference with other clubs. they did not have a moronic manager in KD.
If Milan ACTUAlLY makes a bid anywhere close to the 35 mill we paid for him, yeah sell him.
Carroll had a good finish to the season, so big deal. I still can’t see how he can fit into a pass and move system or be prolific in front of goal. Moving to Serie A where the pace is slower might actually be good fir both parties.
40 quid ‘ll be enough to take him off our hands…anything lesser than 35 should b deemed derisory…i think if’ll perfectly fit in wit BR’s style,at least in a game they cross in one or two times
We must be wary of those Italian cheats particularly Milan. They cunningly avoided playing Aqualani 25 times to avoid a 6 mill buyout clause, playing him 23 times. Than they tried to get him to buy out his own contract at 3 mill which was of course rejected by our club. Either they pay 35 mill or more (yes i am allowed to dream too) or no deal.
But then again what do you expect from the Italians whose biggest contribution to football nowadays is match rigging especially at the highest level. Remember Juve, their current Champions was relegated not too long ago for you guessed it match rigging. Wonder how they won it this time. Thank god they did not win the Euros, it would be an insult to football.