THE Andy Carroll debate has stirred up yet again as was expected, given its nearing that time of the season when a decision needs to be made whether or not to retain him at Anfield or let him move on.
It was strange to see him almost immediately discarded by Brendan Rodgers the moment he took up the managerial role, given the Geordie had just started coming in to his own, both with goals and decent on-field play.
Still, he was sent away to London on loan where he’s struggled more with injury than performance. The brace against the Baggies wasn’t half bad and had there not been the usual on-loan clause preventing him playing against Liverpool, there might have been a few punches to the gut of the Kop.
In modern football, too much emphasis gets laid on semantics like what the player’s most comfortable facing, or whether he’ll be able to adapt to such and such style. That’s why players train throughout the week, to hone in certain skills repetitively and also to grind in exactly what everybody’s doing.
Under Kenny Dalglish, he didn’t score many goals and his performances initially were fairly sloppy, true. But it wasn’t just him to blame for that surely. The attention was immediately focused on him every time a cross was hit towards the penalty area, possibly because of the £35 million price tag, and while Carroll wasn’t exactly setting the stage on fire, more often than not he was one of two players maybe attacking the ball.
Under Kenny Dalglish Liverpool weren’t attacking in numbers; midfielders weren’t storming in to the box and pressurising the defenders. That’s something that Rodgers has changed to a certain extent. Towards the end of last season, Carroll started showing glimpses of why he was, albeit briefly, quite a coveted footballer.
He was holding the ball and linking play with Luis Suarez, as well as the rest of the midfield. He was an absolute nuisance to deal with in the box; something he showed against Manchester United in the FA Cup.
Many forget, it was his presence in the box that led to the defenders, and even David de Gea, trying to deal with him, which allowed Daniel Agger to get that opening header in. Same story against Everton in the semi-finals. He attacked the ball, and effectively.
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The final? We all remember what happened there. He spun John Terry for the first goal and very nearly equalised within minutes.
The point is this: It’s a bit of an exaggeration to say just because he’s big and strong, he can only fit in to the mould of the one direction approach play. He’s got the abilities that can be used in this current Liverpool side as well.
Against Tottenham, one of the key aspects that was so blaringly obvious was the difference in physicality. The North Londoners were superior and that’s something Carroll brings to any side. A second afterthought for defenders. Do they stay with him, or do they try and track the more squirmy Luis Suarez? What if Gerrard or Downing or Henderson ends up running in to some space and has a go?
No team has to bomb the ball the forward just because they have 6 foot-plus number 9 as a forward – they choose to do it. So in Liverpool’s case, they can choose not to.
The clumsy performances at the beginning of last season was a result of unbelievable pressure which only kept increasing on him by the minute. He’s still in his early twenties and was even younger then.
Anybody who gets a massive bucket of cash paid for their services and then hailed as the Messiah to lead them to the glory days, and replace Fernando Torres’ legacy…well they would be nervous, and it showed in his performances.
The year away at Upton Park must have matured him, given him a chance to grow. Somewhere he wasn’t expected to light fireworks every time he got the ball, and more importantly wasn’t criticised when he didn’t.
Even if he comes back to Anfield and is given a chance, not many will be expecting a miracle. With the pressure lifted slightly, he could surprise a few.
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It seems BR had a bench / sub role for Andy, which he rejected for regular football. I wonder who we’d drop in order to give him a start. I think BR had in mind a super-sub role for obstinate opposition, allowing a change of game to break down a stubborn defence. I don’t think this appeals to Andy so unless he changes his mind I see no answer other than to offload him. It’s a great shame.
One thing seems to be becoming apparent. BR needs to show significant signs of improvement up the table next season. As the first new manager at Anfield in many many years not to have won a trophy in his first full season, and a failure to put results to bed against “lesser” sides this season, supporters are beginning to wonder if standing by Kenny would have been the better decision by FSG.
Supporters are not ‘wondering’ . Supporters ate waking up and can see Rodgers is not even close to bring a decent manager
We were way better under Kenny
We were way better under Kenny??? Seriously???
Did you actually see all the games or you listened through a transistor???
Yeah a lot better. Did u go to Wembley 3 times , or see us beat all the top sides or did u just hear about them on a transistor ?
Giving Carroll to another team when we don’t have a replacement was a huge error and the main reason why we have done nothing this season. There is absolutely no doubt for me that we would have done better this year with Carroll in the squad……. and KD as the Manager.
Spot on the money !!!
Ok, lets get this straight, AC is no 35 mill striker and KD is responsible for this fiasco that would set LFC back for years.
Having said, i agree that AC can at times be a handfull to deal with but do not expect a clueless dimwit like BR to know what to do with him.
Remember this is a man who had no Plan B when things does not pan out (read the FFT interview with Carra and Stevie) and who opts to play his pet Allen even when he is not fit.
Listen …Carroll is 100 times better.than Borini that’s for sure
Rodgers is the problem here. He is too set in his ways…not having a plan B is totally insane
Carroll could be good …deserves another chance…but new manager first priority
Y’all should stop whining about the manager and slagging him off. We might not be that consistent yet but we are playing attractive football.
Stop being the fickle fans that y’all are….shame!
We ARE consistent under Rodgers . Consistently average
Rodgers is a fool and so are u for believinghis bull
And I’m not fickle. I thought Rodgers was a fraud and a blagger since day 1
Not good enough for LFC .Not then. Not now .not ever
ok we finished 8th last season, BUT under Kenny won one cup and was on the final of another one. .
WHAT HAS BR ACHIEVED APART FROM CHANGING THE COLOUR OF THE NETS AT ANFIELD,
WHY HAS HE DECIDED TO SEND CAROL TO WESTHAM AND ….AND …. HOW IS ANDY DOING AT WESTHAM?????
what is worryig is that he is studborn and trying to persist copying his swansea style overhere
he is just learning and that at the expense of our club!!!!!!
ok better football, nicer to watchbut at what cost??????
he has never been a good tactician , I mean an accomplished coach!!!!
look where we reached with Rafael Benitez (and even with his predecessor Houllier)!!!!
houiller introdced Gerrard in our midfield and since then he has been our key player.
rafa brought in a myriad of good players
Be it Houllier, Rafa or Kenny, they have had almost IMMEDIATE IMPACT ON OUR RESULTS!!!!!!!!!
WHAT HAS RODGERS DONE??????
IT WAS SO DISCOURAGING TO SEE READING HOLDING US BACK YESTERDAY!!!!
TOO STEREOTYPED ATTACKING FOOTBALL, NO INDIVIDUAL ACTION TO BREAK THE DEADLOCK!!! TOO EASY TO ANTICIPATE OUR ACTIONS!!!! TRYING TO IMPLEMENT THE SO CALLED TIKI TAKA TO LFC AND NOW HE IS TRYING TO GET INSPIRATION FROM DORTMUND!!!!
WHY DOESNT HE UNDERSTAND THAT WE ARE LFC WE HAVE GOT AN IDENTITY INSPIRED BY SHANKLY, A PLAYING STYLE WHICH WAS REVIVED UNDER RAFA, had RAFA BEEN GIVEN THE FINANCIAL BACKING, WE would have alREADY CLINCHED THE TITLE TODAY!!!!!
WHY???? WE NEED TO ASK BR FOR THE TYPE OF FOOTBALL HE IS INCULCATING!!!!
WHEN WE SCORE? ONE JUST HAVE TO COUNT THE MINUTES BEFORE THE OTHER TEAM EQUALISES and this was not a current feature under RAFA!!!!
PLEASE FOR GOD’S SAKE JUST GO AWAY BREDAN RODGERS!!!!!
I CAN SEE ONLY ONE COACH BRINGING US BACK THE GLORY? I THINK RAFA SHOULD RETURN BACK
ok we finished 8th last season, BUT under Kenny won one cup and was on the final of another one. .
WHAT HAS BR ACHIEVED APART FROM CHANGING THE COLOUR OF THE NETS AT ANFIELD,
WHY HAS HE DECIDED TO SEND CAROL TO WESTHAM AND ….AND …. HOW IS ANDY DOING AT WESTHAM?????
what is worryig is that he is studborn and trying to persist copying his swansea style overhere
he is just learning and that at the expense of our club!!!!!!
ok better football, nicer to watchbut at what cost??????
he has never been a good tactician , I mean an accomplished coach!!!!
look where we reached with Rafael Benitez (and even with his predecessor Houllier)!!!!
houiller introdced Gerrard in our midfield and since then he has been our key player.
rafa brought in a myriad of good players
Be it Houllier, Rafa or Kenny, they have had almost IMMEDIATE IMPACT ON OUR RESULTS!!!!!!!!!
WHAT HAS RODGERS DONE??????
IT WAS SO DISCOURAGING TO SEE READING HOLDING US BACK YESTERDAY!!!!
TOO STEREOTYPED ATTACKING FOOTBALL, NO INDIVIDUAL ACTION TO BREAK THE DEADLOCK!!! TOO EASY TO ANTICIPATE OUR ACTIONS!!!! TRYING TO IMPLEMENT THE SO CALLED TIKI TAKA TO LFC AND NOW HE IS TRYING TO GET INSPIRATION FROM DORTMUND!!!!
WHY DOESNT HE UNDERSTAND THAT WE ARE LFC WE HAVE GOT AN IDENTITY INSPIRED BY SHANKLY, A PLAYING STYLE WHICH WAS REVIVED UNDER RAFA, had RAFA BEEN GIVEN THE FINANCIAL BACKING, WE would have alREADY CLINCHED THE TITLE TODAY!!!!!
WHY???? WE NEED TO ASK BR FOR THE TYPE OF FOOTBALL HE IS INCULCATING!!!!
WHEN WE SCORE? ONE JUST HAVE TO COUNT THE MINUTES BEFORE THE OTHER TEAM EQUALISES and this was not a current feature under RAFA!!!!
PLEASE FOR GOD’S SAKE JUST GO AWAY BREDAN RODGERS!!!!!
I CAN SEE ONLY ONE COACH BRINGING US BACK THE GLORY? I THINK RAFA SHOULD RETURN BACK
Couldn’t have said it better!!! Rodders OUT! Rafa IN!!!
Oh you mean Dortmund who were in our exact position a couple seasons back but are now in the CL semis having wiped the floor with Bayern Munich last season? What an idiot that man must be. We are LFC and trying to get inspiration from another club’s highly successful plan would be really stupid right guys??? Idiot. I guess Rafa had no financial backing, must have pulled that 20m for Aquilani out of his arse right? What about that forgotten season in which Rafa sold a key component of our team and took us from 2nd to 7th. Hmmmmm funny how a lot of us tend to only remember the good times. So let’s bring Rafa back, the man who left us in 7th place to replace the man who’s got us in 7th after rebuilding a shambles of a team.
Rubbish. Rafa had 1 bad season out of 6. Rodgers has has 1 awful season out of 1.
Rodgers inherited a good team that was in 2 cup finals
Rodgers has also signed pure Shi+ last summer
Agreed . Rodgers out . Rafa in ( or whoever , at this stage I couldn’t give a fk who comes in. )
Just get the inept Rodgers out
We need someone with physical presence and decent in the air, a “plan B” if you like. But imo that man must have skills on the deck too, and Carroll simply isn’t good enough with his feet. We need a Benteke, Lukaku, or Bony. Someone of that mold who can hold up the ball, header it, and plays well on the deck.
Bredan rodgers shud b out. Pls, we need rafa
I’d rather have Carroll than Rodgers any day. Total blert rodgers is
Aye. Damn right
bring carrol back 2 liverpool.,
Bring Caroll back under a decent manager and maybe he will pay us back