If I had a ha’penny for every time someone told me how awful Andy Carroll is and how ridiculous Roy Hodgson would be if he played him during the Euros, I’d be a very rich man. Hodgson did, Carroll performed (take that, Sweden), but alas, I am still far from rich.
What is it about Andy Carroll that causes angst? Is it because Liverpool paid an exorbitant amount of money for his transfer? Is is that he is about three metres tall and scrapes his head on the clouds when he goes in for headers off set pieces, and let’s face it, we all want our own friendly giant. Or maybe people just don’t like him because they feel he is overrated? I’ll take the latter for $1000, Alex.
The “should he stay, or should he go” game has been going on for some time from the chaps at L’pool. I suppose it depends on the day of the week whether he seems to be on his way out, or set to retire in Liverpool red. He certainly has had a tumultuous time since arriving a couple of seasons ago. The 23-year old far from flew out of the gate this year, causing many to declare his transfer an utter failure, on par with that Torres guy who demanded a ridiculous transfer to Chelsea, which gave Liverpool the play money to purchase the England international.
Thankfully for him he turned his season around somewhat, finishing strong with performances in the FA Cup vs. Everton and later, Chelsea, as well as in several matches to conclude the Premier League season. But does his strong finish amount to a hill of mash for this season? Probably not, not considering Liverpool’s new manager, Brendan Rogers. See, Rogers likes the tic-tac-toe tactical game – he tried that with his Swans last year. Carroll is not so much a delicate surgeon, threading pass after pass with precision, as he is a physical and imposing presence. That’s his game. He is big, and plays accordingly.
It is said that Newcastle has come crawling back with a loan offer of around £13. HAHA, what steel balls! After selling him a couple years ago for much more than double that? I love it. Liverpool have responded with a proposed price tag of £20 million. Maybe a bit high, but not horrible. Consider Porto is asking three times that for Hulk. Lunacy.
What I fear is that this young lad is jerked around. Don’t believe me? How about this doozy from his manager; “Andy’s a player I want to assess and speak with. We’ve already had a good chat on where we’re at.” It doesn’t seem suspicious, but in football talk when a manager is said to have an understanding with a player, it oftentimes is the exact opposite. Hell, I think Wenger and van Persie were said to have an understanding not so long ago, and that is as ridiculous a situation as one would find.
I’m not Andy Carroll, but if I were, I would not want to leave after only 18 months, as difficult as they were. Who wouldn’t want to prove they could do it, especially with a club as historic as LFC. At only 23, he has a lot of growing to do (I mean in the mental game and in technical abilities – god forbid he becomes taller or fills out more). That said, if Rogers indeed plans on bringing a more intricate atmosphere to Anfield, then perhaps Andy want to find a new, more fitting home? Judging by the fact that Liverpool want Suarez long-term, I mean they really want him, along with the signing of Borini from Serie A’s Roma, it appears Rogers is indeed to poised to create a small-game in Liverpool. In that case, adios, Mr. Carroll. It’s been fun. But really, it wasn’t you, it was us.
…until tomorrow, lads.
