Are we putting all our eggs in the Carroll basket?

[keniget]

I keep seeing posts suggesting that Downing will help Carroll with his crosses, Adam will do likewise with his set-piece delivery and perhaps Henderson will add a similar dimension to the right hand side.

Are we placing too much pressure on Carroll to succeed given that our transfer dealings - if you are making an argument for them - seem to be largely based around providing him with the sort of service he needs.

Some discussion points:

- We are heavily invested in Carroll's success so it makes sense to do our best to make that happen. How much additional investment can be justified in order to make that happen?

- The players we're getting (hopefully) have more to their game than providing service to the big man up front (okay, we have other threads for this)

- How difficult / easy is it to find a balance between the pass and move game that saw us thrive last season and a little more percentage football, which Carroll requires?

- Will we see less end product from the likes of Meireles and Maxi (if they stay) as well as Suarez?

 

[Mystic]

[quote author=keniget link=topic=45883.msg1356006#msg1356006 date=1309178918]
I keep seeing posts suggesting that Downing will help Carroll with his crosses, Adam will do likewise with his set-piece delivery and perhaps Henderson will add a similar dimension to the right hand side.

Are we placing too much pressure on Carroll to succeed given that our transfer dealings - if you are making an argument for them - seem to be largely based around providing him with the sort of service he needs.

Some discussion points:

- We are heavily invested in Carroll's success so it makes sense to do our best to make that happen. How much additional investment can be justified in order to make that happen?

- The players we're getting (hopefully) have more to their game than providing service to the big man up front (okay, we have other threads for this)

- How difficult / easy is it to find a balance between the pass and move game that saw us thrive last season and a little more percentage football, which Carroll requires?

- Will we see less end product from the likes of Meireles and Maxi (if they stay) as well as Suarez?
[/quote]

Tbh I see it more as a reason for other people to justify certain expenditures. I don't think Kenny would be stupid enough to invest all of this into one player. He might have him in mind, but I don't see him as the main influence behind these transfers. Especially as over the next two years at least, I expect Suarez to be a lot more prominent than Carroll.

 

[LarryHagman]

I hope not. The 'Crouch basket' didn't work & neither would this. The former also delivered some mind-numbing footy.

 

[Squiggles]

I don't believe we're building a team around Andy Carroll.

I bloody hope we're not, because we've played our best football when he's been out injured.

 

[Gary25]

Not really, no. Kenny had been chasing Adam before we signed Carroll, unfortunately he didn't get his man but now it looks like he will.

With Downing, it's obvious we need a proper winger...someone who can take players on, whip in a cross and be a goal-threat.
Whilst i'm not Downing's biggest fan, he's more than capable of giving us just that.

Of course Adam and Downing should be able to bring out the best in Carroll, but i certainly wouldn't say we're putting all our eggs in the Carroll basket, far from it. We've needed a ball player in midfield ever since Xabi left us, and we've needed a productive winger for god knows how long.

 

[Judge Jules]

It makes sense to try and improve the supply line to Carroll, not just for its own sake but also because it involves strengthening the squad in positions where we've been weak for ages anyway, so doing so should enable us to play better football all round.

 

[refugee]

I don't think so, Gerrard, Suarez and Deadly are already there so Adams, Downing and Carroll will give us a completely different threat to the other 3. Although I think we need another Striker in case Carroll *.

*Insert your own ending to this sentence here.

EDIT: Although we did pay £35M for him so it makes sense that we would be prepared to build the team around him.

 

[mark1975]

[quote author=Squiggles link=topic=45883.msg1356013#msg1356013 date=1309179664]
I don't believe we're building a team around Andy Carroll.

I bloody hope we're not, because we've played our best football when he's been out injured.
[/quote]

He's barely played and we only started to get it together after a few games, in spite of Carroll, not because he wasn't there. We played good football against City too, but managed to catch them out with a great delivery too when Ming crossed it for Carroll to nod home. You'd hope that we'd be able to play good football AND mix it up a bit from setpieces and being more direct.

It's good to have a plan B, or rather, a few more strings to our bow.

 

[Gary25]

[quote author=refugee link=topic=45883.msg1356018#msg1356018 date=1309180041]
I don't think so, Gerrard, Suarez and Deadly are already there so Adams, Downing and Carroll will give us a completely different threat to the other 3. Although I think we need another Striker in case Carroll *.

*Insert your own ending to this sentence here.

EDIT: Although we did pay £35M for him so it makes sense that we would be prepared to build the team around him.
[/quote]

True. It's about having more options and variety really. In the last two seasons our play has become far too rigid and predictable.

 

[RedStar]

You have to believe that after shelling out $35m on him that there is a long term plan to get the best from him. As has been pointed out a winger has been required for some time, even the mediocre Reira added an extra dinemsion to our play and we didnt have a target an for him to aim for so Downing should conceivably be able to give us another string to our bow even if hes not bought specfically to provide for Carroll. Adam on the other hand strikes me as a big risk, he doesnt have the mobility or drive to replace Meireles in a fluid midfield and interchange with Kuyt Maxi and Suarez the way Raul has been able to do. His long game is about 50/50 and I dont think quick diagnal balls over the top play to Carrolls strengths anyway, so are we really paying $10m for a good set piece taker? This isnt american football he has to be able to keep up for the full 90 minutes and not just from a dead ball scenario.

 

[Molbystwin]

I keep seeing pictures of him with Bottles of beer in his hand... it worries me...

 

[Fabio]

he'll be fine. i'd much rather he do it in the summer than during the season

 

[Markeh]

I dunno, the best of the best don't do it. Although I'm sure someone will point out people who can and do.

 

[spider-Neil]

when barca had ibrahimovic up front they didn't change their football principles but then their passing principles are ingrained.
we have payed 35m for carroll and we will play to his strengths and if you think the defenders wont start hoofing the ball up to him when the shit hits the fan you have more confidence in our defenders than I do.

 

[Vlads Quiff]

[quote author=Judge Jules link=topic=45883.msg1356017#msg1356017 date=1309180023]
It makes sense to try and improve the supply line to Carroll, not just for its own sake but also because it involves strengthening the squad in positions where we've been weak for ages anyway, so doing so should enable us to play better football all round.
[/quote]

This ^

 

[FoxForceFive]

[quote author=Markeh link=topic=45883.msg1356055#msg1356055 date=1309183590]
I dunno, the best of the best don't do it. Although I'm sure someone will point out people who can and do.
[/quote]

Didi used to play with a racing post tucked under his arm, pint in hand & ciggy in another. Ok, not quite play, but that was the only time he didn't.

 

[refugee]

[quote author=FoxForceFive link=topic=45883.msg1356095#msg1356095 date=1309187517]
[quote author=Markeh link=topic=45883.msg1356055#msg1356055 date=1309183590]
I dunno, the best of the best don't do it. Although I'm sure someone will point out people who can and do.
[/quote]

Didi used to play with a racing post tucked under his arm, pint in hand & ciggy in another. Ok, not quite play, but that was the only time he didn't.
[/quote]

15 Minutes That Shook The World - Rafa's Song

 

[Markeh]

[quote author=FoxForceFive link=topic=45883.msg1356095#msg1356095 date=1309187517]
[quote author=Markeh link=topic=45883.msg1356055#msg1356055 date=1309183590]
I dunno, the best of the best don't do it. Although I'm sure someone will point out people who can and do.
[/quote]

Didi used to play with a racing post tucked under his arm, pint in hand & ciggy in another. Ok, not quite play, but that was the only time he didn't.
[/quote]

didi was cool, i just googled players that smoke and found people saying that dirk kuyt smokes? really? he's a bloody running machine!

 

[themn]

The Dirkilizer defies science.

Cruyff smoked.

 

[Fabio]

all the cool kids smoke

 

[FoxForceFive]

Kuyt has indeed been spotted with smoke in hand more than once.

 

[Markeh]

so now 3 things will survive a nuclear holocaust: cockroaches, bendtners ego and dirk kuyt?

 

[Holle]

[quote author=Markeh link=topic=45883.msg1356108#msg1356108 date=1309189685]
so now 3 things will survive a nuclear holocaust: cockroaches, bendtners ego and dirk kuyt?
[/quote]

...and Lucas, obviously.

 

[SaintGeorge67]

Joaquin and Ginola were/are 30 a day men.

 

[SaintGeorge67]

and on the subject of smoking, one of my favourite pictures...

 

[Dylan]

I'd be more concerned about a lack of strategic planning if we'd spent £35m on a striker and then didn't invest to try and get the best out of him. That said, even if Carroll is hit by a bus or sold on the investments we've made / look like making will improve our first 11 and therefore strengthen our squad. All of this sounds to me like we have a plan and the money men are prepared to back it.

 

[Stulikesdrums]

Zinners smoked too.

 

[The Slugmonster]

Our set pieces have generally been shit for ages now. Having an abundance of players who a) are ace over a dead ball, b) can actually beat a man and get a cross in and c) powerful in the air to finish off these can only improve our scoring chances in moments of the game when we're not playing blistering pass and move football 8)

 

[doctor_mac]

Carroll is an absolute monster in the air. Didn't Keegan say Carroll is the best at heading he's ever seen or something? It makes sense if we have players who can help him utilise that talent. And as JJ says, we'll be strengthening in ways we need strengthened anyway.

 

[KopPoNok]

The whole team will reap the benefit, not just Carroll. We've been craving for better deliveries from set-piece and wide area since god know when.