*Shameless plug time!!!
*Written before the big man bagged in the derby but the mofo'ing editor takes his sweet time in uploading, anyway....
http://3down3up.com/issue/october-2011/article/andy-carroll
By Paul Gorst.
‘Andy didn’t play the last game with Liverpool and probably he is not at the top. Also he is big. He needs to play games, games, games. It’s the start of the season. He needs to find good form.’ - England manager, Fabio Capello on striker, Andy Carroll, August 2011.
Now, scour these words with the finest of tooth-combs and you may surmise that Carroll has not been at his best since the beginning of the 2010/11 Premier League season. The conclusion would be correct, but the hypothesis is hardly ingenious insight. It is no secret that Carroll has not been at his swash-buckling best since the start of the new campaign.
But when Capello mused on Carroll’s current form, many in the media saw it as a huge red-flag, and decided to haul up comments that Capello had made six months earlier and pedal them as the Italian’s latest shock inducing comments, which in-turn became back-page news nationally.
For reference, Capello said ahead of the friendly with Ghana – in March: ‘I spoke with him, in private. He's young - his behaviour is important. He needs to be careful at every moment because when you play with the England national team you are the focus of the fans, the newspapers, the photographers, the people that live around him. He needs to improve, to drink less.’
The notion that Capello was again being critical of the Liverpool man’s off-field behaviour ahead of the recent European Championship qualifier with Wales was simply ludicrous. Carroll has yet to set the world alight since his move to Anfield in January, but it is far too early for lurid headlines reminiscent of Paul Gascoigne’s descent from greatness.
Capello’s comments sparked a national debate amongst Radio sports-show phone-ins and website forums which caused his club manager Kenny Dalglish to leap to the defence of England’s most expensive player.
In reality, it all has the look of a storm-in-a-teacup. A mountain from a molehill and much ado about nothing.
Granted Carroll has not started brilliantly for the Reds this season, but the former Newcastle man was unfortunate to have a goal ruled out against Sunderland on the opening day. He would have also had another goal at Arsenal a week later, had it not been for an outstanding save from Gunners’ stopper Wojciech Szczesny.
Carroll also came off the bench to score in the 3-1 win at Exeter in the Carling Cup. He was then given just 14 minutes at Bolton in the 3-1 win at Anfield and 23 at Stoke as the Reds were beaten 1-0. He played a full 90 at Tottenham but it was a day to forget for Dalglish’s men as they were reduced to nine men and slumped to a 4-0 defeat – Dalglish’s worst as Liverpool manager in 337 games. He was then unlucky to see a towering header cannon back off the post in the recent 2-1 win over Wolves at Anfield. He finally scored his first league goal in the Merseyside Derby on October 1st.
It is ridiculously premature to suggest the £35m spent on the Gateshead native has been wasted, while it is also fair to claim the sum represents a big gamble, but Liverpool’s (and England’s) number nine, needs to be given time before anyone – regardless of their stance – can say they have been proven right.
The fee Liverpool paid is something Carroll had no control of. Newcastle knew Liverpool were due to pocket a British record of £50m for Fernando Torres as he moved to Chelsea on January transfer deadline day, and they simply forced the hands of Liverpool. It was quintessential business bargaining, but Liverpool made a statement of intent by the huge layout for Carroll. It was clear, Dalglish and Damien Comolli believed in him.
Carroll’s virtues are there for all to see. Tall and powerful, there is no finer aerial presence in the Premier League. He has left foot packed with C4, but he is also a very intelligent user of the football (something which is rarely observed, given the perpetual need to stereotype tall players who are good in the air).
In his short career so far, the former Preston North End man has developed a penchant for scoring big goals in big games. Last season for Newcastle, Carroll netted in the 1-1 draw with Chelsea and in wins against Arsenal and Liverpool themselves. He also notched for the Magpies at the-then relegation rivals West Ham United and he scored two against Champions League chasing Manchester City as Liverpool won 3-0 in April. His derby goal also adds weight this theory.
Since his move, Carroll has featured for Liverpool just 17 times; with six of them coming from the subs bench and he has four goals to his name. They are statistics that won’t help anybody looking to champion his case, but at just 22, Carroll certainly has time on his side.
As Capello astutely pointed out, Carroll needs games. He needs consistent starts and he needs to run-up a considerable amount of playing time. If this happens, Liverpool fans will surely start to see the kind of dominant performances that are expected a £35m striker.
It is now up to Carroll to rubbish all the sniping rumours of an out-of control private life, and deliver for Liverpool and England.
*writer's disclaimer. Couldn't care less about England, had to include it.
