Andy Carroll the piece of the puzzle that just didn’t fit at Liverpool
Liverpool have decided to cut their losses on striker Andy Carroll with a £15 million move to West ham set to be completed in the next day or so after the striker passed his medical at the London club. Many believe that this move is good for all parties as Carroll is more suited to Sam Allardyce’s style of play which he proved whilst on loan at Upton Park. However although he has already shown that he can shine in the capital I still feel that the striker still had something to offer Liverpool.
The beauty of Andy Carroll lies in his deceptively good feet, for such a big guy he is good technically he has a good touch and is surprisingly agile which he has proved during his time on loan at West Ham and at former club Newcastle. Combine this technical ability with strength, power, his heading and a thunderous shot and Carroll is a good striker.
However he was never really given the chance to demonstrate this ability for Liverpool mainly due to injuries during Dalglish’s time in charge and then when Rodgers arrived he didn’t really see him as a fit for his team. When he was given a chance he did show signs of being able to play for Liverpool with very important goals against Everton and Chelsea in the FA cup.
Carroll completely changed the game in the FA cup final against Chelsea, when he arrived from the bench the team lacked any sort of penetration or threat but when he came on he took the bull by the horns and terrorised the Chelsea defence. He was a handful and that allowed for a lot more space for his team mates to utilise in attack.
Carroll is a victim to Rodgers plans though because the former Swansea manager wants to focus his team on having a huge amount of movement and creativity in attack.
Although he is not the quickest Carroll still has fairly decent movement and he knows how to lose a marker, he is not just a big target man to hoof the ball up field in the vague hope he will win it in the air.
I’m sure no one needs reminding but the ‘big Geordie’ joined Liverpool under the stewardship of Kenny Dalglish for a huge £35 million in January 2011. The huge price paid for the striker also contributed to his failure on Merseyside, there was a lot of pressure for him to be an immediate success because of the money paid for him, but Carroll needed time to recover from niggling injuries.
He was signed by Dalglish to be the focal point of the Liverpool team he was to be the foil for the more spritely and creative Suarez to play alongside. This is what I feel Rodgers should have looked into before being so quick to dismiss Carroll from his side.
I know I’m no one to question Brendan Rodgers plans as he has improved the side but this is all just in theory now but I feel like if Liverpool were to hold on to Carroll and give him a chance he would give them an extra dimension in attack. I don’t see any reason why Carroll could have played the leading role with Suarez, Sturridge and Coutinho in behind. I think that with Carroll occupying the opposition defence the movement and creativity of the three would really shine with more room to operate.
Liverpool have been criticised at times for having no plan B and I think that could have been just what Andy Carroll could offer however it is obvious that under Rodgers Carroll was just never the right player for what he wants. Time will tell as to whether Carroll can prove his doubters wrong but if he can West Ham will have done some very shrewd business as he is still young and can only get better.
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