Liverpool Striker Andy Carroll is getting it in the neck from all sides at the moment; whether it's fans getting frustrated with his performances; the media attacking his price tag, or Fabio Capello publicly criticising his lifestyle, the pressure is most definitely on the for £35m man. When it comes to his performances for Liverpool though, has Carroll really been as underwhelming as everyone seems to think?
Let's look at the facts:
Whilst I concede that these figures are not very impressive for a 35m striker the following things need to be considered:
Even Kenny Dalglish admitted a few weeks ago that the club didn't handle Carroll too well last season:
"Andy...was never really fit when he came here. We pushed him in probably earlier than we should have last season and it wasn't particularly fair on him...we were a wee bit unkind on him and asked a bit too much of him".
In my view, last season should be written off as a bedding-in/injury recovery period. This season, Carroll has started only two games, and neither of them were lost. And as Dalglish says:
"It's best to judge Carroll when he's fully fit. This season he certainly looks a lot fitter".
As a comparison: Luis Suarez is the current golden boy for Liverpool fans, but he has only managed score a goal every 197 minutes (1 every 2.1 games). That's still a great return but it puts Carroll's stats into some kind of understandable context (for the fair-minded, of course!)
It's way too early to write off Carroll as some kind of overpriced failure. That may become a reality at some point in the future but for now, he just needs to be given time and patience to build up his fitness to the required level.
In the meantime, the stats show that Liverpool would benefit from using him as a sub in the immediate future, which would definitely aid his return to fitness.
Ultimately, Carroll has only played 834 minutes of football for Liverpool (!), and most of those were played in a semi-fit state. Despite that, he's still contributed 3 goals to the cause, which is two more than a fully-fit Fernando Torres has managed at Chelsea.
Jaimie Kanwar
Let's look at the facts:
- Played: 13 (8 Starts/5 Sub)
- Minutes on Pitch: 834
- STARTS: W3 D3 L2
- SUB: W4 L1
- Shots off-target: 36
- Shots on-target: 13
- 1 goal scored every 278 mins (= 1 every 3 games)
- 1 shot on goal every 64 minutes
- 37.5% of games won when Carroll starts
- 75% of games won with Carroll as a sub
- Liverpool without Carroll: P3 W2 Dl F10 A3
Whilst I concede that these figures are not very impressive for a 35m striker the following things need to be considered:
- Carroll was not fit when he arrived at Liverpool.
- When he came into the team, he was short of match fitness, which would've had an impact on his performances.
- Towards the end of last season, he picked up a kneed injury against Arsenal, but the club still played him (against Newcastle, for example)
Even Kenny Dalglish admitted a few weeks ago that the club didn't handle Carroll too well last season:
"Andy...was never really fit when he came here. We pushed him in probably earlier than we should have last season and it wasn't particularly fair on him...we were a wee bit unkind on him and asked a bit too much of him".
In my view, last season should be written off as a bedding-in/injury recovery period. This season, Carroll has started only two games, and neither of them were lost. And as Dalglish says:
"It's best to judge Carroll when he's fully fit. This season he certainly looks a lot fitter".
As a comparison: Luis Suarez is the current golden boy for Liverpool fans, but he has only managed score a goal every 197 minutes (1 every 2.1 games). That's still a great return but it puts Carroll's stats into some kind of understandable context (for the fair-minded, of course!)
It's way too early to write off Carroll as some kind of overpriced failure. That may become a reality at some point in the future but for now, he just needs to be given time and patience to build up his fitness to the required level.
In the meantime, the stats show that Liverpool would benefit from using him as a sub in the immediate future, which would definitely aid his return to fitness.
Ultimately, Carroll has only played 834 minutes of football for Liverpool (!), and most of those were played in a semi-fit state. Despite that, he's still contributed 3 goals to the cause, which is two more than a fully-fit Fernando Torres has managed at Chelsea.
Jaimie Kanwar
Hi Jamie, i tend to agree with your view on Andy Carroll. While he certainly hasn't pulled up many trees so far, we really need to wait and see before making any real kind of judgements.
ReplyDeleteAs you say, he so far hasn't really had the right preparation to showcase his talents, but there lyes the problem i believe. We have paid £35m for a striker in january and even now n September we are still waiting for him to have the right opportunity for him to show us exactly what he is about. That's frustrating in itself, although not his fault at all.
I personally think/hope that Gerrards return will bring the best out in Carroll, because Gerrard will be able to provide him with some fantastic crosses from deep with Downing on the left getting to the by-line. That combination i think will be what we are looking for.
All in all, we have bought Carroll as an investment for hopefully the next 10 years or so, so we certainly shouldn't go overboard with criticism of him at this very early stage.
I don't think Carroll's play is bad - anyone would be put in a shade next to Suarez, and the fact that Carroll's physical presence makes it a lot easier for others shouldn't be underestimated.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree. Carroll looks bad only because of his price tag... Other wise he is done a ok so far and with so much potential... he is just 22. I know he ll do well at the club for so many years to come.
ReplyDeletei'm believed carroll's fitness poorer than anybody at liverpool.he remind me on david beckham...when injured..he take much time than anybody to full fit again. i'm really bored when many people talk carroll will better when he get your fitness back. it not important and i'm know that..but when carroll will get your best fitness back???? . it answer i'm really need than other question and other answer...
ReplyDeletewhat is making it seem worse is suarez cost less and is performing brilliantly. This only adds to his pressure. He will come good! I cant think of a striker under kenny who has not become better having been in his team
ReplyDeleteYes i agree Jaimie but as well as being not match fit i think our style of football was not geared up for his game, Newcastle played with a lot of pace on wings and had players like Barton who can cross a ball.
ReplyDeleteThis season we are a different side with a number of players who can supply the crosses he needs and hopefully he can flourish.
WE shall see.....If Rafa Benitez had purchased a 35 million goal getter who was injured( injury due to falling off a bar stool while pissed)..... and has so far failed to ignite the premiership ......well !
ReplyDeleteI believe that Carroll will eventually be a top class player, but that we either jumped in too early for him or paid the premium for the developed player too early in his career. i.e. if you could see a graph of his actual value against his ability, our purchase point would be way above the curve.
ReplyDeleteI totally disagree with the common consensus that player's peak at 28-29, but think that they tend to peak after about 4 season's of regular first team football or 24/25, whichever comes first; that is when their bodies have had time to develop to near it's peak and hasn't yet been ravaged by years of injuries, but they've also gained enough experience of top level football to feel comfortable playing their own game and making better choices more often than not as second nature.
As such, I unfortunately don't expect Carroll to hit top the heights that we want of him for another year or two at least. He'll undoubtedly have good games here and there due to his naturally ability, but most likely won't consistently be the best that he can be for a while yet. He's still maturing and learning the game, as are most players who are so inexperienced, but we've paid the price for the finished article and Carroll is unfortunately going to have to carry that burden every game he plays until he does polish himself into a complete striker.
btw Jamie, Comparing his goal record to Suarez as if that is the reason that Suarez is being treated as 'the golden boy' is a bit disingenious though btw - I'm sure you know just as well as anybody else that Suarez has brought far more than just his own goals to the team...
I believe that Carroll will eventually be a top class player, but that we either jumped in too early for him or paid the premium for the developed player too early in his career. i.e. if you could see a graph of his actual value against his ability, our purchase point would be way above the curve.
ReplyDeleteI totally disagree with the common consensus that player's peak at 28-29, but think that they tend to peak after about 4 season's of regular first team football or 24/25, whichever comes first; that is when their bodies have had time to develop to near it's peak and hasn't yet been ravaged by years of injuries, but they've also gained enough experience of top level football to feel comfortable playing their own game and making better choices more often than not as second nature.
As such, I unfortunately don't expect Carroll to hit top the heights that we want of him for another year or two at least. He'll undoubtedly have good games here and there due to his naturally ability, but most likely won't consistently be the best that he can be for a while yet. He's still maturing and learning the game, as are most players who are so inexperienced, but we've paid the price for the finished article and Carroll is unfortunately going to have to carry that burden every game he plays until he does polish himself into a complete striker.
btw Jamie, Comparing his goal record to Suarez as if that is the reason that Suarez is being treated as 'the golden boy' is a bit disingenious though btw - I'm sure you know just as well as anybody else that Suarez has brought far more than just his own goals to the team...
If that was the case, you'd probably say that Benitez didn't actually want the player in the first place and that the owners had just dumped the guy on him as an unwanted present...
ReplyDeleteEvery time I've seen Carroll the thing that struck me most is his apparent laziness.
ReplyDeleteHe seems to have the attitude that simply walking onto the pitch more than justifies his 35m price tag.
Either that or he is to slow to catch cold. Even Crouch was faster. Not once have I seen Carroll sprint, and he never shows any urgency or desire to get the 50/50 balls.
JK, you keep saying, 'needs to be given time and patience' ala Hodgson?. When you spend the kind of money that KD spent on these players, and the wages they collect, every week, than I think we have every right to expect a little more. Just look at Suarez, Aguero (quality players), these players did not require over six months, to bed in, did they?. If you've got quality than, you don't need time, and I regret to say, Carroll, Adams and Henderson are MILES away from being quality players!.
ReplyDeletePackianath Jebaraj....Did you say he's only 22?, how old is MESSI?,
ReplyDeletehe's a top class English centre forward, we've seen his time with Newcastle. I have some doubt as to how he can fit into Liverpool Way based on his performance. Having said that, I totally agreed with you that he was totally unfit last season (yet, managed to score two!)and he definitely needs some time to bed in this season.
ReplyDeleteXCUSE,XCUSE,XCUSE,XCUSE,XCUSE,XCUSE,XCUSE,XCUSE,XCUSE,XCUSE
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