5 Nov 2011

ROBBIE EARLE: "The jury is still out on Liverpool's Andy Carroll..."

Wimbledon legend and former 'Crazy Gang' member Robbie Earle Believes that Liverpool are forced to abandon their natural game when Andy Carroll is in the team, and he has urged the striker to start believing in himself more.

Earle, Earle was appointed an MBE in 1999 for his services to football, argued:

"The jury in many ways is still out on Andy Carroll. He's potentially a great signing; he needs to play with a partner in a 442, but he's got to show his fitness, and he's got to show a little bit of appetite, and a little bit of character.

"I think Liverpool have to play a different way when Carroll's in the team. They have to play with width; they have to get crosses in to get him in the game.

"I think when the game is quick and it's short-passing, I'm not sure I've see enough of Andy Carroll to suggest that he fits into that system.

"Things haven't gone as swimming well as he would've liked since his move. He's got to start believing in himself and showing the Liverpool fans how much he wants to stay in the team and score goals".


With regards to the way Liverpool play, I think Earle is spot on: the team is set-up for fast-moving pass and move football, something that Carroll is not built for. Team play becomes slower and less incisive whenever he's in the team, and that's why I personally don't believe Carroll is the long-term solution.

If the team was built around his strengths, and set-up to serve him, then it would be a different story, but with Luis Suarez in the team, that's never going to happen.

Jaimie Kanwar


4 comments:

  1. I still think Carroll needs to play alongside a big man in a 4-4-2 to have an impact. Carroll doesn't really put himself about and likes to do all of his work in the box.  I hate to keep banging on about it but at Newcastle he either played alone up front or he was partnered by big Ameobi.  Its something to think about. 

    If we decide to play a pressure game like Bolton used to or Stoke, Carroll will fit right in.  Problem is that will never happen.  When the ball is played into Carrolls feet the one dimensional side of is game comes to life.  When we played stoke recently I watched as Kenwyne jones would recieve the ball and on occasion turn and run at us whilst all the time still showing enough mobillity in the box to score a headed goal.  Jones is inconsistent but has an all round game.  Carroll in our system is also inconsistent and unfortunately will never develop the touch of Ibrahimavich, Berbatov or even Crouch.  These three strikers have a touch and awareness that "slow" center fowards playing in sides that play proper football need.  Carroll is a square peg in a round hole and unless we start bypassing the midfield will never fit in.  Bypassing the midfield will of course cause a problem in the space time continuum and the consequences for mankind will be disastrous.

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  2. I have to apologise some movies bring out the worst in me :-)

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  3. Also, we have the added problem of Carroll being unable to generate the 1.21 Jigawatts of energy required to keep up with the rest of the team.

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  4. lol.  nice one.

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