I can't help but think that if Kenny wanted a British striker so much maybe he should have bought Steven Fletcher and not Andy Carroll who would have cost a fraction of Carroll's cost and has been a good goal scorer at this level for the last couple of seasons with 7 goals from 13 games this season at a team fighting relegation. Liverpool may have the best defence record in the league but have scored less goals than both blackburn and bolton who are 19th and 20th. to think another goal in those 7 draws could have given another 14 points (in a hind sight world that would put the club top). 5 of the 7 draws were against: 20th Blackburn, 18th Wigan, 14th Swansea, 11th Norwich, 15th Sunderland only saving grace in the last round of games chelsea and arsenal both draw their games.
So its solely Andy Carroll's fault we arn't scoring goals I suppose he's also responsible for the current state of the economy in some people's eyes as well. Carroll arrived with a serious knee injury, which takes time to recover from. He also needs a run of games to restore his match fitness and confidence. With a bit more luck he could be in double figures by now, against Blackburn there keeper made two blinding saves from him.
AC is not the sole reason we are not scoring however he is hardly contributing. Every time I see him play, he struggles to control the ball, pass a few yards and fit in with the rest of the team. I don't buy the fact that he needs a run of games - how much playing time does he need to be able to perform the basics as mentioned above? Fitness and sharpness should not be a problem now, he's been with us a while now so he should be in good shape physically. I understand why Dalglish picked AC because I was a big fan of his - power, strength, great header of the ball. But he has really struggled. Give him time and let him and develop but we need an established striker to take the pressure off.
V United, Suarez and Kuyt missed sitters kicking the ball at the keeper instead. v City Adam Certainly should have scored seeing as hart was going the wrong way n all yet adam kicked the ball right at the keepers legs. v Swansea and Sunderland QPR Norwich and Blackburn several players misfired and wasted chances. Suarez and maxi missed a host of chances against wigan to win that one by a few. Even Fulham wwe missed great chances even with Friend in charge of the game we should have taken the points on chances created. Poor poor finishing from Suarez Kuyt Maxi Carroll Downing Adam to name but a few, Carroll is getting far too much blame for our woes
It depends what you define as 'good goalscorer'. Fletcher got 8 in 35 starts for Burnley, and scored 10 last season (so Carroll outscored him). Yes he's doing well this season but quit jumping on the Fletcher bandwagon and give the players we already have a chance. Why is it that some people are sent into a blind panic at the mere mention of Andy Carroll's name? How many players despite not clicking in their first season have gone on to actually be great players for their clubs? I just find it ridiculous. All the evidence points to strikers of Carroll's style peaking later in their careers. We are told by those that have managed him that he has huge potential but is not the finished article yet. We are told that Torres' price was in part negotiated by the Andy Carroll fee. We can see from his games that with a bit more luck he'd have a few more goals and a lot more confidence. He has played an important role in some big away wins. Yet... let's panic and sell him straight away! It's beyond belief.
Benefit of hindsight is a beautiful thing. Fletcher is good, but not that good. Carroll was seen as the best up and coming English striker. I agree he isn't the sole reason why we havent scored, but I have to say he not really contributed at all, never in the right position, and lacks effort at times. Working hard and not delivering is one thing.
http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/latest-news/andy-is-not-low-on-confidence 'Andy is not low on confidence' Kenny Dalglish has praised Andy Carroll for his excellent attitude and application on and off the pitch. The striker was almost the hero for the Reds on Boxing Day when he saw his late effort brilliantly saved by Blackburn stopper Mark Bunn, and is now setting his sights on the visit of his former club Newcastle United to Anfield in the final game of 2011 on Friday night. The Reds boss told reporters at a Melwood press conference on Wednesday that he was delighted with the England international's focus and effort, and dismissed claims he is low on confidence. "No, I don't think self belief is a problem for Andy Carroll and I don't see why it should be," said Dalglish. "I don't think there's any evidence there to say he is short of self belief and I don't see any evidence to see why he should be. "For us he has come here and gone about his work very well. He is adjusting to life at a new club with new philosophies and a new way of playing. "Football is the most important thing to him. That's what he enjoys most. He's got a happy home life and if the football is going well and it's the same for everyone then the home life is going to be happier, but he loves playing football, he loves scoring goals and loves being part and parcel of the team. That's the personality he is. "He is adapting well to the change and we'll keep working with him because fortunately for Andy we've got much greater belief in him that a lot of people have that write about him."
Humm interesting. I don't agree he has adjusted well. Man I just hope he can score a few and everyone would fall silient. Thats all anyone wants. It's not the first time i've said that though.
I know it was pre-season and they weren't the greatest of goals but he scored like 5 goals in pre-season!! Where the hell did that go???
Think he left those boots in China. To be fair to the lad, his shots are either on target or agonisingly close. But everything else is frustrating...when he kept his back to the ball after it stayed in I went wild.
Btw, I had a dream..... that I watched gaems and we won, but while watching Podolski and banega were in the team for us. Ah what dreams may come right?
The simple fact is goals bring confidence and even though he's been pretty useless so far and a lot of the criticism of him has been fully justified it's tough for any striker to hit form when he's in and out of the team. He has a lot to learn and a lot to prove but fair to say he'll be getting more chances over the next few months. Lets see what he's made of
