I think we will have to wait and see who he has around him tonight. If it is all youngsters will be a little harsh to judge him, but should still look the better player.
If he's as good as the article suggests then a couple of kids around him should make him stand out more. Hopefully Fernandez, Gomis, Montero and Jonjo (he needs the game time to wise up) in the team with him tonight will allow him to show his worth. I'd also give Kingston a run out.
let's put tonight's line-up in a different context. Do we want to win the cup - simple question. If we do then we play the best we have, assume the risks of injury and fatigue and possible congestion with league matches as the competition progresses .... and then deal with the consequences next season of being back in Europa league. If we don't care about winning the cup, then it's time for the second string to show they are capable of stepping up in a risk free situation and deliver the goods. I have no feeling either way other than whoever we play shows up and plays the best they can. Senior players mailing it in or youngsters sensing it doesn't matter and likewise coasting is not an option.
We should play a decent-to-good team, get some goals hopefully, then bring on the subs. Winning is a habit.
Yes well happy with carroll tonight can see what you mean about more like joe than leon but still done a good marshalling job in front of fernandez and bartley, just need to pick up the pace of his passing a bit
I thought Carroll played very well too. I can see him getting more time on the pitch very quickly, and then maybe being a first-team starter. Lots of snappy movement, wanted the ball, calm in possession, willing to tackle, very much like Joe Allen. I thought he played a lot better than Fulton tbh (Fulton gave the ball away a lot and looked a bit awkward in comparison). Still, a first appearance of the season, and a chance to get back into the swing of things.
I have always known Swansea where the ideal club for Carroll as you appreciate his style of play and early days but I hope you sign the lad if he doesn't have a future with us.
Well I am a little at odds with most of you. I thought he did ok, nothing to excite me though in that we have signed a real gem. He kept the ball well enough with plenty of 5 yard passes nothing more than that. I saw some where someone said he gets stuck in. Not from what I saw. He clearly pulled up on 1 or 2 challenges. For me very similar to Mchearan. Neat and tidy, wont set the world alight. Tidy cover, will have to give him more time. We have to remember that we were playing a very average side. I am being a realist here, those are my opinions. But watch for yourselves and judge for yourselves.
Did you see Shelvey on Saturday? 5 yard passes were obviously not so easy for him... We need a midfielder who gets in the right place, gives us go-forward with little 10-15 yard runs carrying the ball forward. Carroll did that yesterday, in much the same way Joe Allen used to do. Works for me.
What he did that our current batch seem unable to do was move to make himself available for a direct pass. Shelvey and although to a lesser extent both Ki and Siggy tend to put themselves alongside or behind an opponent making the direct pass almost impossible. Not sure how he would do against PL opposition but last night I was impressed.
I know I am in the minority. This guy will be bullied every game. Campion you are picking on one game, from memory those in the middle of midfield didnt do to bad over the last season. One bad game and everyone is on his back, pisses me right off. Carroll didnt go forward at all last night. Sideways yes. In all reality it is to early to judge him, all those getting excited I can see why, but what he did last night was against a poor Championship side, Lets see how he does against some good Pl sides then lets start shouting how good a signing he is.
Got to say Shelvey only had a handful of good performances last season and has had some shockers BUT he is only 22 so maybe we should be comparing hint to the likes of Lee Lucas, Tom Carroll and Rory Donnelley and not Siggurdson, deGuzman or Ki. A very different player from Carroll Jonjo' instinct is to go forward, Carroll gives us what we miss without Leon - a player who shift play and makes space. Not having Joe or Leon available in the area between midfield and defence is, in my opinion, the reason we keep being over-run failing to keep possession. Those short 5 yard passes across the field are what gave us our speed, possession and tired opponents.
Liverpool had the exact same problem with Gerrard Monday night. Every time he had the ball he killed the pace of their passing and moving game because he is to slow to move the ball. Joe was by far their best midfielder.
Oh mate he is no leon. He had a tidy game last night. I didnt see sharp crisp passing from him what I saw was neat and tidy and in fact slowed us down regularly. I am not criticising him. But everybody seems to be ****ing over a guy who had a half tidy game against a poor championship side. Starting getting excited when he is doing it against the Stokes, WBA and the West ham and Kevin Nolan. Thats when I will judge him. I wasnt comparing him to Shelvey others were, But what pisses me off is that some are always to eager to throw some of our existing players under the bus. when they have and will continue to be tan integeral part of our side.
Carroll didn't kill the pace - he increased it. What has killed our pace recently has been giving the ball to the opposition cheaply with appalling passing, and long ballooned passes that aren't particularly accurate give the opposition plenty of time to readjust. As was shown last night a team team that goes forward wave after wave becomes easy to defend against because they are one-dimensional.
Was comparing the similarities between a Jonjo this season and Gerrard Monday night. I've never seen Carroll play before, hopefully I'll he'll play some part Saturday so I can have a look at him. Also if he's as good as some here suggest, he should have a good game v WBA.
