Just seen an interesting stat: Andy Carroll: Converted 4.5% of his chances for Liverpool in the 2011/12 PL season, compared to 14.3% for Newcastle in 2010/11 Maybe it's not so much about style of play, and more to do with a good run of form at Newcastle?
No, you don't get to be top scorer without playing against a poor irish side and an Italian side who had thrown in the towel. Even then he was only joint top scorer with about umpteen others on three goals, so he didn't have a stunning tournament (no individual really did). I think he has yet to recapture his form.
Carroll has built his reputstion around his size and power. He's a decent player, but not mega-millions special. Think it says a lot about English footballers when the fees for these guys are dwarfing those paid for their foreign contempories. Carroll is primarily a target man who likes to throw his weight around. The man at the top for Liverpool in the style they play is more of a chaser and a poacher. Torres did well and Suarez is doing OK. It's just not Carroll's game and it's not hard to see why he's flopped. For Newcastle or West Ham, who play a more direct game, he could find some form. It's what he is, a target man, that holds him back. The best teams don't use one. With our new and improved system, Rickie Lambert will need to adapt his game to fit the system. Unless Rickie adapts and Carroll adapts, neither will be considered really class players. I have high hopes for Rickie though, he's done what we've asked of him so far.
Rickie Lambert ahs become so much more than just a target man in the last two years. He has already adapted and sets up so much for the team on the ground as well as offering an aerial threat.
Someone said earlier that Carroll was a superior Beattie. He might turn out to be, but he certainly isn't yet!
I'd like to see Carroll try to crack in a shot from a free-kick from about 50 yards at Stamford Bridge! BEATTIE
He only started a couple of games I think, he had a great goal to minute ratio and got an assist too. He's not fully back yet, but maybe he can hit the ground running with the confidence he has gained from the Euros.
Am I missing something or has it already been said but the bbc are saying west ham have given up on a deal as Carroll doesn't want to join them!
