Carroll had a good game against Chelsea last night, following on from one or two good performances beforehand. But, in general, Carroll has had a rubbish season and hasn't been good enough. Now, small sections of the media are calling for him to got to the Euros. If Carroll does end up going then I will be very annoyed. Holt has been far more consistent and has scored more goals against the same teams as Carroll and has arguably not had service from other players like Carroll receives from players such as Gerrard and co. This is probably down to the fact that Carroll plays for Liverpool and Holt plays for 'little old Norwich.' If Carroll gets to the Euros with what he's done this season we may as well send Titus Bramble!
Madness ain't it, Carroll is not a bad player but he's had a very very poor season. Holty has been on it for months and months scoring against all the top teams.
i can't see any reason why you wouldn't take them both to be honest! i've said before on here i'm a carroll fan - i think he's been totally ruined by liverpool's poor manager, poor system and poor players around him. stick him in the right set up and the boy is a beast. if it were me, i'd forget all about sturridge - he's all ego and although he has masses of potential, he needs a massive kick up the 'arris. welbeck i'm yet to be convinced by, but he could be a useful player to take as a more dynamic forward. i'd go with rooney, carroll, holt and welbeck. the problem is, many people seem to think we have to play like barcelona to get results. we don't - we have to play like england. if i had my way we'd be solid at the back, and that will mean two holding midfielders, two wide men and a big centre forward who can hold the ball up and bring others into play. if that means being quite direct, so be it. PLAY TO OUR STRENGTHS! thankfully, hodgson will play to our strengths, and i suspect he may want two up front.
just to add to that, i'm a firm believer in playing players in form - well, carroll is in form! ok, he's been next to useless most of the season but surely we hamper our chances by not taking someone who is currently playing well.
There's no doubt he was great at Newcastle and Liverpool has ruined him. If he can reproduce the performances that he has had for Liverpool over the last couple of games for England then I wouldn't mind him going to the Euros. However, I fear he won't. My main gripe is that Carroll has had two good performances amongst some bad performances and then there are calls for him to go to the Euros while Holt performs well throughout the majority of the season and there are still some doubters.
I'm not too bothered about lack of goals, so long as he can put in a good shift and help the team as he managed last night against Chelsea.
I rate Carroll but I do think holty brings an x factor to the role. Carroll is a bit one dimensional, but good none the less. I just worry that in taking a striker that "helps" other players we're going down the heskey route again.
Holty has been scoring goals constantly for years and years now! Carroll is not a bad player but he has actually only played well at prem level for half a season while at Newcastle. He could be very useful if he could hone his skills a bit but is inconsistent which makes him a bit of a risk for a tournament that could only last 3 games. Mind you him and Holt are actually quite different players so don't see why they couldn't both go if so desired
The sad fact is there isn't anyone else. To be honest we love Holt but we still don't know if he is international class as he has never played at that level. And he wouldn't get the same type of service. Carroll doesn't at Liverpool. We will try and play a style to match the tournament or opposition instead of to our strengths. What would be wrong in playing Holt, Carroll and two wingers who will put in crosses? I expect us to try and play the Swansea/Barcelona/Mankini way which we are told is how you are supposed to play. I cannot forget 'Arry saying Spurs lost to us because apart from us being better on the day they were too open with 2 up front! If you are going to lose, at least put up a fight.
I agree we will play the 'Barcelona' way although I hope we don't. I know Rooney is suspended for the first 2 games but a big advantage we could have if he and Holt played up front together is they bring the ability to defend from the front. That is something I don't think other English strikers do so would allow us to put more pressure on the opposition albeit maybe being 1 short in midfield. It would certainly be an 'English' way of playing
The great thing about Holt is the fact he will cover at full-back if Walker and Cole charge forward and the opposition regain the ball going for the counter-attack.
i don't believe hodgson will want to play the barcelona way. redknapp would have! it works for spain - fair play, and the dutch (who effectively invented it at barca) but we are england - i'm of the opinion that if we play more direct we'll be a real handful for teams. pick them both and play to their strengths, use wide players and make ourselves solid at the back with a big man up front. play more direct, get the ball forward quicker. its a well known fact most of our players can't keep possession for more than 10 seconds at a time SO DON'T PLAY THAT WAY! we've all been induced by the media's obsession with how barca play - there are plenty of other ways, many better in fact, to win football matches. if its not that pretty, so what? they are there to try and win the tournament
Agree 100% and lets hope Hodgson does play in an English style. If we play that way as you say despite maybe technically inferior players we could be a real handful. Its a tournament so who really cares how we play as long as its effective. Chelsea have shown V Barca a predominantly English back 4 can help to keep them out and be effective on the counter. We could certainly play in a similar way, possibly a little bit less defensive and get the ball wide and counter directly with pace.
He did indeed look good last night but I think people got a bit carried away with Carroll's performance in the cup final. Ok he got a goal but he missed an absolute sitter with that header that didn't cross the line which Holty would have buried all day long. Liverpool effectively went route one when he came on a lumped balls up to him and I can't see that being in the mindset of Hodgson. I agree he's not as bad as he's been made out, but he misses far too many chances to be reliable at international level if you ask me. As an aside, don't suppose anyone knows how many other players this season have scored against Man Ure, Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea and Newcastle this season?
And who in the 2nd leg was Chelsea's best player? Drogba, who apart from his antics, is as near an English striker you would get. Big, bold, full of running and good in the air.
Carroll and Crouch are ahead of Holt unfortunately.... it's a bit of a joke that caroll has a couple of good games then he's amazing again.
Haha too true. With this system we are guaranteed victory! Holt as top scorer. When he scores a hat-trick in the final do you think he will be knighted? Surely has to be they have set a precedent in the past
