For those who think we're going to magic up two strikers in Jan we just won't...unless we can get big money for Mandy...which we won't. So what do we do? Personally I don't see the logic in having no strikers and one England international out on loan. Bring him back in Jan, use whatever cash we have to bring in one other of a higher class than two fill in strikers. Whether people rate him or not I can think of at least 4 games this year he'd have made us a better team (not much I know but while we're paying most of his wages anyway why not actually have the advantage of that option). The whole things been another total **** up made far worse by loaning him out.
No point having him out on loan, bring him back and sit him on the bench in case things aren't going well. At least he's a threat from corners. We get about 10 of those a game and never look like scoring. If we can get anywhere 17+ mill for him, bite their hand off and get rid. He's still worth that much imo, despite his poor form. I reckon a manager like Fergie (who'll never buy him, mind you) would really get some use out of a player like him. With the right manager and team (wingers) he'd be a good player again.
Everyone's saying that West ham are suited to his strengths etc. But are they really? Long ball lump it to Carroll? That's obviously not his strength. If you say that's his style purely based on appearance then you clearly didn't watch his best games last season. He excelled when we played into his feet like normal strikers, and failed when we hoofed it to him. Same as Suarez. Same as Torres. Our main problem was the mentality of the squad: "Oh, big Andy's on, I can be lazy, stop running forward and just launch it now. He'll be fine up there alone against 4 defenders." BR has done well to force Sterling, Suso, and Suarez to run forward when possible. Borini too. Gerrard, Allen, and Hendo should have done that too this season but they're forced to sit back. In this system Carroll wouldn't be worse than Downing and Cole as a plan B. It remains to be seen if BR can convince players to get in the box even when Carroll is on the pitch.
West Ham do play some decent football at times but kicking the ball long from defence to attack isn't going to help Carroll score goals. When I (and possibly others) say they are suited to his strengths it's because they have wide players who put crosses in. Newcastle used to do it from out wide and deep free kicks from halfway line etc, however how many free kicks do we get in opposition half that get lumped into the penalty area? His main strength is/was his power and being able to attack a ball that is being hung up in the air - not whipped in crosses that Downing tried to supply him with last year. Look at his headers for Newcastle and they are balls hung up that he can run and attack. Look at the header v City for us where it was from deep, hung up so he could go challenge the defender. That's his main strength, and it's something udner BR's style we don't do.
