anyone else find these signings somewhat similar? Both big fees (heskeys would be 31million if adjusted for inflation using TPI http://tomkinstimes.com/2011/02/tpi-world-record-transfer-fees-and-lfc/ and halfway through the season. Both young (22 at the time) and quite big and physical strikers. However i was quite young at the time of heskeys signing and wasnt either properly into football and also didnt have great judgement then. However i certainly wouldnt mind if carolls first full season is like heskeys, but also hell hopefully turn out better.
Carroll is a much better finisher. Heskey always had a problem with his finishing he has never scored more than 15 in a season and only managed that twice. Carroll has already beaten that with 17 goals in 09/10.
We'll have to wait and see. Despite his big frame, Heskey didn't use his strength and bully defenders. He would go down easily as well. Carroll - well I still have my doubts about him. Hasn't really impressed me during pre-season and simple things like his touch and control have been shocking. But I'm hoping we see a massive difference when the season starts.
I have my doubts over Carroll's touch and passing etc too, one thing he is very impressive in is his heading. I cant decide whether his shooting is blind luck or skill sometimes. In comparison to Heskey, he is much more vocal and likes the attention. Emile lacked selfishness or possibly confidence in his own ability, very quietly spoken which looks like the opposite to Carroll.
FreeFool, hes a slightly worse version of duncan ferguson, he scored a gew belters with his left foot but ultimately wasnt a great goal scorer.
That's quite an interesting article. I like how Veron worked out to be more than Carroll. Carroll is useful in his own way, but I think he has a bit more developing to do yet. He gets manhandled a lot in the box, and I think he's got to realise that the referee isn't going to give him a penalty, because they just don't do that for the larger players, because in their mind "Nobody can push Carroll over, he must have dived." He would also benefit from some training from Fowler possibly, I know they're not the same type of player at all, but Carroll would be much more of a threat if he could pick space well and not get in the middle of defenders. If he can sort these 2 things out I can see him being a consistent 20 goal a season man, not because of any outstanding ability or skill, but because he can put the goals away.
There is one massive difference, Carroll has the aggressiveness that Heskey lacked. I always thought Heskey for someone his size and physique was too nice. Heskey had the look of a ''Gentle Giant'' and was more John Carew than Didier Drogba. Andy Carroll seems to have a little bit of a nasty streak that players of his size need. There is two extremes there is Didier Drogba and Ian Wright who channelled their aggression and then there is Craig Bellamy and Wayne Rooney who don't seem to know how to channel it. Steve Coppell once that if Ian Wright hadn't got the fire in his belly, he wouldn't be the same player. I reckon Andy Carroll is the same sort of animal in that if he is to succeed he needs to have that fire in his belly, if he plays angry.....he'll be unstoppable.
I'm not bringing United into it. I just feel that Rooney doesn't channel his aggression in the right way...in other words ''He gets mad...not even''. You don't need to throw a tantrum to get revenge on the opposition....hit them where it hurts when it hurts. If you throw a tantrum,you lose focus and only upset yourself. You're letting the opposition beat you. Channel the aggression and make the opposition pay. How about this for an example. One year with Liverpool Fernando Torres against Reading got kicked and clattered and bruised..he got revenge...he scored a hat-trick. In my opinion thats channelling all your anger and inflicting pain on the opposition. Another example is Didier Drogba, Rafa upset him before a CL tie, he must have put it up on the dressing room wall, he was like a bull in a china shop. He went beserk and Liverpool were made pay for it. He channeled his anger.
Heskey has always been to much of a gentlemen, and that is some thing Carroll is not. Carrolls finishing and reactions are much great than Heskeys. Look at Carrolls first goal for Liverpool , his goal for England and his long range goal against Liverpool, his reflexes with both were incredible.
Jkiel. I totally agree. Andy Carroll is not a gentleman,and we shouldn't expect him to be one either. We should expect him to not show respect to defenders. He should treat them like dirt. If he doesn't they will walk all over him. The opposition is the enemy and the enemy deserves no mercy. I don't care what he does as long as he channels his aggression and takes it out on the opposition with goals. Tantrums don't hurt the opposition....goals do.
Tantrums help the opposition. I dont see Carroll as the tantrum type, I'd say an swang elbow or unwanted swear word is more his style.
I reckon you're right. I reckon he's more inclined to tell a defender to ''Get out of my face you anorexic little bastard'' than throw a tantrum.
Heskey always had a problem with his finishing he has never scored more than 15 in a season and only managed that twice. ............. heskey scored 21/22 goals in 2001
I think this article is absolute pish. I'm surprised you guys have given it the light of day. Heskey was a bulldozer, a second striker designed to direct players in whilst his partner did the damage. He scored a few one year, but his general striking ability, heading, skills, movement and intelligence are way off Carroll. This smells of pre-season nerves. Get a grip.
B4F. I agree, However Heskey was more than a bulldozer...he was a nice bulldozer. Compare him to someone like Dirk Kuyt who some have nicknamed the ''Blonde Bulldozer'', then you'll see what I mean. Dirk Kuyt would you believe even has a bit of a nasty streak. I believe Heskey would have done a hell of a lot better if he had a similar nasty streak to Kuyt. If defenders clatter into Kuyt,he bounces back up and kills them. Look what he did to Repka,he punished him in the only way he knew how. Andy Carroll is a beast,he won't throw tantrums,,he will use his size to intimidate the opposition, ie bully the bullies.
I agree. Heskey could be more than a bulldozer, but generally he was very average. I'll never forget being at Anfield and watching him run clean through against Wolves, he got closer...and closer... and closer to the keeper and then booted it as hard as he could at him! He was pretty poor for us. I rate Kuyt miles higher. Carroll like Heskey. What a load of crap!
