To be fair I think he's alright in the air when he's near the ball*... The problem last season as far as I could see was during open play, he was always hanging back on the edge of the box where he's easier to defend against, rather than sprinting into the 6 yard box where he might have stood a chance of scoring... *'Alright'... NOT £35m stunning...
Yeah true. To be fair to Andy he may well improve considerably next year - but I still don't think if we have high asperations that he can be our loan man up front in this system.
Funnily enough, 'smart' is the last word I'd use to describe him. His movement off the ball as amongst the worst I've ever seen in a number 9. His touch has improved no end, but not good enough for a quick passing game and when drop deep to pick up the ball he does pass it well, it's always backwards. Always. He's a plan B. He's not the plan A. Not good enough, not his game.
Fair point Baz. Rodgers might get the best out of him. I don't think Kenny managed him well at all. That sort of player needs games - Kenny would sub him after a couple of games and he would lose any momentum.
for young lad moving to a club with such pressure and the changes going on he's going nicely, we paid 35m for his services for years not last year ffs. Has Lucas taught you nothing
Completely agree. He's an option, not first choice. I think we have to buy some of top quality with high technique.
For every Lucas you get a Jan Kromkamp. I don't buy the argument that if you keep playing someone they will magically just come good. I think you have to judge each player individually.
Movement is not related to being clever as it has everything to do with being in sync with the others a lot of whom have been as erratic. Downing not picking him out or Johnson only spearing and Gerrard or even Skrtel have been able to get the ball to him in the air. His confidence took a hit on the move as maybe he possibly thought himself he wasn't worth 35m which then puts bags of pressure on, he didnt set the price. Since then he's appearing to be putting that all behind him and its been consistent improvement ever since, your too quick off the mark to judge him, I have seen in him things that dont happen by fluke, so more of the same in almost every game and I'll be very fkn happy
Steady on... I think Lucas is good, I never bashed him to start with - I felt he struggled initially, but he always put a shift in. My issue with Carroll is despite what others have said about his work rate, I still think he has a tendency to show laziness. It's all very well saying we have him for years, and if he had steadily improved this season you'd have a good point; but apart from 2-3 ok games at the end of last season he was consistenylu poor, and went backwards from how he was playing at Newcastle. There are many counfounding reasons as to why this might have been the case - not played enough, not playing to his strengths etc, but he was still poor. For these reasons I don't think Carroll appologists like yourself can keep rolling out Lucas as a defence every time someone brings up how much Carroll cost - we over paid for someone who will be alright, but unless he sorts his own head out will never be great.
Ronaldo was sheite, now I am not comparing but he was completely ineffective for 2 years before going for 80m years later Lucas if it was up to fans wouldn't have got past year 1 I am not comparing andy to either as players but lets not forget lessons of recent history so quickly, those are but two, I am sure there are many, we seem to judge a player for his entire career on his current form, which is totally illogical for a guy with years, Jan Koller did ok Dont disagree with lfc fans today what ever you do
Yeah. To be fair i've gone from considerable anxiety about Rodgers appointement to being very happy so far. He will time from me too. He's seems very driven and has clear tactics and goals which we can all see. We never saw that from the previous two managers (obviously they had something), but it breeds confidence. This could be the big change we desperately needed. As for Carroll, although its clear deep down i'm not sold, i'll wait and see how he does this year and trust the manager to make the right call.
I think you have to judge each player individually. I think you need to let them play and then judge and not the other way round
True. But you have to judge at what level you think he is capable of playing at when on top form also! Which is what I base my thoughts on, as well as his performances last year which are still very important. I always though Ronaldo would come good for United. He was never that bad anyway - just needed hauling in and shaping. As i've said in my post above - he will get another year at least. We have no choice but to see what happened. Unfortunately we are governed by the extreme prices we paid for him and Henderson.
not one of ye had good things to say about Lucas a few years ago, Andy i reckon is better off than Lucas was in his second season already and andy aint started season 2 yet, Lucas showed nothing for a long time until alonso left
Not sure who you're arguing with there Baz! Obviously we're are there. But our stocks have fallen you cannot ignore that. I thinks Rodgers can change that fairly quickly though.
That is true. We're in danger of going round in circles here! We will have to just wait and see and trust the manager's judgement.
Ronaldo s****??? His stats below dont really back you up. Sure he wasn't awesome like his last few seasons, but he had good stats for a young guy with few starts and HE WORKED HARD AND STEADILY IMPROVED unlike Carroll. http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/jun/11/cristiano-ronaldo-manchester-united
I agree with ronny but lets face it we didnt see the player he would become, you just thought he'd be better than he currently was but not the 80m or anything close as he didnt show any of it. Henderson too has been made shy by his pricetag, these two lads probably didn't expect to be sold for such high prices but such is the market for english lads, add 10m if their are english, carroll 25m Henderson 8m far more realistic then
He's been here 18 months now, playing for maybe 12months of that. Movement has everything to do with being clever when your big, target man number 9 is running down the sideline to pick up a pass from the midfield. He needs to be in the ****ing box, not out on the wing. He does this alot, he drifts into spots he shouldn't be. Then there's the times he comes deep for the ball but doesn't know what's behind him, who's making a run off him, what's to the side, who's in space...he always knocks it back. Follow ups. Never does it. Someone shoots, he ambles away, never gambling on a rebound or deflection Once again, he's improved no end from where he started. But you've either got a footballing brain, or you don't. Shelvey, for example, clearly does. Carroll, clearly doesn't. He'll be a good player for us, I'm not trying to be negative, I'm pointing out the kind of player he is. A basic, simple battering ram of a plan B. A top quality plan B, but he's never going to be the English 'LLorente' who has delicate footwork and sets up attacking moves.
