Andy Carroll’s fall from grace has been punctuated this week by the news he may join West Ham United on loan, just one full season after a club record £35 million move from St James Park. The transfer made him the most expensive English player in football history. But how did Andy Carroll go from Geordie Hero to Liverpool zero so quickly?
Carroll joined Liverpool on the final day of the transfer window in January 2011. Despite having previously scored 33 times in 91 appearances for Newcastle, where he enjoyed cult status at his hometown club, he never lived up to that price tag at Anfield.
In fact, he managed a miserable return of 11 strikes in 56 appearances over two seasons and was outscored last season by Chelsea rookie Daniel Sturridge, who ironically might replace him this season.
It is this unacceptable run of form that has led to new manager Brendan Rodgers deciding from the get-go that Carroll doesn’t fit into his long term plans, and is prepared to take a £20million hit on the former Newcastle star or even offer him out on loan.
It is a dramatic reversal in fortunes for Carroll, whom big things were expected of not so long ago. Whilst he can use his 6 foot 3 inch frame to dominate defenders in the air, clumping the ball up field and hoping for the best is no longer a tactic employed at Anfield. Rodgers instead prefers possession based football, which he utilized so well in his days at Swansea, and that, effectively, means there is no longer any room for Andy Carroll as a new dawn begins at Anfield.
If Carroll does end up joining newly promoted West Ham, it really will beg the question…Has there been a more epic fall from grace in Premier League history?
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5 Comments
Good luck to the young journo who wrote this, but it’s full of speculation and inaccuracies. Firstly he’s not a Liverpool zero, secondly he hasn’t fitted yet but he’s young, thirdly Brendan Rodgers hasn’t said he doesn’t fit – he may be considering the players around him, but he holds the ball up well and mit fit if he adapts – but it’s blatant inaccuracies like this that put people off a writer. Hope your style changes for the better… Typical lazy journalism misinterpreting a speech and putting their own interpretation between the lines.
Neither of the three things you mentioned were inaccuracies, the first two things that you mentioned are your opinions and the third – since he is being shipped out on loan at best – well actions speak a thousand words. Rodger’s didn’t have to say he doesn’t fit. But I appreciate your comment never the less.
Poor article agree with rich!
yeah crap article pieced together from hear say and speculation. “since hes being shipped out on loan” ….says who? do you have a direct line to rodgers, or is this something pinched from another football web site. Good luck for the future, i’m sure you’ll improve in time…
Last season was poor, but just give him one more season, he has shown enough determination in the end to deserve that. Also he is young and liverpool have to be patient.