Andy Carroll is a Liverpool player but for how much longer that remains to be seen. Coming off a strong end to the season and promising performances at Euro 2012, Andy could be forgiven for being cautiously optimistic about his future at Liverpool. But persistent rumours about his future lying elsewhere could serve to undermine that confidence. And if his £35 million transfer to Liverpool has proved anything, then it’s that he’s a confidence player.

If indeed there is substance to the rumours about Brendan Rodgers wanting him out of the team which there certainly seems to be as evidenced by recent quotes, then the new manager is certainly making a very bold move.

Not wishing to damn Rodgers before he’s truly began his tenure as Liverpool manager but his comments regarding the big man seem at best ill advised. He’s contradicted himself several times, after previously stating that the possibility of Carroll going out on loan as ‘something I would have to look at’ before just over a week later stating ‘there is absolutely no way I would be looking to loan a player like that’. Of course, this is Rodgers’ first really big job and thus such errors are to be expected as he beds into the role but there is certainly a worrying undertone to his backtracking.

Much has been made of Carroll not fitting into the Rodgers style of play, an ethos that he seems intent on bringing to the club but one need only look at Danny Graham’s role at Swansea to suggest that there is room for a man with Carrolls attributes. And it feels slightly reductive to describe a £35 million player as one that can’t fit into a certain system. Indeed there is more to Rodgers’ style of play than the nimble footed continental stylings of potential Liverpool signing, Joe Allen.

Moving Andy Carroll on doesn’t make sense in so much that it leaves Liverpool very light up top what with the departure of Dirk Kuyt and the impending return of Craig Bellamy to Cardiff. Whilst reinforcements have been bought in the shape of Fabio Borini, there is a desperate need for wide players and an advanced creative midfielder, which makes talk of a move for Clint Dempsey make a lot of sense.

A more positive spin should Rodgers decide to depart with Carroll would be that it’d be difficult not to admire the confidence he has in himself and the ethos he wants to instill into the club. Brendan was brought in by FSG to breathe new energy into the club and start afresh and such drastic action would be admirable in it’s boldness. Kenny’s plan didn’t work that much is clear, so selling Andy would be massive statement of intent. But if he’s intent on shifting out some of the previous incumbents brought in during the King Kenny era then there are others infinitely more worthy….I’m looking at you Stewart Downing.

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