Not really seen him post on here for a while, but if you're reading, Ash, what do you make of Andy Carroll with us?
I have a fair amount of opinions on Torres at Chelsea, having seen him play for four years at Liverpool alone, I can see clearly what he's doing well and what he isn't doing well. Just wondering what you think Andy's problem is? I know he had problems off the field at Newcastle, but have they carried over to Merseyside? I've always felt it's been an ability thing with him, he just doesn't want it for us like he did with Newcastle, but surely that only holds so much ground? I imagine with you seeing him a lot more than me, you can see quite clearly what's wrong, or maybe you haven't seen him for us?
Liverpool brought him after what half a season which was very good.
Maybe he is just an average player who had a purple patch, which then (because of hugely inflated British - British transfer fees) got him a ridiculously huge transfer to Liverpool and he has been weighed down by the weight of expectation ever since.
Liverpool brought him after what half a season which was very good.
Maybe he is just an average player who had a purple patch, which then (because of hugely inflated British - British transfer fees) got him a ridiculously huge transfer to Liverpool and he has been weighed down by the weight of expectation ever since.
That's exactly what it is. Think Michael Ricketts at Bolton for a reasonable comparison. Watching Andy Carroll try to play with the ball at his feet is just laughable. He's Kevin Davies with less ability.
Puts a bit of perspective on some of the transfer dealings, I see him going back there at some point for a ridiculous knock down price
The Newcastle United faithful will have far more to gloat over at St James' Park on Sunday than the return of Andy Carroll. Should Henry and Tom Werner, Liverpool's principal owner and chairman respectively, take in the visit to Tyneside they will witness a team of astute, prudent signings, many now with a profitable resale value, aiming to sustain a push for Champions League qualification. This was their vision for Liverpool and they have funded it. But that is no consolation when it is Newcastle who are realising the goal.
Flush to the tune of £41m from Liverpool alone, courtesy of the sales of £35m Carroll and £6m José Enrique to Anfield, Newcastle have utilised excellent contacts in France, mainly, to defy expectations under Alan Pardew. The transfer fees for Chiek Tioté, Gabriel Obertan, Davide Santon, Yohan Cabaye, Hatem Ben Arfa and Papiss Cissé – with Demba Ba, Sylvain Marveaux and Mehdi Abeid all signed on a free – still leave Mike Ashley £8m in profit on the Carroll deal. For £8.3m Newcastle have constructed a formidable central midfield of Tioté and Cabaye. Liverpool spent £20m on both Jordan Henderson and Stewart Downing and a settled, coherent team remains elusive under Dalglish. It is Liverpool, of course, who have a French-born director of football in Damien Comolli, although he should not take sole responsibility for Anfield's largesse. It is Newcastle, under chief scout Graham Carr, father of the comedian Alan, who have plundered that market fruitfully.
Puts a bit of perspective on some of the transfer dealings, I see him going back there at some point for a ridiculous knock down price
The Newcastle United faithful will have far more to gloat over at St James' Park on Sunday than the return of Andy Carroll. Should Henry and Tom Werner, Liverpool's principal owner and chairman respectively, take in the visit to Tyneside they will witness a team of astute, prudent signings, many now with a profitable resale value, aiming to sustain a push for Champions League qualification. This was their vision for Liverpool and they have funded it. But that is no consolation when it is Newcastle who are realising the goal.
Flush to the tune of £41m from Liverpool alone, courtesy of the sales of £35m Carroll and £6m José Enrique to Anfield, Newcastle have utilised excellent contacts in France, mainly, to defy expectations under Alan Pardew. The transfer fees for Chiek Tioté, Gabriel Obertan, Davide Santon, Yohan Cabaye, Hatem Ben Arfa and Papiss Cissé – with Demba Ba, Sylvain Marveaux and Mehdi Abeid all signed on a free – still leave Mike Ashley £8m in profit on the Carroll deal. For £8.3m Newcastle have constructed a formidable central midfield of Tioté and Cabaye. Liverpool spent £20m on both Jordan Henderson and Stewart Downing and a settled, coherent team remains elusive under Dalglish. It is Liverpool, of course, who have a French-born director of football in Damien Comolli, although he should not take sole responsibility for Anfield's largesse. It is Newcastle, under chief scout Graham Carr, father of the comedian Alan, who have plundered that market fruitfully.