Has CARROLL missed the plane ?

It has been an event packed week for Andy Carroll who just a year ago was amongst England’s most valued assets. He was “A proper England number 9” who looked destined to form a fearsome international partnership with Wayne Rooney which would last a decade. This weekend however as he returned to Newcastle he threw himself to the ground instead of sliding the ball into an empty net. What has happened to England’s £35 million man?

The giant Geordie once had the world at his considerably large feet but Sunday represented an all-time low. Booed at his former stomping ground mercilessly he looked a shadow of the bustling bundle of terror which Kenny Dalglish paid £35 million for. Carroll had no choice in the move to Liverpool, the 35 million was a ridiculous over valuation and it is likely Mike Ashley and co accepted the money with a bemused look followed by a euphoric laugh. For Carroll to then have his every touch booed at the club he grew up supporting is harsh; he didn’t hand in a transfer request, sulk for a move or fly to Argentina and remain there for 6 months.

The Newcastle faithful should be grateful to Carroll. It was his sale after all that allowed Newcastle to enter a new phase of development and finance deals for some real gems. And for Dalglish to take off Carroll with the game lost and a hostile reception guaranteed was nothing short of disgraceful. Carroll obviously agreed and fired abuse at his manager.

For the PLANE at the moment Carroll is probably in the “maybe” pile, he has the rest of the season to stake his claim and let’s hope he manages it. Carroll can be a physically imposing specimen. When on form he holds the ball up as well as any striker in Europe and terrorises defenders in the air. A fit and firing Carroll of old would be a real asset at the Euro’s, and alongside Rooney would pose a devastating threat.

To elevate his chances from maybe to definite he needs to return to his bustling best, to run the channels and use his physicality. Unfortunately Liverpool’s style of play doesn’t suit the player who needs to be the focal point because he certainly isn’t a poacher in the form of Fowler or a complete world class striker like Torres was on Merseyside. He is a battering ram, a nuisance who creates chances rather than finishes them.

Carroll didn’t set his own asking price and he almost certainly regrets that whoever did set it, set it so high. Let him be what he is and play to his strengths.

Come the end of the season Carroll will hope to be boarding the plane and to do that he simply needs to go back to basics. To work as hard as he can for his team and to become a nightmare to mark. A few goals wouldn’t hurt his chances either.