[BomoLad]

Whilst that's true, I don't think we can ignore the fact he's a player who is 24 during the upcoming season who can barely muster up six months in his career, as a top flight player, where he has impressed.

We're talking the best part of two years since he was on top of his game. I think there are big question marks on whether he can kick on. Liverpool might just not be the perfect fit or the club gambled too early. I personally would have liked to have seen him spend a whole season in the top flight, at least, before I came in for him. As it was, it was half a season. I know he had about half a season before that in 2008/09, but his record then wasn't very notable at all.

[alancracker]

Originally Posted by Assa2

Have you actually watched Carrol play? He's got a very good touch, can take the ball past players, holds it up and lays it off well, can score with his feet from outside the box, tracks back and defends well, not just with his head. he's a bloody good player who's major downfalls are that he lacks pace, expecially over the first 5 yards, and his size means people (you and BR) think he's only capable of heading the ball.

How BR has decided that Carrol is surplus to requirements without ever having even see him on the training field is beyond me. Liverpool's first competative match is in a couple of weeks time. Give him a couple of chances to show he can fit in and if he doesn't there's still most of August to sell him.

The only reason I can see why Liveprool would be in such a hurry to sell Carrol now would be because of the money and if that's the case then FSG are as big a bunch of liars as H&G were. In the 3 complete transfer windows since FSG took over Liverpool's net spend has been around £30m i.e. £10m per window. There is no indication of any great spending spree this summer so selling Carrol is only going to weaken Liverpool.

Frankly if i were Carrol I'd probably look at the situation and decide I'm better off somewhere else.

I don't really agree with your assessment of ACs qualities tbh - but hey we're both LFC fans and entitled to our own views on the matter so lets not fall out over it and leave that aside and not go there

Some of your other points?
I too would question a bit the haste with which Brendan appears to be ditching AC - but until it actually happens lets not count chickens cos it is all speculation at present. Unless he gets the right money he will not go - or if he did we would be stupid. I would certainly say that LFC are weak in the striker area where we were ineffective last season in terms of goals scored and so Brendan is right to look carefully at it. Imo even with Borini in and if AC stays I''d want another striker in order to increase the options, if AC goes I'd want two more.

The question you raise re FSG and outlay is an interesting one and imo the truth is not often put over in the popular media. Yes we did spend a lot last summer - but to me that was what I expected as the club was such a mess when they took over lots of new blood was needed. Leaving aside the fact that many of the players bought have not done partic well and were maybe overpriced I think with the outs (FT, Babel and Meir = main ones bringing in cash + a few others for smaller amounts + lowering the wage bill as much dead wood left) balanced V the ins the out lay was overall only about 30m. For someone to take over a club with LFCs history with it in a mess and hope to return it to its former glory for that is unrealistic so you are right we have a right to expect a lot more outlay this summer.

Whether we will get it is another matter - altho imo it'd be a bad tactic to shout too loud from the roof top how much we are going to spend as that will inflate prices. Playing poor may be wise but lets hope we are playing poor and are not actually as poor as some say we are cos imo major outlay is still needed.

Pity over some of the choices we made last summer for incomings - if they had turned out better we would not have needed to spend so much this summer - yes in time some may come good but we cannot rely on that and prob need it freshening up again before the season starts.

[hallc]

Originally Posted by walterwhite

A player who can only head the ball and do little else doesn't really fit into Brendan Rodgers style of play.

He scored more goals with his feet than his head for Newcastle......

[walterwhite]

Originally Posted by hallc

He scored more goals with his feet than his head for Newcastle......

Fair enough. He still doesn't fit with Rodgers style of play though. People are forgetting that Andy Carroll has been out of form now for nearly as long as he was in form. Which is the real Andy Carroll?

[alanwarwic]

Methinks Newcastle are playing it about right.

Liverpool might just prefer an undisclosed deal elsewhere that is not in ACs best interests.

[allafix]

Originally Posted by walterwhite

Fair enough. He still doesn't fit with Rodgers style of play though. People are forgetting that Andy Carroll has been out of form now for nearly as long as he was in form. Which is the real Andy Carroll?

You think he doesn't suit Rodgers' style of play because you can only see him as a target man. Like Peter Crouch he's a lot more than that yet people blindly assume a team with either of them in can only play long ball football. He offers a tactical option and there's no reason why the team can't pass the ball through midfield to him rather than lump it forward to him.

You're forgetting that he was recovering from injury when Liverpool bought him. Before his injury he'd been very much in form the whole time he was in the Newcastle first team. Then he had the pressure of performing with the £35m price tag to justify.

It was a big mistake for him to move to Liverpool, and I've no doubt he'd be welcomed back with open arms on Tyneside, whatever they've been saying about him after he left. The ill feeling was probably because he was a fan and had the No.9 shirt yet turned his back on the club at the first hint of glory elsewhere.

[walterwhite]

Originally Posted by allafix

You think he doesn't suit Rodgers' style of play because you can only see him as a target man. Like Peter Crouch he's a lot more than that yet people blindly assume a team with either of them in can only play long ball football. He offers a tactical option and there's no reason why the team can't pass the ball through midfield to him rather than lump it forward to him.

You're forgetting that he was recovering from injury when Liverpool bought him. Before his injury he'd been very much in form the whole time he was in the Newcastle first team. Then he had the pressure of performing with the £35m price tag to justify.

It was a big mistake for him to move to Liverpool, and I've no doubt he'd be welcomed back with open arms on Tyneside, whatever they've been saying about him after he left. The ill feeling was probably because he was a fan and had the No.9 shirt yet turned his back on the club at the first hint of glory elsewhere.

The old adage still remains, form is temporary....

[steve9999]

Originally Posted by Cantona07

Selling Carroll for such a massive loss would really illustrate how badly things were going under Dalglish and that the Liverpool owners really dont know much about football.

They bankrolled Dalglish to spend big, yet with 18 months, hes gone, Comolli has gone, half the backroom have gone and the big signing is heading for the exit. To take a £20m loss in 18 months smacks of mismanagement when there clearly isnt another £35m in the bank to spend - doubily so when the player is finally starting to look decent but doesnt fit in with the style of play that the owners new manager is known for.

As for Carroll he should just simply sign for the biggest club that come in for him. Rodgers hasnt exactly played with a poker face on this one, the whole world of football knows he is available and that Liverpool dont have huge money to spend so a rock-bottom deal of £15m isnt out of reach for any club showing an interest.

You really think Carroll was a Dalglish signing?

At the time Kenny had been back a couple of weeks and was the temp manager.... Seriously you really think he had a big say in that signing?

You can tell the players that kenny signed because he played them week it in , week out...
e.g bloody Downing!.

[kobashi100]

BR wants a mobile striker who can press defenders!

Carroll does not fit this role. Crouch wouldn't fit it either!

[Cantona07]

Originally Posted by steve9999

You really think Carroll was a Dalglish signing?

At the time Kenny had been back a couple of weeks and was the temp manager.... Seriously you really think he had a big say in that signing?

You can tell the players that kenny signed because he played them week it in , week out...
e.g bloody Downing!.

Well someone needs to take the blame, and if it wasn't Dalglish then its just yet another illustration of the structure of the club being all to cock.

[allafix]

Originally Posted by walterwhite

The old adage still remains, form is temporary....

True, Carroll is still something of a raw talent, not yet the finished article. That's why I think his move to Liverpool was badly timed. He hadn't established himself at the top level yet. He certainly wasn't worth £35m.

[allafix]

Originally Posted by kobashi100

BR wants a mobile striker who can press defenders!

Carroll does not fit this role. Crouch wouldn't fit it either!

Carroll may not be lightning quick but he is mobile and he can certainly press defenders (up against the bar wall anyway).

[madanglian]

Originally Posted by Sabre92

Hasn't Ba been linked with Galatasaray?

That was a fairly short-lived rumour about a week ago IIRC.
I had a look on fanatik.com.tr - no mention of it.

[whedon247]

Originally Posted by NinjyBear

I don't think he'd hesitate to go back to Newcastle if Liverpool decide to get rid of him.


I'd have him at Chelsea, for the right price. My only concern would be signing him directly from Liverpool - that doesn't work too well for us.

got you into a champions league final that you won.