In my first season in the Championship I scored 24 goals, promoting my side to the Premiership. In my first season in the Premiership I had 15 goals by February, scoring against the likes of Man Utd and Arsenal, leading to an international call up for an England friendly. Am I a £35mil striker? No, I'm Michael Ricketts.
Not saying Carroll will turn out the same way, because I don't think he will, but you can hardly blame Ashley for accepting the bid, especially looking at how things could turn out.