West Ham agree fee in region of £15m with Liverpool for Andy Carroll

[madras]

threadtitle change need "andy carroll on cloud 3"

[Alberto2005]

Carroll played the same role today as he did the previous 3 games, and we've played reasonably well in those 3 games so I don't see the problem.

 

problem isn't starting with that line-up, which is fair enough, it's the lack of options to change when it was obvious (according to those who were there) that it wasn't working. for me we've built up a squad for 4-5-1 when our best stuff last season, the football that made me optimistic for this season, was all played with a 4-4-2. we also don't have adequate back up for when Carroll is injured/jailed/out of form - whose going to play up front alone when he is out - Shola!?.

 

obviously there'll be tough games where we will want to play 4-5-1, and man utd away, villa home and wolves away all fall into that category, but when we are chasing the game we need to be more positive, make changes sooner and have another, more attacking system to fall back on. Lovenkrands just isn't good enough for this division which is putting an inordinate amount of pressure on Carroll, imo. while he's done well so far he is not going to perform in every single match and it is unrealistic to expect a young lad to do that.

I think Hughton knows this aswell, he knows Lovenkrands and Ameobi aren't good enough so he decides to leave it as it is.

 

That said, we're playing Blackpool at home who are probably the worst team in the division despite their impressive start and players such as Lovenkrands and Ameobi shouldn't have problem against this calibre of opposition.

 

Also, it's clear we didn't have a budget in order to spend the amount of money needed to give Carroll a strike parter who would be good enough for the Premiership. You're looking at 6m at minimum to find anyone near that and 6m was the budget we spent on all the players brought in. It will be a big problem though.

[johnnypd]

Carroll played the same role today as he did the previous 3 games, and we've played reasonably well in those 3 games so I don't see the problem.

 

problem isn't starting with that line-up, which is fair enough, it's the lack of options to change when it was obvious (according to those who were there) that it wasn't working. for me we've built up a squad for 4-5-1 when our best stuff last season, the football that made me optimistic for this season, was all played with a 4-4-2. we also don't have adequate back up for when Carroll is injured/jailed/out of form - whose going to play up front alone when he is out - Shola!?.

 

obviously there'll be tough games where we will want to play 4-5-1, and man utd away, villa home and wolves away all fall into that category, but when we are chasing the game we need to be more positive, make changes sooner and have another, more attacking system to fall back on. Lovenkrands just isn't good enough for this division which is putting an inordinate amount of pressure on Carroll, imo. while he's done well so far he is not going to perform in every single match and it is unrealistic to expect a young lad to do that.

I think Hughton knows this aswell, he knows Lovenkrands and Ameobi aren't good enough so he decides to leave it as it is.

 

That said, we're playing Blackpool at home who are probably the worst team in the division despite their impressive start and players such as Lovenkrands and Ameobi shouldn't have problem against this calibre of opposition.

 

Also, it's clear we didn't have a budget in order to spend the amount of money needed to give Carroll a strike parter who would be good enough for the Premiership. You're looking at 6m at minimum to find anyone near that and 6m was the budget we spent on all the players brought in. It will be a big problem though.

 

would've liked us to go for the likes of Bellamy, Obinna and Odemwingie as they're all mobile, of a good quality and can do a shift out wide as well. but, whatever, the window is shut so it is up to Hughton to find an alternative with the what he has already.

[Mick]

 

problem isn't starting with that line-up, which is fair enough, it's the lack of options to change when it was obvious (according to those who were there) that it wasn't working. for me we've built up a squad for 4-5-1 when our best stuff last season, the football that made me optimistic for this season, was all played with a 4-4-2. we also don't have adequate back up for when Carroll is injured/jailed/out of form - whose going to play up front alone when he is out - Shola!?.

 

obviously there'll be tough games where we will want to play 4-5-1, and man utd away, villa home and wolves away all fall into that category, but when we are chasing the game we need to be more positive, make changes sooner and have another, more attacking system to fall back on. Lovenkrands just isn't good enough for this division which is putting an inordinate amount of pressure on Carroll, imo. while he's done well so far he is not going to perform in every single match and it is unrealistic to expect a young lad to do that.

 

Take Nolan and Smith out today and replace them with Ben Arfa and Tiote and it would have been a home win.

[Alberto2005]

Carroll played the same role today as he did the previous 3 games, and we've played reasonably well in those 3 games so I don't see the problem.

 

problem isn't starting with that line-up, which is fair enough, it's the lack of options to change when it was obvious (according to those who were there) that it wasn't working. for me we've built up a squad for 4-5-1 when our best stuff last season, the football that made me optimistic for this season, was all played with a 4-4-2. we also don't have adequate back up for when Carroll is injured/jailed/out of form - whose going to play up front alone when he is out - Shola!?.

 

obviously there'll be tough games where we will want to play 4-5-1, and man utd away, villa home and wolves away all fall into that category, but when we are chasing the game we need to be more positive, make changes sooner and have another, more attacking system to fall back on. Lovenkrands just isn't good enough for this division which is putting an inordinate amount of pressure on Carroll, imo. while he's done well so far he is not going to perform in every single match and it is unrealistic to expect a young lad to do that.

I think Hughton knows this aswell, he knows Lovenkrands and Ameobi aren't good enough so he decides to leave it as it is.

 

That said, we're playing Blackpool at home who are probably the worst team in the division despite their impressive start and players such as Lovenkrands and Ameobi shouldn't have problem against this calibre of opposition.

 

Also, it's clear we didn't have a budget in order to spend the amount of money needed to give Carroll a strike parter who would be good enough for the Premiership. You're looking at 6m at minimum to find anyone near that and 6m was the budget we spent on all the players brought in. It will be a big problem though.

 

would've liked us to go for the likes of Bellamy, Obinna and Odemwingie as they're all mobile, of a good quality and can do a shift out wide as well. but, whatever, the window is shut so it is up to Hughton to find an alternative with the what he has already.

I think it's fair to say Bellamy was never an option. I think also if we're actually talking about buying a player then it must be the right player and not a panic buy just because they're better than Ameobi or Lovenkrands, which isn't very difficult. I think those 2 were loans though which would have been useful.

[Colocho]

 

problem isn't starting with that line-up, which is fair enough, it's the lack of options to change when it was obvious (according to those who were there) that it wasn't working. for me we've built up a squad for 4-5-1 when our best stuff last season, the football that made me optimistic for this season, was all played with a 4-4-2. we also don't have adequate back up for when Carroll is injured/jailed/out of form - whose going to play up front alone when he is out - Shola!?.

 

obviously there'll be tough games where we will want to play 4-5-1, and man utd away, villa home and wolves away all fall into that category, but when we are chasing the game we need to be more positive, make changes sooner and have another, more attacking system to fall back on. Lovenkrands just isn't good enough for this division which is putting an inordinate amount of pressure on Carroll, imo. while he's done well so far he is not going to perform in every single match and it is unrealistic to expect a young lad to do that.

 

Take Nolan and Smith out today and replace them with Ben Arfa and Tiote and it would have been a home win.

 

Simple as that like.

[Doug]

 

problem isn't starting with that line-up, which is fair enough, it's the lack of options to change when it was obvious (according to those who were there) that it wasn't working. for me we've built up a squad for 4-5-1 when our best stuff last season, the football that made me optimistic for this season, was all played with a 4-4-2. we also don't have adequate back up for when Carroll is injured/jailed/out of form - whose going to play up front alone when he is out - Shola!?.

 

obviously there'll be tough games where we will want to play 4-5-1, and man utd away, villa home and wolves away all fall into that category, but when we are chasing the game we need to be more positive, make changes sooner and have another, more attacking system to fall back on. Lovenkrands just isn't good enough for this division which is putting an inordinate amount of pressure on Carroll, imo. while he's done well so far he is not going to perform in every single match and it is unrealistic to expect a young lad to do that.

 

Take Nolan and Smith out today and replace them with Ben Arfa and Tiote and it would have been a home win.

 

Simple as that like.

It really is,

Oh and to keep on thread, Carrol would have then scored to keep him on cloud 9

[Dokko]

Annoying thing is that we didn't play that way last season either, we played very much as a team. I'm worried the Carroll hype is affecting the team. We didn't come up as a one man band and we shouldn't start playing like one now.

 

It's slightly worrying aye.

 

 

My fault like for putting him in my dream team. If people want to pay me to take him out then donations welcome.

[FrenchWilliam]

£6m january bid from spurs? http://www.talksport.co.uk/sports-news/football/premier-league/transfer-rumours/1111/2/spurs-eyeing-shock-swoop-newcastle-star

 

 

Only talksport, so highly unlikely there's anything in it, and can't imagine it would be accepted anyway.

 

EDIT: Just seen other thread. D'oh

[Cajun]

Admittedly a little kneejerk but shola tonight reminded me it might not be the end of the world if we don't have Carroll for a few games. Two excellent finishes and was unlucky not to have more. Getting quite a good goal to game record in his old age

[Guest black n white]

yeah was a good game for shola tonight, but seriously if was picked on sunday is he gonna put in the same performance?? no he's not! im not trying to take anything away from him but he just can't do it

[johnnypd]

Admittedly a little kneejerk but shola tonight reminded me it might not be the end of the world if we don't have Carroll for a few games. Two excellent finishes and was unlucky not to have more. Getting quite a good goal to game record in his old age

 

yep, chuffed for shola, and it even gives us an option to go 4-4-2 if he is intent on playing that well.

[TRon]

Maybe UV will produce a graph/statistical analysis on why Shola is an integral first team player based on his last 12 months performances.

 

Or maybe not.

 

 

[Cajun]

Why?

 

I said in the match thread at one nil when someone wanted to haul him off instead of loven, shola's trademark these days is playing gash but scoring goals. I would be more confident in him grabbing a goal more than all but 2 or 3 of the rest of the squad.

[Cajun]

Sorry that was for black and white.

[Guest black n white]

Why?

 

I said in the match thread at one nil when someone wanted to haul him off instead of loven, shola's trademark these days is playing gash but scoring goals. I would be more confident in him grabbing a goal more than all but 2 or 3 of the rest of the squad.

 

i understand what your saying, but imo he's lazy and will do as little as possible when he doesn't have the ball, he takes at least 40mins to get into a game, id prefer to have ranger or loverboy on. that said he does get us goals when we need them.

[Cajun]

Loverboy is a Homer though, shame he didn't get a run out tonight though.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[HawK]

Ameobi>Nolan.

[Yorkie]

Shola's the best finisher at the club but Carroll's got more to his general play. We're not fucked without Carroll, but we'll lose a lot. We'd have to change our whole set up if we went with Ameobi upfront instead.

[Guest]

Shola's the best finisher at the club but Carroll's got more to his general play. We're not f***ed without Carroll, but we'll lose a lot. We'd have to change our whole set up if we went with Ameobi upfront instead.

 

I know what you mean but this still made me chuckle.

[Yorkie]

(in terms of on the pitch, rather than actual matches... just to clarify)

[merlin]

Much as I was pleased by Shola's performance last night, there is no denying that he is 28 and Carroll is 21.

 

Shola has had 10 years to establish himself as a worthy replacement for the likes of Shearer and there is no denying that, for whatever reason, he's failed. Yes, he DOES get goals that Carroll wouldn't, but over 90 minutes over 38 games, Carroll will cause more trouble for opposition defences than Shola.

 

Carroll needs a quick mobile partner to get the best out of him, whereas I don't think that it would make any difference to Shola's contribution to the side whether he had Pele or Messi alongside him ; he would still get the goals he was going to get because he is that sort of player - more an individual than a team player.

To be fair, he has had more than his share of injuries but that is the way it has gone and his languid style will often result in his being dispossessed by quick PL defenders.

 

He WOULD be a good CCC striker if he stayed fit and he WILL be an asset when he is brought into the side in the PL from time to time, which is why Hughton made the point that he still had a role to play.

 

I like players who give you 100% effort as well as having talent, even if their skill level is not quite up to the top level because only the top sides can afford players with both and we need to stay in the PL so we need physical power and effort as well as skill. Players like HBA are the icing on the cake whereas players like Tiote will do the donkey work that enables the HBAs to play.

 

Shola did a great job last night and maybe cup-fighting is his thing....

[gray]

Carroll needs a goal on Sunday

[Stu]

Carroll needs a goal on Sunday

 

any particular reason? or just that he's a striker and that's his target every game?

[Guest firetotheworks]

Shola's the best finisher at the club but Carroll's got more to his general play. We're not f***ed without Carroll, but we'll lose a lot. We'd have to change our whole set up if we went with Ameobi upfront instead.

 

 

I wish you'd let that line die like.