Andy Carroll: Should he stay or should he blow?

Andy Carroll of West Ham United battles with Stephane Mbia of Queens Park Rangers during the Barclays Premier League match.

Andy Carroll, a player that still splits opinion amongst the Anfield faithful. Whilst one half would argue that he’s still young and has time to improve, the other would counter that with claims that he will never fit the Brendan Rodgers philosophy.

The Curious Case of Ibrahimovic

If you want a case study of a big man who struggled to fit in with a passing philosophy, you really just have to look at Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s time with Barcelona. Statistics aren’t the problem with the Swedish striker. He was instead criticized in his time with the Catalans for not being able to press, and not being mobile enough to create space for himself and his teammates.

29 appearances. 16 goals. 9 assists in his full season with Barcelona (La Liga stats only). He essentially contributed to 25 goals in 29 appearances, an impressive total for anyone (perhaps maybe bar Messi and Ronaldo), and it’s hard to see why he was chased out of Barcelona.

The reasons cited?

Apparently it was a breakdown in relationship between Ibrahimovic and Pep Guardiola that culminated in his departure. Everyone always talks about how he looked ‘out of place’ with the faster and more mobile players in the Barcelona team. In short, they preferred a striker who could move around and interchange positions like David Villa, rather than Ibrahimovic.

His Talents

His short time at West Ham has already showcased his entire game (including the negative parts). It has seen him be out injured for a while with hamstring troubles, it has also seen the incredible Andy Carroll, where he has caused all sorts of trouble, for teams such as Arsenal FC with his jumping and aerial ability.

He is that form of the ‘classic number 9 striker’. The type that would out-muscle defenders. But another ability of his that is often overlooked is his shots. He gets immense power behind his shots, and give him the time and space and he will offer a wonderful shot. The problem, however, is that he doesn’t quite have the mobility to find himself that time and space.

Is he worth it?

Now there are two things to keep in mind should big Andy Carroll leave Liverpool FC sometime at the end of the season. Will Liverpool regret letting a 23-year-old talent like Carroll go for around 19 million (as the future fee states in their loan agreement with West Ham United).

Additionally, Rodgers will have to balance out that argument with his 75k wages. Can he afford such wages for a player who will only sporadically be in the first team and could cost in wages 1.8 million pounds a season?

Does Brendan Rodgers Want him at All?

A dejected Andy Carroll during his time at Anfield.

The short answer to that will probably be no. He was desperately trying to offload the Englishman during the pre-season, and maintains that opinion that he won’t ever fit in with the Tiki-taka philosophy even now.

He’s still refusing to recall Andy Carroll despite injury to Fabio Borini, leaving Luis Suarez the only recognized striker in Liverpool’s squad. But ideally, one can only judge whether Carroll is truly wanted in the case of Luis Suarez getting (touch wood) injured.

So, what do you guys think? Has Brendan Rodgers not given Carroll a proper chance to prove himself or does he really have no chance of fitting in with Liverpool’s brand new passing philosophy?