Andy Carroll

[DasNutNock]

Keane was clearly good at intimidating players, but he usually had the officials backing him due to the hold Man U have over everything. Would he have been given so much space to operate if he'd been ours? Arguably not.

Nolan is the best we've had in recent years at "managing" affairs to our advantage, and he did it without being spiteful or violent. Really good at manipulating the officials without annoying them unduly.

AC, as you & Bubba rightly say, gives us an advantage that's difficult to quantify, but you can sense it before the ball is kicked off. The oppo defence knows they'll be in for a long day, and that they're going to have to concentrate for 90 minutes or they're getting turned over. Doubling up on him is no guarantee of preventing him from getting his head to the ball, and that frees up space for our other attackers. He's also an obvious fan favourite, which gives the crowd a big lift, which gives the team a big lift.

Let's just pray we can keep Andy in good health for an extended run. It's clear that when he's fit and playing well, we play well, and he's instrumental to us setting up in our best formations.

[Jumby]

Andy Carroll takes the pressure off of those around them, allowing them to get on with their jobs more efficiently and effectively, Simone Zaza couldn't do that.

If Carroll hadn't returned we'd still be in the bottom three, we're now mid table and in with a realistic shout of a top 7/8 finish.

[Adie64]

I make no apology for saying I love watching Big Andy playing, just like I loved watching (Psycho) David Cross playing when I was younger.
Just need our wingers & creative players to start supplying him with the right ammunition & he'll get us the results.

[BondsoBob]

If only he could play every week eh ?

[Crouchend_Hammer]

If Carroll hadn't returned we'd still be in the bottom three, we're now mid table and in with a realistic shout of a top 7/8 finish.

We have beaten the two worst away teams in the division and a team that had conceded 29 goals in about 8 games. I think we woukd be well clear of the bottom 3 regardless. It is not as though he was much use in the first two games anyway.

as I said, nice to see him involved, but let's see how he does against better defences, over a longer period, before we start making out he is the saviour

[stu1]

If Carroll hadn't returned we'd still be in the bottom three, we're now mid table and in with a realistic shout of a top 7/8 finish.

I see a lot of people being rather generous suggesting Carroll is responsible for our sudden up turn in form (or should I say results) . He has obviously played his part but he is only partly responsible and let's be honest he did very little against Burnley and Hull.

Carroll isn't our saviour, but he is a decent striker which is something we've missed all season.

[Croydon]

Sell him if we get a decent bid in January. Too big a liability considering his weekly wage, contract length and poor injury form.

[Metal Hammer]

Sell him if we get a decent bid in January. Too big a liability considering his weekly wage, contract length and poor injury form.

Oh Jaybs has a new account

[JerseyHammer]

as I said, nice to see him involved, but let's see how he does against better defences, over a longer period, before we start making out he is the saviour

"longer period" and "Andy Carroll" don't really go together too well unfortunately.

Agree though. Impressive vs Swansea but almost everyone will have a tougher defence

[Jumby]

Before Carroll came back we had nothing up top and never really looked like scoring, teams had nothing to have to think about. I'm not saying he's Messi but I think his presence has been a big help, I don't think we'd have 10 points from the last 12 if he was still unfit.

[Gerblatz]

Now that they have taken the cotton wool off, we're starting to see him to better effect. We know what he can do and with players working off him and playing to his strengths, we could see a revival...he took his goal with confidence, there's a spark there. Next game will tell us more.

[Hugh Jargon]

When he initially arrived on loan he transformed the team. It was the fat Slags team then of course...but at the time I've never wanted us to sign a player more...he made that much difference.

Still a massive player for us but I agree as soon as we get the chance for our money back he will be sold.

[Cockneyboy311]

Since he's been here he's played 86 times, so he averages about 50% of our games a season. I like him but those stats are simply not good enough. I'd love him to stay fit for the remainder of the year but you just know he will break down at some point. Good player but unrealiable.

[bubbles1966]

Carroll scored against Liverpool, Southampton, Chelsea and Arsenal last year among others. In previous years it's been Man City and Spurs for us.

His issue is entirely fitness and nothing to do with the quality of opposition defences.

If anything, he has a harder time against the agricultural no-hopers.

[libero]

Very true Bubbles

[DasNutNock]

Carroll scored against Liverpool, Southampton, Chelsea and Arsenal last year among others. In previous years it's been Man City and Spurs for us.

His issue is entirely fitness and nothing to do with the quality of opposition defences.

If anything, he has a harder time against the agricultural no-hopers.

10 minute hat-tricks against Arsenal don't grow on trees. Only a handful of humans are capable of that, and we have one of them on our team.

[NorthBank86]

For me, unless we receive an out of this world offer (£30m plus) I'd keep him. He is a great option, though his injuries continue to be a concern. There are very few strikers in world football that are as unplayable in the air.

However, he mustn't be our only option, and with Sakho injured, Ayew away, Fletcher and Martinez a bit green and the dross that is Calleri & Zaza being shipped out, we have to obtain at least one other decent striker this January.

If / when he breaks down again, as things stand we have little else to offer up front, unless Antonio plays there again.

[Clucking Bell]

I think the bigger issue is that unless AC or Sakho are playing up front, the rest of the team has zero confidence in anyone else. If Zaza or Fletcher are there, the other players are more or less in a different post code, because they don't believe the ball will 'stick' once it's played up to them.

You could see against Swansea that Ayew and Antonio would wait for the second ball, 'cos there's every chance that AC would get his swede on it. When Zaza's up front, everyone stays in our half 'cos they know the ball's coming straight back.

[Croydon]

Oh Jaybs has a new account

Not sure who Jaybs is, but as you can see I've been here for quite a while.

I take it you disagree. Based on what may I ask?

[kingvikingstad]

AC occupies a lot of space and is very adept at pulling CBs and CDMs in his direction. While he's no saviour, he IS miles forward from who we've had to watch play in the striker position thus far this season. And until that's fixed, he will be very valuable to us. I bet Bilic is chuffed to write him onto the team sheet for as long as he's healthy (which is the problem).