Both Andy Carroll seem to have given multiple interviews today, but that’s hardly surprising after a very good 4-1 home win last night against Coventry City, in front of a good 40,000 crowd in the freezing cold weather on Tyneside, and of course both players scored.
Carroll and Routledge – both scored last night
Although not universally acclaimed as necessarily even a good player by some of our readers (based on some comments), we still think Andy will be in line for the number 9 shirt at Newcastle next season, if he keeps scoring goals.
Andy got his 10th goal last night, and has hit 6 goals in his last 7 games – not too shabby.
Andy talked about the Newcastle fighting qualities today – something we had very little of last season:
“It didn’t look too good when we conceded a sloppy goal.” “But this division is about showing character and all of the lads stuck in together.”
“They pushed on and kept going. We kept on attacking and that was great to see.” “It was lovely finish from Wayne Routledge to put us back on level terms.”
“We did the same as we did at Swansea – after going behind we fought back to get a good result.” “It’s important in this division that we continue to do that.”
“Our character is shining through and nobody is giving up or letting their heads drop.”
The lads must keep focused after this good win, and not follow it with a hopeless performance like they did at Derby County – they have to learn from their mistakes – like we all do.
Newcastle must be prepared to go out and do it all over again on Saturday afternoon against Preston North End.
It could well be that the next couple of games become important in the overall scheme of things, because 3 points on Saturday will set the team up for the next away game at Watford, a week on Saturday.
All 3 points should be possible down south against a side that is currently 15th in the Championship. But of course nothing is ever easy for Newcastle, we know that.
And Wayne Routledge seems to be just loving it at Newcastle, and the lad has been in decent form since he arrived last month from QPR for around £1.5M, according to some reports.
Last night was extra special for the 25 year-old Sidcup-born winger, as he scored his first goal for Newcastle, and it was a beauty.
Wayne has already set up a few goals for other players, but last night he thumped one home for himself, and since it was just 2 minutes after Coventry’s opening goal, it was very well timed.
Wayne talked about his goal today:
“I said when I came here I do make goals, but obviously I’m trying to improve my scoring as well.”
“If I can score more and make more, it’s good for me and the team.”
One of the things we think Chris Hughton does very well with his players, is to keep them centered and down to earth.
Chris doesn’t let them get too carried a way with a wins and at the same time he’s also very good at keeping things focused when we do badly – as in the previous two games – when we were hopeless.
That should stand the team in good stead for the remaining 15 games of the season – and let’s face it – the lads will have done just fantastically well so far this season, and if they can indeed gain promotion at the first attempt it would be terrific.
If you don’t believe that then just think back to what the morale at the club and amongst the Newcastle fans was last July 1st, when pre-training began at the Benton training ground.
You see what we mean.
Howay The Lads!!
19 comments so far
Pons Aelius
Feb 18, 2010 at 5:45 PM
Comment #1I reckon Carrolls a rough diamond who’s almost a cert for a full England cap in the future. I can’t think of a better English striker of his age range bar Daniel Sturridge (Ranger, Welbeck, Vaughan, Sears are the only others I can think of off-hand and they’ve all got lots to prove).
NewcastleMole
Feb 18, 2010 at 7:02 PM
Comment #2Absolute weapon to have in any team.
Brilliant in the air, if only we had decent crossers to exploit it.
NewcastleMole
Feb 18, 2010 at 7:07 PM
Comment #3@Pons Aelius
Can’t say i rate Sturridge, he has talent but he appears to be just another playboy footballer.
Started 5 Games for Man city. Made 32 appearances in 3 seasons. Then had the audacity to demand £75,000 a week.
OHurley
Feb 18, 2010 at 7:21 PM
Comment #4I have to say, I don’t know how Carroll has done it, because he always seems lazy on the pitch, BUT- if he keeps puttin the ball in the net, I can’t complain! Now I ain’t sayin he’s the next Peter Beardsley, but I think he’ll get better and better. Let’s be honest- does anyone really know how Beardo worked his “Beardsley Shuffle”? That was the coolest thing to watch!!
thelongshanks
Feb 18, 2010 at 7:27 PM
Comment #5Does ne body have a link for the goals?
Ally
Feb 18, 2010 at 7:36 PM
Comment #6has anyone done boro on the train before, done it on the bus a few times, but not the train just want to know what its like cos i hear it can be quite nasty.
anyone?
Turkish Magpie
Feb 18, 2010 at 7:38 PM
Comment #7TLS- It was on Look North Mate 😉 (try iplayer)
Turkish Magpie
Feb 18, 2010 at 8:30 PM
Comment #8TLS- Here ya go mate 😉
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1_naHvwiY-A&feature=player_embedded
Scorer
Feb 18, 2010 at 10:19 PM
Comment #9Give me strength! Hes scored 10 goals in a leauge where Nolan has 12, Lovenkrands has 9 Harewood got 5 and bloody Shola has 7 and he only played 38 mins this season!
1st people are talking of him gettin the 9 shirt now a full England cap. Im assuming people have been to see him play at SJP. I was there lasnight and the kid is slower than Shola, less mobile (if thats possible) has less skill, cant pass as well. He makes predictable runs and for his size spends more time on his backside than stood up! yes he is good in the air but so he should be hes 6ft 3″ .
Honest I work all over the country and this is why fans from around the country find it hilarious to take the mick out of us because we come out with statements like “Carrol for England in the future after 10 goals in the Championship!!”
Toon-Army
Feb 18, 2010 at 10:34 PM
Comment #10@ scorer.
being tall doesn’t mean that you are good in the air. i’m 6ft.6 and im average. there is a skill to getting your head over/under the ball + positioning of your body.
Turkish Magpie
Feb 18, 2010 at 11:06 PM
Comment #11Exactly toon army! I know a guy who’s 6foot8! and he is diabloical at heading, i swear he’s headed the cxrossbar more than the ball!
Tom Mo.
Feb 18, 2010 at 11:28 PM
Comment #12if ashley sells carroll next year im gonna be really pissed off.
Scorer
Feb 18, 2010 at 11:49 PM
Comment #13Toon-Army. Your right being tall doesnt mean anybody should be good in the air. But at 6ft 3″ I think you can expect a professional striker to be good in the air. I would be very dissapointed if they werent. You just have to look at the stick Shola and Peter Crouch get for being crap in the air and in my opinion they both have a lot more to their game than Carol who I think heading apart there is very little else there! Just my opinion though!
greekgeordie
Feb 19, 2010 at 8:43 AM
Comment #14Scorer I agree with your logic, Carrol has to show us what he can do on a longer period to be even considered for England, for me he should develope to a very decent player but he has to learn to stand on his feet more as referees will treat him as a frequent falling down player and he would not get the decisions his way on a 50/50 cases.
Please do not compare him with Sholla who proved by now that he is capable on winning a game at a moments blilliance but more often he is a liability by fouling all the time disrupting the momentum of an attack or spend time on the treatment table.
As for Carrol lets wait for next year when hopefully he can show us what he can do against the Terrys, Ferdinands and the likes.
Toon_Factor
Feb 19, 2010 at 9:04 AM
Comment #15Carroll is a sh**e footballer who can head the ball, thats all he is.
will die for the toon army
Feb 19, 2010 at 9:39 AM
Comment #16I never understand TOON fans. I guess thats why we are a laughing stock.
cgrizzly87
Feb 19, 2010 at 10:15 AM
Comment #17You kids do talk some utter b***ocks sometimes.
Try re-reading the post, then realise we are talking about what might happen in the future, IF our Andy continues to improve and show commitment to the toon.
He very much is a rough diamond, just needs the right coaching and playing time.
Anyone who has watched enough games this season will know that whenever we play Carroll the lads just pump the ball up field hoping the lad will get a head on it. POOR! When we do actually get the bag down and play he’s scored some nice goals, very nice infact. Much classier than Bambi’s tap-ins and bundled goals.
Let’s give the guy a chance! Fickle doesn’t do you lot justice.
Mags
Feb 19, 2010 at 11:44 AM
Comment #18cgrizzly87 – agree completely with your comments.
Scorer
Feb 19, 2010 at 12:12 PM
Comment #19Hey people. Dont for a second think iIm some sort of champion for Shola. I think he should of been peddled years ago. The comparison Im making is on the face of it Shola has a lot more to his game, other than in the air where Carrol is better. The comparison also holds because in the games in the PL both players looked completely out of their depth but in this leauge they have found their level.
@cgrizzly how you can state Im talking bollox when im trying to offer a little caution in sayin its a little premature to be talking of Carrol as potential England class on the back of 10 goals in a leauge where Nolan has 12 and Shola has 7 (having only played 38 mins this season)and bloody Marln Harewood got 5 for christ sake. The word fickle suggests I at one point said Carrol was fantastic. I havent ,I have never thought he would be anything other than an ok championship player.
Your statement says it all “Our Andy.” That is what happens with the town as soon as a player comes through from up here fans seem blind to anything other than the fact hes a geordie,that is why Shola is still here!
Honest I work all over the country and fans find it hilarious that we talk about people like Carrol as if he has the potential to be an England player.Hey I may be wrong but please wait till he has more than half a seaon in a mickey mouse leauge under his belt!