Kevin Keegan seem to like what he sees in our 19 year old 6’3†striker Andrew Carroll, and the manager has already turned down offers from Championship clubs who wanted to take Andy on loan for the rest of the season.
Andy Carroll – making an impact at the club
Keegan told the Shields Gazette
“Andy’s done well, and I’m pleased with him.–We’ve probably only got two or three youngsters here at the moment who I can honestly say are near the first team, and he’s one of them.â€
“He’s different. He’s fresh. He’s got that lovely youthful exuberance. He comes in and puts himself about, and he can only get better.”
Gateshead-born Carroll was out on loan at Preston North End for the first 6 months of the season and didn’t fare too well. However, since he’s returned he’s been as good as ever, so obviously he learned some things at Preston that have made him a better player and pushing for a first team spot.
Andy made his first team debut under Glenn Roeder last season, coming on in the UEFA Cup tie away to Serie A side Palermo. That was the same game that 19 year-old goalkeeper Tim Krul played his one and only game for the senior side in a great performance that resulted in a 1-0 win for Newcastle.
He is also an England Under-19 International and the next step in Andy’s development will be making it to the first team, and maybe then getting the nod from the England Under-21 manager Stuart Pearce. But that’s out in the future in the next year or so, if Andy is indeed to make it to the big time.
With Owen, Martins, Viduka, Smith and Ameobi all fit for Saturday, it’s hard to see how Andy can even make the bench against Blackburn Rovers. But make no mistake, the young boy is a growing power to be reckoned with, and we look forward to him breaking though into the first team, maybe next season.
What do you think?
Comments very welcome.
24 comments so far
Leo* I HATE NICKY BUTT
Feb 28, 2008 at 11:58 AM
Comment #1well i would have him in the team before viduka, i know viduka can get goals, but so will carroll if he gets a couple games, as keegan say’s he puts himself about and not in the way smith does he seems really productive and doesnt waste the ball often…
give him a chance on the bench and bring him on in the second half if we need something different
Leo* I HATE NICKY BUTT
Feb 28, 2008 at 11:58 AM
Comment #2oh and btw cooldj i have been first on the wall about 3 times this morning :-p haha
Astidores Sanchez Blanco
Feb 28, 2008 at 12:12 PM
Comment #3Who do you think the other two players close to breaking into the first team are? I’d say Edgar and either Lua Lua who has played a couple of games this season or Forster who is going to be Harper’s understudy in the coming weeks.
ChrisM
Feb 28, 2008 at 12:12 PM
Comment #4Leo – aye cos you’ve got nowt better to do…….bloody students he he.
Hadji
Feb 28, 2008 at 12:16 PM
Comment #5KK give this guy a chance he looks like a winner.I would choose him over Viduka and Smith at any given moment.
Viduka-Too old,moneygrabber,no more passion
Smith-He doesnt even know which position is best for him cause everywhere you put him he’s crap.
I think if Carrol becomes a regular starter,in 3 years he’ll be like Fernando Torres.
Its all in KK hands now.
Carr is shite
Feb 28, 2008 at 12:19 PM
Comment #6I believe kadar , edgar and tozer should be given
the chance for the first team due to our shite
defence.
Hadji
Feb 28, 2008 at 12:19 PM
Comment #7Also our midfield is a crucial factor for Carrol to develop into a class striker.
At the moment we dont have that factor…only Emre.
steve k
Feb 28, 2008 at 12:23 PM
Comment #8I like Viduka, I think he’s exactly what we need up front at the moment. My only gripe with him are his injury problems.
George
Feb 28, 2008 at 12:29 PM
Comment #9Definately one for the present and future.
At least this lad looks hungry and he certainly goes in were it hurts. Use him now as we need to show more grit up front and this lad has it. Once Ameobi and Viduka are away maybe we can get another quality striker in for next year.
staffsmag
Feb 28, 2008 at 12:29 PM
Comment #10Put carrol in for smith – give the lad a chance
Ray
Feb 28, 2008 at 12:42 PM
Comment #11I’ve said it before and I will say it again, give the young lads a chance, they will proberbly do a better job than some of the senior players at the moment, they certainly wont do a worse job than whats been done at presant.
KK has just got to be brave enough to commit to it and give them a decent run on the park and this should send singnals out that some of the senior players will be dropped down the pecking order as it is shit or bust now.
Bottlodog
Feb 28, 2008 at 12:43 PM
Comment #12Does anyone else think Sir Bobs bust looks like Sir John Mills – the late actor?????
Graeme
Feb 28, 2008 at 12:56 PM
Comment #13I would start with Andy Carroll, with Owen playing off him. Carroll has pace, height, control and can score bloody goals. Owen is twice as good, playing off a front man with mobility and the ability to head the ball.
Carroll goes in where it hurts and if he doesnt score, he will create chances for others. If Martins was fit, I would play both Martins and Owen with Carroll. We have nothing to loose, but could gain so much.
Bosck
Feb 28, 2008 at 12:56 PM
Comment #14if we’re not gonna start with martins and owen up front then we should go with carroll. Smith has been ineffective and there’s no point putting viduka in cos he’ll just then miss the next game with injury so you cant get a regular partnership going. if buffon rates andy then maybe we should believe him given some of the top strikers buffon has played with and against.
Hadji
Feb 28, 2008 at 1:04 PM
Comment #15Maybe Buffon said that cause he almost broke his jaw….just kiddin.
I hope he was honest when he made that comment about Carrol.
mikeygd
Feb 28, 2008 at 1:44 PM
Comment #16we got the wrong man from boro, shud of got yakubu but viduka has to play against blackburn if fit
hanzemre
Feb 28, 2008 at 1:46 PM
Comment #17i can honestly say that Smith is favoured to play along with Owen…no chance to start with Carroll or even Martins.KK’ll only play him from bench with 30 minutes/less to go hopefully he scores.
Davies
Feb 28, 2008 at 1:53 PM
Comment #18Smith is a striker?
I thought he was a pitch invader/ defender/ jogger/ referee.
I never knew he was a striker.
Carroll is a wonderful gangly young man, offering aspects of Crouch, but with a hint of Viduka’s good form (from when he was good, not the way he is now).
He’s been good in the reserves and he doesn’t panic and he’s strong and able to hold the ball. I was impressed with his short spell on the pitch on Saturday, he didn’t seem at all put off by the reputation of the opposition. Good to have him in the squad so young.
Elliott
Feb 28, 2008 at 3:03 PM
Comment #19I think if Carrol becomes a regular starter,in 3 years he’ll be like Fernando Torres.
-Er, ok mate!
Give the lad a chance ffs!
catchy
Feb 28, 2008 at 3:07 PM
Comment #20all we are saying,,, is give him a chance.
Leo* I HATE NICKY BUTT
Feb 28, 2008 at 3:38 PM
Comment #21haha you have a point chrisM
briss
Feb 28, 2008 at 4:42 PM
Comment #22he was absolutely fab against man u when he came on. the only bright spot of the game for me wish he woulda got the goal thathe headed on, he is like crouch but faster and younger, flat out better. im really excited about him. he will def be in the squadon sat gaurenteed
CRAIGG
Feb 28, 2008 at 7:28 PM
Comment #23He would be on the bench for me in front of Viduka, Smith and Shola any day of the week but Owen and Martins must start as Samba and Nelson struggle against pace then bring on Carroll to batter em in the air and mix it up its good to have different options sometghing boro and shef utd lacked last night in that farce in the FA cup
Andy T
Feb 29, 2008 at 11:50 AM
Comment #24I’d like
………..Harper
Beye Taylor Feye Enrique
Milner Emre NZogbia Duff
……..Owen Carrol
Foster Edgar Butt Lua Lua Martins
I suspect we’ll get
……………Harper
Beye Taylor Cacapa NZogbia
..Milner Butt Emre Duff
………..Smith Owen
Foster Faye Geremi Viduka Martins