Written by Ricky Murray
Andy Carroll’s £35million move to Liverpool from Newcastle United – a record transfer between two British clubs – could easily be deemed a risk when you take into account that he is still in his first full season in the top-flight as a regular first team member. I am sure that it will be a risk well taken by Kenny Daglish and the Reds, but what a preposterous world we live in when a man who has barely played 40 Premiership games costs more money than Spain’s World Cup winner David Villa and that of Carroll’s new team-mate, Uruguay international Luis Suarez. Suarez has played at the top level for at least five years now, taking in Champions League and World Cup football, and has been a proven goalscorer in that time with 138 goals in 230 appearances including an incredible 49 in 48 games for Ajax in the 2009-2010 season, so in this day and age, he looks to be a snip at £22.8million.
Carroll looks to be, thus far, a striker with all the necessary attributes capable of turning into a great forward, which he is not yet, unlike Suarez. And to think that the inexperienced former Newcastle man required a fee larger than that of Dimatar Berbatov, who was considered to be worth the best part of £30million, even though the Bulgarian had a very impressive record for CSKA Sofia, Bayer Leverkusen and Tottenham Hotspur beforehand. I have no doubt that Liverpool’s new number 9 will be a top, top striker for years to come, but it still seems a very steep price to pay for someone with so little experience. It is a sure sign of desperation on Liverpool’s part in capturing the new England international that they firmly want to be amongst the big boys again. As we have seen numerous times this season Carroll’s darting runs towards goal will be perfectly suited to the way that he could link up with players such as Steven Gerrard and the in-form Raul Meireles. The Attila the Hun look-alike is a strong man and can hold up play to deliver the knock on’s for Gerrard, Meireles and their new team-mate, Suarez to latch onto as well as get a few goals himself. It is something he is destined to relish, but he will have to do this on a regular basis if he is seen to justify his extortionate price tag.
Even though Carroll could be deemed over-priced, I am sure that many Reds fans are happier with Monday’s outcome with the addition of two new signings, as opposed to having Fernando Torres nonchalantly skulking the field of play like a two-legged lion trying to catch a sprightly zebra. The issue of finance and business does not mean too much to fans of the Kop unless it affects matters on the pitch because first and foremost, it is the results that are the be all and end all of football, but they will no doubt be pleased that they’ve acquired two top strikers for nearly £8million, which is what they cost if one was to take into account the £50million that they are being paid from Chelsea for the services of Torres. When you put it into that perspective, it appears a very shrewd bit of business on Liverpool’s part, both on and off the pitch and if the cash that new owner John W. Henry has put forward replicates the success that he enjoyed at his former employees including the Boston Red Sox, then that is all they will ask for and, you know what, they may just get it.
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