Written by Tom MacGregor for FootballFancast.com: Andy Carroll’s deadline day departure to Liverpool came as a real shock to many Newcastle fans when he left in the huge £35 million deal in January. I’m sure the Newcastle fans envisaged their dominant former number nine spending the majority, if not all of his career on Tyneside. Carroll was given a rough reception from the travelling black and white army when he emerged from the substitutes’ bench in Sunday’s match at Anfield. Given what the England international did for the club in terms of goals last season in The Championship and in the first part of this season, plus the investment the club made on him, is the abuse he received, and will receive in the future justified?
If I was to put this question to ten devoted Newcastle fans I would expect the prevailing answer to be ten yeses. However if I was to put the question of whether or not those same ten fans actually wanted him to go or not I feel opinion would be slightly less conclusive. Every Geordie fan has an opinion on the situation. Whether Carroll was pushed or jumped on that day in January is still uncertain to me. It has always been the norm as long as I can remember that when a former player competes against his former employers, no matter what the circumstances of his departure, he will be jeered when in possession. This is not always the case but predominantly happens. I recall David Beckham getting a tremendous ovation when he came on at Old Trafford for AC Milan, but certain sections of the Old Trafford crowd still booed him during the game.
Whatever unfolded on deadline day, one thing is certain, Newcastle did one of the best pieces of business in Premiership history. Carroll’s departure has paved the way for Newcastle to splash some serious cash on three or four players this summer. I understand that not all fans will see it that way, because if Carroll did turn in a transfer request he has more or less thrown the prestigious number nine shirt back in the fans’ faces.
As a young aspiring footballer Carroll will have dreamt about scoring goals in the famous number nine in front of the St James’ faithful. So for him to forgo this opportunity and to then go and wear the number nine for another club, (here comes the important bit), with a much larger salary, does justify the boos.
Upon signing for Liverpool Carroll claimed he was pushed out by Newcastle and hadn’t wanted to leave. There is much conjecture about this, and I suppose really only Carroll, Alan Pardew and Mike Ashley really know how it transpired. If it was out of Carroll’s control, as he maintains, surely he could have kicked up more of a fuss and insisted he had no intention of leaving his beloved Newcastle? This makes me slide towards the opinion that the prospect of European football at a massive club with a hefty pay packet was too tempting for Carroll to resist. If this was the case, then the Newcastle fans are well within their rights to air their displeasure towards their former player when Newcastle and Liverpool meet. You can be assured the St James’ Park crowd will unleash the full force of their resentment towards Carroll next season, just as they did to Michael Owen this season.
Whatever the circumstances surrounding Carroll’s departure, ultimately he is a professional footballer and he is paid more money in a week than most of us will earn in two to three years. So if receiving a bad reception from the fans of his former club is the price to pay, I’m sure Carroll won’t lose too much sleep over it!
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he may well have been encouraged to go, but fact of the matter is, he had a 5 year deal with the ink still fresh on the page. He didn’t HAVE to go at all, he chose to go, whatever the reasons behind it.
Therefore, he will get booed to high heaven for being the disloyal, moneygrabbing mercenary he is.
Wouldn’t have faulted him for wanting to leave after at least giving it a go with the Toon in the prem, but he didn’t even last 6 months. Money talked, Andy walked, simple as that.
It depends who you believe. He did not have to sign for Liverpool he just had to say no, NUFC weren’t then going to put him in the reserves. The reality is it was an incredible fee to get for a player who has had one good full Championship season and half a good Premier season. There is no doubt the lure of 80K (allegedly) a week helped him to change loyalties, which is the key word how many players can truly be regarded as loyal when big bucks are waved in front of their noses.
He got booed because he spouted off about being a local lad who wanted to play for his local club then within a few crazy hours was gone, no one ever would want to deny a person to further their careers but fans do get sick when players talk about their love for the club and then happily sign for someone else the following week.
Whatever Andy Caroll says, the final decision was his. After he had been TAPPED UP By Liverpool and offered enough to get him thinking, his mind was already on twice the wage. The salary situation we have at the Toon these days always meant that he would have to go elsewhere if he wanted more and the greed took over. Not sure if I would,nt have done the same thig, but one thing is for sure, whatever he says, the badge kissing and rubbish about his never ending love of Newcastle was all pure theatre.
As far as I am concearned, he did not HAVE to go and he deserves all the vitreol he gets from now on. I personally want him to feel the pain of leaving The Toon behind every time he shoots and misses. Money money money, nothing else seems to matter these days but I don,t suppose he gives a sh!t. HWTL.
Its 100% justified in my opinion. For all the reasons the lads above have said.
He had what everyone of us have only dreamed of and tossed it aside at the earliest possible opportunity.
Shallow as a puddle off pi*s! imo
Massive shame. I reckon he’ll only realise what a completely shamelss thing he’s done when he grows up-whenever that might be.
Still gutted, and he let us all down so much its criminal.
At the time this was one of the best articles on the whole thing.
http://www.newcastle.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=230741
There seem to be arguments both ways, but at the end of the day, when Carroll comes back to SJP, the easiest thing to do to make sure you get it right is boo both Carroll and Ashley.
If Carroll had of knocked back the number 9 shirt the fans would not give him so much stick. H’s not showed any class towards the club since leaving.
he could have been a legend at newcastle,he will be at the pool,just facts,
we will never know what realy went on,i bet thers gagging orders on certain parties..come on when parpoo was asked would andy be sold..didnt he say that was one of the conditions he came to the club as andy wasnt for sale at any price?
you could say well they wernt expecting 35 big uns for him..pish,anyone with a footballing brain knew from the start of the seaon,nevermind the fizzy pop leafue,he was gonna be a great number 9,sadly i agree the money turned his head.
wonder what it feels like being one of the most hated people in your own home town?abit harsh..but the stick he will get will hurt,money can only buy so much,he cant hide behind his greed forever,he will rue the day he deserted us in such a time of need,
TURNCOAT.
fuk him
im just worried its actualy parpoo who will pick the players we buy..hes bought some stinkers through the years,we cant afford mistakes on 15/20 million pound strikers..
face facts unless we uncover a gem,we wont be going to europe anytime soon,he will buy bairns with potential..then flog em.
the new arsehole wenger[nowt agaist mr wenger]
thats if big ashh stops living the dream with the southern shandy drinkers and spunks all our money on gambling.PRICK.