Has time run-out for this Liverpool mega-flop?

After his £35 million move toLiverpool, big things were expected of Andy Carroll. There was more at stake than proving he was worth the money: he was on the verge of the England team, ‘a rising star’. John W. Henry said he’d spend big – and he delivered. Along with Carroll came Suarez, Henderson and Adam; Liverpool were once again – as like every other season – optimistic about league positioning, with such talented new recruits in contention for the starting eleven.

Carroll was attracting a lot of attention; unsurprisingly so, after his 17 goals had helped Newcastle gain automatic promotion, before proving his worth in the Premier League, with 11 in 19 games. He was certainly the man of the moment, with a smile as wide as the Mersey to match.

But we find ourselves at the start of March and Andy Carroll has only netted in the Premier League a pathetic three times, five in all competitions. We’re not talking about an unknown player who was relatively unproven here; Carroll was on unstoppable form with Newcastle, so something went drastically wrong. But what?

Whether you’re a Liverpool fan or not, surely you feel sorry for him. With such pressure harnessed upon his scoring ability, when Carroll didn’t initially deliver, it was no big issue. ‘Probably just settling in’ or ‘the formation doesn’t get the best out of him’ Liverpool fans would proclaim, supporting their misfiring striker. But even they started having doubts – his confidence rapidly descended, his awful form subject to jeering, mocking and taunting even from his own fans.

He is now a shadow of his former self – moments of brilliance are rare and he appears clumsy, laborious and possesses the same level of finesse as a bookshelf. He does, however, occasionally provide excellent lay offs and controlled touches when he drops and helps his midfield out, but a striker needs to have more than this.

Pace, flair and skill aren’t words associated with Andy Carroll. This is fine if you’re a striker and you don’t have any of these aspects in abundance, but the other areas of your game have to compensate – particularly finishing in front of goal. There’s no other option, especially at Premier League level. He’s supposed to make up for it with his aerial threat and brute strength, but defenders look further than the player and operate spoiling tactics when up against Liverpool’s lumbering number 9.

Just to state the obvious, he needs goals, plus consistency. He appeared to have at last settled in, until the Carling Cup Final proved that he’s still playing dreadfully and adds nothing to help Liverpool’s front line. £35 million? Pah! Liverpool fans can no longer adopt the ‘it was just an off game’ or ‘he’s recovering from injury’ excuses: the acceptance that Carroll doesn’t fit ‘the Liverpool way’ – as Kenny Dalglish would put it – is certainly going to be the unfortunate truth.

Perhaps he’d fare better at a struggling club in need of a physical presence up front, but the game is developing technically all the time, which I personally think is his major downfall. Is he anything like Sessegnon, Dembelé or Hernandez? I think not: darting runs and clever tricks aren’t really his forté. The old ‘blood and thunder’ English game would accommodate him better – it was far more physical and slower than the current game.

Kenny Dalglish stresses there will be a clear out at the end of the season: I think it’s vital that Carroll sharpens up, scores goals and gets his work rate up to keep his place as a regular. I fear Dalglish only plays him because of his enormous price tag – £35 million would be a lot to waste, although maybe ‘King Kenny’ truly believes in him reigniting his old form.

Despite a few good performances – and they had been improving recently, until the Carling Cup final – he needs to be better. His style doesn’t fit the Liverpool set up of quick, mercurial, attacking, along the floor football and therefore I think his career may be better off at a new club. Clean the slate, Andy.

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