It’s not been a blockbuster season for Liverpool by any means. The fact that they could still walk away with two trophies is less a testament to the topsy-turvy state of this Liverpool side. They have the potential to rise to the occasion, but they’ve disappointed much too often. Blame has been apportioned to a number of different place. Damien Comolli was sacked. Kenny Dalglish has picked up plenty of flack. The players have been subject to scorn from the fans.
The truth is, all three put the Reds in this position. Poor signings last summer derailed Liverpool’s season before it had even begun. The likes of Jordan Henderson, Charlie Adams and Stewart Downing have all flattered to deceive this season and as a result the Reds have turned in a number of stilted performances. Then there’s Andy Carroll – a man who was signed two Januarys ago for £35m and hasn’t contributed all that much since.
It’s not all that surprising that questions have began to be asked about his future. Is it time the former Newcastle star was shown the exit door at Anfield?
The Sun claim that Liverpool are battling it out with 15 other clubs to sign Dutch forward Luuk de Jong. They quote his agent Luis Laros as saying: “Liverpool are following Luuk closely. But so are 15 other clubs. Three big clubs who played in the Champions League want to do a firm deal with Twente. We’ll see what cards we hold in a few weeks.”
FC Twente’s Luuk de Jong is one of world football’s premier young talents. At just 21-years-old he has lit up the Eredivisie this year, scoring 30 goals in 46 games. Of course there’s no guarantee that he can replicate this kind of form in the Premier League, but you can’t help but feel that he’d be worth a gamble.
Liverpool are in desperate need of goals thanks to the wasteful nature of players like Andy Carroll. De Jong would come with a good goal scoring record and a desire to prove himself in the Premier League. That sounds like a shot worth taking to me.
As for Andy Carroll, I’m not so sure that it’s time for him to go. Yes he’s struggled over the last 12-18 months, but there’s a reason Liverpool spent so much on him. At one stage he was touted as England’s great hope for the future. That potential hasn’t merely disappeared. It’s still locked away inside him and it should be Liverpool who uncover it – not some other side who buys Carroll on the cheap.
What’s your take? Is it time for Carroll to move on? Would De Jong be a good signing?
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I feel a new manager could get the best out of Carroll at LFC but theres no doubt we still need another PROVEN striker, but I have serious reservations about De Yong because he is actually so similar to Carroll.
I think that Carroll still has things to show us and he may do better next season maybe slightly better but what we really need him to do is be ten times better then he was this season. I honestly can see the potential in Carroll to do well he’s very hardworking and I hope he excels next season great guy good luck my friend. YNWA