Big man, big price-tag: time for Liverpool to cut their ties?

Whilst the jury remains out on Andy Carroll, it’s fair to say that the Liverpool striker has been undergoing a critical reappraisal over the last couple of months. Thanks to injury and poor form he struggled to make his mark following a £35m from Newcastle, but the signs were there towards the end of last season (including a barnstorming display in the Carling Cup final) and the Euros that he was finding his feet once more.

His brilliant header against Sweden must have been a cathartic moment for the pony-tailed forward. It was his opportunity to shake off the weight of expectations.

He spent much of last season looking like a man completely devoid of confidence. He seemed to believe his own poor Press. Though he’s always been capable of winning the ball, knowing what to do with it has been an entirely different matter. The goals that he scored with such ease at Newcastle just weren’t brought with him to Liverpool.

Somehow, he’s managed to find his feet again. Let’s hope that he continues to improve and makes a real impact. So why do Emirates 24/7 claim that new Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers may consider selling Andy Carroll this summer?

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They claim that he was ‘exposed’ against the Italians. That’s right – he was exposed during a 45 minute outing against the Italians, not during last season’s 38-game Premier League campaign. If what Rodgers saw last season isn’t enough to persuade the former Swans man to sell, his showing in the Euros is unlikely to change his mind.

In fact, I for one thought that he looked pretty lively when he came off the bench against Italy. He won pretty much every ball that was punted up to him, got amongst the Italian defence and looked to provide a goal threat. The trouble? England had already fizzled out.

Emirate’s 24/7 note that he headed the ball ‘with authority’ but not into the path of a team mate. But isn’t that because the team-mate he was aiming for – Wayne Rooney – was an unmoving, leaden mass of bones? He was the only player providing any movement and he didn’t look out of place in this England side.

I’d say that Andy Carroll needs one more season at Anfield. In some respects, he shows Liverpool a good season. Most of all, however, it’d be tragic to see the Reds let Carroll go and then watch him ‘rediscover’ himself at another club. So let’s not cut our losses over one performance.

What’s your take? Is it time for Liverpool and Carroll to cut ties?

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