With all the debate on whether the Qatar 2022 World Cup will take place in the summer or the winter, you could be forgiven for forgetting that Brazil 2014 commences in less than six months’ time.
For better or worse, I’m sure we can all by now predict the majority of the 23-man squad that Roy Hodgson will call upon this summer.
The latest agenda though, is concerned with who, if anyone, will be the wild card? A promising youngster, stepping up in performance to a level that forces England’s manager to take stock of the talent in front of him. Our very own Ravel Morrison is thought to be rivaling fellow rising stars such as Everton’s Ross Barkley or Liverpool’s Raheem Sterling for a coveted place on the plane to Rio, but football changes so quickly; you can never predict what will happen.
Therefore, I will leave that debate to the rest of you.
I’m here because I want to talk to you about Andy Carroll’s role for England and how important he could be for Roy Hodgson’s quest in bringing us some long overdue success.
The big man is back for West Ham and boy do we need him; so too, though, do England in the World Cup.
You’d expect that Manchester United’s Danny Welbeck and Wayne Rooney, along with Liverpool’s Daniel Sturridge, are dead certs for Hodgson’s team, which would leave one place left in the forward line.
Arise, Sir Andy Carroll.
The Hammers’ record signing offers an outlet that neither of the other three can offer; he has aerial ability, impressive hold up play, adeptness at leading the line and a strong, physical presence.
Cast your minds back to Euro 2012, where – naturally – England made tough work of Sweden, eventually coming off with a 3-2 victory.
During that arduous game, Andy Carroll himself gave the Three Lions the lead, but it is the manner of the goal that I want to focus on.
Steven Gerrard delivered one of his trademark long balls, a searching cross into the box from twenty yards inside Sweden’s half; Carroll made an intelligent run to cut in between two defenders and from 12 yards out, despite running against the direction of the ball, managed to deftly head England in front.
Would Danny Welbeck have shown the intelligence to make the run? Probably not. Would Jermain Defoe have had the aerial presence to connect to the ball? I doubt it. I could go on, but you get the point.
A fully fit and in-form Andy Carroll is a huge asset for England and if you consider that when England face Uruguay and Italy, with both sides boasting physically imposing defenders standing well over six foot, the attributes of Carroll may well reap rich rewards for Hodgson, should he choose to unleash them.
I guess it’s all up to Andy eh? Really fit athletes do not get injured very much, so he has to work out what it is that is holding him back & work it out! I’d just like to add what I have already added on other articles on this site in regards West Ham keeping their spirits up. I’m referring of course to Wednesday night’s game aginst Man City. Manchester City – Ruining football since 2008 pre-season signings so far have cost over £90+m. This isn’t sport. This is money ruling the day!!!
They are trying to buy major honours again. Is this legal? This is what really angers me about this sport, while people around the world are starving. How can this be financial fair play???
They’ve even got Jesus playing for them. How can they lose? The clubs funding increase started when the former Prime Minister of Thailand, Mr. Thaksin Shinawatra fled Thailand after being ousted from power in a military coup in 2006. Reports claim he money laundered and embezzled over $2,000,000,000 KNOWN FUNDS? From Thailand when he fled, and is in exile from Thailand of where he faces a jail term if he returns for being convicted of corruption. A large part of this money was invested in Manchester City football club. On 21 June 2007, now out of office, he bought Premier League club Manchester City for £81.6 million. He became briefly popular with fans, especially after appointing Sven-Göran Eriksson manager of the club and bringing in prominent players. Eriksson was later critical of Thaksin’s running of the club, saying “he [Thaksin] didn’t understand football – he hadn’t a clue. He sold the club to investors from Abu Dhabi United Group in September 2008 for a reported £200 million.
After selling Manchester City football club, Thaksin was nominated as “honorary president” but does not have any administrative responsibilities. However, he was later dismissed from ¬honorary club president after the club decided to take a position against him following his conviction and his currently “on the run” from Thai Authorities. Manchester City football club started their run of success from money taken from one of the poorest 3rd world countries in the world, so do not be ashamed West Ham FC at being humbled by the money of a club. This being money that was taken from some of the poorest people in the world & from a people, some of whom do not know where their next meal is coming from. As I watched Negredo, Dzeko & Touré smash in their goals against us, my mind flashed back to where the money had originated from to buy a club & players like this. It feels ironic. I do not glorify them. In fact I despise them for what they stand for. Yes, Manchester City FC, ruining football since 2007, not 2008 as one Man City fan states, who kindly put in a comment on this website before Wednesday night’s game.
You are focusing too much on one tiny little moment in his England career but I get what you are saying. The main point being there isn’t anyone with AC’s qualities in the England squad, he is a big rough player not afraid to get stuck in and has a great ability to score headed goals from set pieces. Every team competing in the World Cup needs to have all characteristics in the 23 man squad and AC has the currently missing qualities