Thoughts have well and truly turned to the future with the new season fast approaching and the past season a distant memory. New players are arriving and old players have gone, but what about big Andy Carroll? The powerful forward is entering his second full season as a West Ham player, and just how important is he to the squad’s fortunes?
Andy Carroll missed a huge part of last season through a heel injury, and only made his “second debut” for The Hammers in January. West Ham had won just three Premier League games (out of 20) whilst Carroll was sidelined. On his return to action against Cardiff City, he assisted Mark Noble to secure victory. Carroll was then sent off in the victory against Swansea City and missed West Ham’s best run of the season – defeating Aston Villa, Norwich City, and Southampton. Andy returned and played a part in the victories against Hull City, Sunderland, and Tottenham Hotspur.
In the 15 Premier League games in which Andy made an appearance, he scored just twice and assisted four times.
Of course Andy’s main game is his ability to cause all sorts of problems aerially, but how did he shape up against the rest of the Premier League? Well – as is to be expected with West Ham’s game play – nobody has won more aerials per game than Andy Carroll in the two seasons that he has spent at West Ham (2012/13 – 9.3pg – 2013/14 8.9pg). There is no doubting that Andy does this very well however, and with a set of players more willing to ‘gamble’ beyond Andy’s flick-ons, there’s goals to be had.
So there’s no real evidence, based on last season, to suggest that Andy is integral to West Ham’s – errr success?! But he obviously faced a tough start, missing such a substantial part of the Premier League season through injury, and as long as he remains injury free, he’ll likely contribute considerably to the West Ham cause this coming season.
I think we all now know that he is very important.
Not only does he cause issues for most defences, I think he makes us dangerous as set pieces, something we have struggled with over he years, not to mention how many defensive headers at corners he wins.
In addition, we know that Nolan becomes a different player, and he also gives our wide men something to target.
Downside, is we sometimes (often) come to one dimensional and are easy to defend against.
With little pace upfront, we get pushed back as defenders know they will not get turned, so I do think that Carroll would be better with someone pacey alongside him to push the defenders back and give more room, this means changing the formation though, so not sure this is in Sam’s locker or in his plans.
Also Sam pretty much said Carroll wasn’t fit when he got back and only played at 75-80%, so with a much needed pre season, he should look even stronger and I expect very hungry.
He so not only important to west ham he is also important to England
Needs to score more goals really but all in all we need him!
Not only is he a top player, whom we need, but he also has the right attitude. He never backs down (at least not in any of the games, I’ve seen on TV…)! However, I also agree with Dave, that our game can be one-dimensional. But hey! Look at Barcelona. Theoy can only play in one way, too, and they aren’t doing so bad.. oh, wait a minute…!
What I mean is, that you should always have a plan B. Could that be Zarate?
Sorry I don’t agree, he is far too overrated, and more important he believes the hype put out about him, £15 million for a striker that scores so few goals? and can only play one method football, add to that his injury record. I will never understand why we paid him the salary he demanded, instead is saying prove yourself first!
Andy has gone backwards over the years, for me he is not anywhere near England standard, this season he needs to buckle down once and for all, and forget about the continuous selfie pics in the Daily Mail, he is supposed to be a footballer.