Steven Fletcher v Andy carroll

such a fail

OMG I can comment

Careful OP, you're walking the tight ban line by mentioning Carroll.

Silly comparisons AGAIN. Depends on systems and style. Carrol is a target man and if you don't play the two styles for a typical target man - ie; long ball and knock down or lots of crosses from wid, then he's not going to do very much. Torres was a great counter attacking striker when he's running against one or two defenders, like he did for Liverpool, but struggles with Chelsea's possession game as he usually ends up behind the midfielders.

Buying Carrol was a mistake for Liverpool because of the style you play. 35m was far too much money too. I can understand a gamble on Torres, bu such a big gamble on Carrol?

Fletcher is a good pro but will not be any more. Saying that, to warm the bench and play when Suarez is injured/suspended, he'd probably be better than Carrol.

Oh wait, it's on the Liverpool board too

Wolves

Carroll really needs to improve. I always defend players but he's taking his form too far

I think he would make a good CB.

AC would make an excellent LEFT OUT

evennig Owl Should have won the game, Good RB

Nothing Carroll has done EVER makes him worth 35m.

He showed great potential at Newcastle and everyone, including those across the park & those down the Lancs saw him as a bright prospect for English football. But not worth £35m.

So why pay it? Well, its transfer deadline day mid season and Liverpools only real recognised CF leaves the club a short time after having a transfer request rejected. Torres wanted out and Chelsea were willing to pay £50m for him, he had to go. But that meant we had only hours to find a replacement. Its far to late in the day for most clubs to let a player go - they in turn would need to replace.

Carroll, injured but having received critical aclaim, fitted the bill; and the club he plays for is one we can target. Newcastle were known as a selling club; with its revenue seemingly keeping the owners sports retail store afloat and rumours rife around Cheick Tiotes potential £20m move to Chelsea. Mike Ashleys decision to sell the club changed more times than his socks; he was desperate to see are return on his investment.

Secondly Carroll was British; an ethos Kenny was keen to reinstall at the club, coupled with the fact he was young and therefore investable. Keegan describes him as "[one of] the top three headers of a ball [he] had ever seen in football"; along with Buffon stating he has a "big future" in football and Ian Holloway defining him as "the best striker in the Premier League".

Furthermore Carroll has heart and determination; he signed a contract extension with Newcastle weeks before they went down. His inspired form seen him fire in 19 goals to help NUFC to promotion the very next season, earning a place in the PFA Championship Team of the Year & picking up the no.9 shirt at Newcastle too. Carroll netted a hattrick 8 days into their return to the PL & was called up by Capello a few months later. He was proven in English football at both Championship and Premier League.

All these things made Carroll the man Kenny wanted; potential, proven, performing and passionate. The snagging point? We need him; he isn't simply a desire for the club, he is a necessity. That, and our bank balance had been boosted to the sum of £50m. The Newcastle board knew this and had us over a barrel. Its a matter of hours before the window closes & Newcastle know they don't need to sell; hence the rejection of a £30m offer. We had no option but to pay it. The fee was dictated by Newcastle on the following:
- Promise of the player
- His value to the club
- Liverpools need for a striker
- Liverpools transfer kitty (which was all over the sports section)

Of course, you could always say we sold a goalless striker for £50m, replacing him with another goalless striker for £35m. Thats £15m & we are no better or worse off