Carroll Hot To Trot? Bolton Offer £2 Million.
Posted on January 16th, 2010 | 134 Comments |
Andy Carroll has been an important player for us this season so far. Whilst he hasn’t exactly been prolific in front of goal, he has had the knack of unsettling the opposition defenders, perhaps allowing other players scoring opportunities by creating space, like for Lovenkrands on Wenesday evening.
With 4 goals in 18 appearances this season, Carroll is far from the finished article and has attracted his fair share of criticism from fans for an alleged altercation on a night out in Newcastle’s Blu Bamboo bar in the Bigg Market – a hotbead of chavs, slappers and sexually transmitted diseases – and that’s on top of another transgression a while back! I personally feel that if he can knuckle down and work on the mental aspect of his game off the pitch, and learn some composure in front of goal on the pitch, then we are better off keeping hold of him. Manager Chris Hughton seems to be thinking along the same lines, saying:
“They are wasting their time with Andy – He is not for sale!”
I’m sure we all know that despite what a manager has said, transfers can often still happen regardless, and this may well be a regurgatated rumour from back in the summer when Stoke City were linked, or in November when the then Bolton boss, Gary Megson was said to be pondering a £4 million pound swoop.
Carroll is not a massive earner at St James’ Park so there really shouldn’t be any need or urgency to shift him off the wage bill, despite that however, I still feel a valuation if £2 million is off the mark, purely on the basis that Leeds want the same for an untried, untested League 1 striker who’s contract runs out in the summer!
I think we have more important areas of the team to address before we start moving strikers in and out. A cover left back and getting Danny Simpson signed should be the priorities. Unfortunately, this is Newcastle United and things are seldom done quickly and efficiently. It also looks like we are set to miss out on Matt Kilgallon from Sheffield United as Burnley confirm they have bid for the player who professed his loyalty to The Blades just last week.
In fairness though, this transfer window generally has been one the quiestest ones I can remember for a while. February 2nd is the day the window slams shut so there is still time! Perhaps we’ll manage some deadline day drama like signing Messi?! Unfortunately i can’t see that happening, but I hope things don’t end up getting messy like the last few transfer windows where we have been left scrambling around with only hours left on deadline day.
Here’s hoping…
Is it me or does it go way beyond cheeky and become downright insulting that ‘the trotters and Coyle offering £2m. I just hope our powers that be give them short shrift.