Why Newcastle Are Better Off Without Re-signing Andy Carroll
As per reports from Sky Sports, Premier League side Newcastle United have held discussions over the possibility of bringing striker Andy Carroll back to St. James’ Park in the winter transfer window.
The English forward, currently playing for fellow Premier League club West Ham United, is a product of the Newcastle United academy and came through the ranks at the club before carving out a reputation as a lethal striker during his days with the Magpies earlier.
With the Tynesiders not enjoying the best of the spells on their return to the top-flight this season, there has been a discussion on whether bringing back the former star man will help them in gaining ground in the Premier League table.
Newcastle currently sit 13th in the league table, after 22 rounds of fixtures, with 22 points. Rafael Benitez’s side have scored just 20 goals in the ongoing campaign, which is the 6th lowest tally in the competition. The manager is reportedly keen on bringing in a new forward to make up for the misfiring Joselu and Dwight Gayle. Amidst reports that Aleksandar Mitrovic might be sold, adding a new forward makes sense for the club.
However, should that be Carroll? My answer to that question would be a no.
The 29-year old enjoyed a largely fruitful spell on the Tyneside, scoring 33 goals and 21 assists in 90 games across all competitions, before earning a big money move to Liverpool in the January window of 2011. However, he has failed to reach the heights that he was expected to achieve in his early years.
During his time with the Reds, Carroll managed just 11 goals in 58 appearances before being shipped off to West Ham. With the East Londoners, the 9-time capped England international has shown glimpses of brilliance on occasions but hasn’t been able to convert those into consistent performances, owing to a series of injuries at various stages of his career.
In over 120 appearances for the Hammers across all competitions, the 29-year old has come up with 32 goals and 18 assists. In the ongoing campaign too, he has spent a significant amount of time out on the sidelines and has just managed 2 goals in all competitions – both of which came in the club’s 2-1 win over West Bromwich Albion this past week.
When fit and playing, Carroll has shown what exactly he can do – his strike against Crystal Palace was one of the best in the Premier League last season. And at 29 years of age, he should be entering the best phase of his career. However, the Geordies’ past track record and his continued tryst injuries hardly make him a reliable option to have in the ranks. Newcastle can certainly do better than moving for their former star man.