Posted by Sport.co.uk on: 26 August 2010 – 10:51
Author: Michael Weightmann
There’s a new name being sung on the terraces of St James’ Park, a new number 9 ready to usher the club into a new era. If Sunday’s performance and hat trick against Aston Villa are anything to go by, the Newcastle United fans have a lot to look forward to with Andy Carroll, and the Gateshead born striker has already stated that he sees his immediate future on Tyneside. But the man with the worst haircut in football also has a chance to be a star on the international scene too. Let’s not forget the last Number 9 from Tyneside to wear the England shirt and his strike record of 30 goals in 63 games They breed finishers in the North East; Shearer, Milburn, Clough and the Three Lions’ record scorer, Bobby Charlton was also born up there.
It’s early days in Carroll’s career to be mentioned with those greats and even though he has been overlooked by Capello for the qualifying matches against Bulgaria and Switzerland, he certainly has all the attributes that could see him go all the way to the top.
Capello’s Young Guns
The England boss has already stated that he wants to invest in youth, and that he sees them as an integral part of the Euro 2012 qualifying campaign. The Italian made a token gesture in the Hungary friendly, bringing in the likes of Jack Wilshere and Kieran Gibbs, but why not go the full whack; get in players who can be the mainstay of the team for the next decade. Let’s be frank would Andy Carroll do a worse job than any of the forwards at the World Cup? As well, why start testing a 29 year old Zamora when there is a similar player eight years younger who could come in and be moulded into the finished article. With Rooney only three years older, the Three Lions could have a partnership for countless tournaments akin to some of the greatest; Shearer-Sheringham, Lineker – Beardsley – it may be short term pain, but has the potential to be very long term gain.
Old McDonald had a view
The three goals at the weekend have done much to inspire confidence in the fans and Carroll himself, but it has also given the opportunity for ex strikers to come out in support of the young forward. Malcolm McDonald was a hero in black and white scoring 95 times in 187 appearances and is still the only player to hit five goals in a game for England (versus Cyprus,1975) and Supermac thinks Newcastle’s number 9 has what it takes to be a success. He told Sky Sports News: “This weekend he’s gone through a major barrier for himself. It wasn’t just scoring a hat-trick. They were three high-quality goals. He added:”Now he really has got the opportunity to show himself to be what a lot of people on Tyneside really think he is, and that’s England material.”
On the Record
It’s amazing to see the transformation in Carroll when you consider that he did not even start last season as first choice for Newcastle. However an injury to the in form Shola Ameobi gave him his chance and the youngster grasped it with both hands scoring 19 goals to finish the club’s top goal scorer. In fact with 25 goals in 44 starts Carroll has a goals to game ratio of better than 2:1, which of course is a statistic that any striker would be happy with. Granted that the majority of these are at a lower level than the one he’s at now, but even just taking into account his Premier League record the tall forward has netted six times in eight starts.
As well as this he’s represented England through the levels and is now a regular in Stuart Pearce’s U21 squad, and has a decent enough record of two goals in five games. Many will argue that after only a handful of starts that he is simply not ready, but it’s time for radical changes in English football and Carroll, amongst others, could be part of the exciting new era.
Other Suitors
Scotland have already come calling for Carroll, for whom he qualifies through his through his Scottish grandmother. Now the fact that he has already represented England at lower levels probably shows his allegiance to his country of birth. But were he to be continually overlooked there is a chance that he may well choose the Tartan Army, especially with Newcastle assistant manager Colin Calderwood having a word in his ear.
To The Future
We are guilty in this country of building up players and then shooting them down when they turn in one bad game. However at the same time if you’re good enough you’re old enough and the fearlessness that comes with a lack of experience is certainly something that can be a huge asset. It would be foolish to think that we could hang our hats on Carroll to be the main man in our qualifying campaign, but he can certainly be of use.
There’s still plenty of time if Mr Capello thinks he’s not ready yet, but if he continues to put in displays like last Sunday then it will be difficult for the Italian to keep ignoring him. Already number 9 at his hometown club and if he keeps performing, we might not have to wait until Christmas for a Carroll at international level too.
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