Andy Carroll - Future Hero to Local Villain

Nothing in football surprises me most of the time, especially when Newcastle United are involved. However, there was something about Andy Carroll and Newcastle United that seemed in-separable. How wrong can a person be?

It did seem rather too good to be true for Newcastle to find yet another Geordie number 9 who looked to had all the credentials to be a great, so soon after the retirement of Alan Shearer. Sadly for the Toon Army, it seems as if they will have to wait.

On more than on occasion, Andy Carroll said he never wanted to leave Newcastle and that he wanted to spend his career at the club, but only 6 months into his first full Premier League season at the club, he departed in stunning fashion. That final day of the transfer window, until around about 10pm, seemed to confirm the fact that Carroll wouldn't be leaving, which many people had expected after Newcastle rejected offers for £20m, £30m and even £35m, but something happened after that first £35m offer was rejected.

For once it seemed as if Newcastle owner Mike Ashely didn't want the money and rated Carroll more valuable to the club than the money offered to sell him. The Carroll camp accused Ashley of forcing Carroll out, which you often here with players who are sold so dramatically, but this sale had something that not everyone could see, in my opinion.

Gutted to leave? Doesn't look like it.

What it all comes down to in my view, is money. Newcastle could have sold Carroll for £30m, even £20m as at this stage in his career he isn't even worth £10m. He had only played 80 league games for Newcastle, with most of them being played in the Championship last season, with him netting 31 times, again most of them (19) being in the Championship. He had started superbly for Newcastle with 11 goals before the turn of the new year but surely that cannot warrant a £35m price tag.

However, as soon as Carroll was aware of the money been offered to him, it would be fair to assume that his agent had a massive say in his choice. Liverpool supposedly offered 80k a week, which Carroll/agent used to try and persuade Newcastle to offer him a new contract, with, I'm sure, a similar weekly figure. All that considering Newcastle and Carroll had recently agreed a new contract. As soon as Newcastle said they couldn't afford to offer such money, the Carroll camp made a huge U-Turn.



Ashley: Not the culprit this time?
Doesn't look like it.



Carroll had accused Newcastle of forcing him out by accepting the huge offer from Liverpool, which often would make a lot of sense in modern day football, but this isn't any normal transfer. Carroll was not forced out by Mike Ashely, if anything, he was forced out by his agent and the attraction of money. It is a saddening story as it would have been fantastic to see another famous Newcastle number 9 from Newcastle just like Alan Shearer. Although Liverpool is a magnificent club to play for, Carroll may well regret his decision to leave his home town. Geordie fans will surely never forgive him, one of their own, for turning his back on them, he could have been the next local hero.

However, there are positives for both clubs, Liverpool have gained one of the brightest young talents England has at the moment, but Newcastle can think positive as they now have £35m, which they can spend in the summer on (in my opinion) more than one Andy Carroll. That is if the money is used for transfers, which the club has confirmed.. we'll see.

One other reason for such money being paid out for Carroll by Liverpool, is the departure of Fernando Torres to Chelsea for £50m, as it was clear Torres wasn't happy and Liverpool panicked and splashed out on a player not worth anywhere near the amount they paid.
Newcastle may well have the last laugh in this one.