Andy Carroll - He's back

[tidus_mi2]

Everyone is pretending not to notice that if we sign him around Christmas time the signing will technically be a Christmas Carroll.

Thanks.

Almost spot on.

[Mid Sussex Royal]

Obviously hope it works out, and there's a quality player in there, but I'd be amazed if we get more than 10 games out of him.

Well, that's 10 more than our strikers had contributed pre the Brum game.

He's at Bearwood so this is obvs happening.

[URZZZZ]

Conflicted on this but think the positives outweigh the drawbacks, simply because of how ineffective Puscas has been. And I do think Carroll on form is a top Championship striker

Obviously the injury records are concerning with him and it probably reaffirms the rumour Clarke is out for a bit. Hopefully we play a bit more of a crossing game with him in the side rather than cut back most of the time

[leon]

Clarke’s injured - what?

[Coppells Lost Coat]

Obviously hope it works out, and there's a quality player in there, but I'd be amazed if we get more than 10 games out of him.

I have the same reservations. If he is given the correct service, he will score goals - but it would mean adapting our style which hasn't happened for Puscas. He is definitely a plan B option, throw him on and get looping balls into him to cause havoc.
If he is motivated - it could be a Roberts type signing.

[From Despair To Where?]

If Puscas goes in January, then we have a better player for half the money. I think he's a great player. The only question mark is his fitness. However, it's a fcuking huge question mark.

[Zip]

Reading FC Exclusives on Twitter just said he is signing, WTAF.

We need a striker of course but I hope he has been training with us all this time or he will be well short of match fitness.

Groan. This suggests 1) Puscas is leaving in January and 2) Clarke is going to be out for a good while.

Why is this a bad thing?

I quite like Puski and would prefer him to Carroll who is just going to add to a very long list of injury prone players.

[Zip]

Clarke’s injured - what?

I thought you knew. Management thought it a good idea to bring him on in the second half of last Monday night’s under 23 game. Last season wearing a protective boot post match.

[Hendo]

Obviously fitness is the huge question mark, but if fit and motivated he’ll be more than a handful and will score goals. If it comes off it’ll be an absolute masterpiece of business by the club.

Quite excited by this, tbh.

[leon]

Clarke’s injured - what?

I thought you knew. Management thought it a good idea to bring him on in the second half of last Monday night’s under 23 game. Last season wearing a protective boot post match.

48 hours after playing first team football?

[NathStPaul]

Groan. This suggests 1) Puscas is leaving in January and 2) Clarke is going to be out for a good while.

Why is this a bad thing?

I quite like Puski and would prefer him to Carroll who is just going to add to a very long list of injury prone players.

We simply don't know yet RE: Carroll. History tells us he will struggle for fitness but history also tells us he is likely a better fit for the system we play. I don't think Puscas is happy at the club and he isn't used in a way that plays to his strengths so a move is probably in the best interest of both parties.
Lucas Joao is due back in January and Clarke should be around in a few weeks so it isn't like we will need to rely on Andy Carroll week in and week out, he'd be a tremendous impact player imo.

[Pepe the Horseman]

Sounds like his lack of game time at Newcastle was more due to his pay-per-play contract than fitness.

[Hound]

worth the risk I think

Just hope the management don't decide to play him at all, just in case he gets injured

[URZZZZ]

Clarke’s injured - what?

I thought you knew. Management thought it a good idea to bring him on in the second half of last Monday night’s under 23 game. Last season wearing a protective boot post match.

But then he did only play 45 minutes in both games. Pretty sure on a few occasions last season, players played for the U23 on the Friday as well as being in the squad for the first team the day after. A gap of more than 48 hours (afternoon to evening) really shouldn’t have had much of an impact, especially not for someone like Clarke

Anyway it’s like the whole FA/League Cup rotation argument which goes on every year. The reality is football has become a complex game and there isn’t a right or wrong answer. Can’t just base your answers off hindsight

[CountryRoyal]

Happy about this - that being said the bloke could be 8 foot tall and we’d still fail to find him in the box.

(Yes I am aware we scored from a cross and header against Birmingham )

[Norfolk Royal]

Was wondering what level of fitness Carroll would have which is obvs highly relevant to us. It's not as bad as I feared.

He left Newcastle in July this year so assuming he was in full training at that time and has been keeping fit, he would possibly not be too far away in say, three weeks time.

[paultheroyal]

What an awesome signing this would be. Park the injury part for a mo - should be way too good for this division and a new dimension to add to the team, imagine him getting on the end of Swift deliveries.

[Hound]

Was wondering what level of fitness Carroll would have which is obvs highly relevant to us. It's not as bad as I feared.

He left Newcastle in July this year so assuming he was in full training at that time and has been keeping fit, he would possibly not be too far away in say, three weeks time.

I'd hope he has been training with us to some extent already.

Only have to look what a player of Mitrovic's aerial ability has done in this division - obvs Carroll won't have his form or fitness, but he'll be a real handful I'd hope. useful defending our set pieces as well

[Brogue]

he doesn't need to work the channels or anything, he just needs to stand up top and head the oxf*rd thing. Jason Roberts was not a mobile striker for us, he would play off the shoulder of defenders through the middle and be rarely seen in the channels.

[LUX]

if he comes, I guess he cannot play until January?