http://soccernet.espn.go.com/columns...chance?cc=4716
Time for Carroll to step up
January 20, 2012
Liverpool hv been without Luis Suarez 4 their last 5 games &, though they hv managed 2 win 3 of those, they just aren't the same team without him. Their 6th Suarez-less match is @ Bolton tis weekend & it should be an intriguing game 4 us 2 hv on ESPN.
Suarez has been 3 quarters of the team tis season. Every time we've covered Liverpool & just abt every other time I've seen them, he has comfortably been their best player, often opening up an opportunity out of nothing & winning them games on his own.
A few months ago we were asking, "what will they be like without Suarez?" & now we're finding out the answer: pretty ordinary. When his name isn't on the team-sheet, it's bound 2 give the opposition a boost. If you're in the opposing dressing-room & find out Rooney's missing 4 ManU or Van Persie's not in the Arsenal team, you'll naturally hv more belief; I'm sure Bolton will feel more confident against a Liverpool team without Suarez on Saturday.
There r plenty of other talented players 4 Kenny Dalglish to call on, & becos Suarez's ban is so long there r still opportunities 4 others 2 come in & stake a claim. You're looking 4 someone like Andy Carroll 2 take the chance 2 step up. He has mainly been used as an impact sub by Kenny & there's no doubt in my mind tat if Suarez were available on Saturday, Andy would be straight back on the bench. He needs 2 start producing if he 1s 2 become a regular.
The problem is tat he's a decent player but he's not a £35 million player. If you're paying £35 million u should be getting an instant, ready-made, world-class guy. When they bought Suarez, he was a proven goalscorer @ international level, had won the Golden Boot with Ajax - he couldn't hv been more different 2 Andy Carroll.
Andy played on loan @ Preston, then came back 2 Newcastle but was only on the fringes when I was there & didn't play. He started scoring when they went down a division & then got a few when they got back in the Premier League, but that was probably down 2 Newcastle playing 2 his strengths with long balls & the fact tat defenders didn't know how 2 play against him.
He was called up by England, but wasn't quite @ tat level & I think if u sat him in a room & asked if he thought tat @ tis stage he'd be playing 4 England & be a £35 million player 4 1 of the biggest clubs in the world, he'd probably say no. Liverpool paid such a big fee becos of the Torres situation & they must hv known, like I know & every1 else knows, tat he's not worth £35 million & probably never will be. It has looked like such a heavy burden 4 Andy 2 carry & he's missed chances tat if he was confident would be guaranteed goals.
The biggest danger 4 him is tat clubs like Liverpool won't wait 4ever. He's got 2 catch up & he's got 2 do it now. The onus is not on the club or Kenny Dalglish, it's on Andy & it's up 2 him wat happens next. When I moved 2 Liverpool, I was just some kid fr Scunthorpe & while every1 naturally 1s u 2 do well, the key 2 it all is u. You need 2 ask yourself, 'do I feel tat when u go out @ Anfield I belong on tat massive stage?' At the moment Andy seems 2 me like a player who only half believes he is meant 2 be there.
There is a temptation 2 compare him 2 some1 like Robbie Keane, who didn't produce @ Liverpool despite possessing unquestionable talent, but Andy arrived as a much less established player than Keane so tat's a little unfair. Where the comparison is fair, however, is tat Liverpool will not wait around & if Andy continues 2 underperform they will do something abt it, whether it be signing another centre 4ward or potentially even selling him @ a loss.
However, things could all change 4 Andy. He is a talented lad & he can turn it around. If he gets a couple of goals, secures a couple of wins, & helps take Liverpool back into the top 4 then ppl may stop discussing how much he cost. Kenny 1s 2 hv the dilemma when Suarez is available of which striker he should leave out.
While the lack of goals - an FA Cup mauling of Oldham aside - & the poor home form has been a cause of concern 4 Kenny, there r positives 2. The return of Steven Gerrard is fantastic 4 the club & if Liverpool don't go out & buy any1 in January, he will @ least be like having a new signing; u sense the fans can't wait 4 Gerrard & Suarez 2 be playing 2gether in the same team again.
Defensively, Liverpool hv looked very sound as well. Martin Skrtel & Daniel Agger hv established an excellent partnership & hv been keeping Jamie Carragher out of the side, which few would hv predicted.
I'm sure Bolton wish their defence looked as stable as tis Saturday's opponents. Gary Cahill's departure 2 Chelsea tis week was a big blow 4 Owen Coyle but u can understand why they let him go. Bolton r obviously desperate 2 stay in the Premier League but they r not silly when it comes 2 finances. Cahill would hv walked away @ the end of the season 4 absolutely nothing & tat'd hv been a real killer. The board, the chairman & the manager hv all weighed up whether he's worth more than £7 million 2 them betw nw & the end of the season & decided tat he isn't. And if they kept him & went down anyway, they've lost whatever the Premier League brings 2 them, + tat potential £7 million.
His absence will be felt though. If you're a Zat Knight or Kevin Davies in the dressing-room, u will understand why it's happened but it's not a good thing. You don't 1 2 see your best player walking out. Cahill was the only Bolton player who a club like Chelsea would come in 4. There r others who r good, don't get me wrong, but he was the stand-out player in tat side.
Owen will need 2 replace him quickly & it looks as though they will be signing Tim Ream fr New York Red Bulls, but that's a big gamble as you're swapping an experienced Premier League player 4 some1 who has never played in England. The American lads who hv come in2 the Premier League hv historically done well without ever being spectacular, though Stuart Holden has proved himself a key player 4 Bolton so maybe Ream can 2.
With no Cahill, u hv 2 put Liverpool as favourites on Saturday, though Bolton may fancy their chances of winning against a team with no Suarez. It's a game of contrasting aspirations. Can Liverpool start proving their top-4 credentials? Can Bolton improve on their shocking home record of 1 win, 1 draw & 8 losses? Saturday night should provide us with some answers.