Andy Carroll

Andrew Thomas "Andy" Carroll (born 6 January 1989) is an English footballer who plays as a striker for Premier League club Liverpool and the England national team.

The fee of £35 million paid by Liverpool for Caroll's transfer from Newcastle United on 31 January 2011 is the highest ever amount for a British footballer. Carroll is the eighth-most expensive footballer in history and also the second-most expensive player playing for a British club, behind Fernando Torres, who moved from Liverpool to Chelsea for £50 million on the same day Carroll signed for Liverpool.

Newcastle United

Carroll, an occasional scorer in Newcastle United's reserve team, made his first-team debut on 2 November 2006 at the age of 17 years and 300 days in a 1-0 UEFA Cup win over Palermo, coming on as a late substitute for Nolberto Solano. In doing so, he became the youngest ever player to represent Newcastle in Europe.

He made his FA Cup debut on 17 January 2007, appearing as substitute for the last ten minutes in the 5–1 home defeat by Birmingham City. On 25 February 2007, Carroll made his Premier League debut for Newcastle, coming on as a substitute in the 87th minute in the 1–0 defeat by Wigan Athletic, almost scoring in the process; only a good save from Wigan goalkeeper John Filan prevented him from scoring his first Newcastle goal.

In 2007, he was the recipient of the "Wor Jackie Milburn Trophy", which is awarded every year to the rising star of North-East football, chosen from among Newcastle players.

On 29 July 2007, Carroll scored his first senior goal with a left foot shot in a 2–0 win over Juventus in a friendly match. After the game, Carroll received praise from Italian goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon, who tipped Carroll to have a big future.

On 14 August 2007, Carroll began a six-month loan with Preston North End, and made his debut for them in the League Cup against Morecambe on the same day. Carroll was sent off playing for Preston against Scunthorpe United on 18 September. He scored his first Championship goal, and his first English league goal, against Leicester City on 6 November. Carroll made his first appearance for Newcastle in the 2008–09 season on 20 October, coming on as a substitute for Shola Ameobi at home to Manchester City. Carroll scored his first competitive goal for Newcastle on his first ever home start with a header against West Ham United in a 2–2 draw on 10 January 2009. He signed a new three-and-a-half-year contract on 12 March 2009, in theory keeping him at Newcastle until 2012.

Following Newcastle's relegation, and the departures of first team strikers, Michael Owen, Mark Viduka and Obafemi Martins, Carroll was paired with Shola Ameobi in attack for Newcastle at the start of the new season. His first league goal in the Championship came on 16 September 2009 against Blackpool with a header. By 2010 Carroll was playing almost every game, in a new strike partnership with Peter Løvenkrands. This partnership accounted for more than half of the club's goals in 2010. Carroll finished the season as Newcastle's top scorer, with 19 goals in all competitions, 17 in the league.

Carroll was given squad number 9 for the 2010–11 season, a number with great significance for Newcastle United supporters, as it has been worn in the past for Newcastle by the likes of Jackie Milburn, Malcolm Macdonald and Alan Shearer. Carroll scored his first career hat-trick against Aston Villa in the their 6–0 win in the Premier League on 22 August 2010. Carroll captained Newcastle for the first time on 3 October 2010 when he came on as a substitute for Kevin Nolan against Manchester City. In October 2010, Carroll signed a new five-year contract, on paper keeping him at the club until 2015. Carroll scored Newcastle's third in a 3–1 victory over Liverpool at St. James' Park on 11 December 2010, with a low 25-yard drive.

Liverpool

On 31 January 2011, Liverpool put in a bid of £30 million for Carroll, which was rejected. Newcastle then accepted a bid in excess of £35 million and, following a medical examination, the transfer was completed shortly before the deadline. Liverpool confirmed that Carroll would wear the number 9 jersey previously worn by Fernando Torres, who left Anfield for Chelsea on the same evening. The transfer made Carroll the eighth overall most expensive footballer and the most expensive British footballer of all time. However, due to an injury that was sustained while with Newcastle United, Carroll had to wait some time before his Liverpool debut. He finally made his debut, appearing as a substitute in the 3–1 win against Manchester United on 6 March 2011. On 10 March, he played his first European game for Liverpool away to Braga in the Europa League, appearing as a substitute after half-time. In the return leg a week later, he made his first Liverpool start as they went out of the competition losing 1–0 on aggregate. On 20 March, he made his first Premier League start for Liverpool at the Stadium of Light against Sunderland.

On 11 April, Carroll scored his first goals for Liverpool in a 3–0 victory against Manchester City at Anfield, scoring his first with a long-range strike and his second with a header.
On 24 August 2011, he scored his first goal of the season with a 20-yard drive against Exeter City to make the score 3–0 in the League Cup. On 1 October 2011, he scored his first league goal of the 2011-12 season during a 2-0 victory over Everton at Goodison Park.

International Career

On 11 September 2007, Carroll made his England under-19 debut against Belarus, scoring in the 4–0 victory. On 12 March 2009, Carroll, fresh from signing a new contract at Newcastle, was called up to the England U-20s for a match against Italy U-20s, but was withdrawn from the squad and replaced by Hal Robson-Kanu of Swindon Town.

Carroll received his first call up to the England U-21s on 5 August 2009. He made his debut on 11 August 2009 against Holland, coming on as a second half substitute. On his second cap with the under-21 team, on 9 October 2009 against Macedonia U-21s, he scored two goals and assisted another as England romped to a 6–3 win.

Carroll's performances for Newcastle United earned him a call up to the England squad for the friendly against France on 17 November 2010. Carroll passed a late fitness test to start the match. Carroll scored his first senior goal, a low left foot drive into the bottom corner, for England on 29 March 2011 in a friendly against Ghana which ended 1–1.

Style Of Play

 

Carroll has been compared to Newcastle legend Alan Shearer,Chelsea striker Didier Drogba, and also to former Newcastle and Everton striker Duncan Ferguson due to his skill in the air. He is referred to as a classic No. 9 centre forward, owing to his strength, powerful shot and excellent heading ability. Former Newcastle United manager Kevin Keegan stated "he is probably in the top three headers of a ball I have ever seen in football".
After Newcastle's game at home to Blackpool, Blackpool manager Ian Holloway described Carroll as the best striker in the Premier League.