Newcastle United need to keep hold of Carroll this January

I wrote an article about whom Newcastle United could be signing in the January transfer window yesterday but I also touched on speculation over striker Andy Carroll’s future.

I’d just like to go into that in a bit more detail in today’s editorial.

The home-grown youngster has impressed this season in the Premier League after making his mark in Newcastle’s title winning Championship campaign last season.

Limelight

Andy Carroll hasn’t just been thrust into the limelight because of his performances he has also been involved in a few off the field incidents which has lead to him being labelled a badboy.

However he is still young and learning about life as well as football and he has pledged to stay out of trouble. It’s crucial that he does stay out of trouble if he is to become the player everyone expects him to be.

Attributes

Carroll’s goals have played a vital part in Newcastle’s solid start to the Premier League season. The 21 year-old has already netted 11 Premier League goals this season but his talents don’t end there he is a good team player.

He is a throwback to the old fashioned big English centre forward, who bullies defenders and wins everything in the air. However he isn’t just good with his head he also has considerable skills on the ground and he is no slouch either.

He is almost the complete centre forward and offers his team so much more than just his goals alone. He is a focal point of the Newcastle attack and works hard for the team.

Local

He is a local lad and nobody loves a local lad come good like the people of Newcastle. They are proud of their heroes and Andy Carroll is the latest one to emerge from their fair city.

He also wears that famous number nine shirt, previously worn by local Geordie heroes Alan Shearer and further back in history the late great Jack Milburn. He has a lot to live up to being compared to Shearer. He is a modern day football icon both for England and for the Magpies.

He has already stated that he is proud to be compared with one of his former footballing heroes but has a long way to go to get anywhere near the ex-England captain. Although he has the attributes to be a top player.

England

Carroll made his made his international debut with England late last year in the 2-1 defeat against France. He had a decent game and is sure to win many more England caps in his career. At the moment he offers a different option from the other strikers available to England boss Fabio Capello.

Speculation

Andy Carroll rise to prominence has lead to speculation that he could leave United in the January transfer window. A fee of around £30million has been touted with the likes of Tottenham, Manchester City and Chelsea being linked with a move for the giant striker.

It now seems unlikely that Carroll will leave Newcastle in January. Manchester City are set to complete the signing of Wolfsburg striker Edin Dzeko, after the Bosnian completed his City medical. Dzeko is a very similar player to Carroll and City are unlikely to sign two such similar players.

Tottenham have had an approach for Carroll rejected by Newcastle but it’s believed that Newcastle’s controversial chairman Mike Ashley would be willing to sell for the right price.

Ashley has stated recently that he wishes to run Newcastle as a business and making £30million would seem like good business to him. Ashley is already hated by the Geordie faithful if they sold their hero I could see him being chased out of Toon.

Summer

Carroll is happy with his boyhood club and doesn’t wish to leave Tyneside. However in the summer it may prove a different story with some of the biggest names in football interested in signing him.

For Toon boss Alan Pardew it is vital that he manages to keep hold of the striker at least until the summer. His presence in the team inspires both his teammates and fans alike. His sale could prove a devastating blow to the hearts of some of the most loyal fans in the land.

Messages

Here is a message to Newcastle chairman Mike Ashley. If you want to be the most hated man on Tyneside then sell Andy Carroll. However if you want to make the club successful keep the striker and he could become a true Toon legend.

Also I’d like to wish Andy Carroll a happy 22^nd birthday for tomorrow. Many happy returns Andy and I hope you have a great career ahead of you.

Will Andy Carroll leave Newcastle in January?