It’s becoming harder and harder to see where Andy Carroll fits into Slaven Bilic’s West Ham set-up given the stunning form of Diafra Sakho.
Our diplomatic manager is saying all the correct things about the centre forward but such is the form being shown by ‘Sak’ I can’t see a way back for AC as a first pick starter.
I watched gobsmacked again today as the Senegal striker worked his guts out for the cause – running the channels, leading the line, linking the play and usually finding an out whenever he was surrounded – sometimes by up to five defenders.
He played off great balls to players in space, scored a goal and with a little more help might have had one or two more – I make and never have made my admiration for him a secret.
I voted for him in last season’s Hammer of the Year awards. I think he is one of the finest and selfless players to arrive through the Upton Park doors.
It was easy to see why the manager said last week that nobody deserved the victory over Manchester City more – he sweats blood for the cause.
And as our chief analyst on this site – Leroy Rosenior – has mentioned, he is crucial to creating space for the creative guys and he does it week in week out.
We are simply not a direct team anymore providing the sort of service to a target man that allows Carroll to show to his best.
Assuming Sak stays fit he has the No 1 striker job nailed down and with Enner Valencia alongside when he recovers we will become even more exciting.
That will leave Andy as an “option” and whether that will be enough for the club’s record signing remains to be seen but I have my doubts.
Next summer’s transfer window could prove very interesting.
l’ll tell you something. Only way back for AC is to be appointed captain. Then he would be guaranteed a starting place regardless of form, like those before him lol
Sakho is rapidly becoming a real top class striker, one of the best, but hard to see where Andy Carroll fits in? Na. Carroll is a reserve who has to up his game and stay fit just to have a chance of getting in the team, just like any other player. If he adjusts his game he will challenge Sakho for the place up front, if not he might leave. Thats what the squad is all about.
As long as Sakho keeps working and does not let the publicity go to his head he will be a legend at our club
Just proves money is not everything when you buy a player,to think he nearly went back to his club because we were trying to get him for nothing,
We need to look out for a similar player as a replacement when he is injured,
Carroll will either have to leave or settle for a role as an impact sub
Carol needs game time to shake off the cobwebbs ! The injury he is recovering from IMO is
going to take many games to get anywhere near the carol before the injury ! To me he does not hold himself correctly as if he is lacking power in his legs which is understandable but he isn’t going to get many full games in the current team so maybe loan him out to get game time and regain his fitness. He also needs to change his style of play and he needs to look at sakho and see what is required to play in this team, which asks the question again ,can carol fit in to the game plan being established by Bilic !!!!!
To answer that question carol needs to get match fit but needs games to gain it ????
Catch 22 comes to mind !
Difficault one to call ? As said we still have song and Valencia to come in .
There’s only 11 that can play and those that shine are first choice no matter who you are
I suppose at some point when Bilic has settled everything down to where he wants it
We will start to see the bigger picture as we are all aware we are still in transition and it will take as long as it takes and the players at the club will play when called upon wheat her they like it or not, !! Maybe that will be the factor which says who stays and goes !!!
Carol can have no complaints at being on the bench and its in his hands now to force his way into the team but that will be a big ask this season !!!!!
Forgot to mention Antonio lol this lad was bought to play regular football and will soon get his chance and that could also limit carol to game time along with everyone else !!
Great teams have great squads but you need the players to accept that its a squad game that wins things not personal game time,
Its a problem that will always raise its head !!!!!