Andy Carroll is ready for Leicester City and totally focused after the bitter disappointment of the FA Cup replay result against Manchester United.
Speaking to the official site he said: “The result against United was disappointing, it was one of those days when things didn’t happen for us. Now, we are all focussed on the game against Leicester who have done fantastically this season.
“They were probably favourites to go down and they have turned that round. They are where they are for a reason and we are all really excited to go up to Leicester and play to our best.
“People kept putting them down and saying that they won’t be able to keep it up, but week after week, they prove they can and they stay strong.
“I think that if you look at a lot of the games in the last few weeks, there are quite a few games in which we feel like we have dropped two points.
“Under Slaven we concentrate more on the other team than we did in the past. Before, we focussed more on our own tactics, but now, we vary our tactics from game to game.”
Carroll is desperate to stay among the goals as he looks to keep alive his hopes of a call up for the European Championship Finals.
He added: “It’s nice to be talked about like that. Getting back on the international stage is something I think about a lot. But at the moment I am just concentrating on the way I am playing and trying to play as best I can.
“Slaven has been great with me. He understands what I have been going through with the injuries and he wants me to be on the pitch just as much as I do. He knows how frustrating it is to be out with injury.”
Carroll deserves his starting spot today but I do believe we need Obiang in front of the defence to cut our Kante as a problem and we need a proper right back against their forwards,
Obiang in whose place bubs?
I just have to laugh when I hear people saying Carroll deserves his place – our style of football in the last few games has changed because Carroll is up top and is not mobile enough for our quick thinking players like Payet and Lanzini. If we start Carroll tomorrow we will get nothing from the game – I hear their 2 centre halves are praying for Carroll to start lol lol. I would freshen things up, Adrian, Tomkins, Reid, Ogbanna, Cresswell, Obiang, Kouyate, Payet, Lanzini, Moses and Valencia. Give Antonio a break and leave Carroll as an impact sub.
Reckon AFC may disagree with you. Valencia had a poor gsme
Carroll may have got a lot of joy against the gooners but I can’t see Huth or Morgan being petrified at facing Andy.They will relish the battle more than likely.
cant believe people would still play valencia over carroll. these people rate players on how fast they can run. running all over the pitch like a headless chicken means nothing if you cant put the ball in the net when the opportunity presents itself. carrol has the knack of getting on the end of things and making it count. reminds me of dean ashton. deano wasnt a speed merchent either but he was a great striker. carroll has great positional sense and sees a pass. his link up play and crossfield passes for teammates to run on to is exceptional. and he gives you more defensively than any other striker. his inclusion is a no brainer for me. if hes fit he plays.
I think people understand football more than to think a player should play coz he runs fast.Maybe you think you are the only one who understands football.
Possible Lanzini but more likely Valencia as we are away from home and need to not start from goals down,
Play front 3 of Payet Carroll Antonio or Lanzini
Noble Kouyate Obiang
Cresswell Ogbonna Tomkins Byram
Adrien