OPINION
It’s probably fair to say that since his arrival on deadline day from West Ham, Andy Carroll has not really hit the heights that some on Tyneside might have hoped that he would.
Still yet to score in his second stint for the Toon Army, and largely injured through the opening stages of the campaign, the big striker has, at times, felt more like a mascot than a genuine goal threat, wheeled out to keep morale up and to get St. James’ Park rocking a little.
Nonetheless, there is still time for him to come good, and if you’re in any doubt as to how effective he could yet turn out to be, you need only look at Chris Waugh and George Caulkin’s combined Newcastle United XI of the decade.
The pair chose Carroll to lead the line alongside Demba Ba, and writing in a piece for the Athletic, were eager to point out the unique threat that he carries.
The article reads: “Chaos. That is what Carroll brings, or certainly brought during his first spell at Newcastle, anyway.
“He is a human wrecking ball of a centre-forward, both on and off the pitch, and he is one of Tyneside’s own.
“Newcastle fans live in hope that such chaos is not mere nostalgia now, but can be revived.”
Sure, injuries have blighted him, but this is a player who as of this season is still averaging 15.8 aerial duels won per 90 minutes in the Premier League, as per Whoscored.
To be blunt, that is madness, but it shows the level of physicality that Carroll can offer a side.
If he can just remember where the goal is, and keep his ankle intact for a few months, he could still be a major asset for the Toon Army.
