Originally Posted by The Sunday Times

In Andy Carroll's last game, famously (or infamously), he was part of his team’s most successful passing combination. Punts from Joe Hart to Carroll’s head or chest were England’s best ploy against Italy at Euro 2012. That was not Carroll’s fault; indeed, it reflected his effectiveness in the target man role that he grew into over the course of last season.

The trouble for Carroll is that being good at flick-ons and grappling with a centre-half while waiting for a kick-out to land is of limited relevance if your team want to keep the ball grounded. To have attributes such as Carroll’s in a Brendan Rodgers team is akin to being a gifted heavy metal guitarist in a string quartet. Rodgers’ decision to more-or-less advertise Carroll’s availability for transfer or loan is brave, given the losses Liverpool could make if such a strategy goes wrong. But it wasn’t a surprise.

Rodgers wants his players and his crowd to buy in to the style he evangelises. Like any teacher, he believes this is best achieved by clear and consistent messages and to pretend Carroll’s aerial game is something he could cherish would be barmy, even if it might make the player happy and please Fenway Sports Group.

Those who believe Carroll could still be a Plan B for Liverpool are missing the point. Under Rodgers — as with Barcelona — there are no Plan Bs. Swansea players remember Rodgers’ annoyance when, 2-0 up at Wolves last season, they reverted to safety-first clearances when Wolves mounted late pressure. Wolves came back to draw 2-2 and Rodgers’ dressing room debrief involved an animated lecture about sticking to principles.

The snag for Carroll is that he has been developing proficiency in what may be a dying art. At Euro 2012, midfielders did much of the scoring, few sides played with two up front and, of course, Spain won using 4-6-0. The summer’s transfer market, for elite clubs, has focused on attacking midfielders, No 10s, wide men, withdrawn forwards. The coveted players have been the Eden Hazards, Oscars and Lucas Mouras. Paris Saint-Germain are spending big on Zlatan Ibrahimovic, but he has always been much more than a big No 9, and the same is true of Robin van Persie.

Carroll’s type is just not as desirable as even 18 months ago, when Carroll and Fernando Torres entered and exited Anfield for a combined £85m within a few hours. Rodgers won’t play 4-6-0 but 4-3-3. Luis Suarez and Rodgers’ new signing, Fabio Borini — who looks good business for an initial € 13.3m (£10.5m) — are the kind of mobile, interchangeable, multi-skilled forwards perfect for 4-3-3.

Clint Dempsey, Rodgers’ next target, would also fit it. Fulham will fight to keep Dempsey, though their leverage is limited by the fact that the American is enticed by the prospect of Liverpool and has less than a year left on his contract.

As bait, Rodgers may offer Carroll on loan. Fulham want him, as do West Ham, yet nobody has ascertained what Carroll wants. He is still on holiday and won’t join up with Rodgers’ squad until July 23, when he and the other Liverpool players who featured at Euro 2012 are due to fly to the US to join the club’s summer tour.

Should Carroll decide to fight for his place, Rodgers and FSG have a problem. Carroll’s contract runs until 2016 and entitles him to an estimated £80,000 per week. A loan is not a permanent solution, as Liverpool will realise should Rodgers decide he doesn’t want Joe Cole or Alberto Aquilani — returned from loans at Lille and AC Milan — any more than did Kenny Dalglish.

The issue of what to do with players on long contracts, but not in the plans of the manager, is a growing one for clubs. The director of football model is supposed to eradicate it but Carroll was signed while Liverpool were using that structure.

FSG have company. Arsenal have players such as Nicklas Bendtner, Marouane Chamakh, Park Chu-Young and Sebastian Squillaci drawing from the payroll despite being viewed as surplus. Spurs have been trying for seasons to offload David Bentley, Jermaine Jenas and Giovanni dos Santos. Chelsea are in a similar position with Paulo Ferreira. Manchester City are about to jettison the last of the Mark Hughes players never wanted by Roberto Mancini — Roque Santa Cruz and Emmanuel Adebayor.

But Rodgers has his values and players at Liverpool are already buying into them. Charlie Adam was positively glowing on Friday, following a Rodgers’ practice stint. “Things don’t happen overnight in football but if you have the right balance, right group of players and you work hard, anything can happen,” Adam said.

“Just look at what the manager achieved at Swansea.”

Originally Posted by All We'll Drive

Still one of my all time favorite pieces of individual skill.

Genius soccer goal by Berbatov - YouTube