Andy Carroll: 7 Ways to Justify His £35 Million Transfer Fee

Andy Carroll has had a hard time of it since arriving at Liverpool for £35 million.

Fans have accused the player of lacking heart and commitment to the team, stories of drinking emerged in the tabloids and transfer rumours of him leaving the club were bandied around throughout the January transfer window.

What is truth in all of the above we might never fully know.

Carroll does seem to have found a little bit of form over the past few games, but that isn't to say he's finally playing his best—or that he's justifying his price tag.

So how can that price tag be justified?

It's not the player's fault that the club paid that fee, so why does the player carry the burden of having to prove he's worth that amount? When you think about it, it doesn't see quite right. But that's football for you.

Here are some ways that Carroll could go about proving his worth.

The Net Spend vs. the Gross Spend

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Torres was sold to Chelsea for £50 million, and Ryan Babel moved to Hoffenheim for a fee believed to be £6 million.

If you remove the cost of Luis Suarez, who was purchased at £22.7 million, that leaves a remaining figure of £33.3 million.

Andy Carroll was purchased at a gross price of £35 million, but this was only a net spend of approximately £1.7 for Liverpool football club.

If you consider the deal that way, then Carroll becomes a lot better value for money.

Aerial Prowess

Towering headers are what Liverpool fans should be witnessing every week
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When Andy Carroll is playing with confidence, his aerial threat is second to none.

Liverpool don't play to Carroll's strengths, so the big Geordie needs to adjust his game in order to succeed at the Merseyside club.

If Carroll brings his hold up play and aerial prowess to the fore whilst contributing in other areas, he might begin to look as though he was worth his price.

He should be winning more headers.

Imagine Life Without Him

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Fans who have complained about the signing of Andy Carroll should perhaps look at the alternative of having no striker.

With Suarez having served an eight-game ban recently, Carroll has naturally received more pitch time, which will be good for his confidence.

Consider, though, if Suarez was Liverpool's only striker. The Redmen would have been desperately short of options in attack.

Goals, Goals, Goals

Liverpool fans want more of this celebration
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Every striker is judged on their goals.

If Carroll wants to justify his £35 million fee, then goals are what he needs to bring to the table.

Liverpool have struggled this season with putting the ball into the back of the net, and should Carroll begin to help the cause, then the Kop may start to get on his side.

With the backing of Liverpool's 12th man, anything could happen for the forward, but he needs to be scoring 20-plus per season in order to impress.

Some may argue it needs to be even more than that.

The Three Amigos

We've yet to really see Carroll, Gerrard and Suarez all perform together at the same time, and that is something Kenny Dalglish had in mind when he signed the player.

Since Gerrard has returned from injury, Carroll has looked more dangerous, so perhaps the key lies in the trio all playing together.

A jigsaw can't be completed without all the pieces, and a striker won't score many without receiving good service.

More Commitment

There's no time to be sitting down on the job Andy!
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Liverpool fans would forgive Carroll for not scoring if he was working his hardest on the pitch.

Suarez doesn't always score goals, but he buzzes around and will chase every ball played toward him, regardless of whether he is likely to get it or not.

Carroll has sometimes lacked that hunger and desire to do the graft and the less glamourous side of the job, and it has been duly noted.

If he wants to gain favour, then he needs to start putting that impressive physique to good use.

Score Against Manchester United

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Having already scored against Everton in a Merseyside Derby, Carroll could go a long way in Liverpool hearts by scoring against Manchester United a few times.

The Kop never forgets anybody who scores against their most bitter rivals, and slotting a hat trick against Ferguson's men would go a long way in satisfying the fans.

As soon as Liverpool supporters accept that Carroll has paid his due's, everybody else will follow.

Afterthoughts

Andy Carroll may never be worth £35 million, but unless he is loved and nurtured by the club, then he has no chance even showing glimpses of his true worth.

Carroll came to play for Liverpool because he knew it was an opportunity to improve his game, and that transition will take time. He's had a year already, so people could argue his time has passed, but consider Florent Malouda a few years ago.

Malouda took a couple of years before he came to the fore and became an integral part of Chelsea. Whilst that time has since passed, no one ever expected him to suddenly become so important to the first team.

Liverpool will be hoping the same is said of Carroll in a few years' time, but until then, he should be encouraged and backed as much as possible.

Thanks for reading, and click here to read about the 18 greatest wingers of all time.

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